I understand that weaving Aristotelian philosophy into a travel blog might feel overly intellectual, but please bear with me—this topic matters. It's a subject I've explored since launching LandLopers nearly nine years ago, and I still feel compelled to address it, even fight it. That “it” refers to how people view travel and the sky‑high expectations they set for themselves. Back in 2010, when I first wrote about this, the problem was already significant. Thanks largely to the Instagram effect, it has grown far worse. In this post, I want to highlight what I observe among the general traveling public, the warning signs that trouble me, and what I believe travelers should keep in mind as they plan their next big escape.
The Principle of Moderation
Though I rarely quote family members, I recall relatives telling me as a child to always practice moderation in everything. Part of that came from our New England Protestant upbringing, but it’s also a wise approach to life. Simply put, the Golden Mean represents the desirable middle ground between two extremes. For instance, courage is admirable, but taken too far it can become recklessness, while its opposite is cowardice. This concept ties directly to a phrase often attributed to Voltaire that ultimately inspired this post: “Perfect is the enemy of the good.” Ponder that sentence and what it means, especially in a travel context. One of my earliest arguments on this site was that many travelers hold unrealistic expectations for their trips, driven by factors such as travel magazines and, more recently, Instagram. My view is that one of two outcomes typically occurs: 1) travelers are let down when the real experience doesn’t match their inflated hopes, or 2) they never attempt their dream trip because they believe it’s out of reach. Both scenarios are regrettable and undermine the travel experience—the exact opposite of what I’ve aimed to achieve on this site for nine years. My entire purpose in creating LandLopers was to motivate people to explore more of the world and to start traveling in the first place. The notion of perfection works against that goal, which is why I now advocate for a Golden Mean approach.
No Place for Elitism
The travel world can be peculiar, filled with people desperate to add unusual experiences to their portfolio and others who aim to visit as many countries as possible—even if only the airport—just for bragging rights. None of this should bother the average traveler, except when these same individuals write travel advice. Sadly, they often cannot offer useful guidance. They aren’t typical travelers; they belong to a strange class of super‑tourists that 99.9% of us cannot relate to. I once heard a TV interview where a travel “expert” recommended destinations so remote and improbable that it was laughable. This saddens me because I believe arrogance has no real place in travel, and ultimately it helps no one. Instead, we need a legion of humble travelers. We need more people who, rather than seeking the hardest‑to‑reach places, visit accessible destinations and in doing so help us understand them better and inspire us to go as well. This isn’t new; TV programs and print magazines have followed this line of thinking for ages—it’s simply common sense. Most people travel to certain places, so let’s offer them advice on how to enjoy those spots more fully. Yes, there is a need to broaden horizons, to introduce lesser‑known destinations and encourage visits. But that must be balanced with everything else; it can’t be the only tune in your repertoire. So bloggers, take a lesson from travel magazines: yes, travel to and write about fantastical places, but also visit and write about more attainable destinations.
Instagram Is Not Reality
This issue has recently gained mainstream media attention, all eager to challenge the influence of platforms like Instagram. The core problem is that most photographers and influencers on Instagram often showcase only the sunniest side of destinations, omitting drawbacks or qualities that could detract from the travel experience. I don’t think this is new. If a National Geographic photographer captures the Sphinx, they will likely seek the best angle to highlight that impressive monument, not the Pizza Hut across the street. Yes, a large fast‑food restaurant sits next to the Sphinx, but the Giza Plateau is adjacent to modern Cairo and is one of the planet’s most important tourist sites, so the presence of restaurants shouldn’t surprise anyone. Still, perhaps the critics are right—maybe we creatives should do more to present the full picture of a destination, not just the stereotypical images we know are common. Yet it’s also essential for the casual traveler to remember that Instagram is not real life; it is an artistic representation of real life. Don’t let others dictate what travel should be like for you—only you can decide that.
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Craft Your Own Postcards
Even better than letting others tell us what is or isn’t beautiful, or which sights are worth visiting, is to create your own postcards—design your personal travel calendar. Some of my best travel experiences have come from chasing certain photos, not necessarily the photos themselves. Years ago in Singapore, I was determined to find the Merlion, a water‑spouting statue that serves as the city’s mythical mascot. Massive construction was underway, and I got lost—very lost. At one point, my partner and I ended up inside a mall, which shows how lost we were. Yet to this day, I remember that afternoon wandering the city, discovering parts I would never have seen otherwise, all in pursuit of that silly statue. The journey mattered more than the destination, as is so often the case.
Just Go
All travel is meaningful, whether you go twenty minutes away or to the South Pole. Any time we leave home solely for exploration or enjoyment, we change in ways that may be subtle but are no less significant. I realize I’m slipping into metaphysical travel‑blogger mode, but I can’t help it. I’ve been through this—I lived a life I wasn’t happy with and, through great effort, made changes to find happiness. I see countless others, many of them my friends, who don’t do this and walk through life burdened with regrets. “I wish I could,” “that would be nice,” and “it’s too hard” are their go‑to phrases, and each one is a cop‑out. I firmly believe that if you want anything in life and work hard enough, you can make it happen. Most people, however, aren’t willing to put in that work. This doesn’t have to mean an epic, around‑the‑world quest for self‑enlightenment. It can be as simple as visiting any new place—but visit it you must. The benefits are too many, and the risks too great, to ignore that siren call of travel. There hasn’t been a trip anywhere in the world where I haven’t learned something. Sometimes it’s about the place, but more often it’s about myself. Travel is selfish and personal—and that’s fine. It is an important step, not to be taken lightly and not to be looked down upon.
Travel is inherently personal. It’s wonderful to get tips and advice from others, but don’t let those words define your own travel experience. You have to make it your own, bend it to your own interests and desires. You’ll never have as much fun living out someone else’s dream trip as you will living your own.
This article originally featured on LandLopers.
