Travel vs Holiday – P Mami

I believe one of many largest causes individuals come dwelling upset from a visit is as a result of they by no means labored out what the intention of their journey was within the first place. Because a vacation and travelling will not be the identical factor… and I’m going to let you know bout it!

For me a vacation is about relaxation. The precedence is switching off, slowing down and coming dwelling feeling refreshed. You is likely to be in a brand new nation, however you’re not attempting to see completely every thing.

Travelling is totally different. Travelling is motion. Its gathering the automotive, driving an hour to see a seashore, then heading someplace else after lunch as a result of somebody advised you there was one other one you couldn’t miss.

Holiday = cease.

Travel = go.

I believe individuals typically see what I publish on-line and assume I’m on one lengthy vacation however I’m actually not. I’m travelling with little moments of a vacation sprinkled in. If something I’m on a working vacation. My journeys are a mixture of work, journey and vacation as a result of I create journey guides, give journey recommendation and run retreats. Thats why my journeys are inclined to look a bit of totally different as they’re longer they usually mix all three.

I’m continuously shifting round and I at all times rent a automotive in every single place I’m going. I’m up at 6am each morning irrespective of the place I’m (due to having a Border Collie again dwelling) so I’m on the bakery first, I’m getting the entrance umbrella on the seashore and I’m normally seeing two to a few totally different locations in someday.

For some individuals, that’s not essentially enjoyable. For a hyperactive ADHD’er, its perfection. I transfer and go, then cease and lie within the solar for a bit, then go once more.

I completely have days the place I do nothing, keep in a single spot, get a solar mattress for the entire day and correctly change off. But most of my journeys are constructed round exploring and never resting.

I additionally assume this adjustments the recommendation I’d give individuals. If somebody advised me they’d one week in Greece they usually wished to chill out, I wouldn’t essentially ship them chasing each seashore I’ve ever really useful throughout the Peloponnese. If you spend your whole week driving an hour right here and an hour there attempting to recreate another person’s journey, you may find yourself needing one other vacation once you get dwelling.

I’d most likely ship you someplace like Hydra or Sifnos as a substitute. Fewer vehicles, a slower tempo, stunning walks, lengthy lunches and loads of time to really chill out.

A pal of mine went to Crete final yr after I’d been and stayed in among the similar areas. When we caught up afterwards she mentioned “It was incredible, but I feel like we had completely different trips.”

She solely had two weeks and she or he was travelling with household and children. I had six weeks on my own with full flexibility. Neither journey was higher, however they had been simply totally different.

That dialog made me realise that the explanation I’d seen a lot extra wasn’t as a result of Crete was magically totally different for me than for her. It was as a result of I used to be shifting/travelling so my assortment of experiences was extra huge.

Of course every so often the universe (or no matter you consider in) ignores your plans altogether. You can guide your self a journey journey and by some means find yourself on a vacation as a substitute. I wrote about this idea final yr in Getting Served What You Need, Not What You Want.

I believe there are inquiries to ask your self earlier than you guide something. Do I want a vacation? Do I wish to journey? Do I wish to relaxation? Do I wish to transfer every single day?

Or do I desire a little bit of each? Which is solely doable. Its not an unique choice the place they will’t exist collectively. Maybe you desire a little bit of go, then a little bit of cease.

None of these solutions are flawed. But figuring out which one you’re truly chasing makes it a lot simpler to get pleasure from it when you’re there, as a result of your expectations are aligned with why you went someplace within the first place.

I believe there may be generally a looming strain to see and match every thing in once we spend a lot money and time going abroad. But my reply to that nervousness is: these seashores and tavernas will nonetheless be there over the approaching years so until I plan on dying quickly, which I don’t, I can see that in my subsequent journey.

Because there’s nothing worse than anticipating a vacation whilst you’ve unintentionally booked your self an expedition. Or anticipating an journey when what you’ve actually deliberate is seven days by the seashore.

They’re each sensible. They’re simply not the identical factor.

The trick is figuring out which one you want earlier than you guide it!!

With love, chaos & rigatoni from Crete

PM xx

(irrelevant image beneath of my Greek salad + Coke final night time that was scrumptious)