The Most Overrated Things in Travel
- Michelle Mushinski
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
(According to a travel agent who has seen some things)
Let me start by saying this, just because something is popular on social media does not automatically make it a good travel decision. I know. Shocking, right?
After years of traveling, touring resorts, talking to suppliers, listening to client feedback, and helping people plan vacations every single day, I’ve developed some pretty strong opinions about what’s actually worth the hype, and what really isn’t.
Now before anyone gets personally offended, this is all meant in good fun. If you love some of these things, honestly, good for you. Travel is personal. What one person loves, another person avoids like airport middle seats. But here are a few travel trends and habits that I personally think are a little overrated.
1. The Cheapest Resort Isn’t Always the Best Deal
I love a good deal as much as anyone else. I will absolutely hunt for value. But there is a big difference between “great value” and “there’s probably a raccoon running the night shift at the snack bar.”
Sometimes people get so focused on saving a couple hundred dollars that they completely ignore things
like terrible food reviews, outdated rooms, long airport transfers, overcrowded beaches, weak drinks, or resorts under construction. Then they get there and are shocked when the trip isn’t amazing.
And no, you absolutely do not need to stay at the most expensive luxury resort to have an incredible trip. Some mid-range resorts are fantastic. But when one resort is dramatically cheaper than everything else around it, there’s usually a reason. Sometimes that reason is “the buffet tastes like sadness.”
2. Vacation Shouldn’t Require a Recovery Vacation
Some itineraries honestly make me tired just reading them. ATV tours. Catamarans. Ziplining. Cenotes. Snorkeling. Ruins. Party cruises. Every single day from sunrise until midnight. At what point are we actually relaxing?
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE excursions. Some of my best travel memories have happened off resort. But
people underestimate how exhausting travel already is. Early flights, airports, sun, heat, drinks, late nights, it all catches up to you. You do not need to come home needing a recovery vacation from your vacation.
Some of the best travel moments are actually the simplest ones. A long lunch overlooking the ocean. Floating in the pool for hours with a drink in your hand. Meeting random people at the swim-up bar. Watching the sunset before dinner. Vacation doesn’t always need a packed itinerary.
3. If Your Resort Needs a Shuttle System, I’m Already Annoyed
I know some people absolutely love giant resorts, especially families who want endless activities and options. And to be fair, some mega resorts are beautiful. But some of them are SO enormous that you feel like you need hiking boots, a shuttle pass, and a detailed map just to find the lobby.
Personally, if it takes me 20 minutes to get from my room to the beach, I’m already irritated.
Your vacation should not accidentally become a cardio program. I’d rather stay somewhere with a layout that makes sense, where everything feels easy and accessible, and I don’t have to strategically plan my route back to my room like I’m competing on Survivor.
4. Instagram Resorts vs. Reality
You know the ones. Perfect floating breakfasts. Giant hats. Beige swimsuits. Nobody else in the pool. Everyone somehow looks effortlessly glamorous despite being in 90% humidity. Meanwhile in reality,
there are probably 400 people standing behind them waiting for the exact same photo.
A resort can look absolutely stunning online and still be completely wrong for YOU. I can’t tell you how many times people choose a resort because it photographs beautifully, only to arrive and realize the food is mediocre, the beach is tiny, the pools are packed, and the vibe is nothing like what they expected.
That’s why when I help clients choose resorts, I care way more about things like the overall vibe, the beach, food quality, room comfort, service, and whether people consistently come home loving the experience.
5. Floating Taco Trays Need to Stop
I said what I said! Who came up with the idea of eating tacos standing in a swimming pool? Who decided balancing guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and tacos on a floating tray in chest-deep water was relaxing?
And then we’re all just supposed to happily continue swimming around afterward in a pool full of floating taco toppings? No thank you.
Same thing with floating breakfasts. They look cute for approximately 12 seconds. Then your coffee is sloshing into the pool, your eggs are cold, and you’re awkwardly trying to cut pancakes while floating around on an inflatable tray.
Some things are designed for photos, not real life.
6. Chronic Overpacking
Before I say anything here, I’d like to publicly acknowledge that I am the least qualified person on earth to give packing advice. I am a chronic over packer.
Every single trip I convince myself that I absolutely might need:
six pairs of shoes
multiple dinner outfit options
backup swimsuits
and possibly a formal dress for an imaginary yacht party
Do I learn from this? Absolutely not. Every trip starts with me confidently saying, “This time I’m packing lighter,” and ends with me dragging an overweight suitcase through an airport like I’m relocating permanently.
But honestly, most of us wear the same favorite coverup half the trip anyway. And somehow the “just in case” outfits never actually make it out of the suitcase.
7. Not Everyone Should Vacation Together
This one might actually be the most overrated thing in travel.
Just because someone is fun at backyard BBQs does not mean they should accompany you to another country for 10 days. Travel reveals things. Suddenly you discover they complain constantly, move slower than airport security lines, need a 45-minute beach photoshoot every morning, or refuse to leave the resort while you wanted to explore.
Humid conditions and delayed flights have ended stronger friendships than people realize!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the perfect vacation looks different for everyone. Some people want luxury. Some want adventure. Some want total relaxation. Some just want unlimited tacos and a swim-up bar, preferably without the tacos floating in the pool. Honestly? I support all of it.
But after years in this industry, I can confidently say this: the best vacations are usually not the ones trying the hardest to impress other people. They’re the ones where you genuinely enjoy yourself. And maybe slightly overpack anyway.
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