- 'People We Meet On Vacation' stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, based on Emily Henry's novel
- The film shows travel as escape, while the book portrays travel's deeper personal significance
- Travel writing involves complex tasks, tight schedules, and less autonomy than portrayed in film
"You take vacations for a living... People would kill for this job." As I watch People We Meet On Vacation and hear the protagonist's boss tell her this within the first few minutes, I almost instinctively roll my eyes. I want to yell at the screen: "It's not that simple." But neither is explaining why. The main character, Poppy, is a travel writer by profession. Since my job is similar (although with stricter responsibilities and far fewer trips than Poppy's), I have heard many versions of that dialogue. It underlines the stereotypically glamorous take on this occupation. But what lies behind the veneer is not only far more complex, but also far more humbling.
The Context (Sans Spoilers)
People We Meet On Vacation. Photo Credit: Netflix
People We Meet On Vacation (PWMOV) starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, is taking over screens across the globe. The Netflix film, based on Emily Henry's bestselling novel of the same name, follows the evolving relationship of two best friends, Poppy (Bader) and Alex (Blyth), over approximately 12 years. After meeting in college, the two make a pact to go on a summer trip together every year, rooting the story in the attraction of travelling to new places. What further makes travel essential to the plot is the fact that Poppy ends up working for a travel magazine - and both the film and book are mainly narrated from her point of view.
Living In A Romcom: Travel Writing As A Dream Job
People We Meet On Vacation. Photo Credit: Netflix
I was naturally curious to watch the film as someone who travels and writes for a living. In an age where social media and streaming services have so much influence in not only where and how we travel but also how we interpret it, I wanted to see how the film would capture its realities in a romcom. But what I was also excited to watch was an adaptation of a book I loved. When I first read 'PWMOV' in 2022, the idea of someone travelling full-time on someone else's dime and getting paid to see the world indeed seemed the stuff of romance novels and movies. I had a different job, and little did I know that I would get to live the dream a few years later. Back then, what I related to was the characters' love for travel (even in its non-luxurious forms) and its transformational power.
Ahead of the film's release, I decided to read the book again, and, much like Poppy, rethink why I love travelling. The movie also maps this reexamination. The opening scenes show Poppy disillusioned with the job "people would kill for" and coming to terms with the loneliness it can often engender. We later discover that her loneliness also stems from other reasons, including being out of touch with her best friend, Alex. Most of their best memories together are from their summer trips to different destinations around the globe. The movie rather simplifies its lesson to: the best part of travelling is not the destination, not the journey, but the people (or person) you're with. The novel handles this with more nuance and also sheds light on exactly why Poppy loves going on these trips. It is what I kept hoping the film would showcase.
People We Meet On Vacation: Film Vs Book
[minor spoilers ahead]
People We Meet On Vacation: Film Vs Book
The movie is less of an adaptation and more of a story "inspired by" the novel. But I am not here to vent my concerns about all the changes made. What did strike me was how both end up representing travel differently. Both the movie and the book show that Poppy views travel as a form of escape, but the former overstates its importance. It frames her jet-setting as an excuse to confront her complicated feelings about home, love and belonging. This is a common way in which travel is often reduced to an evasion of responsibility. But it's another misconception; there is so much more merit to it.
I've had the good fortune of travelling a lot since I was a kid, and even in my earliest memories, I recall thinking, "This is what makes me the happiest." It opened my eyes to the diverse, awe-inspiring beauty of the country I called home. I learnt more about myself too. As I grew older, travel also became a break from the kind of daily grind my 8-year-old self, smilingly traipsing through Manali and Munnar, could never have foreseen. Nevertheless, my primary motive remained exploration rather than evasion. Once travel became a part of my job, the objectives evolved further. One of Poppy's famous lines is "On vacation, you can be anyone you want." However, if your work is your vacation, those possibilities quickly shrink.
People We Meet On Vacation. Photo Credit: Netflix
Poppy's professional dissatisfaction in the novel is partly due to the reasons cited earlier, but it is also because she misses travelling just for the sake of it. She misses the spontaneity and genuine connections with the people she literally met on vacation. She even misses planning trips on a shoestring budget. She enjoys her fancy travel writing job when she gets it. However, over the years, it wears her down.
I don't feel as worn down as Poppy, and I haven't spent as much time as she did travelling for work. Nevertheless, I can now understand how making a leisure activity your daily job comes with difficulties that many people cannot comprehend. You need to set boundaries for yourself, take genuine breaks, and continue pursuing other hobbies too. And sometimes, you also need vacations from the vacations.
What Do Travel Writers Actually Do?
In the film, travel writing is presented rather vaguely: Poppy's job seems to involve only going on random vacations and writing something related to them when she comes back. We don't really see what her day-to-day tasks on the ground look like. Even in the book, we only get brief mentions of planned photoshoots and generalised itineraries that suggest any structure. In reality, not all travel writers get this level of autonomy or this much time to spend at one destination. The nature and length of assignments differ greatly, and freelancers may operate quite differently from how full-time employees (like Poppy) do.
People We Meet On Vacation. Photo Credit: Netflix
Many travel writers have packed schedules, which they do not always have control over. Itineraries are sometimes set by other people, and their goal is often to maximise the time the writer is at a particular place/property. Depending on the exact kind of work trip planned, they may or may not get to wander around or visit the attraction they have always dreamed of seeing. The writers also have to stay focused throughout their trips to ensure they can take photos/videos, conduct interviews, talk with locals and do other local research as needed. They have to manage to do this while dealing with jet lag, weather changes, the logistical challenges of being in a new region or country, among other problems. The lack of monotony is what makes the job attractive to many, but the constant movement and uncertainty can take its toll. Eventually, like Poppy, many travel writers long for the comforts of home.
Final Thoughts
I won't lie: travel writing is still a lot of fun and a huge privilege. Meeting different people, discovering new places, eating unfamiliar food, exploring local history and culture, spending time in nature, reconnecting with yourself... travel is indeed the most 'human' activity, according to me. Some may use it to escape, but that doesn't always have to mean something negative. You can use it to learn and come back with broadened horizons and perspectives. It is also a powerful vehicle for reinvention. For those of us who work in this industry, it can be a tough balancing act. But the true rewards are enriching, and they usually lie beyond the rose-coloured glasses.
I enjoyed watching People We Meet On Vacation because of the performances and settings. If you love travelling, I highly recommend the novel. If you want to engage with both, I suggest watching the film first and then reading the book for added detail. Fittingly, it's also a great pick to carry while travelling: whether on a plane, snuggled in a blanket in a hotel room, or seated at a noisy bar as you wait for your best friend.
