There’s a cheeky quote that floats around social media: “Traveling is the only thing you buy that makes you rich.” But nobody ever says how you’re supposed to travel when everyone feels broke — and when booking the trip definitely won’t make you rich.
In a recent thread on Reddit’s r/travel forum, a user asked a straightforward question: “Who else had a favorite place, but now it’s too expensive to go?” The responses ranged from the grocery store to Hawaii.
‘This Is Just Called Life Now’
Many commenters lamented that they couldn’t get back to the nostalgic vacation spots of their childhood.
“When I was young, we were always doing a family trip to go to a hidden gem on the coast of North Carolina instead of going to Maine or Massachusetts coasts like most Canadians do,” the poster wrote, explaining that the once-manageable trip has now become a luxury. “Last time I went there we had to change hotels for a cheaper one. But now I’m not sure I will ever go again.”
“This is just called life now,” another user wrote sympathetically.
A large number of responses centered on familiar American vacation staples. Hawaii came up repeatedly, alongside Disney World, Cape Cod, Montauk, and national parks that once felt accessible.
“Montauk was awesome back in the early 2000’s. Now its a horrible, expensive Hamptons wannabe. So sad,” wrote one user.
“Vegas is another one that’s just breathtakingly expensive,” said another.
The numbers back this sentiment up. The cost of travel has risen by 23% since 2019, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s Travel Price Index.
“Domestic travel in the US, in general, is ridiculously expensive,” said one user.
“I wish I traveled more in the US when I was younger. I always thought I’d do it later because its home and at this point, so many places are expensive to the point I think its price gouging or not worth it. I’m sick of hidden fees, credit card surcharges, tipping culture gone crazy,” shared another.
Inflation and rising everyday expenses have made it harder for many Americans to carve out money for travel in the first place. Vacations aren’t just competing with airfare and hotel rates — they’re competing with rent, groceries, and higher monthly bills.
And once travelers start pricing out a trip, the sticker shock compounds.
Hotel rates in particular have surged. According to USA Today, the average U.S. nightly hotel rate jumped from $103 in 2020 to $162 in 2025 — an increase of nearly 58% in five years. What once felt like a routine weekend stay now carries peak-season pricing.
“Nearly every part of the journey, from flights and hotels to everyday add-ons, comes with surprise fees and fluctuating prices,” Melissa DaSilva, deputy CEO of Trafalgar, told USA Today. “Many travelers are waiting longer to book, hunting for the lowest fare, and looking for more price certainty up front.”
It’s not just airfare or gas. It’s the destination, the timing and the growing list of extras layered on top. Checked bags. Seat assignments. Resort fees. Parking charges. Daily housekeeping cuts. What used to be bundled into the price is increasingly itemized — and billed separately.
The price pressures aren’t limited to the United States.
In the same Reddit thread, travelers from outside the country described similar shifts in their own backyards. Destinations across Europe and beyond — once considered relatively affordable — are now being re-evaluated.
“Ireland… Tschesus Christ.. it never was cheap.. but now it’s absurdly expensive,” one commenter wrote.
“Portugal. I’m Portuguese myself and haven’t booked a holiday trip here in so long,” another added, noting that hotel rates can be significantly higher than comparable towns just across the border in Spain.
Whether it’s in the United States, Europe, or South America, commenters from different countries said the same thing: Guess we are staying all home.
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