55 awesome travel and vacation memes that perfectly explain life

Travel is a rollercoaster of emotions: excitement, frustration, laughter, patience. It’s why we love it so much, right? Here are 55 awesome travel and vacation memes that perfectly summarise the travel experience. LOLs guaranteed.

Who doesn’t love a good travel meme?

Whether you’ve just come back from vacation and are in need of some joy to brighten your dank day, or you’re in search of lols to pass a long journey, here are 55 awesome travel memes chosen by travel bloggers to inspire your next trip.

Make sure you check out my travel quotes too, to inspire you to hit the road.

Going on vacation memes

When you just booked a trip

Sets countdown timer to take off. Then checks it every hour, just in case it’s sped up.

Only one more day!

Tick tock. Tick tock. How many seconds are there in a day again?

The excitement, the ecstasy

I love this meme because it’s the way I always feel when I’m about to embark on a trip, or even sometimes when I’ve just booked the flights or made a decision to actually go!

Like running around shouting “I’m going on an adventure!”.

It comes from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which was filmed in my home country of New Zealand, and I’ve visited the exact location of this shot, so now I love it even more!

Sonja, Migrating Miss, Instagram

My vacation starts now

Don’t call. Don’t email. The fun starts now. Out of office: on.

Me leaving work the day before vacation

See you suckers.

When you leave work to start your vacation

Boom shackalaka boom.

We so excited!

And we just can’t hide it.

That smug holiday feeling

Freedom, sweet freedom

The reward for hard work and perseverance is vacation.

Strollin’ straight outta work like

I’m gone.

Sayonara btches, it’s vacay time

Funny travel memes that obsessive travellers can relate to

When people hassle you for travelling too much (as if that’s a thing)

My lovely family often blames me for travelling too much.

They always keep asking me why I need to travel so much.

And when will I do all the normal things that ‘normal’ girls of my age do (earlier it was marriage, now that I am already married, it has come down to having kids!).

Now both my side and my husband’s side of the family think I am obsessed with travelling. And whenever they tell me this, I roll my eyes and reply that I could have been a serial killer or drug addict.

And the irony is that I started travelling as a kid with my parents and extended family of uncles and aunts!

Amrita, Tale of 2 Backpackers, Instagram

When you love to travel but your bank account is cryin’ for help

I picked this meme because not only is it always appropriate to include High School Musical references, but it also rings true as an ever-present struggle for many keen travellers.

Jetting off to new and exciting places can be expensive at the best of times, so when you’re constantly prowling Skyscanner for the next best deal your bank account is the first to suffer!

The play-off between the need to see the world and the need to sustain a living is a tough one, but as anyone who loves travel will tell you, you make it work somehow!

Suzy, Suzy Stories, X

Babies or travel? Travel.

What do we say to having babies? Not today!

This meme describes me in so many ways! I caught myself staring at my world map with the same interest my girlfriends look at baby photos.

Okay, I’m closer to the 30s than to the 20s, but still… look at this map again.

There are so many places out there to explore! So, nope, not today.

Bruna, Maps ‘N Bags, Facebook

Things I like as much as travelling

I’m obsessed with travelling? Don’t know what you mean. Number five is non-negotiable, though.

How I choose my next travel destination

CHEAP.

If travelling was free…

not joking.

The vacation you want vs the one you get

I’m totally OK with it. No, really. The washing machine has a lovely view this time of year.

The beach is calling

And I must go. My mother taught me good manners, and it would be rude not to pick up.

Vacation mode. Check!

Turn on the happiness. Turn off the emails.

Did someone say vacation? One second…

OK, I’m ready.

Travelling is my favourite!

I’d be a lot richer if that wasn’t true.

Funny vacation memes

When you’ve planned everything and your partner throws a curveball

I love planning trips. I find it fun, rewarding and relaxing.

I have all the hallmarks of a Type A personality, but my husband loves chaos and ruining our travel plans.

I still love planning, but he definitely loves to laugh a bit too evilly whenever he puts a kink into my perfectly planned road trips.

Karen, Wanderlusting K, Facebook

Throw a dart at the map? Maybe not…

I found this meme on Pinterest years ago and have kept it in my “Humor” board ever since.

While I love the idea of just winging it and throwing a dart anywhere at a map, it’s also ironic because 70% of our world is covered by water.

So this meme just puts into perspective how much we take the ocean and travel for granted. It also makes me laugh every time I see it and show it to people!

Natasha, The World Pursuit, Facebook

When it turns out to be more of a challenge than you expected

This cycling meme particularly appeals to me, because I do a lot of my travel by bicycle.

I can’t tell you how many times someone said the next section of road would be flat, and I ended up faced with this!

I think the beauty of this travel meme, though, is that it is symbolic of any type of travel or even your journey through life.

Dave, Dave’s Travel Pages, Facebook

Escape them all!

Just me, myself and I. And a very quiet beach.

It’s not my problem because… vacation

Didn’t you get the memo? I’ll switch into give a sht mode in exactly two weeks.

Hi, my name is… and I’m an overpacker

Well, you never know what might happen, right? That fifth pair of shoes is a backup for the backup.

Stop. Taking. Pictures. Dammit.

You said a holiday, not a fashion shoot. Just one more. From this angle. OK, and this one.

Work? What’s work?

Is it a mimosa? No? Well, I’m not interested then.

Best vacation ever memes

We are going to have so much fun

As if our lives depended on it.

When you maybe shared too much on social…

Oh, I mean, I thought I only put up a couple. Too many?

When you are having the best vacation and your heart is filled with generosity instead of the standard lead

I feel alive! Is this what happiness feels like? Here, have some.

Long haul flight and airport memes

The joy of getting a row to yourself

Travel can be so stressful and flights are certainly no funfair, with security lines, all that waiting around and the thought of spending hours in a cramped seat with total strangers sitting just a bit too close.

But what if some magic meant you had a spare seat on the plane, or even better, two!

This meme perfectly sums up the mix of happiness and relief of a full row to yourself on an aeroplane.

After all the stress of the airport, that extra leg space, or perhaps nap space, will definitely result in the happy seal face!

Kirstin, The Tinberry Travels, Instagram

The ridiculous overweight baggage charade

I find this travel meme hilarious in the way it states the obvious.

Having to unpack and repack my stuff into a different bag that goes on the same plane just doesn’t add up, does it?

I love it when some airlines aren’t really that strict about checking the weight of your carry-on, but the ones that insist on doing so and then make people unpack and repack create a hassle that travellers could do without.

I like how this meme puts across this issue that most travellers face at some point.

Namita, Radically Ever After, Instagram

Weird thoughts from 36,000 ft

If you have been on a plane before, you know that it can be a frustrating and exhausting experience.

You don’t really realise how much time you spend aimlessly scrolling through newsfeeds and texting your friends.

If this meme doesn’t speak to you on a spiritual level, I don’t know what does!

I always find myself counting the seats on a plane or tapping incessantly when the boredom hits on a long haul flight.

This meme reminds me that I am not the only flier who thinks about some, well, interesting things while they fly.

Weird things happen when you’re stuck in a metal tube with a million other people.

Bailey, The Gay Globetrotter, Facebook

Adulting the sht outta life

I have a little bit of a reputation for being a hot mess.

Although I’ve made it to 30+ countries relatively unscathed, I usually do lose a passport, forget essentials like underwear or just plain miss the flight.

I connect with this meme practically on a spiritual level because, like success kid, I feel victories in the little things when it comes to travel.

That’s why I now pack two or three spare batteries instead of one!

Eileen from Pure Wander

What happened along the way?

When I was a child, I was fascinated with planes. Flying and being pampered while in the air! Maybe it was because I was a kid, and I was happy to get what I could.

With the increase in carriers over the years, I’ve realised how things have gone downhill!

Gone are the days when flying was only for professionals, and the cheaper flying gets, the further the quality of service falls!

Lavinia, Continent Hop, Instagram

Will wake for food

Don’t you dare wake me because you need to go to the loo. Emergencies and food only.

Cheeky babies be like…

My evil work is done for the day. Sleep tight, row 32.

Comfort. What’s that?

It’s a good thing I actually love confined spaces. Who needs knees anyway?

Rolls eyes and thinks bad thoughts

Houston, we have a clapper. Send help.

Thoughtful travel memes

The only thing you buy that makes you richer

Travel has always had a positive effect on my life and I cherish the fact that I have been born to travel and I consider myself very fortunate to be able to travel.

‘Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer’ is my favourite travel meme.

Everything in this world is temporary, but the lessons and teachings that we gain from travelling stay with us.

It enriches your life as you come to know about other religions, people’s characters, their lifestyle and way of communicating.

I have gained a lot from travelling.

Somnath, Travel Crusade, Facebook

Travel buddy memes

When your friends bail on you and you’re left flying solo

I chose this travel meme since this is one of the reasons I started travelling solo.

I was tired of friends cancelling and rescheduling travel plans. I realised that life is too short to be dependent on anyone else.

I would prefer doing something that I love on my own rather than waiting for people who may or may not join.

Soumya, Travel, Books and Food, Instagram

Sure, you’re coming travelling with me (ROFL)

Oh, this old charade again… why you lying for?

You, you’re perfect

I want you to travel with me everywhere all the time.

Digital nomad memes

Perception vs reality

I love this meme about being a digital nomad.

Although many people think being a digital nomad is a glamorous lifestyle of lying by the beach during the day and partying at night, the reality is much different.

Most of us spend all of our time in front of our laptops working and, like the final picture shows, are often working so late that we crash out in front of it.

James, Portugalist, Facebook

Moving abroad travel memes

When I follow my heart I wake up in Bali

Bali is one place that has truly stolen my heart and I am at my happiest when I wake up in Bali.

The Balinese and their beautiful culture make me so appreciative of life. Their smiles and generosity are something that Western society can learn a lot from.

Kate, Rolling Along with Kids, Facebook

And… when it’s all over: back to work after vacation memes

My vacation is over tomorrow

Can I pull a sickie? Asking for a friend.

The worst thing about going on holiday…

I always knew it was going to happen but I didn’t expect it to feel this bad.

I don’t want to go back to work!!!

Endless exclamation marks cannot emphasise this point enough.

Seventh level of hell

They’re one and the same really.

This one time at band camp, ahem, in Europe

My trip changed me in so many ways. It was life-changing.

Everyone should live abroad at some point. You wouldn’t understand though. Never mind. One day you will be as wise as me.

Back from holiday. Sigh. Select all. Delete.

When you delete all your emails because you’re so raging about being back at work.

Boss sees you come back from holiday like

Oh goody, the Sith Lord of fun is here to ruin my life.

So, there we are, 55 travel and vacation memes to inspire your next trip. Which was your fave?

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