What’s the Correct Way to Instagram Your Travels These Days?

If I were to chart a timeline of what’s gone in and out of fashion on that silly little app we call Instagram, I’d lose my mind. I have vague recollections of the sea change from the carefully curated to the perfectly imperfect (circa 2019), or the switch back to Facebook-era photo dumps, which relieved the pressure of finding that stand-out, singular photo (circa 2021). And don’t even get me started on the new song feature, which adds the pressure of finding the perfect soundtrack (2023). Isn’t choosing a photo enough work?

There’s no other time Instagram use becomes more fraught—maybe second to engagement announcements—than on one’s travels. When the pendulum of cool is constantly swinging back and forth, what is the correct (read: not cringe) way to record your trip?

With so many dos and don’ts related to the out-of-office post, it’s hard to keep track. There are TikToks, for example, devoted to travel caption ideas, featuring fashionably aloof, all-lowercase turns of phrase like “in touch but out of reach.” Some users are even delineating the art of the photo dump, which comes down, apparently, to an exact science. Show the process of your meal, capturing crumbs on a plate instead of a carefully arranged tablescape; deliver value in the form of an outfit idea or a restaurant call-out; focus on behind-the-scenes footage, like a photo of your feet pedaling to the event.

But just when we thought we had the photo carousel down pat, it’s possible it’s already on its way out. At first, the album-style posts were welcomed by users in search of so-called realness (can such a thing ever exist on the app?), but now, the sheer size of such collections is getting out of hand. In August—just in time for the classic end-of-summer dump—Instagram announced that you can now include up to 20 photos and videos in one post, rather than the previous 10. But the upgrade has us asking: How many vacation photos are too many vacation photos?

I think it’s safe to say that Instagram Stories are the dominant format, held safe under the cloak of ephemerality. Many Gen Z users, it seems, are finding it embarrassing to leave a lasting mark on the grid, a practice akin to getting a picture framed. Though you might be tempted to do so, don’t go immortalizing those stories. Comedian Mac Anabtawi, otherwise known as Gstaad Guy on TikTok, pokes fun at the pretentiousness of saving story highlights as different travel destinations (but who are we kidding, they make for really great travel inspo).

So we’ve established there’s great value in being able to temporarily mark your status in a new location. But be careful how you do it, because the stories themselves can be ripe for teasing. One TikTok user, for instance, points to the barely perceptible ways in which different generations post travel stories.

Spoiler alert: Gen Z loves to be vague. Being cryptic on Instagram keeps the intrigue going, leading to more messages in your inbox. Think of this behavior as a springboard for social connection. And this leads me to my personal favorite trend, “this and a notification that he liked your story.” Set against the backdrop of an ideal vacation scenario, such as a sunny beach or an aperitivo hour, this joke points to the thrill one gets, knowing their crush is following along on their travels abroad (See examples here and here).

Does your brain hurt? Are you embarrassed by your behavior on Instagram? You are not alone. When there are far too many rules to parse, the only solution left is to do whatever you want. Don’t be afraid to strike a pose in front of that wing mural, or do a Boomerang panorama of an infinity pool. And while you’re at it, tag the location, use capital letters, and add some stickers—all set to the soundtrack of some cheesy song. Or, better yet, do the coolest thing imaginable: Go on a trip and don’t post at all.

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