My friends and I have never been trend-setters, but now we find ourselves riding the latest wave of “revenge travel.” After staying at home and watching travel plans decimated this year, we revenge travelers are making plans for 2021.

Revenge travel refers to a great desire for bigger and better travel caused by being cooped up because of the pandemic. Travel experts are predicting revenge travelers will bring back leisure travel in a big way.

While not specifically applied to travel, the concept of revenge spending was popularized in China in the 1980s. Consumer demand and spending rose quickly following the Cultural Revolution. Similarly, reports indicate Chinese confidence in domestic travel had risen by 60 percent as the country reopened.

Photo 76339913 © Ramunas Bruzas | Dreamstime.com

Although we speak regularly, I haven’t gotten together with my inner circle of friends in months. Our planned baseball trip to Seattle was canceled, and hope for any type of group getaway this year is fading fast.

Talk has already started about our baseball trip for 2021. Seattle is still the main destination, but in the spirit of revenge travel, we are expanding our trip. Vancouver, Canada, and Portland, Oregon, are the leading candidates to be included. Both cities are about a scenic three-hour drive from Seattle. Our three-day weekend in the Emerald City will become five or six days in the Pacific Northwest.

Although revenge travel might have an ominous name, it is a very positive thing. People have gained a greater appreciation for travel and plan to #ComeBacktoTravel in a big way.

— John Wroblewski, online writer