There are things I never thought I would miss about travelling. Sitting upright in a crowded aeroplane, paying $10 for a coffee in a tourist area, having to buy yet another $30 travel adapter at the airport because you left yours in a hotel, or even standing in line for hours to go through customs. The weird thing is I now miss them, longing for the adventure and mishaps of a trip.

Oh how life has changed in the last 2 years (2019-2021) a rollercoaster of emotions for the entire world. For most people (including myself) putting things in perspective, those frustrating mishaps on the last trip, now seem like wonderful memories. These things are an inconvenience at the time but now seems so trivial, lets take a walk down memory lane and explore the 10 things I never thought I would miss about travelling.

Rushing to the airport, ensuring you check in on time only look up at the departure board and your flight reads “Delayed”. An Instant wave of frustration flows through your whole body. Great another X number of hours waiting for the flight to take off.  Fast forward to today, even making it to the airport is a win. What’s another couple of hours, No problems! Just let me on that plane.

That dreaded middle seat, snug in between two strangers who think that they are entitled to half of your armrest. Having to ask the aisle seat to move every time you want to get out to use the bathroom. The lovely human in front of you decides to lay their seat all the way back in your face. Now you have a seat in your face, old mates’ arms on your armrest and busting for a wee.

I never thought I would say this but this is one thing I defiantly miss about travelling. I would welcome that stranger’s arm and hair in my face if it meant I could be on a plane heading away somewhere.

Some people don’t mind airline food, some people won’t eat it at all. It obviously depends on who you fly with as to the quality of the food you get served. Getting that tray of “questionable” meat with a side of bread and butter is somewhat average.

Then the frustration of being at the back of the plane, and not getting the meal of your choice. Ah so annoying. Having someone else cook my meal and serving it to me, sounds like the dream. As for the choice, why not try something new aye?

One by one the crowded carousel slowly returns travellers bags, all but one! Standing there waiting, waiting, waiting for your bag to make an appearance when you suddenly realize it’s not coming! You then must make your way to customer service to start the proceedings of where your bag has disappeared to.

Once discovered the lovely attendant then tells you that it was left behind and they won’t have it till the following day.

Give me that disposable pair of undies and throw away a toothbrush right now, it wouldn’t faze me in the slightest you’re on holiday.

This one is a bit strange; I know. One of the first things you do when researching/ booking a trip is to check the smart traveller website for updates. The casual warning of “exercise a high degree of caution seems so trivial now. The kind warning from the Australian Government; that the country you are looking at visiting; might have the odd political unrest situation and just to be careful. Seems like an angel whispering in your ear compared to the current situation of COMPLETE TRAVEL BAN (All Australian residents are banned from leaving the country)

When booking accommodation in places that you are unfamiliar with, it can be quite difficult to pick. We often lean towards the ones with the best pictures showcasing the important features to us. How often have you turned up, the outside of a hotel and it looks like the photos were taken 30 years prior to your arrival. Or you walk inside and you can’t open your suitcase because the room is like a shoe box. These grievances seem so trivial now, who cares if your room is small or older. You are on holiday, make the most of it and be grateful.

The first ordeal is finding a toilet, the second is opening that door to the stall and seeing a hole in the ground. But when you got to go you have to go, so you gather up your nerves and make it work. Or the other end of the spectrum the high-tech public toilets make you feel inferior as a human. When your time is up the door swings open for all to get a glimpse of the show! (Yes, this has happened to me) Then it’s paying for a public toilet, there is nothing worse than busting, doing the cross-legged dance while the toilet attendant smiles sweetly and points at the 50 Euro Cent sign.

You finally arrive in Rome; you have been waiting to see the Trevi Fountain Your guide shows you through the beautiful streets and there it is the Trevi Fountain; the dam thing is covered in scaffolding! WHATTTTTTT IS THIS!!!

This is going to happen a lot throughout Europe; and unfortunately, the monuments do need to be maintained. Don’t be too disappointed if you get there and it is covered in scaffolding; yes it does affect that perfect Instagram shot but just remember why they are doing it, and be thankful that it will hopefully be there in 30 years time when your kids travel. All you need to do is get creative with your camera angles, and you will still get that amazing shot of say the Trevi Fountain. Check out our Expectations and attitudes post.

Every traveller will be scammed at some point, if not every trip they go on. At the time your so mad that you have been taken for a ride, just because you’re a tourist. The fake charities, the one-of-a-kind paintings you will never see again (until you walk to the next corner), the traditional tea ceremonies that you must pay up your life saving to leave. All of these things are an important part of your trip, you can almost guarantee that they will be one of the main memories of your trip and you will have a great laugh about it in the years to come.

Oh, there is “was” nothing worse than going to a main attraction and its crawling with crowds of people. Having to stand in line, in 40-degree heat to get a ticket or gain entry into an attraction use to be a major frustration. At this point, soaking up the sun surrounded by other excited people seems like a dream come true.

Travelling is something that changes you as a person, that teaches you to be accepting of others and open-minded to traditions. The thrill of meeting new people, the energy of other like-minded tourists, the incredible food, and flavours of a country and most of all the adventure is what we miss about travelling.  The travel industry needs us to stay strong and positive as it will return (one day).

Until that day I am sure there are things you never thought you would miss about travelling, We want to hear from you, what are the things that used to bug you on a trip that doesn’t seem that bad now?