Travel and Vacation are not the same

Travel is Not a Vacation

Travel and vacation aren’t necessarily the same thing, though people often use them interchangeably. When we travel, people always ask how long are we on vacation. I usually respond with we are traveling not on vacation. I will explain the difference below.

Travel

Travel often implies a journey or experience that involves exploring new places, cultures, or activities. It can be for work, education, adventure, or personal growth, and it might not always be relaxing or leisurely. To me, travel is living outside your comfort zone, and doing things you wouldn’t normally do. Going to Svalbard which is located well above the Arctic Circle in February, visiting the Exclusion Zone at Chernobyl in Ukraine, or facing your fear of heights by riding in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkiye were all outside our comfort zone. However, they are some of the most memorable experiences. That is why these are considered bucket-list destinations.

Travel also involves experiencing different cultures, including food, language, people, and history. You won’t typically get that on a “vacation”. Those will also challenge you, but it is well worth the effort. Travel often comes with some surprises, crossing a border accidentally, or getting off a train at 3 AM in the middle of Poland when you didn’t have a seat reservation. These are events that may or may not always turn out well, or may introduce you to something you would have missed normally. It is part of the travel experience, the unexpected will happen, and you just have to go with it.

Vacation

Vacation, on the other hand, usually refers to taking a break from regular life to rest and relax. It’s often more focused on relaxation and leisure, like spending time at a resort or on a beach. I am from Atlanta and many people here take a trip to Florida, that is well within their comfort zone. That to me is a vacation as the new experiences are minimal. The food, language, people, and history are all very familiar, and not much new is experienced. I know people who go to Disney in Orlando every year and have done so for 30+ years. Where is the life experience in that type of trip? Vacations are much more predictable, things can go wrong, but they are usually much easier to handle.

Conclusion on Travel and Vacation

Some people travel for the adventure and the experience, while others vacation to recharge and unwind. Both have their value, but they serve different purposes. There is no reason that travel can’t include relaxation on the beach or other leisure activities, you just might be doing it somewhere outside your comfort zone. Sitting on a beach in Turkiye, Romania, Ukraine, Portugal, or South Africa can have the same effect but with some new experiences. Travel and vacation have some similarities, but the experience of travel is much more enjoyable in my opinion. With travel, you may not always know where you will be at the end of the day.

Stepping out of your comfort zone via travel will open your eyes to the world through the people you meet, the food you eat, and the challenges you experience. Travel allows you to live like a local in their world, not yours. You will gain a new and lasting connection with a culture that may be very different than your own. There is a reason you have a “Staycation”, but not a comparable one for travel. Yes, sometimes you need a vacation from travel.

How many places on my map have you visited as well? Check out my YouTube channel to see some of the places we have visited.

If you had the option between travel and vacation, which would you choose?