Are upper middle class family gatherings now just luxury travel pissing contests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

All this does is make you look incredibly ignorant. The person will leave this conversation telling everyone that you don’t know where the freaking Galapagos are.

See, the difference is you care what the boorish braggart thinks of you. I don’t. I also don’t choose my vacation destinations based on what will make others most jealous of me.

It’s insanely narcissistic to think that other people’s vacations are all about you. I’m so embarrassed for you.

I don't think about you at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My theory of travel is that many UMC dullards travel because they have nothing better to do nor any hobbies or fulfilling interests. Lot of this travel ultimately is an empty consumption requiring minimal effort.

This. The people who tactlessly one-up over travel have just found a skill-free, taste-free way to communicate superiority.

Pp travel lover here. I don’t care about other people. I go away at least ten times a year. I love nature, culture, architecture, beach, lake, mountains, food, museums, shows, etc. Every trip is different. Yes, sometimes it may be an amazing hotel with great amenities like an awesome spa. Other times I may go to see a concert. I don’t need to one up anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Keeping up with the Joneses" used to mean a new Lexus SUV and a country club membership, now it means seeing the Joneses on instagram hiking in Peru, using Epic Passes to ski all season in Vail, and sun bathing in Mykonos.

I mean ... it is the 21st century. People prefer to spend money on experiences over things. Not sure why you are so vexed by this. I would enjoy Mykonos. I have zero interest in driving a Lexus and I don't play golf. So.

It’s literally a scam. People are being duped into flushing large sums of money down the drain.

Large sums of money you wish you had. Sound like the green-eyed monster is eating you alive.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I always thought travel was a safe topic. I love to travel. I love to hear my friend’s travel stories. I don’t enjoy hearing about boring beach trips to bald island but I love hearing about Asia or Europe. I’m always looking for new places to go with my family.

Talking about cool sites you saw in Asia is fine. "Humble" bragging about your $1k+/night hotel or dropping a reference to (or worse posting a picture of) your lay flat seats is not.

Pp here. I know what you mean when people are trying to show off. We actually do stay at the 1-2k hotels but I don’t talk about the hotel. There are some people who who can appreciate a nice spa or afternoon tea though. Maybe that is what OP is referring to. 95% of the time I would not talk about this but there are those 5% where I actually really enjoy the details of a very nice hotel, especially if the hotel is the destination. We recently went to marina bay sands in Singapore. My kids loved the hotel and the adjacent attractions.

Any comment remotely like this is exactly what OP is talking about.

The hotel has a very famous infinity rooftop pool. The hotel is worth visiting. Has many amazing restaurants adjacent. Also some of the coolest super trees and botanical garden right next to the hotel.

https://images.app.goo.gl/nQhvhRaoLGkyfdJU8

You are the problem. People like you. Even more so because you refuse to acknowledge it. Even "visiting" the hotel (not staying there) is prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of the population. But you are an insufferable snob and you like it that way.

I wrote above that I normally don’t talk about the hotel to 95% of people. There are those few people who are similar and we can appreciate these types of details.

You have such a high opinion of yourself.

+1 pp is insufferable. They don’t want to hear about bald island but love hearing about Asia or Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always thought travel was a safe topic. I love to travel. I love to hear my friend’s travel stories. I don’t enjoy hearing about boring beach trips to bald island but I love hearing about Asia or Europe. I’m always looking for new places to go with my family.

Talking about cool sites you saw in Asia is fine. "Humble" bragging about your $1k+/night hotel or dropping a reference to (or worse posting a picture of) your lay flat seats is not.

Pp here. I know what you mean when people are trying to show off. We actually do stay at the 1-2k hotels but I don’t talk about the hotel. There are some people who who can appreciate a nice spa or afternoon tea though. Maybe that is what OP is referring to. 95% of the time I would not talk about this but there are those 5% where I actually really enjoy the details of a very nice hotel, especially if the hotel is the destination. We recently went to marina bay sands in Singapore. My kids loved the hotel and the adjacent attractions.

Any comment remotely like this is exactly what OP is talking about.

The hotel has a very famous infinity rooftop pool. The hotel is worth visiting. Has many amazing restaurants adjacent. Also some of the coolest super trees and botanical garden right next to the hotel.

https://images.app.goo.gl/nQhvhRaoLGkyfdJU8

DP. I think anyone who saw that hotel in Crazy Rich Asians would love to experience that pool. I do and I have no plans to go to Singapore but I would definitely want to hear all about it from pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Keeping up with the Joneses" used to mean a new Lexus SUV and a country club membership, now it means seeing the Joneses on instagram hiking in Peru, using Epic Passes to ski all season in Vail, and sun bathing in Mykonos.

I mean ... it is the 21st century. People prefer to spend money on experiences over things. Not sure why you are so vexed by this. I would enjoy Mykonos. I have zero interest in driving a Lexus and I don't play golf. So.

It’s literally a scam. People are being duped into flushing large sums of money down the drain.

Large sums of money you wish you had. Sound like the green-eyed monster is eating you alive.

DP here. It's strange that you think everyone with lots of money would choose to spend it as you do. Or that those with less money are envious of you.

[Anonymous]

I’m a first generation American child.
I’ve been traveling all my life.

It’s neat and interesting to hear about others travels …

Not so deep for me as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Keeping up with the Joneses" used to mean a new Lexus SUV and a country club membership, now it means seeing the Joneses on instagram hiking in Peru, using Epic Passes to ski all season in Vail, and sun bathing in Mykonos.

I mean ... it is the 21st century. People prefer to spend money on experiences over things. Not sure why you are so vexed by this. I would enjoy Mykonos. I have zero interest in driving a Lexus and I don't play golf. So.

It’s literally a scam. People are being duped into flushing large sums of money down the drain.

Large sums of money you wish you had. Sound like the green-eyed monster is eating you alive.

Then why is OP so bitter?

DP here. It's strange that you think everyone with lots of money would choose to spend it as you do. Or that those with less money are envious of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

All this does is make you look incredibly ignorant. The person will leave this conversation telling everyone that you don’t know where the freaking Galapagos are.

See, the difference is you care what the boorish braggart thinks of you. I don’t. I also don’t choose my vacation destinations based on what will make others most jealous of me.

It’s insanely narcissistic to think that other people’s vacations are all about you. I’m so embarrassed for you.

I don't think about you at all.

And no one’s thinking about you when they plan their vacation, babe.

[Anonymous]

It’s interesting to me just how aggressive the travel threads get here.

We travel a ton and we love it. It’s great to get away from regular life, be on a different time zone and see the world.

I grew up below the poverty line. Watching movies and such as a kid, I never thought I’d have enough in life to take a single plane trip to another state (I distinctly remember thinking “I’ll never see New York City, it seems so full of action in movies but so far out of my reach”) let alone see the world and be able to experience it with my kid.

I don’t understand why this is a bad thing. Bragging or not aside, there’s so many posters here who think anyone who travels is a selfish, show off. You people are so privileged it’s sickening. Some people work their asses off in life to be successful so they can do things that make them happy even if it doesn’t sound interesting to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always thought travel was a safe topic. I love to travel. I love to hear my friend’s travel stories. I don’t enjoy hearing about boring beach trips to bald island but I love hearing about Asia or Europe. I’m always looking for new places to go with my family.

Talking about cool sites you saw in Asia is fine. "Humble" bragging about your $1k+/night hotel or dropping a reference to (or worse posting a picture of) your lay flat seats is not.

Pp here. I know what you mean when people are trying to show off. We actually do stay at the 1-2k hotels but I don’t talk about the hotel. There are some people who who can appreciate a nice spa or afternoon tea though. Maybe that is what OP is referring to. 95% of the time I would not talk about this but there are those 5% where I actually really enjoy the details of a very nice hotel, especially if the hotel is the destination. We recently went to marina bay sands in Singapore. My kids loved the hotel and the adjacent attractions.

Any comment remotely like this is exactly what OP is talking about.

The hotel has a very famous infinity rooftop pool. The hotel is worth visiting. Has many amazing restaurants adjacent. Also some of the coolest super trees and botanical garden right next to the hotel.

https://images.app.goo.gl/nQhvhRaoLGkyfdJU8

I love to travel, but this is pretty bad. A hotel should not be the destination.

Showy Asian wealth is kind of a gaudy train wreck. There is a reason they made Crazy Rich Asians into a movie.

Not that it matters but we are the dress casual stealth wealth. We stay at nice hotels and are dressed like casual Americans.

I could buy you with what is in my wallet. Stop being a poseur. It's embarassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My theory of travel is that many UMC dullards travel because they have nothing better to do nor any hobbies or fulfilling interests. Lot of this travel ultimately is an empty consumption requiring minimal effort.

You may be right. We are fairly boring people. But we do love to travel as a family. It’s been something we have done since the kids were in elementary school. Kid in college keeps reminding us that she is joining us in the summer so remember to plan around her internship. Surly HS kid gets involved in figuring out where we are going next. Health and circumstances permitting, I would love to treat with my kids families to extended family vacations if they are interested some day. I can see that our trips would be boring to everyone else so try to tone it down in company but I am sure I slip up occasionally. I also never post on SM. Sometimes, people will reach out for recommendations or ideas if they are planning to go somewhere we have been and I am happy share all the info we have. So all in all, I agree that we are probably pretty basic but not apologetic at all for traveling as a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always thought travel was a safe topic. I love to travel. I love to hear my friend’s travel stories. I don’t enjoy hearing about boring beach trips to bald island but I love hearing about Asia or Europe. I’m always looking for new places to go with my family.

Talking about cool sites you saw in Asia is fine. "Humble" bragging about your $1k+/night hotel or dropping a reference to (or worse posting a picture of) your lay flat seats is not.

Pp here. I know what you mean when people are trying to show off. We actually do stay at the 1-2k hotels but I don’t talk about the hotel. There are some people who who can appreciate a nice spa or afternoon tea though. Maybe that is what OP is referring to. 95% of the time I would not talk about this but there are those 5% where I actually really enjoy the details of a very nice hotel, especially if the hotel is the destination. We recently went to marina bay sands in Singapore. My kids loved the hotel and the adjacent attractions.

Any comment remotely like this is exactly what OP is talking about.

The hotel has a very famous infinity rooftop pool. The hotel is worth visiting. Has many amazing restaurants adjacent. Also some of the coolest super trees and botanical garden right next to the hotel.

https://images.app.goo.gl/nQhvhRaoLGkyfdJU8

I love to travel, but this is pretty bad. A hotel should not be the destination.

Showy Asian wealth is kind of a gaudy train wreck. There is a reason they made Crazy Rich Asians into a movie.

Not that it matters but we are the dress casual stealth wealth. We stay at nice hotels and are dressed like casual Americans.

I could buy you with what is in my wallet. Stop being a poseur. It's embarassing.

NP. What does this even mean? You could not buy me or the PP regardless of our relative wealth profiles. If you are saying the PP is tacky, what does your wealth have to do with it? Why is your opinion more valuable because you believe you have more than the PP? Honestly, rich people confuse me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always thought travel was a safe topic. I love to travel. I love to hear my friend’s travel stories. I don’t enjoy hearing about boring beach trips to bald island but I love hearing about Asia or Europe. I’m always looking for new places to go with my family.

Talking about cool sites you saw in Asia is fine. "Humble" bragging about your $1k+/night hotel or dropping a reference to (or worse posting a picture of) your lay flat seats is not.

Pp here. I know what you mean when people are trying to show off. We actually do stay at the 1-2k hotels but I don’t talk about the hotel. There are some people who who can appreciate a nice spa or afternoon tea though. Maybe that is what OP is referring to. 95% of the time I would not talk about this but there are those 5% where I actually really enjoy the details of a very nice hotel, especially if the hotel is the destination. We recently went to marina bay sands in Singapore. My kids loved the hotel and the adjacent attractions.

Any comment remotely like this is exactly what OP is talking about.

The hotel has a very famous infinity rooftop pool. The hotel is worth visiting. Has many amazing restaurants adjacent. Also some of the coolest super trees and botanical garden right next to the hotel.

https://images.app.goo.gl/nQhvhRaoLGkyfdJU8

I love to travel, but this is pretty bad. A hotel should not be the destination.

Showy Asian wealth is kind of a gaudy train wreck. There is a reason they made Crazy Rich Asians into a movie.

Not that it matters but we are the dress casual stealth wealth. We stay at nice hotels and are dressed like casual Americans.

I could buy you with what is in my wallet. Stop being a poseur. It's embarassing.

NP. What does this even mean? You could not buy me or the PP regardless of our relative wealth profiles. If you are saying the PP is tacky, what does your wealth have to do with it? Why is your opinion more valuable because you believe you have more than the PP? Honestly, rich people confuse me.

I’m the pp that poster was saying he could buy. I like to dress comfortably as does my family. We travel often. Not sure what is embarrassing about showing up on vacation dressing casually.

I love to travel. I know plenty of people who don’t or they only do one vacation per year. I really don’t think anyone cares besides maybe a few people who seem strangely offended by it.

[Anonymous]

My UMC family conversations were dominated by:
3 people have cancer
2 elderly have tons of health problems
2 children with learning differences
3 people with stress related health concerns

Oh, and all the older people LOVE to talk about all the medications they're on.

Travel.... not this time. If we spoke about that it probably would have been a nicer holiday.