Why I've Lost the Desire to Travel: The Stress of Modern Vacations

In a personal essay for the German newspaper der Freitag, author Ulrike Baureithel expresses a growing reluctance to travel, citing a range of stressors that have turned the once-luxurious vacation into a source of anxiety. She points to wildfires, exploding prices, and unreliable rental cars as factors that make planning a holiday feel like walking a tightrope. The essay begins with a question found online: "Are there people among you who don't like to go on vacation?" which received widespread approval, suggesting a shared sentiment. Baureithel interprets the desire to avoid vacations as a withdrawal from social expectations, a refusal to join the masses who travel the world seeking what they lack at home. She suggests that the question should now be extended to include the reasons behind this reluctance, as the stress factors, risks, and fears have turned the former luxury into a 'horror vacui'—literally, the fear of emptiness. Her own disinclination began with digitalization, which she implies has changed the nature of leisure and travel. The essay reflects a broader cultural critique of contemporary travel and its discontents.