Travel Burnout Is Real — Here’s How to Travel Slower and Better

Table of Contents

I Hit Peak Travel Burnout (And It Wasn’t Pretty)

What Even Is Travel Burnout, Anyway?

Slower Travel: Not Just for Retirees or “Eat, Pray, Love” Fans

How to Actually Slow Down Without Feeling Like You’re Missing Out

Tangent Time: Why I Once Slept in an Airport Garden

Practical Tips for Traveling Better (Even If You’re Chronically Impatient)

A Quick Rant About “Doing It for the ’Gram”

How This Ties to Making Travel Fun Again in 2025

Personal Reflection + A Question for You

1. I Hit Peak Travel Burnout (And It Wasn’t Pretty)

So, picture this: I’m sitting on a cracked hostel bed in Lisbon, eating a squished granola bar at 11 a.m., wondering if I can call in sick to my own vacation. I’d been hopping cities every other day like some kind of deranged tourist on speed—Berlin on Monday, Prague on Wednesday, Vienna on Friday—by Sunday, I didn’t even know which country I was in. (Fun fact: it was Austria. Took me an embarrassing amount of time to confirm.)

And this wasn’t a one-off. This was me hitting peak travel burnout—a thing I didn’t even know existed until I basically turned into a grumpy travel gremlin. I mean, isn’t travel supposed to be fun? Yeah, about that…

2. What Even Is Travel Burnout, Anyway?

Travel burnout’s like… okay, you know when you’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet and you’re so excited at first, then 45 minutes later you’re in a mashed-potato coma, questioning every life decision that led you there? It’s that, but with airports and museums instead of carbs.

Signs you’ve got it:

• You stop caring about “must-see” attractions. (The Eiffel Tower? Meh.)

• You start craving your own bed more than new passport stamps.

• Every layover feels like a personal attack.

Oh, that reminds me — I once wrote about how to make traveling actually enjoyable again in 2025 and honestly, this is part of it. Travel burnout is why so many people are craving slower, more intentional trips.

3. Slower Travel: Not Just for Retirees or “Eat, Pray, Love” Fans

I used to think slow travel was just code for “I quit my job to become a travel blogger and now I’m living in Bali with a pet gecko named Steve.” Turns out, you don’t have to be rich, retired, or ridiculously zen to do it.

Slow travel’s just… well, traveling like you’re not being chased by an imaginary stopwatch. Staying longer in fewer places. Actually learning the metro system instead of just memorizing how to get to the airport. Maybe even—brace yourself—talking to locals without googling “top 5 phrases to sound authentic.”

And yeah, it feels weird at first. Like you’re not “doing enough.” But honestly? Doing less might be the ultimate travel flex.

4. How to Actually Slow Down Without Feeling Like You’re Missing Out

Okay, real talk: I’m still learning this. But here’s what’s helped me, kinda.

1. Pick fewer destinations. Three cities in 10 days is chaos. Two in 10 feels civilized.

2. Schedule nothing for one day. Just wander. Or sit. Or nap. (I once napped through a cathedral tour. No regrets.)

3. Travel light. Lugging a giant suitcase through cobblestone streets is basically cardio, but not the fun kind.

Oh wait, I should mention — if you’re curious about the social side of travel, you’d probably like my rant on why everyone should travel solo at least once. Slower travel makes solo trips way less terrifying.

5. Tangent Time: Why I Once Slept in an Airport Garden

Quick detour — literally. In Singapore, I had an overnight layover and accidentally found myself in this insane butterfly garden at 2 a.m. I was too tired to appreciate it, so I curled up on a bench with my memory foam travel pillow (the inflatable one had tragically burst mid-trip — RIP) and passed out. I woke up to a tourist taking a selfie with me in the background. Probably went viral somewhere as “sleeping airport goblin.”

Anyway, I wrote about stuff like this in The Layover Diaries: How to Turn Waiting Into a Mini Adventure. Apparently, even waiting rooms can be fun… if you’re not completely fried from overtraveling.

6. Practical Tips for Traveling Better (Even If You’re Chronically Impatient)

• Stay in one spot long enough to memorize your barista’s name. (Shoutout to Marco in Florence — best cappuccino, worst haircut advice.)

• Do one “touristy” thing, then skip the rest. Nobody’s handing out medals for exhausting yourself.

• Say no to FOMO. Seriously, Instagram’s lying to you. People crop out the crowds.

• Pack comfort items. Like that one hoodie you basically live in or a playlist that isn’t “Top 40 Hits You’re Already Sick Of.”

Speaking of comfort, if you’re hitting multiple airports, check out my ramble about unspoken travel rules — it’ll save you from becoming That Person everyone hates in security lines.

7. A Quick Rant About “Doing It for the ’Gram”

Look, I’m not anti-Instagram. I love a good vacation photo dump as much as anyone. But if you’re only climbing that cliff for a selfie and not because you actually want to be there? Congratulations, you’re manufacturing your own burnout.

Don’t get me started on people who carry full tripods through crowded markets. (Seriously, why?)

8. How This Ties to Making Travel Fun Again in 2025

The whole point? Travel doesn’t have to be an endurance sport. Whether it’s choosing quality over quantity destinations or just taking a breath mid-itinerary, slowing down makes the trip feel like… well, a trip, not a to-do list.

Also, this idea ties right into that main topic I mentioned earlier: How to Make Traveling Actually Enjoyable Again in 2025. If burnout’s the illness, slow, intentional travel is the cure.

9. Personal Reflection + A Question for You

I’m still figuring this out. I still overpack. I still book 6 a.m. flights and hate myself for it. But every time I stay longer in one place, or leave a day unplanned, I remember why I started traveling in the first place.

So… what about you? Ever hit peak “I just want to go home” mid-vacation? Or are you one of those magical people who never gets tired of airports (teach me your ways)?

If you liked this rambling mess, maybe check out my other stuff. No pressure though.

 

Author Profile:

Hi, I’m Florian Werner, the founder of FLOWZOOM. The idea for FLOWZOOM started during an unforgettable trip around the world. After spending what felt like forever on long flights, I noticed just how tough it is to stay comfortable while traveling.

I tried every travel pillow I could find, hoping for some relief—but nothing worked the way I needed it to. That’s when I decided to create my own. At FLOWZOOM, we focus on designing pillows that actually do what they’re supposed to: keep you comfortable and supported while you travel.

I’ve spent years figuring out what makes a great travel pillow. My goal is to make every trip easier for people who, like me, want to enjoy their journey without the aches and pains. I’m proud to share what I’ve learned through FLOWZOOM’s products and tips for better travel.

Here’s to making every trip a little more comfortable!