6 unpleasant sides of travel rarely talked about

Are you a frequent traveler or just beginning to map out your around the country/world adventure? What encouraged you to start the journey?

Traveling is an eye-opening way to see the world from a different angle and from different people’s perspectives. It gives us a full view of the world, of what we have. The beaches in Australia, neon lights in Hong Kong, bizarre street foods from around the world, and the likes are what lures us to go on an exploration.

Yes, it can be expensive but there are ways to travel cheaply. Regardless though, traveling is difficult and it has it’s ugly. Ask all the travelers you know and they’ll tell you two or more bad sides of it. To give you a rough idea, here are a few of the ugly side of traveling people rarely talk about:

1. It isn’t always glamorous

The travel photos you see on your traveler friends and other people’s timelines are only a small portion of their journey—it’s the “good” side of travel.

It’s true. No one takes a picture of the difficulty they had to endure just to get to the peak of a mountain or an island. No one takes a picture and share it with their friends how they live to fund their travel (i.e. clean hotel rooms, farming, etc.) Yes, there are a few who are outspoken about it but not a lot.

If you’ve traveled far and frequently, you’ll resonate with this. There are parts of your adventures you only capture through your eyes, and the fun parts captured through your camera lens.

2. There will be times you’ll feel lost

Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you’re enjoying your time and don’t encounter difficult times. You’re still human and in the “real world,” travel isn’t an excuse to escape from your responsibilities and real-life problems.

You’ll miss important days, holidays, and reunions with your loved ones. You’ll question your purpose in the world and why being in Bali makes it easier to find yourself. You’ll feel lost—it sucks but know that it’s okay. It’s part of the mental contract you signed to travel. Know when to come home and stay in one place for a moment to compose yourself again.

3. Feeling homesick is terrible

There will be instances where you’ll hear a voice whispering: as you experience the world, you’re missing lots of moments to be with your loved ones; hence, you’re essentially alone as you roam other parts of the world.

As a traveler, you’re often away from your home and on a journey either alone or with a group. Regardless, there will come times where you wish you’re at home spending the day with your nephew, cooking breakfast for your significant other, making coffee for your mom, or playing fetch with your dog.

4. The world is a dangerous place

Walking on a street unfamiliar to you or  traveling to a foreign land you’ve never been to before can be scary. Actually, it is frightening. Because no matter how safe and secure a place is, if you’re not aware of its surroundings and you’re not alert at all times, danger will always be just right around the corner.

5. It is daunting

Yay! For finally booking your dream trip to Europe. But hey, why are you panicking all of a sudden?

The whole idea of traveling: planning your itinerary, scouting for accommodations, educating yourself with the do’s and don’ts once you’re there, and many more. It is overwhelming and daunting at the same time. But between your love for wanderlust and fear of being an alien in a foreign land, you should know which one weighs more.

6. It can be ugly

Traveling, like any other sports or hobby, has its bad sides. Yes, you may have booked your accommodation at a beautiful resort, but your flight might get delayed. No matter how prepared you are for a trip, there may be an unforeseen circumstance that puts a hump on your journey. It’s the gritty reality of traveling.

Have you experienced at least one of the ugly sides of travel? Share it with us!

About Chie Suarez

Chie Suarez sails from the PH and enjoys travelling with her family and dog. She found her passion for travelling quite late, not to mention she writes for Kims Luxury Accommodation & Romantic Getaways in Toowoon Bay NSW Australia.