When we had Lisbon scheduled on our itinerary for this trip, I got a ton of suggestions to take the day trip from Lisbon to Sintra. I did the research, checked it out and truly had every intention of going, but in the end, we didn’t end going and here’s why: we were exhausted.
I know as a travel blogger I’m supposed to want to see everything, to power through the tiredness and just go, but the truth is, as I get older and as I travel more, I’m stating to realize more and more that that’s not the kind of traveler I want to be. I don’t want to drag myself somewhere just because every guide book and travel blogger says I should if all I want to do is curl up in the hotel room bed for a 2 hour siesta on my last day of vacation. And the thing is, that’s totally ok. I feel like a lot of times all I read about is how we should seize every opportunity, power through the jet lag and the exhaustion, because seeing a place even if you’re drop dead tired is still worth seeing it. I beg to differ…I want to really experience the places I visit, I want to take them in emotionally, I want to really see them and personally I can’t do that when I’m exhausted.
I’m totally that person that loves to go to bed at 8pm and wake up at 7am. I need a lot of sleep and as I get older, I’m realizing more and more that while traveling, I am just not willing to sacrifice that to add another place to the itinerary. And so my friends, I’m here to tell you that traveling is exhausting and sometimes, as much as you might want to see another place, sometimes you’re just tired and need to use your vacation to actually rest.
I will say that we loved our time in Portugal and I know we’ll be back at some point in the future, so not to worry Sintra, you’ll be on the itinerary the next time around, but this time, that 2 hour siesta and more time in Lisbon was just what the doctor ordered.
Lauren says
Ha, I can totally relate to this! Sometimes I have to step back and realize that it’s my vacation and time being spent, not someone else’s.
Casey says
Totally! I have to remind myself this is my vacation from life and work and everything else, so I need to take it easy too!
Elizabeth @Something Saturdays says
It’s a tough balance to make the most of the opportunity and take advantage of your surroundings while also being on vacation and thoroughly enjoying yourself!
Next time!
Casey says
Yes, totally. It’s finding that balance over years of traveling that is the challenge!
Emily S says
I’m really serious about my sleep too! We spent two nights in San Francisco last fall and went to bed at like 8pm the second night because we’d walked ourselves nearly to death! haha I totally get it. Longer vacations wipe you out even more and almost require a a different vacation to recover.
Casey says
I get that! Walking totally tires me out too… you just want to lay in bed and not leave when you’re that tired!
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
Yes! Traveling slowly and getting enough rest increases the value of our adventures too.
Casey says
Totally. You take in a place more and deeper I feel if you take your time.
Annessa says
I get tired traveling too. I never know how people can go 100% everyday. I always need a little bit of rest.
Annessa
http://www.seekingsunshine.com
Casey says
I don’t know either. I need long nights of sleep before the days adventures while traveling for sure.
Helene says
this is so accurate. I don’t travel as much as you but man, it takes it out of you!!
Casey says
It really does! Even without traveling as much as I do, it really is just exhausting!
Cynthia says
Word! I feel 100% of this, especially with “if I’m exhausted I can’t enjoy it”. I took an (almost too ambitious) 3 week backpacking trip around Poland last summer. And man… sometimes, I just holed up in the room eating fro-yo because I didn’t wanna go out to dinner again/just wanted to chill out. I am appreciating the more relaxed approach to travel more and more these days.
Casey says
Totally! What’s the point in seeing EVERYTHING if you’re not going to enjoy it! Not worth it in my book!
Christina Guan says
Love the honesty! This is SO true. When you’re exhausted, you really aren’t able to take everything in like you should (and you’ll be partly miserable the whole day). Travel is supposed to be about enjoyment, not non-stop go go go. great read 🙂
Casey says
Yes! It’s about the experience and if it’s not a good experience, then what’s the point?
Julia says
I totally agree with this, and it’s a lesson I’m trying to learn as well. During my trip to Barcelona, I was so exhausted that I was unable to fully enjoy it by the end. So, what we ended up doing was just lazying around on the beach for our last day. In Berlin as well, I was so exhausted from my traveling that I just spent the last evening in my hotel room, enjoying room service and TV. Nothing wrong with it if it’s the best thing for you 🙂
Julia
ExploresMore.com
Casey says
I totally agree! I love nights in the hotel with room service and movies! It is a vacation from normal life after all!
Raechal M says
I couldn’t agree more! I had the same thing happen to me recently while in Chicago. The two hour nap was well worth missing out on some extra sight-seeing. I enjoyed the rest of my day so much more!
Casey says
Yes… naps are always worth it! 🙂 It really helps you to refocus and feel rested!
AngelicAbbie says
I completely agree! Our main reason for going to Canada was to go out and enjoy the nightlife since the drinking age in Canada is 18 and in the US its 21, and I’m 18, so when we ended up only going out for a half hour one night and not at all the second, I was 100% okay with it because I had taken in as much scenery as I could during the day, and I was just too tired to head out that night! Great post 🙂
Casey says
Totally! When you’re so tired, it’s not even worth trying to go out and such because you won’t enjoy it!
Adventurous Appetite says
So true. Traveling is amazing, but oh-so-tiring. I have to set aside days to do absolutely nothing, especially on longer trips, otherwise seeing these cool landmarks is meaningless.
http://www.adventurousappetite.com
Casey says
Yes… that’s such a great way to do it! We have started doing that as well, having certain days to just rest and do only what we feel like doing!
Chantal says
That’s how I feel! When we were in Thailand, we had the opportunity to go ride elephants, and in the end we decided to spend the day at the pool and relax. We were so tired. I don’t regret it!
Casey says
I totally get that! Sometimes, even if you miss out on fun things, it’s just not worth it if you’re exhausted.
Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki says
I think it is so important knowing when to take a break and miss out on seeing something for a day of relaxing! I am not the best at this and tend to try and pack way to much in, which just makes me tried and a bit stressed. I try and remember travel is all about fun and relaxing is just as important 🙂
Casey says
I know, it’s hard for me too. But keeping a day or two throughout the trip to just relax is one of the best things we can do!
Kristin says
I’m totally with you. We always try to leave our last day open so we can either kick back and totally relax, sleep in, or just sit in a cafe and watch people go by – or catch up on seeing things because we did that another day.
I think taking your time and making time to relax and absorb makes you a better traveler, too – you don’t get to really absorb a place if you’re constantly on the go, trying to check a zillion things off some real or imagined to-do list.
Casey says
That’s a great way to do it… to leave the last day open. And yes, taking your time really helps to absorb more and really take it all in.
House To Laos says
How true! I know myself, and I know I get tired a lot. But then somehow on travel, you are supposed to skip being tired in favor of doing more, seeing more, and taking in more. But it doens’t work like that does it…but it’s kind of neat to realize this, and give yourself a break you really end up “enjoying the moment of travel” more as a result.
Casey says
I know! We still need to take care of ourselves while traveling!
Becca @ thePersephonePerspecti says
You totally just made me feel 60% less stressed out just by reading this post! LOL! It’s so true that traveling makes you tired! While traveling, I often beat myself up if I’m not able to fit something in that I really wanted to see, but the reality is that there is always next time, right? Thank you for putting it so clearly into a sensible perspective. 🙂
Casey says
haha so glad! And yes, always next time!
Jacqueline Sudano says
This is absolutely true! While traveling is exciting and full of fun things to do, it should also be about relaxing and taking care of yourself without feeling too guilty about missing something. Sintra’s great, but leaving a few things to do when you leave somewhere never hurt anyone; just another reason to go back! Great piece, and it’s nice to know that I’m not alone!
Casey says
Yes! It’s so important to take care of yourself and just rest! And you’re so right, it just leaves a great reason to go back!
Jacqueline Sudano says
This is absolutely true! While traveling is exciting and full of fun things to do, it should also be about relaxing and taking care of yourself without feeling too guilty about missing something. Sintra’s great, but leaving a few things to do when you leave somewhere never hurt anyone; just another reason to go back! Great piece, and it’s nice to know that I’m not alone!
Andrea @ Green and Turquoise says
I can totally relate, I usually have all the energy when I travel, but sometimes my body just shuts down. In those cases, I think it’s best to just rest and regain my energy, instead of driving myself crazy trying to do everything I have of my list.
There’s no point in it, traveling is supposed to be an enjoyable experience after all!
Casey says
Totally! It’s not worth risking your health to just see another place, you want to enjoy it!