Woman’s controversial opinion that “travel is disappointing” sparks debate

A woman has sparked discussion online after sharing her opinion on what people should do before vacationing in trendy destinations.

Helene Sula, known online as @heleneinbetween, instigated a conversation about the reality of travel and its sometimes “underwhelming” nature after sharing a video to Instagram on September 11. Sula, a travel blogger, voiced her opinion that modern travel, often fueled by high social media expectations, can be disappointing if approached with the wrong mindset.

“If you are just traveling to take a photo or video, or get an Instagram post, I think you are going to be let down,” Sula said, addressing her viewers while holding the camera selfie-style. Her remarks were quickly shared and applauded by many of her 678,000-plus followers, igniting a broader conversation about how social media has influenced our vacations.

“I think that many people travel with FOMO, which means the ‘fear of missing out’,” Sula, who is based in Oxford, England, told Newsweek. “We see something online and think, I must go there, but it is a tiny snippet of the entire picture.

“I think life is so centered around taking photos and videos that it can feel like a huge let down when you just take the photo or video and there is nothing left to do.”

Sula’s post is part of a growing sentiment that the popularity of social platforms like Instagram have led to a distorted view of what our daily lives should look like—and our vacations. The pressure to capture picture-perfect moments has, in her opinion, contributed to “FOMO,” as travelers attempt to recreate polished scenes they have seen online.

“We have this idea of FOMO in our society because of Instagram, where we think we need to go to these places and experience them like we see on Instagram, but that’s not always the case,” she said in the video.

Sula clarified that she is not discouraging travel itself, or the sharing of holiday content online, but instead encouraging a more mindful approach.

“I am not saying that Instagram is lying to you and these places are not worth visiting, but I think you should look into the history of a place…don’t just go to take a photo.”

Sula’s comments touch on the growing gap between virtual experiences curated for social media and the real-world experiences of travelers. The travel blogger, who moved abroad with her husband in 2016, has also built a career on sharing aesthetic moments.

She says that the key to feeling fulfilled while traveling is by researching the historical background of your chosen destination. That way, seeing its most famous landmarks, which usually does not take very long, will not feel “underwhelming.”

“I think adding context to where you are going makes a place more meaningful,” she said in her video.

“Recently there was a trend that says ‘OK let’s go,’ and it is of people taking in the Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower and looking at it like, ‘That’s it?’ And maybe if they had better context on the building or location they might appreciate these landmarks more,” Sula said. “There is so much important history in the world that people gloss over to just take a photo.

“If you have ever been disappointed by travel, that can happen, and that’s OK. But reading a book, going to a museum, and checking out the local culture can help make the experience.”

Sula’s personal journey is what led her to her current perspective. She first chose to start a travel blog while recovering from a rock climbing accident in 2012. Three years later and she has turned it into a full-time business, one which requires plenty of travel know-how.

“My husband and I decided the best way to see the world would be to move abroad,” she said.

The couple first relocated to Heidelberg, Germany, before settling in Oxford, where they continue to travel frequently. Their aim is to document meaningful travel experiences, focusing not just on destinations but on the history and culture that often get overshadowed in the rush to capture the perfect Instagram shot.

Her post has sparked discussion on the topic, and has led to impassioned comments from viewers who feel similarly irked by how social media has influenced how some people travel.

“I love this! I feel like travel for me really started to change when I started taking free walking tours haha,” one viewer said.

Another added: “I stopped traveling just for the ‘views’ and instead doing it for the stories of those places and the people I meet. Has changed the whole travel dynamics completely for me!”

“This is what differentiates a tourist versus a traveler. I agree, slow down, meet the people, enjoy the culture,” a third viewer shared.

Another added: “I agree with you! That’s why I’m more a slow travel kinda girl; I’d rather soak in a place in its entirety than just snap a million photos in all the Instagram spots.”

“My husband and I travel as much as possible sharing what we love, not just travel experiences, but meaningful travel which includes the history and the stories of places to learn about,” Sula said.