Is “travel” the most overrated activity?

All depends on where you travel to.

Definitely overrated . BTW, how's your file lately?

If you're going to each place for a day to just stare at the main tourist attractions maybe. If you're taking some time to actually immerse yourself in the culture not really. Obviously this is much easier to do if you're either wealthy or are young enough where you can move around a lot and don't have to worry about being tied to a wife and kids.

A thread from 2019.

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=9442896

^^

Basic-azz travel -- yes, completely overrated. It's an industry.

Travel, like going out and putting yourself in weird situations, seeing new things, meeting new people and teaming up to achieve something. It's awesome.

Learning a new language and communicating with people in that language, fun as heck.

Traveling around and trying to meet hot girls from whatever country, fun as heck.

But after awhile it does seem that the world is a small place, nothing is as exotic as it seemed before. And then you start thinking big picture about all how all this plane travel is just quickening the greenhouse effect, etc. So maybe making everybody want to travel the world, it's not the best idea.

Plus you realize that you can and should be able to enjoy yourself anywhere you are.

Another thread from 2015.

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6383099

Cost vs benefit: No question.

Apart from the obvious reasons such as Instagram or the fact that airline travel became financially accessible to average individuals only in the past few decades (ever seen what class of people fly to/from Vegas on Spirit Airlines?), I think one reason why travel has become such a popular activity is that we're a listless, lonely society and landing yourself in a far away place revives your energy and makes you content with your surroundings and feel less lonely.

Joe Schmoe in Middle America, married with kids, Pittsburg Steelers hat on his head, has no interest in "travelling the world." That's not a bad thing. He has a more fulfilling life than Mary the Marketing Manager from NYC, who is planning a backpacking trip in Colombia with her single female friends.

Wherever you go, there you are

Not overrated if you like it. <Vice versa.

Traveling is the most underrated thing in the US.

Why? Because most Americans have no vacation time.

It's work, work, work all the time to fill the pockets of shareholders and Billionaires.

[Sarcasm]Spending your 3 week vacation on the couch trying to watch Netflix and with your kids bored to death asking you what to do is much better than say going to Niagara Falls and watching your kids having a blast going on all the rides[/Sarcasm]

Why would you not want to travel? Why would you not want to see the Grand Canyon, the Badlands, the Smoky Mountains, Acadia National Park, the Redwoods and so much more?

Why would you not want to meet different people? Why would you not want to explore different cities?

Why would you not want to immerse yourself in different cultures, languages, food and music?

roger penske wrote:

Could be

Pretty much any activity consisting of passively consuming "experiences" is overrated, in my opinion. Notice how the most vocal proponents of travel are women and effeminate men. Once you've spent the money on the plane ticket, the superficially novel food and entertainment, and lodging, it's gone forever. If I spend money on tools, hi-fi, cars, whatever, at least there's a tangible asset I can enjoy for an extended period of time and I can also leverage if needed down the road.

Presented without comment: I walk with a 50 year old ex-sorority girl type during my lunch breaks who is 20 years my senior who fits the profile of a wealthy suburban wife who is a big spender. Myself on the other hand, I'm a guy from the middle class suburbs who is a big time saver and minimalist hobbyist (hiking, running, language learning, chess) and I never take big spendy vacations. She always jokes that someday I'll meet a woman who will find ways to spend my money on trips, among other things.

So hiking, running, language learning and chess are "tangible assets" you can leverage if needed?

Yes, they afford tangible benefits and assets through pursuing the activities. Tangible mental, emotional, and physical health benefits, tangible assets like equipment and gear which even if at a steep discount can be sold if needed, and tangible skills that are developed. Nice try playing off a clumsy sentence with your "gotcha!" attempt.

asker of questions Waka Waka wrote:

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

So hiking, running, language learning and chess are "tangible assets" you can leverage if needed?

Yes, they afford tangible benefits and assets through pursuing the activities. Tangible mental, emotional, and physical health benefits, tangible assets like equipment and gear which even if at a steep discount can be sold if needed, and tangible skills that are developed. Nice try playing off a clumsy sentence with your "gotcha!" attempt.

And you think travel does not give you mental, emotional and intellectual benefits that last a long time after your travel?

Maybe you will change your myopic view and judgmental attitude if you travel more. Or maybe you won't.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

asker of questions Waka Waka wrote:

Yes, they afford tangible benefits and assets through pursuing the activities. Tangible mental, emotional, and physical health benefits, tangible assets like equipment and gear which even if at a steep discount can be sold if needed, and tangible skills that are developed. Nice try playing off a clumsy sentence with your "gotcha!" attempt.

And you think travel does not give you mental, emotional and intellectual benefits that last a long time after your travel?

Maybe you will change your myopic view and judgmental attitude if you travel more. Or maybe you won't.

Eres muy gracioso... Hablas más idiomas que el inglés? Pienso que no. Probablemente pienses que eres muy culto, más refinado que las personas que no pagan demasiado para viajar en una manera superficial y vacío. Qué lastima. La neta es que no tienes ningún conocimiento a través de tus viajes que no podría obtener con YouTube o el red en general.

Yeah, I'm very myopic and non-worldly for not having superficial tourist experiences abroad to impress no one who isn't a clown such as yourself. Please, by all means, keep consuming meaninglessly, the tourist economies need it.