How to Avoid ‘Travel Shaming’ in 2025
What is “travel shaming?” It might be a foreign concept to some, but it’s a tale as old as time: travelers or tourists are shamed for wanting to see the world. This practice of guilt-tripping people for having the time and resources to experience other cultures rose post-pandemic since it’s how we got ourselves in a pickle last time, as many blamed travel for spreading the coronavirus like wildfire.
People are also travel-shamed because of their carbon footprint and the environmental impact of frequent traveling. Well, it’s not like we’re flying our private jet from LA to Paris just to eat a slice of cheesecake, but simple travelers who just want to take a break from normalcy are suddenly criticized.
Avoid Travel Shaming
So, how can you still hop on that plane and not be blasted for it? Here’s how to travel the world in 2025 without the extra baggage (of guilt).
Offset Your Carbon Footprint
If you’re jetting off to the Maldives for that once-in-a-lifetime sunset selfie or flying to Greece to trace whether you’re a descendant of Poseidon or the other Olympians, and you don’t want to feel guilty about your carbon footprint, you can offset it. You can donate money to the Purpose on the Planet Foundation, which will use the funds to plant mangroves and provide a day of work with fair income, or choose among the various United Nations Carbon Offset projects to support.
Bucket List + Sustainability
Sure, you want to see the Northern Lights or visit where your favorite furniture came from, but you feel guilty since you just returned from another trip. But what if you can still see and enjoy Sweden sans the guilt? According to Forbes, Sweden, together with Finland and Germany, is among the “green travel destinations” you can visit in 2025 without worrying about the environment. These destinations are strong promoters of sustainability, ensuring their guests don’t feel guilty while visiting.
Share Your Travel Ethics
A surefire way to avoid being travel shamed? Overshare your travel choices! Let everyone know you’re a conscious traveler. Caption your photos with “Stayed at an eco-hotel that only serves locally sourced, organic food grown by sustainable farmers,” and suddenly you’re not just a tourist—you’re an environmental advocate. Of course, it’s best to travel more consciously overall,.
Post Less
One of the ways people who want to travel-shame you can learn about your travels is through your social media accounts. The more you post about your trips, the more ammunition they have. Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to live to please them, but what are your reasons for sharing your travels and your life, for that matter, on the Internet? Are you doing it for likes, comments, or to show others you’re living the #blessedlife? If you’ve been shamed for your trips before, maybe post less in 2025 for your peace of mind and avoid telling people about your travel plans.
Travel is still one of the best things in life and you shouldn’t avoid it just to pacify the shamers. In 2025, make it about balance, travel smarter and post more thoughtfully (or simply delete Facebook friends who only post negative comments on your feed). So, whether you’re sipping coconut water on a Thai beach or hiking the Grand Canyon, remember this: travel shaming is real, but so is your right to see the world.
