18 Reasons Why Traveling Sucks (but we love it anyways)

Traveling sucks? How can that be true?

Okay, imagine this…

You’re off chasing adventure, exploring the beautiful island of Bali, when a monkey runs up to you, steals your purse and pulls your pants down!

Okay, that might not be the exact story, but it’s close enough. He didn’t get my pants down, but Ubud definitely saw a full moon in the middle of a bright and sunny day.

That moon being – my peach.

Now I know you’re probably wondering why I would write a post all about why traveling sucks if I’m a travel blogger. Shouldn’t I be talking about why traveling is amazing? Why traveling is spectacular? Why it’s the most incredible thing ever?

Don’t worry; I will be doing a lot of that. And if you’re beginning to think that I hate traveling, then stop right there!

I love traveling, it’s the thing I am most passionate about, and it brings so much joy into my little life.

But, in all truth, there are times when traveling sucks. Everyone and their mother has a bad travel experience or a few reasons why they hate to travel.

Earlier this week I asked my followers on Instagram what their least favourite part of traveling was. Each one was very relatable!

Wait what? Travel Can Suck?

Of course, travel can suck!

Have you ever gone on an adventure and had a bad travel experience where you thought – “this totally sucks!”?

I love traveling, but there are things about travel that really do suck, and I will cover 18 of those reasons why in this blog.

If you haven’t, please give us all the tips so we know how to have travel adventures that never go wrong!

If you have had a bad travel experience, let me know in the comments, or shoot me an email and let me know your worst travel experience! I would love to hear from you!

18 Reasons Why Traveling Sucks and How to Make it Unsuck

Before we get into the list of reasons why travel can suck, let me just preface this with one of the biggest tips I can give you.

Reframing your mindset.

Sometimes something terrible happens, and all you can think about is the bad thing that happened. Or how sucky the situation is.

Reframing your mindset can help you think more positively and focus less on negative things. Instead of focusing on the things that are out of our control, focus on the things we can control.

1. Traveling Sucks When You Forget the ONE Thing You Needed

Finally! You’re done packing, and you check everything over to make sure you’ve got everything. But there are a few things you haven’t packed yet because you still need access to them before you depart for your travels.

So you think – I’ll remember!

Then… you leave for your trip, and you’re long gone on your way. Then you realize, “crap! I forgot _______.”

It’s different for everyone. If I forgot my camera when going on a trip, I would be absolutely devastated!

But forgetting the one thing you need is absolutely sucky when traveling!

One time, my mom showed up at the airport with MY passport! She and my dad both missed their flight that day.

Tip: If you are sitting there thinking right now, “this is me every single time.” Then you should make a packing list for your travels. Lucky for you, I’ve created a free printable travel packing list just for you! 

2. How Fast Money Travels… out of my Bank Account

I don’t need to tell you this, but travel can cost a lot. Or… it can cost a lot less if you budget or travel as cheaply as possible.

As much as we love traveling, we can also see that money flies out of our bank accounts so quickly. Sometimes we don’t even know where it all took off to.

From flights to transportation to accommodation, all the way to food and experiences. It all adds up.

If you budget correctly or travel the “cheap” way by staying in hostels, taking public transportation, making your own food etc. You can definitely make travel much cheaper.

Some people even travel the world for months and months and stretch their money out for a long time.

I’m not that type of person, though. I like more freedom, so that means car rentals. I also have the travel mindset of “I’ll spend what I spend,” but then I sure as heck pay for it when I get home and wonder how my credit card balance got so darn high.

Tip: Remind yourself of why you love traveling and how it’s really an investment in yourself. 

Do you want things? Or experiences? 

Travel is one of the best forms of education you can get, and it makes you richer in so many more ways than the money you spent on it ever will. You learn and grow on every adventure you take.

3. I Love Traveling, But I’m Scared

You’ve finally booked the trip! But then – the travel anxiety kicks in.

Suddenly, you’ve got so much planning to do. So much packing to do. 

So many things you shouldn’t be worrying about, like: what if I miss the flight? What if I get there and they cancelled my accommodations? What if a hurricane hits?

Traveling sucks when so many negative “what if’s” can flood your mind, and then all you do is worry about everything that could possibly go wrong. Especially if you can’t get control over your thoughts.

Tip: Take a few minutes to self-soothe. Take some deep breaths, and look around the room. 

Now just make yourself aware of your surroundings and bring yourself back to reality. What colours and objects do you see? What’s the furthest sound you can hear? What 3 things can you smell?

Now you’re a little more relaxed. Make a list of what needs to get done and do it in chunks.

I’ve created a PDF just for you that gives some ideas on how to self soothe, and a self-soothing exercise that can help you come back to reality for when you are on your travels!

Try to remind yourself of all the good things about this trip and why you booked it to begin with. What are you going to do? What are you going to see? Why did you pick this destination? Get yourself excited about it again!

4. I Hate Airports

Does anyone even like airports?

Too many people. So much waiting in lines. The stress of going through security. Carrying your luggage around and struggling with it up the escalators. The food that costs more than a fancy restaurant

Nobody – not one single person – has ever told me they like airports. I hate airports. Airports are the worst.

BUT – they allow me to hop on one of those flying tubes with wings that takes me to a beautiful place. So I hate them, but I appreciate what they offer.

5. I’m Tired of Waiting!

Traveling sucks when you are spending so much time just waiting.

One of the things I dislike the most is waiting. Why? It’s a waste of precious time.

You do so much waiting around when you travel.

You wait in line at the airport. You wait to get on the plane. You wait on the plane and during the flight. More lines to wait in after.

Then there’s waiting for other people to be ready, waiting for food, waiting in line at tourist attractions, and waiting for transportation. The list goes on and on when traveling.

Tip: Do something productive with your time. Listen to a podcast or read a book. Books are too heavy? Get a Kindle subscription.

6. Layovers = more waiting… or running

Traveling sucks when you have long layovers. The longer they are, the worse they are.

Unless you happen to have a 48-hour layover in Iceland for some reason. In that case, you might have time to leave the airport and explore, which can be great. But sometimes, we don’t have that option which makes for an extra long, dreadful wait.

Or if you’re like me… you could be running to your next flight with extreme anxiety, hoping you don’t miss your next flight! Now that is just unnecessary added stress.

Tip: If you have an extra long layover, make some plans to leave the airport and explore some cool spots nearby. If not – podcasts, baby! Be productive with your time! Explore the new airport and check out the shops – even though they are pricey.

7. Air Travel is the Absolute Worst!

Okay, so we’ve covered how much airports suck. You know what else does? Being on a plane. 

The seats are so uncomfortable!

Not everyone can afford priority or first class or whatever fancy-schmancy title they give the fancy-schmancy seating. And is the fancy-schmancy seating really all that much more comfortable? I wouldn’t know to be completely honest.

Tony Stark’s private jet would be perfect! (my geeky side coming out a bit here)

But let’s all agree that private jets aren’t good for the planet, and no flying tube is good for the earth.

Sitting in the middle seat is the worst – ugh, who even wants to sit there? 

Expensive wifi, plugged ears, crying children, and how you just feel so groggy when you finally get off.

Tip: Gravol. Podcasts. Read a book. Watch a movie on their little screen if they have one. Get one of those plane pillows to get some rest. Wear comfortable clothing; it’s not a runway fashion show. There’s not much you can really do to make a flight better than it is.

8. Traveling Alone Sucks (especially if you’re an extrovert)

Okay, so not everyone will agree with this. Traveling alone has both its pros and cons. If you don’t like traveling alone, then don’t do it.

If you do, then good for you!

Personally, I prefer to share my experiences with other people. But if I have to travel alone, I will. Traveling alone has its perks for sure, and I would definitely do it again and recommend everyone try it at least once.

I will say, though, that it can get very lonely. Doing things alone, eating alone, adventuring alone, trying to take pictures alone. It’s all a crappy part about traveling alone. But like I said, some people prefer solo travel, but it’s not for everyone.

Tip:  Luckily, there are ways to meet other travelers. You can meet them when you’re out exploring, at your hotel or hostel, at a restaurant or even on an app like Bumble! Go places where people are hanging out and try to mingle a bit.

I once posted on Instagram stories and said, “I’m going to Mexico,” and mentioned the rough time frame that I would be there for and asked if anyone wanted to join. I had two girls message me, and we met in Mexico.

It was an amazing trip, but be careful with this and message them a bit first before actually going. Make sure they are who they say they are and that you have a good connection and vibe with them.

9. Worrying About Safety as a Solo Female Traveler

Another thing that sucks about traveling solo, especially as a solo female traveler, is worrying about safety.

Us ladies constantly feel like we need to be extra cautious and have eyes on the backs of our heads because we fear for our safety. Some people don’t have this fear as much, but for those of us with anxiety, it can get pretty stressful.

Tip: Get a WanderSafe alarm. Take it with you on all your adventures. It’s a little alarm system that goes off when you pull it. Share your location on your phone with a few friends and family members and let them know your daily plans.

Of course, there are other obvious tips: don’t go out at night, watch your drink, carry pepper spray, and carry bear spray on hikes. If you feel something is off, trust your gut.

10. I… Can’t… Function

Have you ever been on a trip somewhere, and you just can’t even function anymore because you are just so exhausted?

Same.

Sometimes we overdo it and try to squeeze in as much as possible without giving ourselves much downtime. We end up doing much more than we are used to.

Or sometimes, it’s the jet lag that does it for us, and we end up tired for the first several days of our trip.

Either way, traveling is no fun when we can’t function. When we can’t function, we aren’t enjoying our trip as much, therefore, not getting as much out of it.

We don’t want to over-exert ourselves and drain all of our energy to the point where we end up wasting a few days doing absolutely nothing to recuperate.

Let’s be honest, traveling sucks when we can’t function. It makes for a bad travel experience.

Tip: Spread the activities out and give yourself some time to rest each day. Don’t try to jam-pack your days so full that you don’t even have time to sit down. Sometimes cutting something out of your itinerary is worth spending extra time relaxing at a beautiful spot for the afternoon.

We did this on a family trip to Nova Scotia one time. We had a full day packed with things to do, and we got to Peggy’s Cove and ditched the rest of the plans.

We relaxed by the lighthouse, and we all really appreciated and enjoyed a day spent like that.

You can also leave yourself a nice rest day in the middle of your trip if it’s not a long trip.

11. Rain. Storms. Hurricanes. Traveling Sucks When Weather is Bad

Sometimes the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate with us during a trip. When this happens, it really makes traveling suck.

Maybe it’s raining a lot. Or perhaps the weather is scorching hot and there’s an unbearable heatwave. Or you get hit by a tropical storm that’s predicted to turn into a hurricane (true story, btw). I’d have to say that was one of my worst travel experiences.

Whatever the situation is, bad weather happens and can ruin your travel plans, leaving you no choice but to cut something out of your travels.

Tip: Prepare for bad weather. If you’re going somewhere during the rainy season, bring a raincoat and go out in the rain! Or use the time during the bad weather to take a much-needed rest. Bring something extra to do even if you aren’t planning any downtime. Read a book, listen to a podcast.

  12. Carrying All Your Stuff From Place to Place Makes for a Bad Travel Experience

Everything get’s so heavy after a while. It’s even worse if you are moving around from place to place and taking public transportation. It’s less of a struggle if you have a car rental, but that’s not always an option.

It’s a bad travel experience when you are lugging all of your stuff around, and you can barely carry it.

Tip: Try to pack as light as possible, and get a good backpack and/or suitcase. If you’re an over-packer like me, well then, you’ll have to deal with it. Join the club!

Not too much you can do here; it’s going to be sucky regardless.

13. Traveling Sucks When People Make it Suck

Literally. So. Many. People. Everywhere. And… they’re always in the way blocking the view we came to see!

Some people can also be so rude and ignorant, and that’s just not something we want to deal with when we are supposed to be happy little travelers, enjoying our trip.

In the photo above is Suytun Cenote in Mexico. During busy times of the year, there are massive, long lineups in order to get this specific shot. I waited for over 30 minutes just to get it, and it wasn’t the busiest day ever.

Remember when we talked about how waiting sucks? Well, the more people, the longer the wait.

Tip: Travel in the off-season or shoulder season. There will be much fewer people than in the high season. If the people bother you that much, try not to go to too many touristy spots.

Seeing people on your travels is unavoidable, and it’s just another thing we just have to deal with.

On another note, people can also be amazing, helpful, kind, and fun; you can also make lifelong friends with the same interests as you! Maybe people being all over the place isn’t so bad after all!

You never know what cool people you will encounter on your adventures. I’ve met some amazing people I still keep in touch with. Plus, if you’re traveling alone, you may just have made a travel buddy who can explore with you!

Meeting other people is one of the things some people love the most about traveling!

14. When People… or Monkeys Steal Your Stuff

Ever had anything stolen? Yeah… it sucks.

Luckily for me, the only thing I’ve ever had stolen was my pair of Teva sandals at a hostel in Costa Rica.

But this one time… okay, now this is good. 

A MONKEY ran up to me and tried to steal my purse! He couldn’t get ahold of it, luckily, BUT… he pulled my pants down in the middle of the street.

How embarrassing is that??

I can’t say that was a bad travel experience, though.

I mean, it really sucked! But I laughed so hard after because… well, it’s actually hilarious.

Having something stolen is a really bad travel experience. Sometimes some really important things can be stolen, like your money, passport, IDs, cell phone, laptop, camera gear etc.

When that happens, it makes for a terrible time.

Tip: Keep copies of your IDs in several places. Keep a copy of each in your suitcase, backpack, purse, etc. That way, if something happens, you at least have a copy of it somewhere.

Keep an eye on your expensive stuff and lock it in a safe if there’s one where you are staying. And definitely do not carry all of your cash on you at once if you take any.

15. Traveling Sucks When You’re Homesick

As much as I love traveling, I do get homesick after a while. There’s just something about being in the comfort of your own home that is… well, just that. Comforting.

There’s nothing like getting home after a trip and finally sleeping in your own bed. It usually ends up being a really amazing sleep for me.

Being homesick can shift your mindset to something more negative. Then you’re not even enjoying your trip anymore because all you’re thinking about is being back home where all your stuff is and where your friends and family are.

All you can think about when you get to the hotel room is how much you wish you could be in your own bed.

Tip: If you tend to get homesick easily, shorter trips may be a better option for you. Or try to travel with people who make you feel at home. Try that self-soothing exercise that I mentioned back in #3.

16. Not Having Enough Time

Okay, to be fair, this one isn’t really about traveling sucking. It’s more about the fact that it sucks when you don’t have enough time to explore the destination you’re at.

There is so much to see in a world this big and beautiful. Endless possibilities.

It’s literally impossible to see absolutely everything. It can really suck when you’re only in a place for so long, and you don’t have enough time to see everything you want to see in the area.

You might miss out on only a few things, or you can miss out on a lot. Longer trips are better for this and give you more time. But that’s not always possible for everyone. Some people are limited to shorter trips where they just can’t fit it all in.

Tip: Make a list of everything you want to see and narrow it down to the most important things you must see in that destination. If there are lots in one area, great! That means less moving around and more time exploring.

Try to travel with people who like the same type of travel as you. Suppose they are a photographer, love hiking, and want to catch all the beautiful sunsets and sunrises on a hike. In that case, there’s your perfect travel buddy.

That way, when you travel, you aren’t wasting your time seeing things they want to see, and you don’t. Sometimes you can’t find a perfect match, and we have to compromise and do a bit of what you both like. Or you can even go off and do your own things.

17. Unpacking After a Trip

This has to be one of my least favourite parts of traveling. When I got back from my solo trip to Costa Rica, I didn’t unpack my suitcase for 3 whole weeks.

I totally procrastinated because I dreaded it. Doing the laundry, putting it away, putting all my camera gear away and equipment etc. It’s a task and a half that I just can’t stand doing.

I hate packing too, but unpacking is the absolute worst. Let me know in the comments which one you prefer!

Tip: Give yourself a deadline and do it in chunks. Empty your carry-on the day you get back and put everything in it away. Take care of laundry the next day. Then the gear, and then whatever else.

Or you can just be a normal human and do it all at once. I’m not normal.

18. But I Don’t Want to Go Home

Last but not least is not wanting to go home.

Again, this might not have to do precisely with why travel sucks. But more to do with how much it sucks when you don’t want to stop traveling.

If this is you, you’ve probably been bitten by a little critter called… the travel bug!

Don’t worry; I’ve been bitten, too. Just like many others who are all now fueled by wanderlust.

We go to a new place and have these amazing experiences and moments that release all of this dopamine that makes us feel really good. And we just want to keep feeling good for longer.

And if travel is what’s giving us this dopamine and making us feel really happy, then why the heck would we want to stop?

There are more places to see, and we have so little time on this big and beautiful planet. We want to keep seeing as much of it as possible before our souls go somewhere new.

We love to travel because there is so much to see!

But, unfortunately for many people, we can’t travel as much as we would like because of many other factors in our lives. Yes, it sucks, but it is a part of life.

Tip: Go home, reminisce on your recent adventures, and start planning for the next one to get you excited. If you don’t want to stop traveling, then maybe finding some online work would be a good option for you. You can choose from many things; it’s just finding the right online job that works for you.

Wrap-Up: 18 Reasons Why Traveling Sucks in a Nutshell

Although there are many reasons that traveling sucks, there are always ways to make the best of it and shift your mindset. We won’t enjoy our adventures if we always focus on the negative.

So we must shift that mindset and focus on the positives as much as possible. Focus on what you can control instead of what you can’t control. I know it’s hard sometimes, but it does help.

There are so many podcasts you can listen to and books to read that can help you with that mindset shift. Listening to an audio book or reading one of these books would be an excellent option for when you’re doing all of that waiting or on a long flight 😉

What is your least favourite part about traveling? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you for stopping by, and happy adventuring ♡

Krista x.

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