Why do you travel?

[Mattg]

Everyone travels for a different reason. What's yours?

I realise that the reason to take one trip might be different from the next. So you could also answer this question in two parts: why do you take the trips that you need to take, and why do you travel when you want to?

 

[drcam]

I travel to learn about new places. I probably spend more time reading up on a destination than actually visiting them. For me a vacation is learning about history or culture or nature. It is not about lazing on a beach at a resort in Bournemouth.

 

[Dmac59]

Now that I've retired all of my travel is recreational. Can't think of a better reason than escaping the MEL cold weather.
Unfortunately a lot of my travel is in school holidays due to commitments helping out minding grand kids.

 

[mrsterryn]

Ok a very shallow reason.
I love to see places that I have only seen on TV or read about in books.
My father was in the Navy and on occasions would discuss what he had seen overseas.
Perhaps also seeing in real time the differences of X country versus Australia
Also another person who loves to plan her trips

 

[n7of9]

My family permanently moved countries when i was 5 years old, and we kept in close contact with our overseas family, so I think travelling somewhere else in the world was just always part of my life. I love the perspective travelling gives me, both of others and myself, and the beautiful sadness that we're all just people, and we all want the same things in life.

Also, it gives me a reason to work, otherwise I'd be a beach bum living off 2 minute noodles.

 

[aplmac]

1) Family connections are overseas
2) Retired, so not on the clock, and not needing to replace body parts yet
3) Kids are already sorted, so not SKI-ing in that regard
4) No grand-kids or fur-kids commitments
5) We both have had the travel bug since our parents infected us in our childhoods
6) World as we know it is rapidly shrinking in accessibility, so would like to create and preserve memories of that what was
7) Can still afford the travel insurance premiums for now...

 

[Matt_01]

These days I choose to travel either to places I want want to go (solo) or with the family on family trips. I still have to travel for work but I have cut this back from 100+ trips per year to around 10.

 

[RooFlyer]

I take trips I need to take to visit family interstate.

I take trips I want to take to see the world - as much of it as possible, as often as possible.

 

[Scarlett]

To play golf in every country in the world that has a golf course…

Also try to see a bit of the foreign city I’m in when there, usually a national or regional museum.

North Korea has a golf course.
Kabul GC might be closed now, so that’s probably a good thing. Much like the little course there used to be in Bamako, Mali. Happy I don’t have to get there. Google maps still shows one in Chad.

 

[drcam]

1) Family connections are overseas
2) Retired, so not on the clock, and not needing to replace body parts yet
3) Kids are already sorted, so not SKI-ing in that regard
4) No grand-kids or fur-kids commitments
5) We both have had the travel bug since our parents infected us in our childhoods
6) World as we know it is rapidly shrinking in accessibility, so would like to create and preserve memories of that what was
7) Can still afford the travel insurance premiums for now...

My parents are now in their late 70s and they are still purchasing insurance on their overseas trips. Is this generally still possible once they hit 80?

 

[drcam]

I take trips I need to visit my parents in NSW (~ 5 times a year), and my extended family in the Lower Yangtse in China (NKG/PVG/HGH, 1-2 times a year). Occasionally I have interstate work trips, maybe 2 a year.

There are too many trips I want to take and I would likely die of old age before I complete them.

 

[flightsonpoints]

I travel to create memories with my partner and immidiate family. My dad passed away in 2019 at 54, his passing made me realise that the best memories of him are all the trips we took together, love going through all the photos in my gallery remembering special moments. I still take mum on trips at least once a year when she is visiting us in Aus.

My rule is overseas trip every 3-4 months even if it means revisiting a city/country because every time you go is a different experience.

 

[somebol]

See and experience this amazing world

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Travel is food for the soul...


...sums it up for me.

Well that an unquenchable curiosity.

 

[VPS]

Because I’m curious and I love different scenery and architecture

As my body slows down, I know that I won’t see everything that’s on my bucket list, but I’m going to give it it a damn good try

 

[serfty]

It really been my hobby for three decades and involves the enjoyment in getting there, followed by being there. Status helps improve the enjoyment in getting there.

For the first two of those, my employment paid for most of it ... these days I really look to squeeze the best bang for buck/point/mile.

 

[mrsterryn]

I realise this was a generic "why do you travel " but some trips are more important than others
My mother and I had planned to go to UK once my father passed. His death was imminent for years . However when he did pass, mum's dementia was advanced and she had to enter into a nursing home
So I was determined to not do the same thing, my son (he was grumbling of course )went to Hawaii for a week just the two of us leaving my husband at home. We have some great photos and memories and it was just us . Maybe one day the family will have holidays with us , but I did a bucket list holiday of time with my son .

 

[Rabs97]

“Because not travelling is like only reading the first page of a book”

“Because travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”

“Because jobs fill your pockets, adventure fills your soul”

Cringey Instagram travel influencer quotes aside I do (in a way) as a form of eduction. I grew up in a very close minded small town environment. There was a lot of suspicious, distrust and sometimes xenophobia about the world that existed outside of it.

Part of me gets a kick out of seeing a place, and for the most part finding anything worrisome I’d heard about it from people at home, or the media, was mostly false.

Yes, it may sound tacky, but I travel to open my mind.

 

[Maca44]

The flying part of my trips is not the best part, even though I have been lucky enough to have only flown business class for the past 25 years, you are still locked in a pressurised tube, just a better seat. I have done heaps of travel, and currently in Canada as part of another 7 week RTW trip. The good part of having been to so many places is that I can concentrate on visiting friends that I have made over the years, and not concentrate on the touristy things. So, for me, the best part is catching up with friends.

 

[drron]

I always had the urge to travel Whilst at school would go on family holidays to NSW North coast and occasionally QLD. plus lots of visits to Melbourne to visit my mother's family.
At Uni took a 3 week holiday hitching around NZ stopping mainly at youth hostels.
Before starting Work a trip to PNG and the Solomon Islands. I went on the medical boat around the Solomons for 3 weeks arranged through the resident NZ Physician. Also caught up with a bush walking mate who was researching dolphins in Auki.

Then early family holidays first by ourselves and then domestically with our son to all States and Territories. From the age of 8 he went with us on many OS holidays.

In my early years as a specialist I saw many who had planned on a grand trip when retiring. sadly within 3 months of retirement many had severe medical problems some not surviving. I made sure that wasn't going to happen to us so we took 2-3 OS trips a year. Loved Asia and the US. Ended up visiting all 50 states in the US and owning a time share in NYC for 13 years. Bough it 2 months after 9/11 so able to sell at a profit after 13 years.

Retired from my full time work just before I turned 60. So traveled Australia doing locums so getting to know some places better.

When OS I just like walking around and often in rarely visited areas. Have had some lovely interactions doing this.
Have several trips booked for the next 12 months hoping my health holds out.