Another Week, Another Wonder:

The Exhausting Routine of Global Greatness

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You know the drill: you book the private flight, breeze past customs because your handler’s already prepped the paperwork, and settle into yet another luxury suite overlooking some world-famous monument. Don’t get me wrong—traveling to the planet’s most celebrated destinations is a delight, but let’s be honest: hasn’t everyone done it by now? The idea that some people haven’t, say, sipped coffee on a balcony facing the Eiffel Tower or taken a private yacht through the Amalfi Coast is just… unimaginable.

Take Machu Picchu. Yes, it’s beautiful, perched up there in the Andes with its misty allure. But by your third visit, it’s all a bit, well, repetitive. You trudge up those steep, uneven stairs—though thankfully, our guide hired porters to carry the picnic baskets—and you think, “Haven’t we all been here already?” It’s charming the first time, sure, but eventually, the novelty of ancient ruins wears thin when there’s no decent espresso bar in sight.

The Grand Canyon is another example. I’m sure we all had our moment of awe the first time we stood at its edge, staring into that vast, yawning chasm. But if you’ve been flown out there for sunrise photography sessions as often as I have, you start to feel like the Canyon is just one big overachiever. I mean, we get it, you’re grand. Can you offer Wi-Fi, or at least a shaded seating area for the mimosa brunch?

And then there’s Santorini. Oh, Santorini—those iconic white-washed buildings, the sunsets that everyone swears are the “most beautiful in the world.” It’s all perfectly fine, if a bit overrated. I spent a week there once, but by day three, I was longing for something less clichéd. “Why don’t we take the helicopter to Mykonos?” I asked, only to be met with groans from the group. As if Mykonos isn’t everyone’s fallback destination after Santorini gets tiresome. Honestly, I should’ve just booked Corsica instead.

Even the Great Wall of China feels like a bit of a slog after a while. Sure, you can walk along it, or—if you’re really in the mood—rent one of those little cable cars to get an aerial view. But hasn’t everyone already done that? I remember casually mentioning to a friend last year, “Oh, we walked the Mutianyu section again; it’s less touristy.” He looked at me like I’d announced I’d taken a taxi to the moon. Surely, everyone knows Mutianyu is the more exclusive bit. Right?

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not ungrateful for the opportunities to see these places. But sometimes it feels like the travel industry is running out of ideas. When I went to the Maldives last month (not our usual island; we wanted something more “off-grid”), I couldn’t help but notice that the overwater villas all look the same after a while. Crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, fine dining on the beach—it’s lovely, but surely we’ve all done this, haven’t we?

And yet, some people are still stuck on the basics. A friend recently told me she was just now planning her first trip to the Pyramids. “Oh, you must take the private sunset tour,” I said instinctively. “The general admission tours are just dreadful—too many people.” She looked at me blankly. I realized she probably doesn’t have the number for the camel concierge. Poor thing.

Of course, there’s always Paris. It’s practically a rite of passage—hasn’t everyone spent a rainy afternoon wandering the Louvre after getting bored at the Eiffel Tower? I mean, I get it—Paris is fine. But once you’ve dined on duck confit while the Seine sparkles in the moonlight, you’ve done Paris. You move on. Maybe to Vienna for some culture. Or Zurich, if you’re feeling practical. I hear people still think Paris is “magical,” but honestly, I find it exhausting.

Even safaris have started to feel formulaic. Yes, there’s a thrill the first time you spot a lion lounging under an acacia tree, but the fourth or fifth game drive? It’s all so… predictable. “Oh look, another zebra,” I’ll say as the ranger whispers reverently about the “circle of life.” At this point, the only real intrigue is whether my sundowner cocktail will have enough crushed ice.

So, yes, travel is lovely, and we all enjoy it, but surely we can admit it’s becoming a bit… mundane? Everyone’s done Petra. Everyone’s cruised the Norwegian fjords. Everyone’s marveled at the Northern Lights. Haven’t you? If not, I do hope you get around to it someday. But please, take the proper tours, book the premium packages, and for goodness’ sake, avoid the crowds. It makes the whole experience so much more tolerable.

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