Revenge travel: How vacation vengeance became a thing

As more and more countries reopen their borders to eager tourists, a trendy new phrase has emerged on social media: revenge travel.

The term has been used to describe trips as varied as family reunions, big splurge vacations and re-visits to favorite places, which leads to one question: so, what is it?

“Revenge” generally has a negative connotation, which contradicts the joyful, excited feeling so many people have about making their first vacation in two-plus years.

But the idea of “revenge travel” seems to be more about loving to travel rather than expecting a specific destination to make amends. Unless, say, Romania stole your girlfriend or Peru got you fired from your job, it sounds strange to take revenge on a place.

Perhaps “revenge travel” can be interpreted as getting revenge against the pandemic, or against Covid itself.

No. Really. What is it?

“Revenge travel is a media buzzword that originated in 2021 when the world began to reopen, and people decided to make up for lost time,” says Erika Richter, vice president of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).

Part of the problem is that there isn’t one good way to describe the current mood of travel around the globe. “Post-pandemic travel” isn’t quite accurate, since the pandemic isn’t over in many places. Different countries and regions are operating on different timelines, with some eliminating all barriers to entry while others remain strictly controlled or even closed to foreign visitors.

Richter agrees with the overall sentiment behind the concept, even if she doesn’t use the term “revenge travel.”

“It’s another way of saying, “Hey, life is short. I want to book that trip. I want to spend more time with family. I want to connect with humanity and with nature. I want to explore the world and seek experiences that make me feel alive.”

Where to travel in 2022: It's safe to say most people didn't take their dream vacation in 2021. Here are some places to dream about for when the world becomes accessible again. First up: the twin islands of Antigua (pictured) and Barbuda.

Bissagos Islands: Off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, the Bissagos Islands are run by a matriarchal society where women possess all the power.

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia: Visitors can immerse themselves in traditions of Cape Breton's Mi'kmaq -- a First Nations people who have lived in Canada's eastern Maritime region for over 10,000 years.

Chile: A long, thin strip between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, Chile is a world leader in ecotourism and an outdoor adventurer's paradise.

Colombo: It's time to pay attention to Sri Lanka's underrated design destinations, including late architect Geoffrey Bawa's home, which is now a mini museum and guest house.

Dijon: The biggest city of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region is a glorious mishmash of timber-framed houses, magnificent 18th-century palaces and a soaring Gothic cathedral.

Disko Bay: Whales, colossal icebergs, a fast-moving glacier and a whole lot of dog sleds define Disko Bay, on Greenland's western coast.

Gabon National Parks: More than 10% of Gabon, on Central Africa's Atlantic coastline, is given over to its 13 national parks -- and they're all celebrating their 20th anniversaries in 2022.

Jordan: Years of regional unrest followed by the pandemic mean Petra -- once threatened by its tourism success -- is now crying out for crowds.

Lahti: Finland's eighth-largest city is packed with beautiful forests, parks and reserves with incredible hiking trails and lookout points.

Munga-Thirri-Simpson National Park: For those who've always wanted to experience a once-in-a-lifetime off-road challenge in Australia's Outback, the country's newest -- and now biggest -- national park awaits.

Naples: New archaeological sites are due to open in 2022 which, although under wraps for now, will shed new light on Greek and Roman Neapolis, as it was called back then.

Ollantaytambo: This well-preserved town along the route to Machu Picchu in Peru's Sacred Valley boasts in own impressive Inca ruins and has recently been named one of the world's "Best Tourism Villages" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Orkney Islands: Off the most northerly tip of Scotland, you'll find the Orkney Islands, a breathtaking archipelago with cliffs and crags dotted with seabirds, seals and fascinating archaeological sites.

Oslo: June will see the opening of the new National Museum -- traditional and contemporary art, craft and design, making it the biggest art museum in the Nordic countries.

Palau: Every visitor to the island country must sign the "Palau Pledge," a vow to behave responsibly while traveling and do one's part to care for the environment.