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

[Anonymous]

Also call me when they get second or third homes overseas. Travel is entry-level *eyeroll*

[Anonymous]

I think you all are WAY over-thinking this.

I didn't go to Europe until I was 36. So yeah, if I happen to take an international trip, which I do about once a year now, I'm going to be excited about it and probably mention it because I am legitimately excited. Don't like it? I guess change the subject. But that's kind of part of being a human who communicates with other humans: you don't always feel enamored with the topic, but you're polite, and in turn the other person doesn't drone on and on and then you get to talk.

[Anonymous]

Can't read all 27 pages but pretty sure others must have pointed out that travel is much cheaper now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. I grew up solidly UMC, went to private schools, and in those days a trip to Europe every year was on the extravagant side. It was known, yes, but not common. Things were already starting to change in the 1990s as flights became cheaper and it also became much easier to plan a trip overseas yourself thanks to the internet age. Imagine booking a trip in the 1980s pre internet pre email?

Come to think of it, I remember a family trip to England in 1994 and it cost 10,000 for two weeks, including flights and accommodation and food and sightseeing. That same year 10,000 was the tuition at my private school. Today the same school charges 40,000 a year in tuition. The same family trip, traveling the same level we did in 1994, would cost probably around 16-18k.

That's how much cheaper travel has become.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't read all 27 pages but pretty sure others must have pointed out that travel is much cheaper now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. I grew up solidly UMC, went to private schools, and in those days a trip to Europe every year was on the extravagant side. It was known, yes, but not common. Things were already starting to change in the 1990s as flights became cheaper and it also became much easier to plan a trip overseas yourself thanks to the internet age. Imagine booking a trip in the 1980s pre internet pre email?

Come to think of it, I remember a family trip to England in 1994 and it cost 10,000 for two weeks, including flights and accommodation and food and sightseeing. That same year 10,000 was the tuition at my private school. Today the same school charges 40,000 a year in tuition. The same family trip, traveling the same level we did in 1994, would cost probably around 16-18k.

That's how much cheaper travel has become.

1. Private school tuition has far exceeded inflation
2. 16-18k is still extravagant

[Anonymous]

So in terms of travel costs flights are much cheaper now but luxury hotels and fine dining have risen significantly. In the 80s, we would stay in the Four Seasons most places in the US, the Crillon in Paris, Ritz in London etc. Even though we are wealthier than our parents now, we wouldn’t go near spending that much money on a hotel. Same goes for Michelin starred restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't read all 27 pages but pretty sure others must have pointed out that travel is much cheaper now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. I grew up solidly UMC, went to private schools, and in those days a trip to Europe every year was on the extravagant side. It was known, yes, but not common. Things were already starting to change in the 1990s as flights became cheaper and it also became much easier to plan a trip overseas yourself thanks to the internet age. Imagine booking a trip in the 1980s pre internet pre email?

Come to think of it, I remember a family trip to England in 1994 and it cost 10,000 for two weeks, including flights and accommodation and food and sightseeing. That same year 10,000 was the tuition at my private school. Today the same school charges 40,000 a year in tuition. The same family trip, traveling the same level we did in 1994, would cost probably around 16-18k.

That's how much cheaper travel has become.

1. Private school tuition has far exceeded inflation
2. 16-18k is still extravagant

Key components of traveling have become much cheaper relative to the 1980s/1990s, mainly flights. The 1990s saw the arrival of the discount domestic flights like Southwest and international flights also became cheaper. It's cheaper, even when factoring in inflation, to fly to Europe today than it was in 1990. I can buy a ticket to Switzerland for August for 700 today, which is less than what you'd have paid in 1995.

Traveling is never cheap-cheap, there's always a cost. But in the basket of eggs for an upper middle class family, traveling is the one egg that has become cheaper relative to the other eggs. That's why people travel more often.

[Anonymous]

A large market of boutique hotels, 3 and 4 star hotels, and airbnb options are available now too. It used to be high end luxury hotels or hostel or flea bag inn, not much between luxury and hostel. Now there is a reasonable hotel in more budgets.

[Anonymous]

Luxury travel is small beans in my circle. We are talking private boarding schools, finishing school, private colleges, elite sports (fencing), more than 2-3 private homes across various counties, private planes, drivers, nannies, house staff for the aforementioned houses, wives involved in various status "charities/non-profs/fundraisers", and vacations on top of all this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luxury travel is small beans in my circle. We are talking private boarding schools, finishing school, private colleges, elite sports (fencing), more than 2-3 private homes across various counties, private planes, drivers, nannies, house staff for the aforementioned houses, wives involved in various status "charities/non-profs/fundraisers", and vacations on top of all this.

Really great perspective. Thanks for sharing.

A. No one cares
B. That’s not upper middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luxury travel is small beans in my circle. We are talking private boarding schools, finishing school, private colleges, elite sports (fencing), more than 2-3 private homes across various counties, private planes, drivers, nannies, house staff for the aforementioned houses, wives involved in various status "charities/non-profs/fundraisers", and vacations on top of all this.

Yet here you are, slumming it digitally with us proles. Nothing fancier to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No it didn’t use to be this way.

Is everyone too young to remember the 70s when everyone wanted you to sit in a dark room and watch slides of their vacation? Much as o hate social media, at least it’s not a forced slide show!

[Anonymous]

It may have always been a thing but traveling to more “exotic” things and social media are new. I think it used to just be skiing or beach or Caribbean but now exotic and more out of reach is in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may have always been a thing but traveling to more “exotic” things and social media are new. I think it used to just be skiing or beach or Caribbean but now exotic and more out of reach is in.

Because it's a lot easier to travel to far destinations. A lot easier. Let me say this one more time: it's a lot easier to travel now, both due to logistics and affordability. That's the answer.

[Anonymous]

Maybe as kids have grown up people are traveling more and that is why they are talking about it more. Also, after Covid many people started to focus on experiences over stuff, so again more traveling and so more talking about it.

[Anonymous]

It’s just super easy to do and super easy to brag about. Google Maps and booking flights, hotels, dinner reservations, trains, and Ubers with a couple taps of your iPhone make even the most exotic locations easy to travel to. And then social media photos let you get bragging mileage out of it, so it feels like you got your money’s worth. I mean instagram and facebook photos are essentially never deleted. It’s a permanent record.