Anyone else lost excitement for travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

It was better. We weren't herded around and processed, we didn't have to prebook fastpasses or time slots for the top tourist sites, and we weren't glued to smart phones.

I was backpacking around when many Eastern European citizens were prevented from traveling by their governments and citizens of many developing countries couldn't afford to travel. The fact of the matter is that the number of tourists was smaller.

Now places like Amsterdam, Venice and parts of France are trying to work out how to limit tourist numbers because the cities can't cope. That's nothing to do with being curmudgeonly.

Ok. You have my blessing to stay home and complain. Feel better?

And you have my blessing to stand in a queue for hours to go up the Eiffel Tower. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Seems like the point of the “is it just me” posts like these are to reinforce the OP’s preexisting opinions and prejudices so it’s worth saying explicitly:

No one is forcing you to travel anywhere if you hate it. Enjoy your home and hobbies without the feeling you have to justify it. Spend your money - or don’t - the way you choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

It was better. We weren't herded around and processed, we didn't have to prebook fastpasses or time slots for the top tourist sites, and we weren't glued to smart phones.

I was backpacking around when many Eastern European citizens were prevented from traveling by their governments and citizens of many developing countries couldn't afford to travel. The fact of the matter is that the number of tourists was smaller.

Now places like Amsterdam, Venice and parts of France are trying to work out how to limit tourist numbers because the cities can't cope. That's nothing to do with being curmudgeonly.

Ok. You have my blessing to stay home and complain. Feel better?

And you have my blessing to stand in a queue for hours to go up the Eiffel Tower. Have fun!

I’m trying to figure out if you actually have not heard of booking tickets in advance, or if you truly think you are so special that you are entitled to be exempt from all queues or security checks? Either way, no one will miss you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the point of the “is it just me” posts like these are to reinforce the OP’s preexisting opinions and prejudices so it’s worth saying explicitly:

No one is forcing you to travel anywhere if you hate it. Enjoy your home and hobbies without the feeling you have to justify it. Spend your money - or don’t - the way you choose.

Indeed...very well stated. I love going to different places around the globe. I grew up poor with 8 kids in my family and never flew on a plane until after college. I am rich now and have been almost everywhere in the free world. I am very grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

It was better. We weren't herded around and processed, we didn't have to prebook fastpasses or time slots for the top tourist sites, and we weren't glued to smart phones.

I was backpacking around when many Eastern European citizens were prevented from traveling by their governments and citizens of many developing countries couldn't afford to travel. The fact of the matter is that the number of tourists was smaller.

Now places like Amsterdam, Venice and parts of France are trying to work out how to limit tourist numbers because the cities can't cope. That's nothing to do with being curmudgeonly.

Ok. You have my blessing to stay home and complain. Feel better?

And you have my blessing to stand in a queue for hours to go up the Eiffel Tower. Have fun!

I will have fun, thanks! For me it’s better than not going. Thanks for making the lines just a little shorter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

BS. It’s totally different. Way more expensive and crowded. So much more crowded. How can you even say it’s the same?

This post just has a “kids these days” vibe all over it.

Saying it's crowded is not really giving a "kids these days" vibe. I will give you a "kids these days vibe." Not only is stuff crowded but I roll (my old Gen X-er) eyes when I see a (usually) youngin' take 20 freaking pics/selfies in the same spot for perfect Instagram pic and then walk away without actually looking around/enjoying the site. Bah humbug!

Where do you live that 20 somethings don’t also use their phones to take selfies? If you are in the DC area, don’t you notice crowds in museums and around the monuments as well?

Seems like your gripe is not with travel but with interacting with human beings generally?

Nope. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit is it? You seem set on the idea that anyone bringing up any issues with travel is an old cranky boomer just bc you disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the impact of air travel in particular on the environment today, only selfish ignoramuses love to travel.

You again...
just stop already you sound unhinged.

Meh I still travel but the PP isn’t wrong about the environmental impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

It was better. We weren't herded around and processed, we didn't have to prebook fastpasses or time slots for the top tourist sites, and we weren't glued to smart phones.

I was backpacking around when many Eastern European citizens were prevented from traveling by their governments and citizens of many developing countries couldn't afford to travel. The fact of the matter is that the number of tourists was smaller.

Now places like Amsterdam, Venice and parts of France are trying to work out how to limit tourist numbers because the cities can't cope. That's nothing to do with being curmudgeonly.

Ok. You have my blessing to stay home and complain. Feel better?

You seem really triggered. Are you ok?

[Anonymous]

Didn’t read all the above, but I felt that traveling with young ones under 5 was a hassle. It became incredibly easier by the time they were around 7. And it was awesome seeing Paris again, but through the eyes of a little person. I had already done all the tourist spots years before so I didn’t have a list of things I felt I had to get to. Instead just enjoyed the crepes and gardens with my little one. Once I experienced travel that way, it made traveling with kids a lot easier, more enjoyable, and I looked forward to doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

BS. It’s totally different. Way more expensive and crowded. So much more crowded. How can you even say it’s the same?

This post just has a “kids these days” vibe all over it.

Saying it's crowded is not really giving a "kids these days" vibe. I will give you a "kids these days vibe." Not only is stuff crowded but I roll (my old Gen X-er) eyes when I see a (usually) youngin' take 20 freaking pics/selfies in the same spot for perfect Instagram pic and then walk away without actually looking around/enjoying the site. Bah humbug!

Where do you live that 20 somethings don’t also use their phones to take selfies? If you are in the DC area, don’t you notice crowds in museums and around the monuments as well?

Seems like your gripe is not with travel but with interacting with human beings generally?

Nope. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit is it? You seem set on the idea that anyone bringing up any issues with travel is an old cranky boomer just bc you disagree.

Not necessarily old but definitely cranky! Thanks for proving my point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the impact of air travel in particular on the environment today, only selfish ignoramuses love to travel.

You again...
just stop already you sound unhinged.

Meh I still travel but the PP isn’t wrong about the environmental impact.

People caring for the environment or nature are unhingend? Well there is really no hope for the future of this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the impact of air travel in particular on the environment today, only selfish ignoramuses love to travel.

You again...
just stop already you sound unhinged.

Meh I still travel but the PP isn’t wrong about the environmental impact.

Isn’t that the point? You still travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of PPs are just getting older, more set in their ways, and less tolerant of deviations to their set routine. The concept of travel wasn’t magically better when you were in your 20s, you were just more open to new experiences and less curmudgeonly.

BS. It’s totally different. Way more expensive and crowded. So much more crowded. How can you even say it’s the same?

This post just has a “kids these days” vibe all over it.

Saying it's crowded is not really giving a "kids these days" vibe. I will give you a "kids these days vibe." Not only is stuff crowded but I roll (my old Gen X-er) eyes when I see a (usually) youngin' take 20 freaking pics/selfies in the same spot for perfect Instagram pic and then walk away without actually looking around/enjoying the site. Bah humbug!

Where do you live that 20 somethings don’t also use their phones to take selfies? If you are in the DC area, don’t you notice crowds in museums and around the monuments as well?

Seems like your gripe is not with travel but with interacting with human beings generally?

Nope. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit is it? You seem set on the idea that anyone bringing up any issues with travel is an old cranky boomer just bc you disagree.

Not necessarily old but definitely cranky! Thanks for proving my point!

Meh I was calm when I wrote it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering the impact of air travel in particular on the environment today, only selfish ignoramuses love to travel.

You again...
just stop already you sound unhinged.

Meh I still travel but the PP isn’t wrong about the environmental impact.

People caring for the environment or nature are unhingend? Well there is really no hope for the future of this world.

They are not. I was responding to the PP. But people get very defensive in this forum if you dare say anything negative about travel whether it's the environmental impact or the fact that it's not enjoyable for some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silly question, but super crowded + super expensive, more than ever before, how are all these other people getting $$? Where are they all coming from?

"Travel hacking" with credit card points is a popular strategy nowadays. You can easily cover the cost of flights and hotels, and just have to pay for food, activities, etc.

In Europe, it’s mostly Chinese tourists (before the pandemic and they’re now starting to come back), Americans and Indians. The sheer amount of people is overwhelming to small European destinations. I really miss the 90s ((
The explosion in tourism is in large part driven by the massive growth in the global affluent classes. Tourists now come from all over the world. I remember when I went to Kazakhstan (talk about off the beaten path) and encountered a family group from Brazil. Brazil! Airfare is as cheap as it's ever been when adjusting for inflation. When you go to any of the popular global tourist destinations, Americans are only a small minority of the total tourist population. When I remember back to the 1990s, most tourists in Europe seemed to be either Europeans, Americans or Japanese. But now they are really from all over the world.