A Cautionary Tale of Holiday Travel and Its Aftermath
1. The Ill-Fated Decision to Travel During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is often considered a magical time for travel, but for seasoned travelers, it can be a recipe for disaster. Crowded airports, delayed flights, and the chaos of last-minute planning are just a few reasons to avoid traveling during this time. Despite years of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges that come with holiday travel, I decided to embark on a trip to Morocco in December 2019. This decision would prove to be one of the costliest mistakes of my life, both financially and emotionally.
The trip was meant to be a romantic getaway with my partner, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. Our outbound flight from Montreal was delayed multiple times before being canceled at 1 a.m. The airline offered vouchers for a nearby hotel, but I decided to make the most of the situation by booking a nicer hotel in the Old Port and exploring the city. This decision, while enjoyable in the moment, would later lead to partial reimbursement at best. The airline’s promise to cover these expenses was not fully upheld, leaving me with significant out-of-pocket costs.
2. Letting Go of Control: A Recipe for Disaster
As an experienced traveler, I pride myself on meticulous planning and flexibility. However, for this trip, I handed over the reins to my travel partner, assuming his expertise would make for a seamless experience. Instead, the trip became a series of missteps that left me feeling like a prisoner in a foreign land.
My partner had planned a whirlwind itinerary, with daily moves between destinations and long hours spent in a black Mercedes van crisscrossing the Sahara Desert. The pace was exhausting, and the time difference only exacerbated the stress. When our initial flight was canceled, the domino effect on our bookings became clear. Hotels, tours, and transportation arrangements were canceled, resulting in thousands of dollars in losses. Without international travel insurance, this money was gone forever.
The trip also exposed deep rifts in our relationship. My partner’s rigid adherence to the itinerary and his insistence on guided group tours clashed with my preference for spontaneity and freedom. I felt suffocated by the lack of control and resentful of being treated more like a tourist than a traveler. The final straw came when he repeatedly referred to me by his last name, a sensitive issue for me as a widow still carrying my late husband’s name.
3. Financial Setbacks and the Pandemic’s Impact
The financial toll of the trip was significant. Reimbursement for our expenses was partial and slow to arrive, leaving me with a substantial hole in my finances. To make matters worse, the travel vouchers I received as compensation for the canceled flight became nearly useless when the COVID-19 pandemic hit just weeks after our return. International travel ground to a halt, and I was left with vouchers I couldn’t use for years.
The combination of lost money and the stress of the trip took a heavy toll on my relationship. The tension and frustration we experienced in Morocco boiled over upon our return, leading to the end of our romance. I was left with an angry ex, a lighter wallet, and a deep-seated aversion to international travel.
4. Falling into Tourist Traps and Cultural Discomfort
One of the most frustrating aspects of the trip was the constant exposure to tourist traps. My partner had arranged for a private driver, which meant we were repeatedly dropped off at overpriced gift shops and markets where the driver had connections with the owners. This was far from my usual style of travel, which involves staying in Airbnb apartments, cooking my own meals, and immersing myself in local culture.
My partner, on the other hand, seemed to relish the opportunity to haggle for souvenirs. He arrived with two large suitcases—one for his belongings and one for the items he planned to buy. He filled the second suitcase with rugs, spices, and knick-knacks, while I opted for a single leather purse, paying full price after seeing a young boy sewing similar bags in the market. This difference in approach to shopping and travel only added to the growing tension between us.
The trip also left me feeling out of place. A camel ride in the desert, which I had hoped would be a highlight, turned into an embarrassing and uncomfortable experience when my camel broke free from the group and wandered off into the sunrise. The whole ordeal left me feeling like a privileged, out-of-touch tourist, further souring my experience.
5. The Turbulent Journey Home and Its Aftermath
The flight home was as turbulent as the trip itself—both literally and metaphorically. By this point, the relationship was beyond repair, and I couldn’t wait to return to the comfort and familiarity of home. Landing in Toronto just days before the start of 2020, I felt a mix of relief and regret. The trip had left me poorer, newly single, and grateful to be back on Canadian soil.
In hindsight, there was a silver lining to the disaster. The end of 2019 marked the end of my tumultuous relationship and the culmination of years of relentless wanderlust. Little did I know, the world was about to come to a standstill with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. My failed trip to Morocco was the last major journey I would undertake for years, giving me the rare gift of stillness and reflection.
6. Reflections and Lessons Learned
Looking back on the trip, I am reminded of the importance of trusting my instincts and maintaining control over my travel experiences. Letting someone else plan the trip was a mistake that cost me dearly, both financially and emotionally. The experience also highlighted the dangers of traveling during peak seasons like the holidays, when delays, cancellations, and tourist crowds are at their worst.
While the trip was a disaster, it taught me valuable lessons about the importance of insurance, the need to stick to my travel style, and the risks of mixing romance with rigorous itineraries. It also gave me the opportunity to redefine what travel means to me and to appreciate the beauty of staying close to home.
As I continue to rebuild and reflect, I have come to accept that international travel may not be a part of my life for the foreseeable future. Instead, I am finding joy in local explorations and the freedom to create my own experiences without the pressures of a predetermined plan. Sometimes, the best journeys are the ones we don’t take.
