Framed by questions we often hear from colleagues about travel study programming, this reflective essay examines the labour of short-term travel study programs by engaging head-on with the (mis)perceptions surrounding study abroad that circulate in the 21st century neoliberal university. By reflecting on our experiences developing and teaching these programs, as well as our experiences justifying our work to well-intentioned colleagues and department heads, we hope to paint a picture of academic labour that has significant value and is significantly undervalued.