International travel is overhyped, amirite?

Not all travel is to places made ‘moot' by globalisation. Going from a London high street to rural Mongolia or a Swedish village to Lagos isn't remotely the same. Culture shock still exists—if you're not feeling it, you might just be travelling shallow.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Exactly, shallow travelers brag the most.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

The only people that feel that way have either never really travelled internationally or have but only go to the super touristy areas lol. Globalization is happening and it is a good thing, but the culture of the people that populate those countries is still very much alive. Getting to know the people that live there and exiting the beaten path as quickly as possible would go a long way to changing your mind.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

The last time I traveled I snorkeled with sea turtles. I can't exactly say that's a normal daily occurrence for me.

by Decent-Chemical 1 month ago

I'd say that doesn't count as international travel for most 99% of people. its like saying, oo I mountain biked in the Himalayas or something. Sounds cool, most people, not interested.

by stephonziemann 1 month ago

What do you think counts as international travel to most people then? For people I know... Most don't travel internationally at all. Those who do often go on cruises. The rest are people who I've met through traveling, who tend to be into the hiking and cultural experiences like I am.

by Decent-Chemical 1 month ago

You haven't traveled much have you?

by Sensitive_News_4368 1 month ago

OP is an American and definitely does not have a passport.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Even if they do, Americans have so little vacation time that they don't really get to travel authentically. They'll just go to London and Paris for a week, staying in the touristy areas. I can see how one would come to this type of conclusion

by Sensitive_News_4368 1 month ago

It's also the case that a lot of Americans live very far away from their families and often have to use a lot of that time off to visit them.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Ehh if you plan ahead you can see a lot in 7-10 days or you can stay in one area and really explore it.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Sounds like the opinion of somebody who's never left their town.

by fleta74 1 month ago

100% from America too...

by Anonymous 1 month ago

I'm from the united states (America is a continent) and I've studied all over the world... So if what you were implying is that only people from the United States would think this. I just want to correct you that not all of us are that way.

by fleta74 1 month ago

So by Americans you mean Canadians and Ecuadorians?

by fleta74 1 month ago

Americans is what we typically refer to as people from the united states. If we were referring to the continent as a whole we would refer to North Americans

by Various-Schedule 1 month ago

You're getting caught up on the American part like it's a big 'got ya' moment. We all know, if someone says American, they're talking about citizens of the United States.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

When people say American, it's highly reasonable to assume they're referring to someone from the United States. Technically yes, as North and South America are continents, you could rightly refer to anyone from those continents as Americans of a sort and be pedantically correct but that's not what most people think of when they hear 'American'. I'm pretty sure Trump wasn't on about improving the living standards of Chileans when he wanted to 'Make America Great Again'... And anyway, my original assumption of OP stands! Peace out, A Town down.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Does the everyday British or French person travel to America? I understand y'all as an EU can easily travel amongst countries. For us driving across Texas is probably 3-4 EU countries. Not to mention we have a little bit of an ocean on either side. Many Americans frequent Canada and Mexico as a comparison but I don't think that's what OP is inferring as international.

by Carletoncorkery 1 month ago

The Texas example highlights the difference perfectly: Americans often equate crossing state lines to international travel because it feels big. But of course, four days across Texas or a state border probably isn't giving them the same culture shock as someone in Wales travelling to Bulgaria.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

But Texas isn't even that big. It's only the 26th biggest state in the world. Australia has five states larger than it and none of us would equate travelling in the country to international travel

by Trick_Owl_2233 1 month ago

I agree, it's not exclusive to Americans. But it's a reasonable guess to assume this type of opinion (expressed on a platform with a majority American demographic and expressed in US English) belongs to an American...

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Are you traveling to go live as a regular person somewhere else for a little bit, or are you traveling to see/experience somewhere different?

by Anonymous 1 month ago

You sound like you've never left your hometown. International travel is amazing and one of the best things in life.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

You're not going to the right places. Try looking for "off the grid".

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Not off the grid, just somewhere that isn't America, Canada, or a western European capital city lmao

by vonruedenaaliya 1 month ago

To be fair, inequity is so dramatic in the country that a large portion of Americans can't afford to travel to the next town over without taking out a loan.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

As someone who has traveled and is living internationally, it depends what you consider their "day" and what areas you are looking at. Culturally, Kurds and Americans see many things do differently, which makes sense they are built by different histories. They act differently too, huge difference in culture. If you are broad enough about it, they wake up, go to work, go home and hang out with their families, but then you go and sit down, forced to eat tons of food and drink over sugared tea, etc etc the specific details are part of a whole and meaningful cultural difference

by Anonymous 1 month ago

yes this is why I almost agree. At the core, I guess we're all the same everywhere

by Anonymous 1 month ago

I think you have a point there but the point certainly isn't that international travel is overhyped. The point should really be that heavy touristy places are overhyped because you tend to see less of local culture, more of the same tourist behaviour, and the version of the culture you do see is bastardized and commercialized to be marketed for tourists. Otherwise I don't see travel is becoming pointless due to experiences being homogenous. A tropical beach is still a tropical beach for anyone who doesn't live in a tropical country, and that can't be replicated.

by jermain44 1 month ago

I travel all over the world and love it. But I know people who prefer not to and travel just domestically. It's your money, do whatever you like! But I do agree that due to globalization traveling now is not the same experience as traveling 30 years ago

by Helpful-Climate-6835 1 month ago

When you live in a car-dependent city, a walkable European city with a plaza is amazing

by Anonymous 1 month ago

It's the other 30% that makes travel exciting and interesting …

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Nature is not becoming more homogenous.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Don't go to the financial sector?

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Op clearly never travelled. Iv been to spain, france, saudi arabia. None of those places are the same as home.

by Owitting 1 month ago

Scuba diving in Canada is pure pain compared to almost anywhere else in the world. All depends on what you want to see and do.

by Scottiesimonis 1 month ago

I mean international travel is different than international living. And by this measure wouldn't all travel be "overhyped" One thing that international travel does is exclude you to geological, historical, and nature that is different than your home. Waterfalls in Iceland and visiting Auschwitz and hiking in Yosemite and donkey ride in Grand Canyon and safari in Africa are all different and unique Unless you're a person that is a "lay at the pool at beach resort without leaving the resort" person, I don't understand. Saying it's hyped because it's expensive, time consuming, or stressful would at least make sense

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Was a massive culture shock just moving from the UK to Australia and they are somewhat similar countries. Going to places way different than what you are used to is still very much alive

by Trick_Owl_2233 1 month ago

Yeah… food is 100% worth the travel. Not to mention literally everything else

by Anonymous 1 month ago

I really disagree with this but probably a lot of people in the U.S. would agree with it. We have a shocking low amount of people who even have passports, though it's increasing.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Oof, tell me you've never traveled anywhere without telling me you've never traveled anywhere.

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Sounds like an American that went to Windsor, Canada a few times lmao

by vonruedenaaliya 1 month ago

99.9 percent OP is from United States. So many beautiful places out there. USA is good for one thing make that money...

by maverick48 1 month ago

Been to 55 countries, met people like this all over. It's not an American exclusive sentiment...this shouldn't have to be said, alas...

by Anonymous 1 month ago

Travel in general is boring and overhyped. I dont see the point at all

by No_Box8141 1 month ago

Boring people usually struggle to find anything interesting

by Anonymous 1 month ago

I understand what you mean and I wouldn't visit a bunch of European cities one after another because sure they are beautiful but if you've seen one you pretty much get the idea. That's not the case with anything nature-related. Norwegian fjords, Icelandi geysers, African safari... One could continue.

by Anonymous 1 month ago