I just got back from Cabo for a bachelorette trip, and almost immediately, friends were asking when my next trip is. What do you mean? I just got back—give me a second! And why do I need another trip planned already? Cabo wasn’t cheap—traveling in general isn’t cheap.
Scrolling through social media, I noticed that everyone is either planning a trip, traveling or just got back and is sharing all their photos. There’s nothing wrong with that—travel is an incredible way to explore new places, experience different cultures, meet people, and try new foods. People should absolutely travel if they’re able to.
But sometimes, I wonder—are people traveling for the experience, or just for the aesthetics? Is it about immersing yourself in a new place, or just curating the perfect Instagram feed? Did you actually take in the culture, or was the trip just a series of outfit changes and photo ops? And the bigger question—are people stretching their finances just to maintain the illusion of a jet-set lifestyle?
As a society, we overconsume to the point where it’s become unsustainable—on both ends of the spectrum. As a society, we’ve normalized overconsumption to the point where it’s almost expected. One minute, people are taking on debt to keep up with the latest trends; the next, they’re following whatever minimalism challenge is trending on TikTok that week. And now, travel has become the thing to do. Influencers are paid to take curated photos, showcase luxury destinations, and advertise clothes, hotels, and experiences. But here’s the thing—most of us aren’t influencers getting paid to review these places for free. So, once again, are you traveling for the experience, or just to prove you can live a luxury lifestyle?
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying travel, but in a world where overconsumption is so normalized, it’s worth asking: Are we truly present in these experiences, or are we more focused on how they look to others?
People seem to have forgotten that travel—let alone flying, let alone having a passport—is a privilege. Every single time I’m up in the clouds, I say a prayer because what a privilege it is to be among them. At the end of the day, travel should be about experiencing the world, not just performing it for social media.
What do you think—are people traveling for the experience or just for the aesthetic?