Why We Travel

I recently read the 2023 New Yorker article The Case Against Travel, in which the author states that "travel turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us that we're at our best."

This rings true in some instances: we all know the stereotype of the obnoxious American who moves through the world unthinkingly and oblivious to local social norms. Rather than seeking genuine novelty, they seek out familiar Americanized restaurants, walk glassy-eyed through "must-see" museums, and expect to be catered to at all times.

This stereotype is captured well by the observation that "'tourists are less likely to borrow from their hosts than their hosts are from them, thus precipitating a chain of change in the host community.' We go to experience a change, but end up inflicting change on others."

To that much, I agree. But Callard's critique, while valid, tells only half the story.

Travel can be extractive, exploitative. For those thoughtless travelers it is a waste of time, energy, and fuel. But removing yourself from your usual comforts and everyday routine is also the best way to gain the space from your life necessary to think, reflect, and learn more deeply about yourself.

Travel is the value that clarifies all other values

So much in life comes down to your values—how you want to spend your one precious life. But oftentimes we don't know which values are truly ours and which we've simply inherited from our families or society.

The only way to understand how much of your life has been constructed from cultural assumptions is to experience a place where the culture has made entirely different choices. For me it often starts with shallow and arbitrary choices like which side of the road to drive on. But if you stay long enough the differences become more profound: differences in the primacy of the family unit, the importance of cleanliness and order, or expectations around time and commitments.

But more importantly, you don't need to justify the choice to travel with any high-minded idealism. Despite its stresses and complications, travel is the ultimate leisure activity in a world that devalues leisure.

Rather than planning complex and expensive international trips, I could certainly choose a staycation instead. But if left in my own environment, I know the temptation to be productive will eventually take over. I'll start to notice parts of my home that need repairing, or feel guilt about hobbies I've been neglecting. Before you know it, I'll be measuring the value of my vacation days by how much I accomplished. Traveling thousands of miles away is the one surefire way to keep myself from getting sucked into the productivity trap.

Even though travel is trendy, and some people travel for the wrong reasons, that doesn't devalue traveling in general.

Please travel. Experience the world. But be clear about what you hope to get out of it. Try to be a good guest and leave the places you visit better than you found them. Learn. But most importantly, don't let cynical voices discourage you from living life on your own terms.