International travel "better" than domestic travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I for one think it's odd to prioritize international travel over domestic travel. Both are important for expanding horizons and learning about cultures. The US is not monolithic and has an amazing offering of natural wonders. Our family is taking mostly domestic vacations while the kids are young and international when the kids hit middle school, when we feel that they can better appreciate foreign foods, histories, and cultures. Also, for various reasons, traveling domestically for us when the kids are young is easier. We've taken trips to the major national parks (Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Volcanoes, etc.) and will go to Greece next year. Fwiw, domestic travel can be as expensive as international travel. And, it is odd as an adult to have traveled to the major European capitols, but never the other coast

New Poster. I know, right? People in here are acting like airline tickets for a family from DC to Seattle are cheap. They're not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a few friends and acquaintances who give off this vibe. Like you are somehow a "better," more sophisticated, cultured person if you opt for international travel over domestic. I think this is really weird. There are a lot of cool things and places to see in this country. A colleague was asking me about my travel plans this summer and when I told her we are going to Seattle next week, she as like "oh." Apparently Seattle is boring, who knew? I guess if we were going to Greece though it would be worth discussing Do you get this vibe from people too? It's weird right?

i prefer international to domestic travel for two reasons:

1) i don't like american beaches/oceans, much prefer croatia and greece for summer fun
2) the US has a lot of stunning nature, national parks etc, but i don't care much for that. i am more of a city person and american cities are in general small and not that interesting (plus i have already seen so many of them).

Nothing says small like New York, Chicago and LA.

LA is not really a city. not sure why anyone goes there. new york is great but i lived there for 7 years so it's not a priority. i do like chicago - one of the few places in the us that i am eager to visit. but again, that's not because the rest is not interesting, just not my taste - fine, but not a priority.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know lots of people here in England are sporting NYC and California T shirts. So there is that. Grass is greener.

[Anonymous]

I would much prefer travel in the U.S. to travel overseas but I think you have to do both to reach that stage if you have the travel-bug. that said, it is pretty fun to land at an intl airport and be accosted with new sounds and languages.

don't let other people get you down though, just go where you want!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a few friends and acquaintances who give off this vibe. Like you are somehow a "better," more sophisticated, cultured person if you opt for international travel over domestic. I think this is really weird. There are a lot of cool things and places to see in this country. A colleague was asking me about my travel plans this summer and when I told her we are going to Seattle next week, she as like "oh." Apparently Seattle is boring, who knew? I guess if we were going to Greece though it would be worth discussing Do you get this vibe from people too? It's weird right?

i prefer international to domestic travel for two reasons:

1) i don't like american beaches/oceans, much prefer croatia and greece for summer fun
2) the US has a lot of stunning nature, national parks etc, but i don't care much for that. i am more of a city person and american cities are in general small and not that interesting (plus i have already seen so many of them).

Nothing says small like New York, Chicago and LA.

LA is not really a city. not sure why anyone goes there. new york is great but i lived there for 7 years so it's not a priority. i do like chicago - one of the few places in the us that i am eager to visit. but again, that's not because the rest is not interesting, just not my taste - fine, but not a priority.

Nola, Miami, Boston, the aforementioned Seattle

All cool places to visit. I would also add Charleston, San Diego, and San Antonio/Austin. Smaller cities but still neat things to do and see.

[Anonymous]

People, what about all the national parks? Yosemite, he Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Arcadia National Park? Skiing in Colorado or Wyoming? The beaches and volcano in Hawaii? Are these really not cool things to see in your opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a few friends and acquaintances who give off this vibe. Like you are somehow a "better," more sophisticated, cultured person if you opt for international travel over domestic. I think this is really weird. There are a lot of cool things and places to see in this country. A colleague was asking me about my travel plans this summer and when I told her we are going to Seattle next week, she as like "oh." Apparently Seattle is boring, who knew? I guess if we were going to Greece though it would be worth discussing Do you get this vibe from people too? It's weird right?

i prefer international to domestic travel for two reasons:

1) i don't like american beaches/oceans, much prefer croatia and greece for summer fun
2) the US has a lot of stunning nature, national parks etc, but i don't care much for that. i am more of a city person and american cities are in general small and not that interesting (plus i have already seen so many of them).

I hope you don't go around saying this irl because this is such a ridiculously pretentious thing to say. I wouldn't know what to say if someone said this to me but laugh in their face. Are we supposed to believe you go to Greece or Croatia every summer? In addition to other extensive foreign travel? Are you a socialite who doesn't work? It sounds like something someone like Olivia Palermo might say. "Oh Darling, if your'e not at St. Bath's over Christmas you're no one."

i am sorry if i made you feel inadequate. my point was that i don't like american beaches and oceans, people in the US like the surf and water is often dark or there are animals in it. i am not saying that's bad, just that i don't like it and much prefer what i am used to (i grew up in souther europe). and yes i do go there frequently.

[Anonymous]

maybe it depend on the crowds you hang with? We travel a lot in the US and have been to a good number of national parks. When we tell most friends our plans they compliment us on the cool trips we take. Now I can see where people who aren't well traveled in the US or aren't into national parks might not get how cool some of our parks and cities are. i know i have gone places I wasn't really excited for only to arrive and fall in love.

isn't the saying that we go to Europe for their cities and they come here for our parks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People, what about all the national parks? Yosemite, he Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Arcadia National Park? Skiing in Colorado or Wyoming? The beaches and volcano in Hawaii? Are these really not cool things to see in your opinion?

maybe some people are more city and food people? In which, case I can see why Europe would appeal more to some. I see appeals to both. We love visiting National Parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a few friends and acquaintances who give off this vibe. Like you are somehow a "better," more sophisticated, cultured person if you opt for international travel over domestic. I think this is really weird. There are a lot of cool things and places to see in this country. A colleague was asking me about my travel plans this summer and when I told her we are going to Seattle next week, she as like "oh." Apparently Seattle is boring, who knew? I guess if we were going to Greece though it would be worth discussing Do you get this vibe from people too? It's weird right?

i prefer international to domestic travel for two reasons:

1) i don't like american beaches/oceans, much prefer croatia and greece for summer fun
2) the US has a lot of stunning nature, national parks etc, but i don't care much for that. i am more of a city person and american cities are in general small and not that interesting (plus i have already seen so many of them).

I hope you don't go around saying this irl because this is such a ridiculously pretentious thing to say. I wouldn't know what to say if someone said this to me but laugh in their face. Are we supposed to believe you go to Greece or Croatia every summer? In addition to other extensive foreign travel? Are you a socialite who doesn't work? It sounds like something someone like Olivia Palermo might say. "Oh Darling, if your'e not at St. Bath's over Christmas you're no one."

i am sorry if i made you feel inadequate. my point was that i don't like american beaches and oceans, people in the US like the surf and water is often dark or there are animals in it. i am not saying that's bad, just that i don't like it and much prefer what i am used to (i grew up in souther europe). and yes i do go there frequently.

You didn't make me feel inadequate. You made yourself sound ridiculous. HTH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey at least you're not going to the OBX! Then you really would have gotten a ho hum response

Very true, but I love OBX. Call me unsophisticated, but Iook forward to Hatteras Island every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is like asking whether the Acura is better than the Honda. Yes, it is.

Acura, Japanese for "dumb American likes to pay too much for a Honda."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you that there many, many wonderful destinations within this country. I enjoy a good amount of domestic travel.

However, international travel is different. In addition to seeing new sites, you get the added experience of a new culture and sometimes a new language. It isn't superior to domestic travel, but it does add a new layer of experience.

I'm not sure why this bothers you so much, but I wouldn't really give a second thought to your colleague's reaction. If you haven't experienced international travel before, don't write it off just because there is plenty to do in this country.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is like asking whether the Acura is better than the Honda. Yes, it is.

Acura, Japanese for "dumb American likes to pay too much for a Honda."

But it's not. They are all called 'Honda' in Europe but models which are called 'Acura' in the U.S. are more expensive. So no it's not the same even when has the same name.

[Anonymous]

I find the opposite - that people who go to PA every summer and KS each winter are looking down on me as if it's so sad I don't have a family home in a random state to go to. I hate the whole "you're just jealous" schtick people constantly trot out but sometimes I wonder if they're jealous that we travel internationally so much and not given a guilt trip to show up in Ohio or wherever each Veteran's Day.