I ran across a rather interesting article today about travel burnout. I have not fallen victim to that awful disease, yet. In my days of business travel, I often wished I was already home, and hated flight delays and cancellations.
Here they are, 15 signs of travel burnout, along with some comments by me.
1. If you over plan everything.
Yes, one of the great joys of traveling is to meet the unexpected, to explore, and to discover. Likewise, planning too many things takes away from spontaneity, and reduces the chances of some great experiences. This does not mean going crazy with irrational behavior or dangerous impulsiveness, particularly in risky situations.
2. If you can’t laugh off frustrations.
Things like flight delays, bad meals or service, dirty hotel rooms, and obnoxious neighbors are going to happen. How you respond is the key. But here I differ a little. I find that if I write a short note to remind me to provide feedback to the culprits, I tend to move on to the next task at hand. Many hotels do take your feedback seriously, and will even offer a free night when you make your comments in a constructive manner.
3. If you stop adapting to local cultures.
Every where I have been, I cannot help but see and learn the local customs and culture. I know some people would just hang out at Starbucks. Not me! I want to go where the locals go, eat what the locals eat.
4. If you procrastinate booking a trip.
Part of the fun of a trip is planning, talking to people, finding some bargains and inside information. Waiting to the last-minute can be fun, but you may end up paying too much for the trip, such as a week in Hawaii. It may be a sign that you really do not want to go.
5. If you can’t get excited about an upcoming trip.
Many of you wonder why we go to Seattle three times a year. We never get tired of it. We have friends there. We have our favorite places to eat and shop. We look forward to a change in the weather. And we love to tease the Seahawks fans. I was worried prior to my trip to Ecuador and Colombia when I first planned it. But as the trip got closer, and I learned more about the two countries, I could hardly wait to go!
6. If you lose the desire to hunt for deals.
I have the opposite problem, as I always see deals, even when my plate is full. I must force myself to just delete some of the emails from travel sites so that I do not overbook, or overspend!
7. If you are not excited to meet new people.
This is one of the treasures of travel. And many have become life long friends. We email on a regular basis, and arrange to meet in some far off land. For me, it seems to be in the internet room!
8. If you don’t want to leave the hotel room.
Even when I get a complimentary upgrade to a suite, I still like to get out and explore. Even when it is really hot or bitterly cold, I prefer getting out. I also like to just walk around with my camera and take photos. I never know what I might see.
9. If you do too many touristy things.
Traveling off of a check list can be rather restricting. Some things are “must do”, while others are optional. Figure it out as you go, and leave time for the unexpected. The city bus tour, however, can be a great way to get an orientation of a city, such as Rio, Sydney, Berlin, or London, and help you decide what you want to see in more detail.
10. If you stop being adventurous.
For me, travel and adventure are almost synonymous. Travel is a perfect time for adventure, to break out of the routine back home. If you don’t try the jet boat in New Zealand, where are you going to try it? Often times, just being forced to stay in a hotel in a different part of the city can be revealing. Boston comes to mind, as does Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington, DC.
11. If you can’t wait for the trip to end.
OK, if you are tired, I understand. But if you are just bored, then shame on you. Yes, homesickness is okay too. But when you are away from home, why wish you were home again? If I ever feel this way, I know it is time to stop!
12. If you can’t deal with crowds.
Well, just try to pick and choose your spots. The mayhem of New York City can make anyone crowd-shy. Go to a museum instead of hanging out on Times Square. Get on a bus and head out to the neighborhoods. There are many ways to deal with this. But yes, Tokyo, New York, London, Bangkok are busy, crowded places. But that is what also makes them fun!
13. If you use Twitter or your blogs for angry rants.
Not quite, but I will use my blog or Trip Advisor to warn future travelers. A bad place should never be rewarded for a less than satisfactory experience. Likewise, it should not consume you. Move on to something else!
14. If you eat the same meal over and over.
It is tempting to go to the same favorites a few times on a trip. But I generally try to force myself elsewhere, no matter how good my favorites are. We ran into an old friend on our last trip to Seattle! Now your favorite bar, that is a zebra with different stripes. Room service does not count if you are sick, and can’t leave.
15. If you can’t enjoy a sunset.
Enough said.
