Comments on: What is “Real Travel” ? http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/ Family Adventures in Lifestyle Design Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:37:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Steve http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-1997 Steve Fri, 28 May 2010 12:32:29 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-1997 I don't think there is a right or wrong to way to a "real travel" but as you say you need to keep your eyes and mind open if you want to see “behind it”. What’s the point of going to fareast Asia or even to your next-door city and stay inside the 4 walls of your resort? You could be then just anywhere that it would not really matter. I don’t think there is a right or wrong to way to a “real travel” but as you say you need to keep your eyes and mind open if you want to see “behind it”. What’s the point of going to fareast Asia or even to your next-door city and stay inside the 4 walls of your resort? You could be then just anywhere that it would not really matter.

]]> By: Jeremy and Eva Rees http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-752 Jeremy and Eva Rees Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:52:10 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-752 My wife and I are currently a little past halfway through our trip and feel the time slipping away. I hope you guys are adjusting to being back home, I have started to dream I am home and somehow skipped the last 5 months our our trip – shudder. I hope this doesn't ruffle any feathers but I have a problem with the way "traveler" seems to be better than a "tourist." The "real traveler", like you mentioned, claims to really experience the world by not having air-conditioning or hot showers but I can't help but notice most of these "travelers" have Lonely Planet who seems to market this "great experience," like some sales gimmick. The "traveler" and Lonely Planet want to believe they are pioneering in discovery of the world, worse yet, LP dictates the politics of response, showing you how to feel about being a "real traveler." (Sorry for the tirade, LP books seem to weigh a lot in our packs and can be kind of condescending) When we are outside our culture and country, we are "tourists," cast adrift in otherness. Like you, we applaud anyone who has a passport and uses it. My wife and I don't want to hurt anyone's feeling or tell anyone else how they should travel. Just go out and travel! Follow the things that strike your fancy and enjoy the growth you find, it can't go wrong. Maybe weird and un-intentional, but new all the same. PS, a very timely post :) Eva just got a few good laughs out of all the bindi-wearing uncombed Americans who wouldn't make eye contact with other tourists. I am glad they had their experience, just don't act like you've transcended so high above us lowly sightseers My wife and I are currently a little past halfway through our trip and feel the time slipping away. I hope you guys are adjusting to being back home, I have started to dream I am home and somehow skipped the last 5 months our our trip – shudder.

I hope this doesn’t ruffle any feathers but I have a problem with the way “traveler” seems to be better than a “tourist.” The “real traveler”, like you mentioned, claims to really experience the world by not having air-conditioning or hot showers but I can’t help but notice most of these “travelers” have Lonely Planet who seems to market this “great experience,” like some sales gimmick. The “traveler” and Lonely Planet want to believe they are pioneering in discovery of the world, worse yet, LP dictates the politics of response, showing you how to feel about being a “real traveler.” (Sorry for the tirade, LP books seem to weigh a lot in our packs and can be kind of condescending)

When we are outside our culture and country, we are “tourists,” cast adrift in otherness. Like you, we applaud anyone who has a passport and uses it. My wife and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feeling or tell anyone else how they should travel. Just go out and travel! Follow the things that strike your fancy and enjoy the growth you find, it can’t go wrong. Maybe weird and un-intentional, but new all the same.

PS, a very timely post :) Eva just got a few good laughs out of all the bindi-wearing uncombed Americans who wouldn’t make eye contact with other tourists. I am glad they had their experience, just don’t act like you’ve transcended so high above us lowly sightseers

]]> By: Marta http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-751 Marta Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:18:38 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-751 I don't think there is a right or wrong to way to a "real travel" but as you say you need to keep your eyes and mind open if you want to see “behind it”. What’s the point of going to fareast Asia or even to your next-door city and stay inside the 4 walls of your resort? You could be then just anywhere that it would not really matter. I don’t think there is a right or wrong to way to a “real travel” but as you say you need to keep your eyes and mind open if you want to see “behind it”. What’s the point of going to fareast Asia or even to your next-door city and stay inside the 4 walls of your resort? You could be then just anywhere that it would not really matter.

]]> By: Roger http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Roger Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:20:11 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-744 Great question! As somebody who loves to travel and works in the travel industry, it's a topic close to me. I agree that there isn't a "right" way to travel, it just depends on the experience the traveler is looking for. The important part is heading into any journey with an open mind, willing to learn from the people you encounter and not just look at the things you see. The world's an amazing place! Great question! As somebody who loves to travel and works in the travel industry, it’s a topic close to me. I agree that there isn’t a “right” way to travel, it just depends on the experience the traveler is looking for. The important part is heading into any journey with an open mind, willing to learn from the people you encounter and not just look at the things you see. The world’s an amazing place!

]]> By: Gray http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-743 Gray Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:21:14 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-743 I couldn't agree more, Marc! There is definitely a travel snobbery that exists out there among some that there is only one "right" way to travel. I applaud anyone who gets out there and goes to other places. I don't care how they do it. I couldn’t agree more, Marc! There is definitely a travel snobbery that exists out there among some that there is only one “right” way to travel. I applaud anyone who gets out there and goes to other places. I don’t care how they do it.

]]> By: Anil http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-741 Anil Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:37:14 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-741 I don't think there's a "real" way to travel. The word "travel" itself is so broad and so varied. Like you said though, it's so much more than just physically going somewhere else. I don’t think there’s a “real” way to travel. The word “travel” itself is so broad and so varied. Like you said though, it’s so much more than just physically going somewhere else.

]]> By: Marc http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-738 Marc Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:52:20 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-738 @Krystal - well said! @Craig - the picture was taken in the Sacred Valley (near Moray) somewhere between Cusco and Ollantaytambo. That's what it looks like in the rainy season. Different from when you guys were there, I guess. @Krystal – well said!

@Craig – the picture was taken in the Sacred Valley (near Moray) somewhere between Cusco and Ollantaytambo. That’s what it looks like in the rainy season. Different from when you guys were there, I guess.

]]> By: Craig http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-737 Craig Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:47:22 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-737 Marc- I'm interested in the question you ask, but I'm more interested in where you took the picture at the top of the post. It's spectacular! I see from your Flickr it's from Peru, but where? I hope re-entry is treating you well. Give us a shout if you are ever in the DC area. Marc-
I’m interested in the question you ask, but I’m more interested in where you took the picture at the top of the post. It’s spectacular!
I see from your Flickr it’s from Peru, but where?

I hope re-entry is treating you well. Give us a shout if you are ever in the DC area.

]]> By: Krystal http://4suitcases.com/2009/11/what-is-real-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-736 Krystal Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:44:03 +0000 http://4suitcases.com/?p=759#comment-736 I've never thought much about "real travel"...does that mean there is a "fake travel"? lol Really...the best way for us to travel is to do it in the way that works best..for US. I'd hope others are allowed to do that same. Anything that stretches us as people is good-it might be the trip across the street or across the country or across the world. The route, the location and the way of getting there is pretty irrelevant as far as I can tell. What happens inside of me (us) is the most important thing to me. I’ve never thought much about “real travel”…does that mean there is a “fake travel”? lol Really…the best way for us to travel is to do it in the way that works best..for US. I’d hope others are allowed to do that same. Anything that stretches us as people is good-it might be the trip across the street or across the country or across the world. The route, the location and the way of getting there is pretty irrelevant as far as I can tell. What happens inside of me (us) is the most important thing to me.

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