Vacation vs Travelling

Vacation vs Travelling … Thoughts from Vienna 

By Kelli A. Wilkins 

Greetings! I’m writing this from the courtyard of my hotel in Vienna, Austria. Yes, you read that right, Vienna. My husband and I wanted to go on a vacation, so we took an escorted tour of Eastern Europe. At some point during the trip I said, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” That got me thinking about the difference between a vacation and travelling.

A “vacation” implies a leisurely, relaxing time… maybe lying on a beach or near a pool or a lake. “Travelling” is active. It’s going, doing, seeing… and moving, lots of moving. 

We’ve taken several escorted tours and they range from a leisurely/relaxed pace to “on the go”. We are definitely “on the go” here: up at 5:30am, eat breakfast at 6:30, on the bus by 7:45. And we’re on the bus for hours—it’s the only way to get from Point A to Point B. 

One good thing about traveling with a group tour is you get to meet many different people and learn where they’re from, what they do, and hear stories about where they’ve traveled before. I also like that I’m driven around (I don’t want to drive or get lost in a foreign country), stay at the best hotels, and get to see all the sights. 

My best friend took several tours with us, then after a few, she told me it wasn’t her style. She doesn’t want to spend her vacation getting up early every day, sitting on a bus, packing and unpacking… always on the go. Ironically, she’s on vacation at an Adirondack, NY lake while I’m travelling in Europe. Her plan is to: sleep late, go out on the boat, relax in the sun, swim, and spend time with family. 

At some point during this trip (I don’t remember if I was getting on the bus or packing to leave Budapest), I envied her not having to be on a set schedule every day. Don’t get me wrong, I loved all the trips we’ve taken, and I’ve been from one side of the world (Hawaii) to the other (Egypt) and even down to Peru. I’ve seen breathtaking natural wonders (Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Cliffs of Mohr), countless castles in the UK, and crossed many destinations off my “must see” list. 

After all these years my list of places I “have to see” is shorter. I’m wondering where to go next… Am I compelled to go to Switzerland or Greece? Not really. Do I realistically think I’ll get to Easter Island? I’d love to see the Moai in person, but I’m not sure I’ll make it there. Alaska? Yes, it’s still doable and on the list. 

But taking next year’s vacation a few hours from home would be easy (and less expensive). We could drive to a lake or a resort. No need to book flights, I’d have the freedom to do whatever I wanted, and I can unpack once. The thought of not spending hours on a bus or taking lunch and bathroom breaks according to a schedule sounds appealing. 

Vacation versus traveling… It’s an individual choice. This summer, ask yourself what you want to do with your free time, where you want to go, and how much of a balance you need between exploration and relaxation. 

Meanwhile, right now in Vienna, a few members of our tour have gathered in the courtyard for drinks and socializing under the cloudless blue sky. It’s nice to have a group of “for now friends” to share stories with in this foreign country, but as Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.” 

Enjoy the summer, wherever your travels take you! 

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 6 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories. Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in April 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance. She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in early 2023. www.KelliWilkins.com