Traveling is Overrated

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

So you're saying that once you left the country for 6 months you realized how uncivilized Americans are and how much our food sucks, relatively speaking.

I know what you mean.

Well I'm not American so that's not what I am saying.

And it's not about leaving a "lesser" place for a "better" place. It's about breathing a different air, meeting new people, and being in a completely different setting & atmosphere.

But to go back to the idea likely behind your post, in my experience going abroad makes you realise that many things that you hate about your home country tend to be very similar in completely different places.

Anywhere you go, you will find that people are split between positive vs. negative, curious vs. close-minded, generous vs. selfish, interesting vs. boring, humle vs. arrogant, etc.

And people from these respective categories tend to be compatible, regardless of origins.

 

[Phlog]

Anyone else think traveling is overrated? It seems most people around my age or younger are big on traveling. Every other person I’ve met has backpacked around Europe or some shit. And they think they’re enlightened and worldly because they posed on top of the great wall or some shit. Every other chick has dreams of traveling the world. I told one of my friends I’m not a fan of traveling and he couldn’t believe it.

I mean looking at cool shit and taking pics at new places is fun and all but I’m left asking, what do I really get out of all of this other than bragging rights and likes on facebook? I feel like if I travel, it would be to stay at one place for a few months and to get to know the culture and the people as much as I can. For most people I know traveling seems to be a series of taking pics of one famous place and moving on to the next one. The long waits the airport, and sitting on a plane/train/bus for hours, hauling your luggage around, going through customs, etc., don’t seem worth it for me. Don’t get me wrong, if it was paid for and I was granted time off work (like an overseas business trip), I would jump at the opportunity, but using my own money and time doesn’t seem to have a very favorable cost-benefit ratio.

The last time I went “traveling” was going to a beach several hours away from where I live with my friends. The fun of it was getting to hang out with my friends really, not that we were in a different place.

Cliffs: Traveling is meh

A lot of people travel for the social aspect.

I have travelled a great deal, lived in other countries for months backpacking, sailed the 7 seas etc.

What it gives you more than anything is perspective,l. You may have a great perspective already but you would be better through seeing other cultures, ways of life.

It broadens the mind.

Going to the beach is not travelling, also it is best to go alone, that forces you to engage with your surroundings more.

You are a smarter, better more socialised person as a result of travelling.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

A lot of people travel for the social aspect.

I have travelled a great deal, lived in other countries for months backpacking, sailed the 7 seas etc.

What it gives you more than anything is perspective,l. You may have a great perspective already but you would be better through seeing other cultures, ways of life.

It broadens the mind.

Going to the beach is not travelling, also it is best to go alone, that forces you to engage with your surroundings more.

You are a smarter, better more socialised person as a result of travelling.

This is so true ; great post.

 

[The_Renaissance]

For me, its the best thing ever. I can see why others don't like it, but whatever. I'm 34 by the way, but age has never been an issue for me - outside of South-East Asia (I have never been to Oz and NZ), I've never found the crowd to be too young. I just spent 3months in Central America and i'd say 95% or something of people I met were 25+. Which worked out quite well for getting laid.

 

[ShoelessRye]

Yeah that's fair enough, I'm in my mid 30s and I feel the same. If your in your 20s though they are ace.

Hostels are for the early to mid 20's lot, if you're over 30yo at "youth hostels" you're just the weirdo. I did the whole hostel/backpacking thing in my early 20's and still miss those times to this day but know I couldn't try and do it again now as I'm getting scarily close to 40.

Traveling to me has little appeal now. If I have money to burn, I'd rather buy "stuff" that I'd enjoy every day for many years. One exception is hitting warm weather in the pits of winter - that does have some appeal, but that's not traveling really, that's just sitting on a beach 10 hours a day drinking. Overall I find traveling too exhausting - my vacation time I need as decompress/down time now.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Hostels are for the early to mid 20's lot, if you're over 30yo at "youth hostels" you're just the weirdo. I did the whole hostel/backpacking thing in my early 20's and still miss those times to this day but know I couldn't try and do it again now as I'm getting scarily close to 40.

Traveling to me has little appeal now. If I have money to burn, I'd rather buy "stuff" that I'd enjoy every day for many years. One exception is hitting warm weather in the pits of winter - that does have some appeal, but that's not traveling really, that's just sitting on a beach 10 hours a day drinking. Overall I find traveling too exhausting - my vacation time I need as decompress/down time now.

In a way I can relate to what you are saying.

I traveled a fair deal in my 20's but now in my mid 30's I am reluctant on doing really long tiring trips.

It also has to do with the fact that I emigrated in my late 20's so spent all my vacations flying back home for a while.

Or also with the fact that a significant portion of my career has involved travelling every week.

Kind of discusts you of train stations and airports after a while to be honest.

Now I still travel, but by car and within Europe.

 

[My name is]

Then what is worth the money?

What if all your bills are paid, you have a nice car, live comfortably, and the AMEX gold points are piling up.

What will you do with all those points?

What will you do during the 2-3 weeks of vacation you have from work?

I use to travel but after I always feel like it was just a waist . I like the thought of traveling but once I'm doing it think why am I doing this.it's been 2 or 3 years since I've went on vacation. i was planning a trip to iceland but said hell with it. I don't have Amex I've got capital one venture but I usually just use the miles to purchase erase.

 

[Dayman1984]

Traveling is the tits. I don't have Facebook so I'm definitely not sharing pictures there, and I've been on trips where I've barely taken pictures because I just wanted to enjoy it.

 

[Pugilistic]

A lot of people travel for the social aspect.

I have travelled a great deal, lived in other countries for months backpacking, sailed the 7 seas etc.

What it gives you more than anything is perspective,l. You may have a great perspective already but you would be better through seeing other cultures, ways of life.

It broadens the mind.

Going to the beach is not travelling, also it is best to go alone, that forces you to engage with your surroundings more.

You are a smarter, better more socialised person as a result of travelling.

If I do travel it would be for the social aspect as well. But people engage with their surroundings more in the environment they already live instead. I've done that the city I lived in for several years became so much better. I'm sure my travel experiences would be better too if I did that. I kind of agree with you because I've met some awesome people who are travel all over the place but at the same time I've seen tools who travel and are still just tools who happened to have been to different places.

I'll add this though: some places are definitely worth seeing in person. When I saw the Grand Canyon it took my breath away. No picture could have done it justice.

 

[Rjay]

Been to a shitload of countries but I can see TS's point. It's cool to see the world, but anyone who thinks they've undergone some epiphany and have a new perspective on life because they spend a few days surrounded by fellow unwashed western backpackers in some 3rd world country is going to be full of shit. It is well known western backpackers are some of the douchiest, pretentious and self-righteous people on the planet. I'm more a fan of actually living in a place, you'll learn a hell of a lot more that way than just staying in a hostel and seeing the local tourist traps. One thing I would say though is you don't have any right to make jingoistic statements about how your country is the greatest place in the world and god's gift to humanity unless you've seen the competition.

 

[Yellowking]

Traveling expands your perspective, helps you to further understand and appreciate the diversity in the world. It gives you a chance to actually interact with a larger world, and see and experience things first hand which can change you as a person. It probably makes you a better person with a wider set of experiences to draw on when making decisions.

I don't really backpack though. I'll stay in Airbnbs typically. Its cheaper and gives you a better view of how people actually live where you are visiting. Money spent on hotels would be a waste to me usually

 

[MMouse]

It depends and varies from each individual.

One may have the financial expenses while others don't. So travelling may be an experience they want to or not want to go through.

Some people may want to site seeing while others want to accomplish something

 

[Stoic1]

TS sounds poor

 

[jabba the punk]

You got it all wrong TS. Traveling is not over rated, its one of the only true human experiences we will ever get to enjoy before we die.

Where I think you get your misconception is from the fact that staying home and enjoying leisure time is way under rated.

Traveling can be a beautiful and life changing experience, but spending time at home is where you can unwind and reflect of your own personal self, which can be just as important as traveling and finding new perspectives.

See as much of the world before you're gone.

 

[TeTe]

I love travelling but it can be a pain in the ass sometimes dealing with airports and shitty hotels.

Travelling for work does suck though.

 

[j123]

Its good when you're with friends, if you're doing it alone, then yeah its not as great.

 

[jabba the punk]

Travelling for work does suck though.

Though its not always the case, I have to agree with this. Amen. lol

 

[TeTe]

Though its not always the case, I have to agree with this. Amen. lol

There's nothing worse that having to fly in somewhere after work one night, then have to fly out the next day.... especially when the flight is two or three hours.

 

[jabba the punk]

There's nothing worse that having to fly in somewhere after work one night, then have to fly out the next day.... especially when the flight is two or three hours.

try this, but with a stomach virus that's making you piss from your anus. From TX to CALI and back.

 

[WebAlchemist]

Been to a shitload of countries but I can see TS's point. It's cool to see the world, but anyone who thinks they've undergone some epiphany and have a new perspective on life because they spend a few days surrounded by fellow unwashed western backpackers in some 3rd world country is going to be full of shit. It is well known western backpackers are some of the douchiest, pretentious and self-righteous people on the planet. I'm more a fan of actually living in a place, you'll learn a hell of a lot more that way than just staying in a hostel and seeing the local tourist traps. One thing I would say though is you don't have any right to make jingoistic statements about how your country is the greatest place in the world and god's gift to humanity unless you've seen the competition.

This.

i see no point in just traveling to a country for a week or two, you learn nothing and the best you get is some partying and boozing that you could have done at home, way cheaper.


But if you are interested in becoming more worldly and undestand people and culture then moving to a different country for a few years, will teach you more than going to visit 20 countries for a week each.