Last year we experienced more challenges traveling full-time than we ever have as digital nomads. And I don’t expect 2024 to be much better.

Many experts have weighed in with their opinions, sharing that the best days for travel are ahead, but often these pieces are written by writers who only take vacations — which is completely different from those of us who spend a majority of our lives on the road!

Additionally, if you haven’t traveled much since 2020, you won’t understand the frustrations the rest of us have endured the past few years.

That being said, the landscape has changed.

So it’s one thing to write about traveling full-time and another to live it. And the recommendations often presented don’t usually match up to the reality.

As we enter our fourth year of traveling full-time, we’ve experienced a lot but we’re definitely not experts yet. There is still so much to learn and things we could do better.

Regardless I’d like to share some of those experiences because they will be valuable to those of you about to embark on your own adventure.

Hotels are price gouging travelers.

When we first started out, hotel rates were more affordable.

Paying $60-$80 per night for a good hotel like Comfort Suites, Staybridge Suites, or MyPlace Hotels was normal. These brands offered the most bang for the buck so we chose them as our primary options.

That’s definitely not the case today.

I don’t know if the hospitality industry is trying to make up for lost business during the pandemic or just raking people over the coals for corporate greed, but they are definitely taking advantage of travelers now.

The same hotels are now charging $120–$200 per night, sometimes more depending on the location. Without offering any additional amenities.

And if there’s an event in town or you’re closer to a tourist destination, they will shaft you even more — up to triple the normal or average stay rate.

What is even more appalling is having to pay a couple hundred dollars for a shitty Rodeway Inn in the middle of nowhere. Just because. 😡

Hotel prices are becoming exorbitant while their level of service continues to deteriorate. It’s not as feasible to live in hotels anymore, so unless you’re traveling part-time, you might be better off purchasing an RV or travel van.

Hotel guests create problems.

If you decide to stay in hotels and resorts for your traveling adventures, you will learn really fast just how horrible people can be.

Maybe this is the real reason hotels chains are gouging people.

You would expect guests to have some common decency or even practice hotel etiquette but this is the exception. Unfortunately there are a LOT of people who are real assholes that cause problems for the rest of us.

I’ve seen abusive guests berate hotel workers, unsupervised kids tear up rooms, grown adults scream at or fight each other, and seen a room completely destroyed by a full size “service pig.”

Then there’s the drunk guy who smeared his feces up and down a hallway.

We’ve made friends with hospitality workers across the country and the horror stories (and photos) about guests have made us lose faith in humanity. It’s no wonder hotels can’t keep workers employed.

One last thing about hotel guests.

The shittiest people on the planet usually stay in the cheaper hotels. If you want a better experience and peaceful rest, spend more money because those cockroaches can’t seem to be able to afford it.

Vacation rentals hurt others.

We used to like home rental websites like AirBnB and VRBO, but we’re doing our best to avoid them these days. Here’s why.

Not only are the prices misleading (sure it’s cheap until you add on all their asinine fees) but they are destroying local businesses and opportunities with unethical practices.

Companies and affluent people alike are purchasing rental properties, causing housing shortages for the locals while driving up the prices for travelers.

The only people who win are the ones with the money.

Thankfully there are cities and towns who are now passing laws to keep this from happening, but in many tourist places, the damage is done.

More could be said about the vacation rental problem but a quick internet search will turn up plenty of articles about why businesses like this have changed tourism and caused problems for travelers.

Overcrowding is killing the joy.

Many tourist destinations cannot survive without visitors. Their entire economy and livelihood rests solely on the people who visit and how much money they spend while having a great time.

But in some places, tourism is getting out of hand, and the overcrowding of guests is killing the joy of it all for everyone.

Take our National Parks for example.

It’s amazing so many people are visiting and experiencing the great outdoors, but with larger crowds comes more problems like longer wait times or required reservations.

Plus there’s way more damage to the ecosystem because visitors leave their trash, feed the wildlife, or simply ignore the rules.

It’s a tough and delicate balance to maintain.

Therefore I encourage travelers to think about how their actions can impact the locals, the environment, and the industry as a whole. We all need to do our part to make it a great experience for all.

Please make good choices.

The airline industry is a mess.

If you spend any time on social media or news sites, you’ve probably seen plenty of unruly passengers causing problems on airplanes.

These must be the same hotel guests I’ve encountered above. 🤬

Of course there are the rate hikes, the downgrade in benefits, and the changes to the awards or point systems. Then you have to deal with the stupid people who think baggage rules don’t apply to them.

Right now the TSA is also totally understaffed and underpaid.

Honestly, we try to avoid flying on an airplane at all costs because it’s just too expensive and stressful to do so. The only exceptions are traveling to other countries or destinations like Alaska where we don’t want to drive.

Hopefully the government will require the airline industry to do better.

Prices are increasing everywhere.

If the hotels and airfare weren’t enough, almost everything else is going up in price as well.

Restaurants and fast food places are more expensive. A typical, decent meal for two people cost $30-$40 on average. Add a couple craft beers and you’re down $60 for a night out.

This is one reason we cook almost all of our meals, besides choosing to eat way healthier back in 2020.

Fees to get into amusement parks, zoos, museums, or any other fun activities are almost cost prohibitive. Even parking in some tourist locations can set you back $20-$40 per day.

If your goal is traveling full-time, you will quickly run out of money unless you’re independently wealthy or working your business from the road.

Despite the challenges don’t give up.

I don’t share all of this to discourage you from living your dream of traveling or experiencing the world. I just want you to have realistic expectations for what’s ahead.

Life as a digital nomad or traveler isn’t perfect. It’s not always what you see on Instagram, TikTok, or those cool #VanLife blogs.

However, we can say taking a ride into the unknown to travel has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

There are no regrets even with some of the challenges we’ve faced.

Whether you want to explore the world full-time or take shorter trips to see what it’s all about, get out there and do it. GO!

Don’t let fear imprison you from discovering your own adventures. There will be ups and downs, highs and lows, good times and bad. That’s the beauty of it all.

Either way you will make some priceless memories you will never forget. And that is worth everything!

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