travel bug another word

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The Travel Bug Idiom Meaning, Usage With Example, Synonyms

• Updated on  
• Aug 11, 2023

The travel bug idiom refers to a person with a strong desire to travel and explore new places. It’s a metaphorical term to describe the feeling of wanderlust, or the urge to travel and learn about different cultures, enjoy the picturesque scenery and engage in outdoor activities.

People termed as a ‘travel bug’ often feel a sense of restlessness and excitement when they haven’t been to new places in a long time. It’s a way of describing the psychological and emotional attachment to travelling and tourism.

Also read – Brainstorm Meaning

Usage With Example

‘The travel bug’ phrase can be used in different ways to describe a person who loves to travel. To understand where this term can be used appropriately, here are some examples which you can consider.

• ‘Ever since he went on the Europe tour, he’s had the travel bug and now he can’t stop planning his next trip.’
• ‘My father is saving money to satisfy his travel bug by going on an all-India trip.’
• ‘He had the travel bug for months now and he constantly browses travel websites and is dreaming of exploring different places.’
• ‘Once you catch the travel bug, it will be very difficult to stay in one place for a long time.’
• ‘Thanks to my grandparents because of whom I’ve been bitten by the travel bug: they used to take me to different places every season.’

The Travel Bug Idiom Synonyms

The idiom ‘travel bug’ has a lot of similar words and synonyms that can be used in different ways and aspects. Here are some similar terms to this idiom that you can consider.

• Desire to travel
• Longing to travel

Also read – Strike While the Iron is Hot Meaning

The Travel Bug Idiom Quiz

After completing his education abroad, Anurag returned home with a travel bug and now

• Wants to explore different places
• Tired of travelling
• Wants to spend time with family and friends.

Ans. Wants to explore different places

Also read – Fever Pitch Meaning

This was all about the travel bug idiom meaning and examples. Hope you understood the concept where it’s used. For more such blogs, follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

Shiva is a professional content writer with an experience of 2 years. Most of his content is focused on helping students with their education and future plans. In his spare time, Shiva enjoys reading biographies and real-life stories.

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• Sep 11, 2022

Travel Bug, what it is and when you know you have it

Ever felt anxious not having any flights booked? Some of you might have heard about ‘catching the Travel Bug’ or the ‘feeling of wanderlust’ but what are they exactly?

What is the Travel Bug

Every single trip we take in life has an enormous power of changing us. If you are a travel lover like me, you will likely get back to your home town, with your usual routine, with the same people around you and the ‘fake freedom’ you initially think you have in your life, and realise how much happier, free and especially alive you felt while being on the other side of the world.

Picture this: You have just come back from a long trip, you saw new places, met new people, cultures, you were able to experience things you could have never imagined and every single day was a challenging adventure. You are now back home, tired but happy with your mind full of amazing memories that will forever have a special place in your heart. You remember the sense of freedom and excitement you felt while away, so you close your eyes and start daydreaming but suddenly a sense of anxiety starts to grow inside of you and you feel the need to book a new trip straight away and escape once again from your everyday life. Does it sound familiar to you? Result: Well… you caught the Travel Bug!

The term Wanderlust and why you catch the Travel Bug

The official definition of the German term ‘Wanderlust’ translates as:

‘ a strong desire to travel’, or ‘a man/woman consumed by wanderlust ’.

Although, it is much more complex than that. All of those who feel fulfilled with travelling and are on a constant search for new challenges and adventures, will sooner or later catch the Travel Bug, there is no way to escape it and it’s also highly contagious! Of course everyone enjoys a good holiday and some time away from work but for those who caught the Travel Bug, travelling literally becomes part of their everyday life. It’s their drive and inspiration for everything they do. When you are a traveller (not a tourist, there is a huge difference) you are always a traveller, every single minute of your life.

However, this sense of Wanderlust and therefore the love and insatiable need for travel and adventure might also emerge or more specifically be triggered, not only due to the love for travel, yet also from other aspects of our life. A good amount of full time travellers for example, decided to leave everything behind and travel the world after a big event in their life.

The sense of frustration that some have of everyday life, a relationship that doesn’t make you happy as it should, but also due to the ‘boredom’ of western societies, the life ideologies and milestones that we are kind of ‘forced’ to achieve since birth such as finishing school, getting a degree, finding a good job, getting a partner, getting married, having kids are simply not for all of us (and by the way you can do all of those things while travelling as well if you really want it!). Just because one wants to do things differently than the rest of society, it doesn’t mean that that person is wrong and others are right or vice versa, it simply means that what makes that person happy might not be a happy place for someone else. Happiness comes in different forms and colours and for those who caught the Travel Bug, happiness is exploring the amazing world we live in, every single corner and shape of it.

How long does it last

There is just one straight forward answer to that. Once you get it that’s the end. There is no turning back and no way to get rid of it. It’s simply FOREVER! You get it, you're screwed!

How I caught mine

For me, it was another usual day in cold and rainy London back in 2015 when me and two friends decided that we wanted to visit Thailand. Before that trip I had already been to a few countries around Europe, yet that would have been my very first long trip and international flight. A huge Airbus was waiting for us at Heathrow Airport ready to take us all the way to Bangkok. Well, that trip had the power to change me. The level of excitement when arriving in Bangkok was out of this world and since the very first day everything I saw, learned and experienced in that country changed me and my approach to travel forever. That trip was my transition from a tourist to a real traveller! We spent over two and a half amazing weeks exploring the crazy streets of Bangkok, the beautiful island of Phuket, and the paradisiac nature and beaches of Phi Phi and The Similans. Maybe it was the kindness of Thai people, the amazing nature, the thought of knowing that being so far away from home in a country where most things we are used to in western societies are so different, but I was certain that I have never felt more alive! I was free, curious, fearless, amazed, excited and felt a sense of happiness that I had never experienced before. Once back to London I could not resist. My heart was telling me to start looking for my next adventure right away! Being caught again in everyday life made me realise that routine was not for me. I needed to be on the move, explore new countries, cultures, talk to people I never met, challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone to see what I was really capable of. Well, since that moment I knew it. I had caught it, the Travel Bug and feeling of wanderlust would have never abandoned me again!

How to deal with it

It sounds crazy but for some the desire to travel might be so strong that a constant sense of anxiety and depressive feelings might arise. The reason why I’m saying it it’s because I experienced it on my own skin. The pandemic was a jail I could not escape from. When I heard the news on TV that Airports were being shut down due to the virus and I could not travel or go and see the rest of my family back home for God knows how long, it was unbearable! The sense of Wanderlust kept growing more and more every day…

I believe that there is no straight forward answer on how to deal with your sense of Wanderlust, and if there is it might be a different one for all of us. Many start to look at ways that will allow them to work remotely to be able to travel the world full time, some try to manage their holiday at work as best as they can, while others decide to momentarily, please their sense of wanderlust by taking a sabbatical year in South-east Asia… Personally, as I’m currently still working full time. I feel lucky to have a job that allows me to take short breaks every month, as well as longer trips (usually not more than two weeks) at least two to three times a year. Therefore, I manage to satisfy my desire to travel looking forward to my next trip. If you are in full time employment but caught the travel bug, spend your time planning your next trip, watch travel vlog, read about the places you want to visit and get ready for your new adventure. Trust me it helps! And most importantly, don’t be one of those people who think that travelling full time is impossible. It is, and thousands are doing it right now, especially with the popularity that smart working has gained after the pandemic. Look for a way that will allow you to leave everything behind, be free and travel the world the way you want to.

Time is the most precious thing we have in life and it should not be wasted living a life you don’t feel as yours!

However, with such ideas in mind, I perfectly understand that many people might think that you are a weirdo, that you should stop dreaming and get back to planet earth. So if you are one of those lucky people, who like me, caught the Travel Bug, you might feel lonely in your own world sometimes but promise yourself not to ever give up on your dream, no matter how crazy they sound!

If you need a bit of a push, have a look at one of my related blog post here or at the bottom of this page .

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5 Minute English

The Travel Bug – ESL Lesson, FAQs, and Practice Quiz

The Travel Bug

“The Travel Bug” is a popular term used to describe an intense desire to travel, explore new places, and experience different cultures. It captures the infectious and exhilarating feeling that comes from discovering the unfamiliar and the joy of embarking on new adventures. Often, those who catch the travel bug find themselves continuously drawn to the excitement of planning trips and exploring the world, whether through short local excursions or extended journeys abroad.

• travel bug  (idiom)- strong desire to travel
• to be bitten by the travel bug  (idiom)- kind of a cute way to say when someone begins to want to travel. After the “bug” bites you, you will really want to travel.
• to wander – to go from one place to another without any definite plans
• to be in the comfort of (one’s) own home – to be at home, in a familiar or comfortable place 
• to explore – to look around and find out new things
• exotic  (adjective)- strange, mysterious, exciting, unknown
• mystery – something unknown, something that needs to be found out
• to flock – large amounts of people go to the same place at the same time
• vast  (adjective)- very large
• perspective – view, way of seeing things
• accomplishment – feeling like you have done something important and good

Reading Comprehension

Have you ever had the desire to wander the world and see what was out there? While some people prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, others have been bitten by the travel bug and can’t wait to explore the world. Exotic places call to them. “Come visit me and I will show you my mysteries,” they say.

Every year millions of people pack their suitcases or put on backpacks and flock to visit the seven continents of the world. They wander through the castles and museums of Europe, and the cities and natural wonders of North and South America. Some visit the vast exotic cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The great outback of Australia is a wonderland for those who go there. And a few lucky people even make to the most mysterious continent on the earth- Antarctica.

Why do people want to explore the world? It gives them a better perspective about the earth and the people living on it. It opens their minds, it gives them a feeling of accomplishment, and it makes them feel alive. So save some money, get your passport ready, and see the world. It will change your life forever.

Practice Quiz on The Travel Bug

As a way to test your understanding of the concept, here’s a setup for a practice quiz with eight questions related to the travel bug. This quiz will challenge your knowledge on what it means to have the travel bug, how it affects people, and various ways to experience and manage the desire to travel. The questions will cover definitions, symptoms, contagion, management, and personal experiences related to the travel bug.

Questions and Answers – Choose True or False.

Answer key is located at the bottom of this page (but make sure to answer the Q’s first!)

1. To be  bitten by the travel bug  means you like to stay home.

True or False

2. People bitten by the travel bug like to visit new places.

3. The great outback is in Europe.

4. Antarctica is in Africa.

5. Asia is vast.

6. Traveling opens your mind.

7. Traveling makes you feel alive.

8. Traveling helps you see things in a new way.

Frequently Asked ESL Questions About The Travel Bug

The travel bug refers to a strong, often irresistible desire to travel and explore the world. It is characterized by an eagerness to experience new cultures, meet new people, and see new places.

Catching the travel bug can happen after a particularly inspiring trip, hearing others’ travel stories, or even through films and books that depict adventure and exploration. It often begins with a memorable and positive travel experience.

Common symptoms include constant daydreaming about destinations, frequent browsing of travel websites, and an overwhelming urge to plan next trips. A heightened interest in world maps, travel blogs, and international cuisine can also be signs.

Metaphorically, yes! The travel bug can be quite contagious among friends and family, as enthusiasm and exciting stories about travel tend to inspire others to explore and embark on their own adventures.

To manage the travel bug, individuals should embrace it by planning future trips, exploring local attractions, and learning about different cultures through books, movies, and cuisine. Engaging in travel communities online can also satisfy travel cravings.

Answer Key:

• True         

Travel bug synonyms

What is another word for travel bug .

• desire to travel

*Another* Trip?!? How to Explain the Travel Bug to Those Who Just Don’t Have It

You announce to your friends or family that you’re planning yet another trip. Instead of being excited or even plain jealous, these people just look at you quizzically, totally unable to comprehend why you would want to go away again , and especially to a place they’ve barely heard of or can’t imagine in their entire lives ever wanting to visit.

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These are people who don’t understand the travel bug.

I’m guessing there are quite a few travelers out there who have experienced this situation and I sympathize with you. If you’d really like these people to understand why you’re hitting the road again — or if it’s important that they do, because they’re your significant other or someone else affected by your travels — here are a few ways I’ve found to try to get them a bit more on side.

Don’t expect to convert them to travel addicts — it’s possible, but more often it’s just something you’re born with — but you might be able to at least elicit a normal reaction out of them when you start arranging your next trip.

#1: Information is Persuasion

Pass on some of your pre-trip research to your doubting friends and family so that they can know something concrete about the destinations you’re all hyped about. Be careful not to overdo this, of course. Just give them a small sample of websites or brochures or whatever info you have, carefully selected to be the kinds of things they’re most likely to be interested in — art galleries perhaps, or statistics about the cost of living. Pretty pictures can work miracles.

They don’t need to love your destination — you just want them to understand why you do.

Just make sure you do this without coming across all teacher-like or you’ll only be putting them off the idea more. Unless you’re trying to persuade them to come with you (a much harder proposition), they don’t need to love your destination — you just want them to understand why you do.

#2: Emphasize the Benefits

Many non-travelers just don’t see the point of it all. Their idea of taking a trip is limited to something like a package deal to a sun-kissed island where they’ll stay at the resort all week (by the pool) with one zany excursion into the local town for two hours. To these people, travel is equivalent to mere relaxation, and anything more complicated than that sounds much too exhausting.

If your traveling needs go a bit beyond this — and if you’re reading this site, the chances are very high that they do — it is (sometimes) possible to educate others about why you really want to go somewhere different. Angles include:

• Excitement. Just mention that you’re a bit hard to please when it comes to something that grabs your interest, and you need to head out further afield to satisfy your adrenalin cravings.
• Self development. Explain that travel helps you to push the boundaries in life and you hope it’ll lead to a few insights into your personality and the way forward for you.
• Financial. Personally, I don’t care too much about the fiscal side of things, but others do: if you’re planning to work as part of a longer trip, or you can sell stories of your trip afterwards, you can make your trip sound much more logical to some by mentioning the monetary benefits.
• Intercultural experience. There’ll be times when having deeper intercultural experiences will make you more employable, or just help you to deal with the kinds of people you meet in your everyday life at home, too.
• Language practice. Also good for the resume.

#3: Personalize Your Motivations

Everybody has a passion for something. We just belong to a bunch of people that have this passion for travel. Narrow down the passions of your friends and explain your travel bug in terms of their own favorite indulgence.

Yes, this could lead to conversations like this:

• “You know that new tire on your racing bicycle? How you kept stroking the new rubber and admiring its perfect fit? That’s how I feel about this airline ticket to Papua New Guinea.”
• “Remember when you got your first girlfriend? How exciting that was? That’s how I feel when I decide on an obscure country that I just have to visit.”

But heck, whatever it takes, just say it.

#4: Bugs Can Be Contagious

It’s not called the travel “bug” for nothing. For a start, it infects you and will never let go for your entire life. You just have to live with that (I certainly haven’t heard of any cases where it’s gone away). But the bonus is that sometimes, the travel bug is contagious.

The bonus is that sometimes the travel bug is contagious.

When I first announced I was going to live abroad and travel for an extended time, probably years, I received mixed reactions. Some of them bothered me. But when I was living far from home and just sending monthly emails to most of my friends, rather than having any particularly personal contact, I couldn’t really care about what their reactions were to my travels.

That’s when a funny thing happened. I started to get a lot of emails — particularly if I hadn’t sent an update for a while — where people said that they were traveling vicariously through me. They’d caught the travel bug, or at least a passive form of it. And over the years, some of these friends started going on trips inspired by some of the places I’d visited, and they even asked me for advice. So perhaps the lesson is that not caring so much about what people think is the best thing to do.

If You Don’t Succeed … Give Up and Travel Anyway

If you’ve tried all this and your friends or family members still don’t have the vaguest idea why you want to travel, it’s okay to give up. Give up on convincing or persuading them, that is. Then just throw yourself into trip preparations and fly off into the sunset.

This is some great advice. We often get the “didn’t you just get back from ?!?” looks from our friends.

We’ve been to four countries and eight states so far this year and love every minute of it! Portland, OR and Ireland are still coming up. :)

I have found, however, that I don’t really need the understanding of those around me about why we go so many places. I have my hubby as my travel partner and a pup to come home to, so life is good.

It’s wonderful how you reach out and relate to so many of us who have tried to “explain” why. My husband’s family, most of whom have never left Texas, let alone, the USA after many years of courting themn, as you suggest, gently, next tactic:we even sent them passport applications and offered to pay, we finally realized that they are among those who can’t really figure out WHY and (after fifteen years of being on the road) we would want…why anyone would want…to be, as they refer to it “down there somewhere”…i.e. Central and South America….Well, your “give it up and travel anyway” advice is sound. Don’t limit your horizons looking for approval of family and friends. WWe never did and never will. Thanks for another great article, Jody

Thanks for the nice feedback, Leandra and Jody. Sounds like you’re both lucky enough to have perfect travel partners (and so am I) – but I know people whose own partners don’t understand the travel thing and that’s tough!

I am the only one in my family who really has the travel bug. It’s impossible to try and explain why I like traveling and living overseas. I get sick of the question “so when you are going to settle down?”

For me I LOVE the planning aspect. I’m not a good gardener – but just like those cultivate seeds and watch their plants grow I enjoy poring over maps, learning the streets, hunting for interesting places before I leave and while there.

I’m an adventure traveler – and love running around cities, catch subways, and taking in as much as I can. But I don’t diss anyone who just wants to sit on the beach for a week. Some people have more stressful jobs – so to them its well deserved.

http://www.futuregringo.com

Also I try and take two big trips a year – one in the spring and one in the fall when the weather is good everywhere. (and long weekends closer to home in between.)

That means I’m always on the lookout for good airfare deals or scouting out my next place the rest of the year.

I really do enjoy the planning – and its fun when its finally confirmed and booked – and you get to truly pencil in your dates and tell your friends about your plans…

@ james, yes, planning is definitely a big part of the fun. I don’t like to make lots of actual definite plans, but love reading about where I’m headed and especially then picking up a few novels that were written there to get a feel for the place

@ Mike, I hate that “when are you going to settle down” question too! I’m sure everybody who asks it is just jealous, really ;-)

People ask me how I can afford to travel or how I can justify the expense. Then they tell me about the new high-def, flat-screen monstrosity they just bought. It doesn’t occur to them that for the price of that new TV they could have enjoyed an incredible trip to another country.

Traveling has educated me in too many ways too count and made me a better person. I have awesome stories to tell and a sense of accomplishment. A television is only something to stare at while you sit immobile in one place.

Jim conversely people see travel as a one time thrill that doesn’t last, where as a TV serves you for a few years.

I see the opposite: At the end of my life I don’t remember fondly a new plasma TV or fancy car – but time with friends, weekends in the mountains with friends, and travel to places abroad gives you great memories

and it is tangible through people you meet, photos, and stories you keep.

james…

@ Jim and James, the idea of a TV being better than a trip is kind of a shock to me, but I can see the logic – but I’m grateful I don’t think that way! You’re both right, I think, that you have better stories to tell and memories to linger on from taking trips.

Good article, but I am of the belief that you will never be able to successfully make anyone understand why you do what you do (if they’re not travelers themselves, that is). This is because travelers are a different breed. We see things from a much different angle than people who don’t travel. Basically, we see life differently…most people have a notion that all there is to life is go to school, get a job, get married, have kids, buy a house, retire at 65 and live off your pension.

This is ingrained in us from the moment we’re born. There doesn’t seem to be much thought towards any of those things…they’re taken for granted that “that’s just what you do”. Enter the traveler…curious, wide-eyed, a sense of the entire world, willing to question everything we are taught in life.

In a sense it is isolating, which is why traveling communities exist, because we can relate to each other. Friends and family from home feign a passing interest in what I’m doing, but in the end just don’t and can’t understand it. Which isn’t to say they are any less of friends…there should just be a mutual respect that you’ve chosen your path in life. The only one that needs to understand why you do what you do, is you.

Fantastic article Amanda!

What particularly resonated for me was the realisation that family/friends may come around to understanding one’s need to travel, but it’s no biggie if they don’t

My husband doesn’t like travel near as much as I do, because he grew up very poor and never traveled outside of his hometown of Lima, Peru as a child.

I, on the other hand, LOVE travel – and since we live in Lima now, I want to travel and see everything there is to see in this amazing country.

These tips might help me make him a little more enthusiastic about it!

Great article. Most of our family and friends were very supportive when we told them of our plan to take a year off and travel the world. There were those who thought we were crazy and didn’t understand why we’d ever want to sit on a bus for 24+ hours or sleep in less than stellar conditions, but those are people who just have different priorities. There’s a lot of great advice here in the article and in comments. We don’t have to try to convert non-travel lovers, cause chances are we won’t. But we can share our experiences, and who knows, they might want to expand their interests a bit?

I enjoyed this post, thoroughly. In my family not everyone has a travel bug, what is weird my mother has it and that’s one of the few things in common between the two of us. Most people are supportive though, some don’t understand the financial part of it – yes, travel is not something I would call cheap, but it’s also not as expensive as some people might imagine.

I absolutely LOVE to travel and it is hard to explain to people, especially my mom, why I love it so much. It’s funny she and my dad were the ones who inadvertantly planted the seed years ago when she would pack my brother and me up and ship us off to relatives in Louisana, Arkansas or wherever anyone was willing to take us for the entire summer. I grew up thinking all kids went away after school got out and found out that many of my friends never left the block. We had special experiences that were priceless!! I don’t try to explain anymore, it’s my pleasure and vice and no one will ever “get it” if they don’t already have the bug :)

Great tips, though, as you say, some people just won’t ever get it. I’ve been traveling for almost 2 years now (working on and off as an English teacher and freelance writer) and still to this day, every time I speak to my mother, she always asks when I’m going to stop “playing” and come home to “reality”. For some people, travel is reality. And beside, we’re pretty happy so that’s all that should matter right?

• Pingback: How to Explain Your Desire to Travel to Those Who Don’t Get It | World Inhabit - The Online Travel Guide

Great article, I’ve done one in the past about breaking it to family, mainly my brother. I grew up in an EXTREMELY conservative family and at the mere mention of chasing some dream of mine I was usually mocked.

Then the day came when I had my tickets booked and it was two weeks before I left the US for the first time. When I went and told my brother about it, I expected him to be outraged, call me stupid, and think it was the most irresponsible thing ever.

I was very wrong, it was much worse.

He actually disowned me and told me if I left the US I would no longer be his brother. Being that he is the only blood I have left on this planet, you can imagine I was crushed.

I still went though. He was not there to say farewell at the train or the airport, and for 4 months he didn’t speak a word to me. After a while I broke through and we began chatting again, but it has still been rough ever since.

But it is important that you try your hardest to have them see why this travel dream is so important, and if they can’t, you must continue on your path.

Great article!

Great tips! I just finished Law School and I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment. I want to take a year of and then come back and work. Everybody is giving me a hard time when I tell them I want to travel.

Next time I speak to someone about me taking one year off I’ll try your tips and see how it goes.

Thanks for shearing have a wonderful day! :)

Hi Amanda and Paulina,

Fabulous tips! I just finished law school as well and I planned an around-the-world trip on miles to visit friends from my previous time abroad living in Paris and a year in Sydney before that. The grind of law school is absolutely suffocating to free spirited individuals.

When I announced I was going traveling, yet again, I got the “you are refusing to participate in reality,” talk from friends and confused looks from my parents.

I was a little sad at the lukewarm and apathetic response to my trip, so much to the point that I began to doubt my decision. This felt strange after spending so much time living abroad; suddenly trying to “manage perceptions” of those around me? I never needed anyone’s blessing before! What has law school done to me?

After some introspection, I discovered I wanted others to validate my decision. The truth is the only validation I need is my own. Developing an authentic sense of self and finding the courage to make decisions that generate happiness for your innermost self is an essential life skill and component of creating a lasting, fulfilling existence.

Leaving just after Christmas. Totes excited! Maybe I’ll see you both on the road.

Cheers, Grant

Thanks for sharing your experience, it sounds a lot like what I’m going through right now.

See you on the road! :)

Greetings, Paulina

I wish I had found this article years ago :p I have struggled greatly trying to explain travel to people and most people just don’t get it so I just give up!

That’s alright, I always tell my backpacker friends…”Yup. We’re the ones that got life right”

I’m about to head out on an 18 month rtw again this jan!

Thanks for posting such an inspiring article. We can 100% relate to this!

We quit our jobs, sold our house and all our belongings and set off on a 13 month backpacking trip. Most people were super skeptical of our choice and didn’t think we’d last on the road. They thought we were pretty crazy for giving up everything.

After an amazing, eye-opening, life altering trip, we returned to Canada to “real” life….and realized we didn’t belong there anymore.

So, we planned another trip and mos people were shocked. “What? Another trip, but you just got home” The thing was, this wasn’t home anymore, we were used to a completely different style of life now.

We left Canada again after one year and have been travelling now for 22 months and we don’t second guess a minute of it.

People don’t understand it, they don’t really want to hear about travel stories, but you know what? We don’t mind anymore. We have new friends that we’ve met on the road and we have each other, so basically if you find people who can relate to you, it’s all good.

Thanks a lot for this post!

Safe Travels. Goats On The Road

There is no need to explain. You get confused looks and questions of why. All I can do is laugh. People going to work each day with nothing to look forward to than their two weeks vacation don’t get it. Seeing the sun rise in the Andes, sitting on the beach in Belize, looking over a rain forest from the blue glacier in Washington, walking the streets of Salem for Halloween, the adventure never ends. I have worked part time for an airline for the last 15 years. Waking up in the morning knowing that I am 45 minutes from a flight that will take me anywhere in the world makes it hard to sleep some times.

I found that when I finally decided to do my trip my way on my own, that friends of mine were eager to meet up with me while I was in destination. I met up with three different friends from my city on my trip to Europe –some who were going to be there anyways; and others who were inspired that I was going and kind of had an excuse or a friend to be with while in destination. WIN WIN. Trust your instincts and others will follow.

So true… just travel and enjoy…. you’ll meet and discover new friends along the way :)

happy travelling…

“Are you going away again? When are you going to settle down? It’s time you buy yourself a new car…..”

I hear it all the time! But I still NEED to travel. To meet new people, see new places, experience new things and learn!

And I also love the planning, research, etc (although I do minimal bookings except for my inbound/outbound flights and first few nights accomodation).

I will settle down in the near future, but that does not mean I have to give up travelling. Just travel in a different way…

I’m glad there are people that don’t have the travel bug… at the famous places, it’s unbelievably crowded as it is. I’ve traveled to many places where i was the only or one of a few tourists in the area… I like it that way.

Hi, im better than you because I travel, I’m glad you don’t travel because that means its less crowded for me. This is the most egocentric bs I’ve ever heard. Moderator won’t post this because she will be biased. So this and the last message is for you. You are not better than one person, not posting my comments proves you have an issue with your ego and are too stubborn to post someone elses opinions that might conflict yours as your concered how it will look on “your cool travel page guide”. Oh please, do us all a favour, move to a 3rd world country without internet and live out your traveling dreams.

Oh please, There is no such thing as a travel ‘bug’ or contagious illness to travel. I do travel, often off the beaten road, this article however made my toenails curl. I can’t stand people who think that they are better people because they have been here or there, quite frankly this article screams that. I would love to travel more but can’t afford it, just because I don’t go on about traveling all the time doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. People are far to concerned now days about what other people think about what they are doing. If you want to go traveling, do so, don’t bore myself and all of your friends of the planning details, I can’t think of anything worse. Isn’t part of the idea to go there and see what happens, rather than a regimented trip? For someone who is a travel writer, and been to over 30 countries (would of expected more from a travel writer) this article seems as it was written by a 18 year old girl who just got back from a gap year and is desperately trying to get as much attention and reaction as she did when she announced her first trip. Thank you for confirming that the majority of people who travel are yuppy ego centred twits.

Grr … sounds like someone needs a hug ='(

Thats a very patronising way to dance away from the point i’ve raised, bravo.

No problem, James. Patronizing self righteous assholes is what we do best here.

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Evidently, nice hat by the way.

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Idioms Meaning

Travel Bug is an informal expression used to describe someone who is constantly traveling or craving to be on the move. It is used to refer to someone with a strong desire to visit new places and explore the world.

My sister has a serious travel bug and is always planning her next trip.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over my travel bug, I just love to explore new places.

I got the travel bug after my first big trip overseas.

He’s been bitten by the travel bug and is always looking for his next destination.

My friend is always talking about her travel bug, she just loves to explore.

The first use of the phrase ‘travel bug’ is believed to have originated in the late 19th century, however its exact origin is still unknown.

Q: What does it mean to have a travel bug? A: It means to have a strong interest in travelling and exploring the world. Q: Is the phrase ‘travel bug’ commonly used? A: Yes, it is a commonly used phrase and is used to refer to someone with a strong desire to travel.

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travel bug noun

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What does the noun travel bug mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun travel bug . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun travel bug ?

Where does the noun travel bug come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun travel bug is in the 1900s.

OED's earliest evidence for travel bug is from 1907, in the Philadelphia Inquirer .

travel bug is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: travel n. , bug n. 2 II.4b

Nearby entries

• travaux préparatoires, n. 1880–
• trave, n. c1405–
• trave harness, n. 1839
• travel, n. a1400–
• travel, v. c1300–
• travel agency, n. 1898–
• travel agent, n. 1885–
• travel allowance, n. 1835–
• travelator, n. 1955–
• travel brochure, n. 1908–
• travel bug, n. 1907–
• travel bureau, n. 1884–
• travel card, n. 1916–
• travel centre | travel center, n. 1883–
• travel document, n. 1892–
• travel expenses, n. 1839–
• travel folder, n. 1911–
• travel guide, n. 1881–
• travel industry, n. 1920–
• travel insurance, n. 1912–
• travellable | travelable, adj. 1521–

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Meaning & use

Entry history for travel bug, n..

Originally published as part of the entry for travel, n.

travel, n. was revised in March 2020.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1914)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View travel, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for travel bug, n., browse entry.

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What is another word for travel bug ?

Synonyms for travel bug trav·el bug, this thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word travel bug ., we couldn't find direct synonyms for the term travel bug ., maybe you were looking for one of these terms.

travel agent , travel allowance , travel along , travel and entertainment account , travel bargain , travel bug , travel by , travel expense , travel guidebook , travel iron , travel kit

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Synonyms and antonyms of bug in English

• TO ANNOY SOMEONE

Synonyms and examples

See words related to bug, bug | american thesaurus.

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noun as in bacterium, microorganism

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noun as in insect

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noun as in obsession

noun as in computer glitch

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• computer malfunction
• something wrong

verb as in bother, disturb

• get on someone

verb as in listen to without permission

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Example sentences.

A scuffle with WordPress, the website-building service, erupted last week after Apple booted the developer from the App Store, preventing WordPress from issuing updates, such as bug fixes, to its iOS app.

The secrecy, at least for the people who helped design the system, is a feature not a bug.

In Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard described her horror at watching a frog whose innards were liquefied and then sucked dry by a giant water bug.

Google has now explained the massive search bug from yesterday was related to an issue with its indexing systems.

Google has had some search bugs over the past year, mostly around crawling and indexing.

I was thinking about retiring from modeling, but spending that time with them rekindled that bug.

But is bug protein really any better than traditional protein sources, like chicken, or your go-to protein powder?

Read on to find out what you need to know before whipping up bug-infused banana bread.

Underneath, a miniature version of the bug-crazy man is revealed, himself thwacking away in an alternate dimension.

Their company, Ready to Go Survival, sells prepacked survival, or “bug out,” bags and kits.

The men stood around bug-eyed and stared incredulously—all but High-Pockets.

Both were bitten by the gambling bug in Saratoga and went West, not to grow up with, but to fairly conquer the country.

In reality it is only the female which is the lightning bug, for the male is not equipped with any lighting power.

The proverb should read, "It is the early bird that catches the bug," and different birds have different ways of going about it.

When a duck goes after a bug he acts much like a ball player trying to steal a base.

Related Words

Words related to bug are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word bug . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

verb as in annoy

• be on the back of
• drive up the wall
• get on one's nerves
• give a hard time

verb as in disturb, trouble someone

• push buttons

noun as in mild sickness

• indisposition

Viewing 5 / 103 related words

On this page you'll find 164 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to bug, such as: disease, germ, infection, microbe, virus, and bacillus.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Synonyms of bug

• as in sucker
• as in disease
• as in psychopath
• as in to annoy
• as in to bother
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Thesaurus Definition of bug

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• afficionado
• connoisseur
• hanger - on
• well - wisher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• complication
• distemperature
• contagious disease
• unsoundness
• unhealthiness
• decrepitude
• wholesomeness
• healthiness
• schizophrenic
• psychoneurotic
• manic - depressive
• schizophrene
• obsessive - compulsive
• mythomaniac

Thesaurus Definition of bug  (Entry 2 of 2)

• rub the wrong way
• stick in one's craw
• get one's goat
• set one's teeth on edge
• get on one's nerves
• freak (out)
• intrude (upon)
• inconvenience
• cut in (on)

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Thesaurus Entries Near bug

Cite this entry.

“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on bug

Nglish: Translation of bug for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of bug for Arabic Speakers

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Example sentences travel bug

I think that's what gave me the travel bug .

Then he got the travel bug .

After learning more about other countries and cultures, she 'got the travel bug ', and after training as a teacher, started using her holidays to see the world.

I caught the travel bug young.

I had only finished college a year before so was cultivating a travel bug with my new-found 'riches' (minus housekeeping to my mum).

Definition of 'bug' bug

Definition of 'travel' travel

Related word partners travel bug

Browse alphabetically travel bug.

• travel booking
• travel brochure
• travel budget
• travel card
• travel comfortably
• travel constantly
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Here's how to check for bed bugs so you can avoid an infestation in your home this spring

It's spring time and temperatures are beginning to rise, so that means it's also bug season.

That includes those pesky beg bugs, which a harmless but are still a nuisance and are tough to get rid of.

Bed bug “season” is generally considered to be between the end of spring and early November, but that isn’t representative of when these pests are most active, just when people start noticing.

Here's how to spot them:

How to check for bed bugs

Aptly named, bed bugs are most likely to be found in areas like mattresses and bed frames, as well as other cracks or crevices in a house. It’s typically said that if a crevice is small enough to hold a credit card, it also could hide a bed bug.

Bed bugs also can find refuge in electrical sockets, cracks in a wall or even cars.

An individual bug is typically the size of an apple seed, around a quarter to three-eighths of an inch, with an ovular body. Their color is largely determined by the last time the bug has fed and ranges from dark red to brownish color.

Dark spots found on furniture could be bed bug excrement, and small eggshells and pale-yellow skins typically are left by nymphs as they grow.

Bed bugs feed on blood from humans and other mammals and primarily are active at night. They can remain active in temperatures as low as 46 degrees Fahrenheit and die at temperatures around 113 degrees.

Bed bugs are great at hiding, which is why regular cleaning and clutter removal can help limit places where the bugs can occupy.

How to prevent bed bugs

Buying sealed encasements for mattresses and box springs also will keep populations of bed bugs from moving or infesting the material in the first place. Any bedding that’s brought into your house also should be inspected and washed before use.

Chemical treatments are available in stores that can be used to prevent infestations, like aerosols and dust applied in cracks and crevices around the house.

Delaware does not have any protections for renters whose residences become infested, but contacting a landlord and collaborating on a treatment plan is considered the best practice.

Are bed bugs making a comeback?: How to identify risks and avoid an infestation

Ladybugs in your house?: Here's how you can help them

What to treat bed bug infestations

Consumer pesticides typically are ineffective in wiping out bed bug populations, so calling a professional is the best practice to take if you suspect your home’s been infested with bed bugs. Professional treatments sometimes involve steam cleaning or heat treatments that may take up to eight hours.  

It’s not recommended to dispose of infested items, which can cause the populations to migrate. However, in multifamily homes, disposal is sometimes the safest option. A pest control specialist can help determine what method is the best for your situation.

Monitors and traps are available at stores, from simple plastic tray arrangements to chemical baiting and electronic devices that work to draw and trap the bugs.

While professional treatments are effective in wiping out certain populations, they don’t always guarantee infestations won’t come back.

Experts also assure that a bed bug infestation is not indicative of a “dirty” lifestyle, as people often pick them up when traveling.  

Anthony DiMattia contributed to this story