With so many corners of the world to explore, why go back to ones you’ve seen? Then again, a return visit shows you a different perspective. The Club asked two travel journalists, with insanely well-worn passports, what they thought. Juliet Kinsman, founding editor of Mr & Mrs Smith, argues the case for never returning, while Matt Carroll presents the benefits of going back

You shouldn’t ever go back, says Juliet Kinsman 

Surely the point of packing a suitcase is to escape all that’s predictable in the name of new sights, sounds, flavours and feelings? For me, the anticipation of seeing an exotic, alien landscape or being thrust into unfamiliar experiences, elicits genuine joy.

Why play it safe? As a friend once said about Birkenstocks: How comfortable do you need to be?

Maybe you’re a traveller who thrills at adrenalising adventures. There’s no danger of me troubling a mountain peak any time soon – I’m culturally curious. 

Since full-time connectivity offers a window between us and everyone else 24/7, travel is already in danger of being predictable. It’s getting harder to surrender to serendipity as it is, so why eat, sleep, travel, repeat if you don’t have to?

Sure, I’ve been back for that soul-stirring Ibiza sunset a few times, but in spring, summer, autumn and winter, from the north coast and the west. So what I’m saying is, even if you can’t always climb a new mountain, at least attempt a different course.

You should always go back, says Matt Carroll

I’m not saying you should only ever go to the same place on holiday. That would be dull. But even if you return to a destination, no two trips will ever be the same.

First time round you’re all wide-eyed and surface level, too subconsciously preoccupied with establishing your bearings to get under the skin of the place. As with watching a movie, on second viewing you notice all the little things that make it special.

Each time you visit somewhere you arrive with different baggage. The first time I went to Rome was with a girlfriend I knew I needed to break up with. Consequently, most of my time there was spent pondering this, rather than the 2,000-year-old buildings, buzzing nightlife and fabulous food. On my second visit I was shooting a TV commercial and stayed on for a few days with local people who showed me their favourite haunts. That experience was much more intimate.

There are lots of places I’ve been to more than once, but each trip has been completely unique.

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged Opinion, Destination