Weird things that you miss about traveling....

Getting passport stamped. That gives me the feel-good goosebumps for some reason. It's a magic moment.

Setting foot outside the Puerto Vallarta airport and getting hit with that blast of heat. It gets me every time.

edit: I guess that isn't so weird.
How about this: That smell of the air deodorizer that they use at the casinos in Vegas. I oddly enjoy that smell and it always triggers something in me.

cliffclaven wrote: ↑ Setting foot outside the Puerto Vallarta airport and getting hit with that blast of heat. It gets me every time.

edit: I guess that isn't so weird.
How about this: That smell of the air deodorizer that they use at the casinos in Vegas. I oddly enjoy that smell and it always triggers something in me.

I love that moist warm air you feel coming out of the airport in a tropical country that's close to the ocean.

I also love being able to buy a bottle of beer at a 7-11 and walk on the busy street of Las Vegas, or in Hong Kong's LFK area at night.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ Getting passport stamped. That gives me the feel-good goosebumps for some reason. It's a magic moment.

I miss the relief of getting through immigration and customs successfully, that moment you realize you're officially in the country and can go wherever you want. I always get unreasonably anxious that there's going to be a problem or I'm going to get hassled for something (though those instances have only ever happened when entering Canada or the US).

Photography. I enjoy travel photography a lot.

Statistics101 wrote: ↑ I love that moist warm air you feel coming out of the airport in a tropical country that's close to the ocean.

I also love being able to buy a bottle of beer at a 7-11 and walk on the busy street of Las Vegas, or in Hong Kong's LFK area at night.

Agreed on that feeling of fresh smell off the plane in hot places.

Some of my credit card statements from Thailand or korea would make it appear that all I did was drink 7-11 beers or similar 24 hour convenience stores LOL memories or more importantly lack there of

Soju time!

uber_shnitz wrote: ↑ W is feeling like everything is so foreign, even in the most mundane of ways

I would say. Even the mundane becomes an experience.

IE I'm a weirdo that likes to look around convenience/grocery stores in foreign places. Observing the differences is a fun experience for me.

I miss spending hours reading reviews and seeing photos of potential hotels and tours that I would plan to book.

Maylay wrote: ↑ I miss spending hours reading reviews and seeing photos of potential hotels and tours that I would plan to book.

Definitely, one of the fun parts about planning a trip. And the anticipation of it!

Once on the plane, for long flights (12+ hours) you can watch movies, listen to tunes, or play games, and generally kill time without feeling guilty. Some bonuses are the free drinks or junky snacks (excuse to cheat on diet - this also applies to eating local foods), movie selection when something you haven't seen before is on teh program, extra legroom on the plane because of empty seat or older plane with extra space by the window, etc.

When I visit my in-laws, I do a side trip and only take a small backpack. I miss the liberating feeling of this minimalism. Less worries when you don't have a lode to deal with. Save time at checkin and no waiting for luggage when you land, hop on local transit to save $$$ and at the hotel less things to keep track of and a quick repack when you checkout. With just a backpack, you can maximize your trip by booking a later return flight (ideally a redeye). You can spend the day going about without big luggage or having to race back to wherever to pick it up before leaving. Having just a backpack is so much less burdensome. This is one of those weird things I miss most about travel, the satisfaction of packing light, and being rewarded by the efficiency of the strategy.

Having leftover chump change and looking for something to spend it on at the airport.

Traveling for work, I miss very little.
Traveling for pleasure, I miss the planning and the people we meet while traveling.

Miss the road travel anxiousness:

When crossing border to and from
When trying to determine when to stop for gas
When trying to determine if the fuel light being on has anything to do with the fact that you are in isolated part of the country with nary a gas station close by or open at 3 am
When trying to determine if can hold pee long enough before next gas station or rest area
When trying to determine what genius designed rest areas without bath/rest rooms

georvu wrote: ↑ Miss the road travel anxiousness:

When crossing border to and from
When trying to determine when to stop for gas
When trying to determine if the fuel light being on has anything to do with the fact that you are in isolated part of the country with nary a gas station close by or open at 3 am
When trying to determine if can hold pee long enough before next gas station or rest area
When trying to determine what genius designed rest areas without bath/rest rooms

Lol
As someone who loves me a good road trip
Gotta say all of them ring true!

Maylay wrote: ↑ I miss spending hours reading reviews and seeing photos of potential hotels and tours that I would plan to book.

Pre-covid, this was my daily hobby. I lived on TripAdvisor. The funny thing is, I miss none of it, it weird,maybe because I don't think I'll travel again, there's so many hurdles now that will be in place for probably years.

I miss carrying the currency from other countries, getting a new passport stamp, the challenege of trying to cram as much as possible into my suitcase without going over and the cabin chime signaling it's ok to take off your seatbelt.

happy belated new year RFDers.
bumping this interesting thread.

how are people coping with lockdown and no travel?
planning trips, watching youtube videos, shopping for gear for the next big trip?

The views from the window seat.

Miss going into a country and not understanding what people around me are talking about except the occasional English word that pops up.

Pre-departure champagne in J/F

Haps13 wrote: ↑ IE I'm a weirdo that likes to look around convenience/grocery stores in foreign places. Observing the differences is a fun experience for me.

I love doing that.

I also get excited about non-Canadian Costcos.