Gabrielle Reeder
What comes to mind when with the word travel? Do you hope to see the most Instagrammed destinations, do you wish to visit attractions that cater to your needs, or do you expect never to travel and remain in your home state? A recent article came out questioning the difference between traveling and tourism. A recent post asked a group of nomads how they feel about the article and today’s travel atmosphere.
1. No Checklist
One nomad claims that this generation does not travel how boomers used to, with a checklist and a set itinerary, noting each attraction in waning importance. Instead, millennials and Gen Zers travel according to their wants and needs. They shared that their least favorite place to visit in Paris was the Eiffel Tower, and the Mona Lisa is a subpar display in a museum comprised of impressive work.
2. Must Do Everything
“Lots of inexperienced travelers (nomads, backpackers, vacationers, etc.) fall into the same trap, thinking that they have to do everything or else they’re missing out. You’re always going to miss out on 99% of things because there are simply way too many possibilities in life, and that’s fine. With experience, any kind of traveler figures out what they really want to get from travel (probably nothing to do with looking at a painting) and adjusts their travel speed to match. This speed naturally slows down as they get more of what they want from travel. For example, these days, for most of my travels, I want to stay long enough that when I go to weekly events, I feel I’m in a community,” a seasoned traveler dishes.
3. Do What You Enjoy
Jumping off the previous point, travelers should spend time experiencing museums, attractions, and landmarks that they enjoy. If you despise art, why would you visit an art museum? On the other hand, if you identify as a foodie, why would you take a trip focusing on dining in five-star restaurants? Cater your exploration to your niche interests.
4. Take a Picture, Not a Snapshot
Living in the vibrant moment of traveling worldwide is lost by taking a selfie. Indulging in the pure adrenaline-fueled live music is disrupted by blue light screens shoved into the open air. Take a moment to travel without your phone. You can take pictures but don’t live through your screen. You’ll thank yourself later.
5. Move Too Quickly
Take your time in new settings. In Iceland, my family wanted to visit the Blue Lagoon, a restaurant serving dishes only made with mushrooms, Vik, and black sand beaches, yet we didn’t want to rush anything. To orchestrate this trip, we coordinated a schedule, allowing us to spend maximum time in each location. If we abhorred a location, we’d move on, but if we cherished an attraction, we’d remain there for hours. Don’t rush travel.
6. Should You Avoid Tourist Spots
A heavy discourse flows through the nomad and traveler community today about visiting touristy spots and avoiding touristy spots. I stand by the idea that some tourist spots warrant their reputation for a reason, while others do possess an overhyped, crowded status. However, never let someone else’s opinions of a tourist spot sway your itinerary.
7. Take a Day Off
After a 12-hour flight, you’ll fall into the trap of jetlag, sleep deprivation, and confusion before you adjust to your temporary home’s sunlight schedule. Although you may want to maximize each day and do as much as you can while out and about in a new place, make sure you rest. Take a day to explore the hotel, rest in your room, or visit the spa. You don’t need to explore 24/7.
8. Picture How People Lived There
“As a history buff, I couldn’t disagree more. The best thing about walking around a city is picturing how people lived there a hundred years ago. Now it is boring. Just people getting drunk and looking at their phones,” this historian sighs.
9. Travel Is a Personality Trait
One person reflects on how others view their traveling lives as the greatest resume addition in the world. “I like seeing this perspective and calling out how travel is viewed as a virtuous achievement. How many people like to list the number of countries they’ve visited on social media? How many people use travel as a personality trait? How many tourists say they don’t like to participate in touristy activities? How many truly enjoy the likes they get more than the actual experience?”
10. Travel Like You Live There
An exciting account mentions their idea of traveling as if they lived there. Instead of bopping around to sensationalized destinations, they find the places calling to them that they envision settling down in. “My goal is to start settling down for longer periods of time. I’m an introvert and spend most of my time alone. I make coffee and cook at home almost exclusively. My life is the things that I do regardless of where I live, and around doing that, I soak up the nature, language, and culture of the place where I live,” they say.
Source: Reddit.
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