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‘Revenge Travel’ is a Misnomer
It’s more frenzy than spite, but will the need for travel really blow numbers out of the water this summer?
I first heard the term “Revenge Travel” this week, as CBS Sunday Morning did a segment on the anticipated travel boom this summer. National Geographic contributor Heather Greenwood Davis defined the phrase for CBS.
“‘Revenge travel’ is the idea that, after a year of being at home, people are gonna get back at the pandemic, and actually get out there and live their best lives while traveling,” she said.
She told the network about the “gray wave” of vaccinated seniors 65+ cranking up their travel plans and anticipates the same wave for younger adults.
I don’t dispute her, but I also don’t like the term “Revenge Travel.” I don’t think it’s getting even with COVID. If anything, I’d compare it to feeding the piranhas at the zoo, or the super weird Zion Dance Party in The Matrix — a frenzy of euphoric activity when the opportunity presents itself.
Or as one friend put it:
I am annoyed that COVID has taken so much but I do just want to enjoy the things I used to enjoy.
