Too Many Extreme Vacations Taught Me How To Avoid Travel Burnout

The secret ingredient to a good vacation is rest.

I used to think the perfect trip was about doing all the things. Every museum, every bar, every hidden street the locals whispered about. If I wasn’t running myself ragged, was I even traveling?

Turns out—yeah, I was. I was also burning out faster than a cheap lighter.

I just got back from a month in Portugal. Gorgeous country. Great food. Family connections near Porto. And still—I came home more exhausted than when I left. That’s not a vacation. That’s a marathon in disguise.

Somewhere along the way, I realized travel isn’t just about the stories you collect—it’s about how much of yourself is left when you get home. After years of trial, error, and a few “never again” hangovers, I’ve figured out what drives travel burnout and how to dodge it.

1. Tourist Traps Are Soul-Sucking

Google “things to do in Lisbon” and it spits out a glossy brochure of perfection. You know what it doesn’t tell you? The wall of sweaty bodies pressed against the aquarium glass, blocking your view of the sharks.

We lasted an hour before bailing. Zero magic. Zero awe. Just mediocre photos and the sour taste of disappointment.

Crowds don’t equal culture. I’d rather eat sardines at a tiny hole-in-the-wall with three old men arguing soccer than elbow my way through some Instagram hotspot. If you must see the big attractions, go at dawn or after dark. Otherwise, protect your sanity and save your soul.

2. Booze Before Dinner = Regret Before Noon

Europeans make day drinking look classy. A glass of vinho verde with lunch, a beer on the beach—nobody’s sloppy, nobody’s stumbling. Meanwhile, in America, one beer before noon and you’re branded an alcoholic.

I tried keeping up. Bad idea. By 2 p.m. I was groggy, cranky, and ready for bed instead of wandering cobblestones.

My rule now? Drinks wait for dinner. Juice or coffee during the day, wine at night. That way I actually remember what I did in between.

3. Obsessive Itineraries Kill the Moment

Rome taught me this the hard way. Colosseum in the morning, Pantheon in the afternoon. Check and check.

What did I miss? The gladiator tunnels. The smell of garlic and tomatoes wafting from that café I swore I’d come back to. The laughter of people actually living in the city.

When I returned an hour later, the place was shuttered. No pasta. No wine. No memory worth holding onto. Just another box ticked off a list.

Travel should feel like making love, not like doing paperwork. Slow down. Savor. Leave space for accidents—they’re usually the best part.

The Middle Ground

Here’s the truth: travel isn’t limitless. Push too hard and your body will remind you who’s boss. I’ve gotten sick, spent whole trips in bed, even flown home early because I refused to slow the hell down.

Now I build rest into the plan. That nap by the pool isn’t wasted time—it’s the thing that makes the late-night rooftop bar possible. That skipped attraction? It’s what leaves me energy for the conversation with a stranger that changes everything.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a vacation worth remembering.

The secret ingredient isn’t another sight or another drink. It’s rest.

And if you’re looking for a travel experience that actually gets this balance right—GoNaked Travels designs retreats with space to breathe. Naked sun by the pool, cultural dives without the burnout, and nights that stretch into laughter instead of exhaustion.

Travel Burnout