What’s all the fuss about travel, anyway? Why do people leave the comfort of their couch to sit in a cramped airline seat or pay good money to sleep in an unfamiliar bed? People travel for all kinds of reasons – adventure, relaxation, or escape. But one thing that all travel has in common is that it is transformational. It changes the way we think, the way we see the world, the way we feel about ourselves. These are generalizations, but let’s drill down into specifically why people love to travel.

We Love to Travel Because it Provides Enjoyment

Travel makes us happy and fills us with wonder. We take joy in memorable moments like watching smiling children perform their cultural heritage dance, or seeing amazing sights like the Northern Lights dancing across the Arctic sky.

Travel lets us experience things first hand. We delight in tasting new foods and struggle to pronounce “Where is the toilet?” in a different language. We might know intellectually that the desert is hot, but if we sit astride a camel as it lumbers across the burning sand, we feel the heat of the Bedouins’ home.

Travel gives us lifelong memories. Travel takes us places that will remain in our mind’s eye forever. Floating silently over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia in a hot air balloon is an experience that I call up to give me peace and calm. Laughing and playing with loved ones on a family cruise creates fond memories that last through the years.

We Love to Travel Because it Fosters Personal Growth

Travel takes us out of our comfort zone. New situations force us to adapt and learn. It can be as simple as recognizing foreign currency denominations or something a bit more complicated like navigating a new city’s transportation system. Travel can push us to our limits with physical challenges like hiking the Inca Trail or frustrating obstacles such as delayed flights. But whatever the hurdle, when we succeed, we feel the pride of achievement.

Travel stimulates us intellectually. It educates and enlightens us as we learn about the history, politics, geography and customs of a place. Our experiences broaden our knowledge of the world in a way we could never learn from a textbook and give us interesting subjects to discuss with others. Plus, having tales of adventure like swimming with massive whale sharks or tasting scorpions in Thailand generally makes us more interesting individuals.

We Love to Travel Because it Unites Us

Travel helps us understand ourselves and our world. It lets us see why some cultures do things differently, which makes us more compassionate and empathetic to “strange” ways. As we learn about other values and beliefs, we come to celebrate the differences, rather than be afraid of them.

Travel gives us a larger perspective. When we experience how things are done other places, we begin to consider the global implications. Americans are known for large, gas-guzzling vehicles, but when we go abroad, we realize how much fuel costs elsewhere and how much we waste by comparison. That perspective leads us to consider viewpoints we never considered before, such as the ease and value of rail transportation.

Travel helps us appreciate what we have at home. Many Americans don’t realize the profound wealth our country enjoys until we see the standards of living in other tourist destinations. For example, in many places visitors need to drink bottled water or need inoculations to protect against rampant disease. Or maybe, although we love to explore the world, there’s just no place like home.

These eight reasons people love to travel are a good start, but there are thousands of iterations on these. Tell us in the comments below why you love to travel and be sure to contact your Covington travel advisor to plan your next trip soon.