Why Your Travel Aesthetic Might Be Ruining Your Trips
Introduction: The Allure of the "Travel Aesthetic"
Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and felt jealous of those dreamy travel photos? Perfect sunsets, spotless beaches, and people sipping coffee in charming cafes, it all looks magical. This is what we call the "travel aesthetic."
It's all about making your trips look beautiful, like something straight out of a movie. But what if trying too hard to make your travels look perfect is ruining the actual experience?
In this post, we will explore why focusing too much on the travel aesthetic can take away from your adventures and how to find the right balance between beauty and reality. Whether you're a seasoned traveller or planning your first trip, this guide will help you enjoy travel for what it truly is.
What is the "Travel Aesthetic"?
The travel aesthetic means making your trips look beautiful in photos. It’s about capturing moments that are picture-perfect, like:
Standing on a cliff with a breathtaking view.
Walking through colourful streets in a new city.
Eating picture-worthy meals at exotic restaurants.
It’s inspired by social media, where everything looks polished and perfect. People use filters, specific poses, and even props to create these stunning images. But while these photos look great, there’s often a hidden cost.
How the Travel Aesthetic Affects Your Trips
1. You Focus More on Photos Than Experiences
Have you ever visited a famous place, but instead of enjoying it, you were busy trying to get the perfect photo? This happens to a lot of people. You might spend hours finding the right angle, editing the photo, and posting it online. But by doing this, you miss out on:
Listening to the sounds of nature.
Feeling the atmosphere around you.
Talking to locals and learning about their culture.
For example, if you visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it’s easy to get caught up in taking selfies. But what if you put your phone away and just looked at the tower? You might notice details you’d otherwise miss.
2. You Choose Destinations for Their Looks, Not Their Value
Sometimes, people choose places to visit just because they look good in photos. This means you might skip hidden gems or unique experiences. For example:
You might go to Santorini, Greece, for the white buildings and blue roofs but miss the smaller villages nearby that offer rich culture and fewer crowds.
You might visit a famous beach but avoid quieter, more relaxing spots because they aren’t as Instagram-worthy.
When you focus only on aesthetics, you limit yourself from exploring places that could make your trip truly unforgettable.
3. It Creates Stress
Trying to maintain the perfect travel aesthetic can be stressful. Here’s how:
You spend hours planning outfits for photos.
You feel pressure to visit places just to get good pictures.
You worry about how many likes or comments your photos will get.
Travel should feel like an adventure, not a job. It’s meant to be relaxing and fun, not stressful or rushed. But when you’re too focused on appearances, it can feel like work.
Why the "Travel Aesthetic" Isn’t Always Real
Most travel photos on social media don’t show the whole story. For example:
A picture of a perfect beach might not show the crowds of tourists just out of frame.
A beautiful mountain view might hide the fact that the person had to wake up at 4 AM and hike for hours to get there.
A fancy dinner photo might not mention how expensive the meal was.
These photos are carefully curated to show only the good parts. Comparing your real-life trips to these images can make you feel like your travels aren’t good enough, even when they’re amazing in their own way.
How to Enjoy Travel Without Losing the Aesthetic
1. Prioritize Experiences Over Photos
Instead of focusing on how your trip looks, focus on how it feels. Ask yourself:
What do I want to learn from this trip?
How do I want to feel while I’m here?
What’s unique about this place that I can’t find anywhere else?
Take photos, but don’t let them take over. Snap a quick picture, then put your camera or phone away and enjoy the moment.
2. Find Beauty in Imperfection
Not everything has to look perfect to be beautiful. Sometimes, the best memories come from unexpected moments:
Eating street food instead of dining at a fancy restaurant.
Getting lost in a new city and discovering a hidden gem.
Laughing at silly mistakes, like mispronouncing words in a foreign language.
These experiences may not look aesthetic, but they’re real and meaningful.
3. Balance Aesthetics With Authenticity
You can still enjoy the travel aesthetic without losing authenticity. Here’s how:
Mix planned photo spots with spontaneous exploration.
Choose at least one activity per trip that has nothing to do with photos, like attending a local event or trying a new hobby.
Use social media to inspire your travels, but don’t let it dictate them.
Tips for Better, Stress-Free Travel Photos
If you love taking travel photos, here are some tips to make it enjoyable and stress-free:
1. Plan Ahead: Research good photo spots before your trip. This saves time while you’re there.
2. Shoot Quickly: Take a few photos and move on. Don’t spend too much time on one shot.
3. Edit Simply: Use basic editing tools to enhance your photos without making them look fake.
4. Capture the Moment: Take candid photos of real moments, like laughing with friends or enjoying a meal.
Why Authentic Travel is Better
Travel is about more than just how it looks. It’s about:
Learning new things.
Meeting new people.
Trying new foods.
Seeing the world from a different perspective.
These are the things you will remember long after your trip is over, not the number of likes on a photo.
Conclusion: Travel for Yourself, Not Social Media
The travel aesthetic can be inspiring, but it’s not the most important part of a trip. Don’t let the pressure to look perfect ruin your travels. Instead, focus on making memories, experiencing new things, and enjoying the journey.
Next time you travel, try putting your phone away for a while. Look around, take it all in, and remember that the best moments don’t always need to be captured in a photo. They’re captured in your heart.
So, where will your next adventure take you? And how will you make it truly yours? Let us know in the comments below.
