Trip envy

Don't forget that you can get off the ship in Barcelona and get to anywhere you ever want to visit in Europe on the following cheap budget European airlines:
Vueling Air
Wizz Airlines
WOW Airlines
RyanAir
Norwegian Air Shuttle
EasyJet AIrlines
And many, many more.

If you want to go to Italy, you can do it very easily. Go for it.

No matter how many trips I've taken and what I have planned for the immediate future, I always get a little jealous when reading on here about the trips people are planning or the ones they report on. Maybe it's a sickness, maybe an addiction, maybe just travel envy, I don't know but it's there. Just when I think I've been to most of the places on my bucket list, someone gets me interested in a new place that I hadn't even thought of before. Advancing age (and the resultant aches and pains) but mostly lack of funds means my extensive international travels are likely coming to an end soon. So, I guess I'll be traveling vicariously through reading these questions and trip reports and looking at the pictures in scrapbooks. Whatever, you are definitely NOT alone.

Thanks David. We have already had extensive conversations about what to do after the ship disembarks, knowing about the budget airlines. Current plans are to do more of Spain by rail, but anything could change by then. DH is really interested in Madrid. I could, and will, find myself flirting with any number of countries to head out to.

I think we will stay a minimum of three nights in Barcelona. We already have seen Barcelona (4 nights, too many years ago), but our friends who are cruising with us haven't been anywhere on continental Europe. They are seniors, not in great health, so this is their one and only chance to see some of Europe and I don't want to leave them. Plus, their brother is flying in from their hometown (Liverpool) so it will be a lovely reunion to be a part of.

Nancy, I hear you about the lack of funds. I make it sound like we are rich people. We certainly are not. We have "upper-modest" jobs, but not having children really helps the finances, plus we are not defined by the car we drive (as too many people I know are). We reluctantly took on a loan to replace our 1998 only last year!

What is an "upper-modest" job? There will always be a travel style that I won't be able to afford - hey, I'd like to swank it up on many a trip by staying at a place along the lines of a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton - but I also realize that there are a whole lot of people who don't make enough to fund even the cost of gas and a couple nights in a budget hotel within 100 miles from their homes, so I just don't see the point of being envious when I am lucky enough to be able to afford to do what a lot of others can't.

Count your lucky stars you are DINKS (Dual Income/No Kids) making what sounds like far more than minimum wage, because if you had a couple of college tuitions to pay, there likely would not be a trip to Ireland followed 6 months later with a transatlantic cruise and 12 nights of land travel in Europe.

I honestly don't envy other peoples' travel plans, but I do put places on my list that others write about.

For me, envy breeds discontent or feeling of some gaps waiting to be filled. I really try hard not to compare others' trips for that reason, or wonder when my turn is going to come (if I died today, I'd be 100% satisfied with everything I've seen and done, and I feel like a truly lucky person). I agree though, there are some fabulous photos in the scrapbooks that certainly bring many places to life in their vivid glory.

Agnes, in my mind, trip envy is when you are still happy others are having their dream trips. Trip jealousy is the negative side when you wish they weren't able to do so.

Unfortunately, trip envy is inevitable on a Travel Forum of this type: Only people who have the financial resources to make at least an occasional trip to Europe will be posting about their trips. And among that already select group, there inevitably will be some people with considerably greater financial resources than others, and financial resources are related to number and type of trips made. It's not the only factor, obviously, but it's one of them. After all, we're only human.

Oh yes, I've taken many trips to Europe and have one planned for later this year, but there's still a lot I want to see. I get envious and inspired by others -- particularly after attending one of my local "Travel Group" meetings -- those people are dedicated to travel!

One reason to hang out on the Forum is to arm-chair travel a bit, as trip planning gets the juices flowing. Lots of ideas on where to go, money and time saving tips, restaurant and hotel descriptions, etc. I do get travel envy when the Aussies talk about their 4-week holidays, what flights cost from India vs U.S. even though they are the same distance. And eh, you know, what Canadians are paying.

Sam, it does seem as though we Canadians are getting much better deals on airfare these days, but our dollar stinks against the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar!

Ray, you are the male, American, me!

My poor husband can't seem to think more than 2 months ahead. We had planned to do France next month, but we got tickets for a concert in NYC in July (U2, here we come), so I thought that would be our trip this year (that one is a driving trip)...but, hubby really wanted to return to the south of France and I just booked the plane tickets for late Sept/early Oct on Fri! In the meantime, I keep saying...I want to go to Holland next year for tulip time...I don't want to go to France if it means I can't go to Holland...and he's like...I can't think ahead that far. (Well, he's committed now!).

I am starting to think of bucket list things now (hence the trip to Holland for tulips...not that we are near death or anything) and even tho we've been 4 times to Venice, I want to go for Carnival, so yes...I'm already thinking...well, maybe in 2017 we can do that (meanwhile, hubby's head has just exploded - imagine planning for 2 years away!).

I don't seem to feel envious of other people's trips - just happy I can go and do what we like to do, even when my two neighbors talk about always flying First Class (and complaining about that if you can believe it "the seats actually fold down too flat!"). Just happy to afford our trips on a budget and the way we like them.

I wouldn't call it "trip envy." "Envy" has a negative connotation, but I think what you were going for is "wanderlust," and among this group, I imagine that feeling is pretty strong. Even while putting the final prep in for a Balkans trip next month, I have been doing research about other destinations: Norway, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, Chile. I don't know when any of these trips would materialize. I even told my wife the other day as I researched Norway, "I feel like I am cheating on Croatia! Why can't I put this off until we get back?!"

I don't feel too much "trip envy," but I enjoy reading about others' plans especially when they give me ideas for my own possible future travel. I feel the opposite of envy (schadenfreude?) when I read about some folks' 7-countries-in-14-days itineraries, where they plan to "hit" a bunch of big cities day after day.

As a former severe-budget traveler who has discovered later in life that I can afford a little more comfort than I used to be used to, I really don't feel envious of the high rollers as far as lodging and food are concerned. I agree with RS that expensive hotels and such put barriers between the traveler and the people and places he's come to see. But my envy kicks in big time when it comes to air travel. I'd love to be able to fly in those flat seats and actually sleep more than ten minutes at a time. But I also think that, even if I discovered untold riches, I'd still be too cheap to spend all that money in the front of the plane. Old frugality habits die hard. But I have loosened up enough for economy-plus!

I'm also too frugal to spring for the "front of the plane". But -- now some really nice meals -- I could spring for that!! And for hotels, I do want air conditioning and elevators, if possible. Otherwise I do prefer the "small family-run" hotels that Rick touts - no Hiltons for me.

Barb

I definitely have trip envy -- of my former self! We're in the unenviable position of living right here in Europe and yet our finances being what they are, not really being in a position to go ANYwhere. I remember when I first moved to France and was in a dramatically different earning situation, plus with a car, and the weekends I could toodle here and there etc etc. I miss so much not being able to travel -- and it's like its worse since everything is so close! (no transatlantic plane ticket to buy.)

Oh well, such is life and the results of choices we make. I have a lot of great memories and have gotten to see some amazing things. And heck I live in this city, and even going to see my in-laws in Italy (which is definitely NOT vacation!) means world-class pizza, coffee, etc. etc.

Re traveling in more comfort as mentioned in the most recent comments by Dick and Barb: this is something I've tried to persuade my parents on their last couple of trips. They have the money but just can NOT envision spending it on business class. I wish they would, it would make their whole trip so much easier if they could have some comfort on the way over.

I am just grateful I am in that tiny percentage of the world's population that can enjoy the luxury of travel, rather than worry about shelter, clean water and enough food.

I know I suffer from something... I guess that trip envy would be a good choice. We had to stop our twice a year European trips in 2008 due to family health issues. I don't know when we'll be able to start again... hope it's sooner rather than later. Until then I enjoy reading about other's planned trips and helping where I can by sharing what little knowledge and experience I have. This forum at least allows me to 'travel in my mind'.

Well, I suffer from something as well... but with all of these negative connotations I think we need to come up with a new name for it. While I feel extremely fortunate to have traveled and had incredible experiences, I always feel a twinge of longing when I hear others are traveling. I am happy for them and hope they have wonderful experiences , but I always wish I was going too:) If money were not an issue I would be traveling constantly. I guess we should call ourselves 'wanderlusters'??
Not sure how classy that one sounds either:)

I like "wanderlusters"! Each trip I take enriches my travel skills and I don't particularly envy others their trips, though I certainly get plenty of inspiration for my own from them. I have a short-list of trips on my agenda and they get shuffled around or changed frequently--last year I visited Budapest and that led me to bump France, Germany and Spain this year in favour of Poland and the Czech Republic, two countries I had not really even thought about visiting before.

Christa... Ok 2 votes for 'wanderlusters'

I loved Poland and Czech Republic....You will not be disappointed in either! Plus, Poland especially, is a bargain compared to a number of other countries in Europe. (Look into Romania... a really reasonable, beautiful, and less touristy country)

Andrea,
Some of the trip envy may be second guessing. Once I've made the decision where to go, (Berlin, Prague, Vienna. We leave in 25 days but who's counting?) there is always an element of whether or not it was the best way to use limited resources whether it is time, money or mobility. I'm always very excited for the trip I've planned but also looking ahead to the next one or the next several. In the words of Rocky Horror Picture Show "anticipa..................................tion"

I think I still like the term 'trip envy' because it appropriately names that which I am envious of - the trips. I'm not envious or jealous of other travelers or their ability to travel more frequently or more expensively than I do. I'm glad for them. I'm happy to have been able to take many trips and hope I still have a few years left to scrimp and save for another trip or two. But that doesn't stop me from sighing and wishing I was going when I read about someone's planned trip or a report from a great trip someone took. That desire to travel constantly to wherever and whenever is always there. I don't think that makes me greedy at all and as to the more serious posts that have crept in, I'm a bit ashamed to say I am glad my problems are only 'first world problems'.

ditto Nancy!

"I think the word you're looking for is greed. Be thankful for what you have. As mph alluded to, you're one of the world's privileged."

I don't understand how daydreaming about a future trip or someone else's trip equates to being "greedy." Why do you assume that I am not thankful that I live in a prosperous country and have the ability to travel? I've always thought of travel as providing a mechanism for personal foreign aid. Some countries are very dependent on tourism, and I'm happy to buy their food, stay in their hotels, and ride on their trains as I know that my dollars are going into their economy. Also, some in my family live abroad and teach English, and I'm happy to help support them and the work they are doing. If this is greed, then I want to be greedy.