"I'm glad you made it back safely"

We travel so regularly that people usually don't say this to us, unless there's been some sort of "incident" in the area where we've been or there's been an airline problem.

Only heard this when we traveled to Turkey. But given that the Boston bombing happened during that trip, we felt safer in Istanbul.

I think it's just an affectionate figure of speech, just to acknowledge that you've had a safe and uneventful journey home as opposed to returning from somewhere risky.

I agree with JC. It's a kind thing to say.

1) Your plane did not go down
2) You didn't have a heart attack
3) You didn't slip and fall
4) Some random bad event did not happen
5) They like you and are truly glad you are back home.

Gosh, it today's world, I even say such things to my spouse when he returns safely from a routine trip to Home Depot or to Kroger. If someone is driving from Nashville to Knoxville (my sister has a home in both places), I often say "safe travels."

And, yes,I would say it to someone who took a trip to Colorado or Maine,too. It's a kind thing to say. Gosh, don't roll your eyes, please. Don't jynx it.
I guess it is much better than them saying to you, "Damn we were hoping your plane would go down." LOL.

A friend said this after I visited Texas. He was serious, very serious.

well people do say "break a leg" when wishing you luck

It really depends on tone. Sometimes people literally mean they are glad to see you after your time away. That’s great!

Sometimes there could be an implied judgment to it, like why would you risk travel or that you went somewhere they perceive as dangerous. That’s very annoying and yes it bothers me.

Intent and tone make all the difference.

I think it would be interesting to ask them what they mean when they say that.

I travel solo and have learned to stoically endure this sort of well-meant sentiment. I’m in Munich right now nursing a dicey lower back and I know my close friends and family are besides themselves with worry and will be especially relieved when I come home Sunday. I also love “Stay away from big crowds.”

"A friend said this after I visited Texas. He was serious, very serious."

I feel that way myself when I get home from Texas!

Christa when your friends and family say glad you made it back safely this time they may be litteraly referring to your back!

If they really mean that I have exposed myself to danger, then I tell them how several Europeans from different countries have told me that they are afraid to visit the USA due to the gun violence here.

I say it wherever anyone travels. My husband has been hit by a car on three different occasions while in a crosswalk and he had the light to cross. The cars did not stop. This was in California. Every time he walks through the door I tell him I’m glad he made it back. It’s my way of expressing gratefulness.

We left for the UK two days after the Manchester bombing last year, and, after some driving in Wales that involved narrow roads with big drop offs to the side and random free range sheep (for us, it doesn't seem to be a proper vacation without moderately scary driving involved) , ended up in London the day after a truck attack. So if someone wants to tell me that, I take it in the spirit the speaker intended.

Jazz+Travels, what crazy adventures are you doing during your trip?! ha! Just smile and answer that you can't wait to return. : )

We live in Philadelphia and just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy. I get your eye-roll (it was more of an exasperated sigh for me), because several of my older neighbors and family members warned me about terrorism in Europe before our trip. Given that we live in a city where over 300 people are killed each year by gun violence (not too unusual in any number of American cities -- or in American schools, for that matter), I pointed out that I didn't feel we would be less safe in Europe since guns are much more carefully controlled there. Several of them seemed surprised by this news (exasperated sigh).

Could it have been that I rolled my eyes because I'm no longer in Italy and now sitting in a cubicle at work?

It could mean a lot of things (clarity isn't always easy in English). To your last point, I have visited many beautiful, fun, exciting places in the U.S. too. Have fun planning your next trip! I had not gone on a good vacation for quite a while, but I feel so energized after our recent trip, I am going to start thinking about and saving for the next trip asap! Let's hope that no matter where we travel, we all arrive home safely. I would love the Rick Steves' tour of Turkey, but I know if I schedule that trip, my family and friends will be worried and have lots of warnings. They (whoever "they" are) say we should do one thing each day that scares us, but I am wondering if I am getting too old to be that scared.

Happy traveling and writing!

Last I checked the murder rate in Chicago was higher than Baghdad. That holds the for other US cities.

I got that a lot when I returned from South Korea spring 2017!

Jazz, I tend to notice it the most from co workers, so I think it means "I'm glad yr back to do yr own work and I no longer have to x since you're here now."

Yes and it drives me bonkers. Do they really think I would go someplace I thought was unsafe? I almost always explain to them that I have always felt more safe in Europe than I do in the US.

i am glad to find this post ...so i can vent. A friend asked me where I am going. I said “Switzerland”. She said, “ oh that is so dangerous.” . When am i going to learn to let it go and not feel I have to defend my choice of destination. Shall I even mention that less than 20 km away, our city had our own tragedy ?
I would never say anything about someone’s choice unless they had experience or it was indeed a “dangerous” decision. I am glad I am not the only one who gets silly remarks.

...Yes and it drives me bonkers..... Why ???? I think some people are overly sensitive or simply looking for reasons to be offended. It is common expression with little meaning. Sort of like, "Good Morning" or "Travel Safe" or "Be Careful." How do you know if it is or will be a good morning? How else do I travel?? Dangerously??? It is a well intended comment. If you don't like, maybe it says something about you.