This ‘Sneaky’ Travel Trend Has Been Everywhere This Summer (But You Wouldn’t Know It)

As social media users, we’ve progressed a great deal in how we use our favorite apps following a vacation. We went from uploading over 80 unedited, unfiltered photos in a Facebook album to strategically publishing aesthetic Instagram photo dumps, back to unedited images again.

But now there’s a new trend when it comes to social media and traveling ― and it involves not using the apps at all.

This year has become the year of the “sneaky Euro trip.” In a viral TikTok, user Daniel Bennett explained that this is “basically when your friends and acquaintances go dark on social media and when they resurface, they’re in Europe. Radio silence followed by Mykonos.” This is something that he has predominantly observed in people ages 21-35.

According to Bennett, there are three simple steps to taking a sneaky Euro trip: request time off without revealing why, don’t tell a single person online or upload pre-trip content, and then later do the big reveal. (Extra bonus points if you don’t post until you’re home and the trip is done.)

“The only way to reveal it is to post a picture of a body of water with an adult beverage,” he said. But really, any content after a social media hiatus should do the trick.

The concept, also known as a “hush vacation” or an “impulse getaway,” has been gaining in popularity in recent years thanks to an increase in travel following the pandemic — not to mention the fact that people need a break from their life and social media for their own well-being.

“Unplugging from social media and living in the moment is truly liberating and not done enough. Sharing photos to social media, just for the sake of it, is often a waste of your time unless it’s related to your career. Ask yourself, what’s the goal behind these posts or stories? What will it do for me?” said Dr. Sue Varma, a board-certified psychiatrist and author of “Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being.”

Kseniya Korneva, a real estate agent in Tampa, Florida, booked a five-day trip to the South of France, Cannes and Nice and didn’t finalize the itinerary until a week before the trip. In her profession, it can be tough to plan vacations in advance when she might be in the midst of a time-sensitive deal or have in-person showings for clients; as a result, she did inform her business partner she was going away just to have someone who could cover for her. But on social media, she remained mostly silent.

“I travel often and I never want it to seem like I’m bragging or ungrateful to be able to explore the world on a whim,” she said.

For Mickey Fergus, traveling with little preparation and light packing is part of the thrill. Fergus said his sneaky Euro trips happen more because of circumstance than any other benefit, especially as he works a typical 9-to-5 job Monday through Friday. However, the convenience of living near a major U.S. international airport, having the funds to travel, and having all weekends off make it possible for him.

“I like the surprise factor of not telling anyone. I keep being told by friends that they laugh every time they see me on a ‘side quest’ wherever I go. I really enjoy the reactions I get from people when they hear I went to Boston for a fresh lobster roll, or I went to Munich to see Taylor Swift for the weekend,” he said.

Of course, there are some downsides ― including family and friends not knowing your whereabouts. For Korneva, this means having backup plans and notes for her colleagues and friends to follow in case she’s not reachable. Fergus ensures that whenever he’s traveling, he remains vigilant and aware in case he loses his phone or passport and makes sure he understands how to navigate the new location.

But on the whole, there’s a huge benefit to simply enjoying your vacation just for you. Research also overwhelmingly supports this; unplugging can reduce stress and anxiety. One study found that people who didn’t go on Facebook for one week saw “notable increases in life satisfaction and positive emotions,” according to a report from the University of Nevada.

So, the next time you’re on vacation and are wondering if you should post that idyllic picture of the coast or the cheesy burrata pasta you just devoured, think about whether there’s some real benefit in it for you. If it’s validation you are seeking, or you just want to get a sense check on your outfit, Varma recommends sending a photo to someone close to you instead. The social media posts can wait.