From Europe to Home: Adjusting to a New Travel Reality

Over the past three years I got to live and work in Ireland and Spain. I loved living in Europe and am itching to move back; but life happened, a new career path was needed and the best option was to move back home to the U.S.. That is when the reality of my travels fully sank in.

Not everyone gets to live a glamorous life as a travel influencer who gets paid to hop from place to place. Some people travel frequently for work, but the reality of working while traveling is often far different than what it looks like online. And for many people, especially in the U.S., travel is something that happens once or twice a year at most. International trips might only happen every few years.

As thankful as I am for the experiences I’ve had, I’ve also had to accept that I am not always going to be on a plane once a month exploring somewhere new. Between work schedules, finances, and general life priorities, travel is something that can become difficult to achieve and sometimes it simply can’t be the priority.

My favorite part of living in Ireland was the opportunity to take weekend trips with friends, exploring the country.

American vs. European Travel Accessibility

According to a consumer survey from MRI-Simmons, around 56% of Americans have a valid passport. That number has gone up over the years, but even so, international travel is not as common for many Americans as it is for Europeans. While the percentage of Europeans with passports varies by country, it’s estimated to be similar, but the usage is what really differs.

During my time in Europe, I noticed how much more accessible travel felt. Flights were shorter, tickets were significantly cheaper, and working in Europe often comes with double the paid time off compared to the United States. It’s not uncommon to plan weekend trips to another country, the way an American might plan a weekend trip to another state.

This year, I got to travel to California and discover the beauty of Yosemite National Park.

Because of the limited PTO many Americans receive and the high cost of domestic flights, it’s not always possible to travel the way they might want to. In my opinion, Americans often want to travel more—they just don’t always have the time or financial flexibility to make it happen.

One advantage Americans do have is the ability to take road trips across a massive and diverse country. Growing up, I was lucky enough to take yearly summer trips with my family. We’d load up the car and drive anywhere from 8 to 16 hours, crossing states, stopping at roadside attractions, and fully experiencing the landscape along the way.

Those trips were meaningful to me and they’re a reminder that travel does not always require getting on a plane. The U.S. has mountains, deserts, beaches, cities, coastlines, and everything in between. While I encourage Americans to experience cultures outside the U.S., I’m also grateful to live in a country where there is so much to explore close to home.

The Cost of Travel

Of course, cost is one of the biggest reasons people don’t travel more. Flights fluctuate constantly, accommodation adds up, and daily food and activities can be more than expected. Many people have to budget over long periods just to take one meaningful trip.

Traveling on a budget is possible, but it requires flexibility—choosing hostels over hotels, planning ahead, or prioritizing experiences over luxury. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s real.

Travel Portrayed on Social Media

Social media has a huge impact on how we perceive travel. Influencers show stunning sunsets, café breakfasts, coastal cliffs, and beautiful streets but rarely the long travel days, the budgeting, the exhaustion, or the homesickness. When your feed is filled with people traveling constantly, it can be easy to feel like you’re missing out.

But the truth is: everyone’s life stage and circumstances are different. Not traveling all the time doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. It simply means you have priorities that matter—your career, your relationships, your stability, your future.

This has been a reality check for me personally. I went from living in Europe and traveling frequently, to moving back to the U.S. and not knowing when my next trip will be. I’m eager to get back out into the world, but I know that right now, I need to focus on building my career. And when the opportunity comes again—I’ll be ready to book that flight.

Conclusion

This past year, I have learned that travel doesn't need to be constant to be meaningful. It doesn’t have to look like someone else’s version of “adventure.” What matters is that you travel when you can, how you can, with intention—and savor every moment of the experience when it happens.