10 Weirdly Specific Feelings We Miss From Traveling

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

It’s been a long year without travel, and there’s so much we miss. In addition to the obvious, grand-scale things we miss about travel, we’ve even started to long for the tiny, little feelings you only experience on a long journey away from home.

Hitting the Economy Jackpot

Woman sitting in a plane and looking out the window — stnazkul | Adobe Stock

As the line of people pouring into the plane dwindles down and the seat next to you remains empty, you start to get hopeful. When you finally hear the cabin crew announce that boarding is complete and that the cabin door is closed, the feeling of being lucky enough to score some extra space hits you—there’s no better start to a flight. (Aside from maybe an upgrade.)

Unfolding Your Legs

After sitting uncomfortably upright or semi-reclined for way too long on a flight, is there any better feeling than finally getting to your hotel and getting to lie down on the bed and completely stretch out your legs?

Customs Nerves

We even miss that heart-pounding, nervously sweaty feeling that overtakes us any time we have to go through customs abroad or at home, even though we haven’t done anything wrong. (Although leaving a store without buying anything sometimes recreates that feeling.)

Booking a Ticket

Woman drinking coffee and booking a flight — Song_about_summer | Adobe Stock

That slightly terrifying, exhilarating moment of clicking “book ticket” when you’re afraid you messed up the dates or spelled your name wrong—but are also now ready to start the delicious anticipation of looking forward to your trip.

Heat

The brief moment between stepping out of an ice-cold airplane and onto a hot tarmac where you feel deliciously warm and like you’re dethawing rather than sweaty and overheated. This feeling is even more satisfying when you’re traveling from a cold winter destination to a hot sunny one, and get to shed your heavy coat as you disembark.

Wheels Up

The sensation of relief you feel when the plane wheels leave the ground after a long delay…and also the same feeling when the wheels touch down after a long flight.

The Simplicity of Living Out of a Suitcase

Woman taking selfie in front of a brightly colored wall next to a suitcase — Jacob Lund | Adobe Stock

What will you wear today? You don’t have to overthink it because you’re limited to what fit in your bag. Pairs well with the incredibly satisfying feeling of having packed perfectly and having a well-organized bag with all the essentials.

Anonymity

The feeling of being totally alone even in a crowd of people, because you’re thousands of miles from home and no one knows you. Honestly, we just straight up miss crowds… and people at this point.

Anticipation

The exquisite torture of not being able to sleep the night before because you’re so excited to travel. We’re so desperate to travel that we even miss the feeling of stressing all night that we’re going to sleep through our before-dawn alarm for a redeye flight.

Gate Satisfaction

Completely different from the feeling of sitting at home having nothing to do and nowhere to be, the experience of sitting at a gate while perfectly on time for your flight, and not having to do anything or be anywhere except right where you are.

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