El Salvador

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea, Cuba would be cool. The Canadians got that one right.
I'll grant you that.

Sure go ahead and support the communist government atrocities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yea, Cuba would be cool. The Canadians got that one right.
I'll grant you that.

Sure go ahead and support the communist government atrocities

I wish I could!

[Anonymous]

So, OP, you're going to run into a few people with responses, as you can already see:

-Travelers who refer to State Dept website and see El Sal as one of the most dangerous countries, therefore a non-starter
-Travelers who say poo to the "danger" and find that it is an inviting country and a hidden gem of a tourist destination
-Salvadorans like me who would love to go back (we left on foot when I was 8, and I haven't been back since my early 20s) but could never forgive myself if something happened to my Americanized family, which would definitely be seen as a rich target for would-be thieves and other no-goods.

Will you be murdered there? Probably not. Will you get mugged or have something stolen. Maybe, but probably not. But you're not going to find a consensus here. I have family who stuck it out during the civil war years (through bribes) and are now very prosperous, have multiple homes, house servants, live in gated compounds, and send their kids to expensive private schools and eventually American universities. But that is not the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am fascinated by this thread. It is reminding me of my early 20s in DC when I'd bump into the global non-profit / Peace Corps crowd who just LOVED to humblebrag (although we hadn't invented that term then) about their travels, each competing with the other to tell stories of the "real" "authentic" travel they had done. Usually they were wearing some kind of Guatemalan textile while they did it. Dreads optional; makeup not allowed ever.

Anyway, these folks especially loved to point to tourist spots and say "that's not the REAL Mexico/South Africa/India." Woe betide you if you had gone somewhere touristy, even by accident! And then there were gradations of judgment in case you had been to the country they knew the most about. Did you stay in hostels? Ohhh, well THEY had lived with a family / camped in the jungle / squatted in an abandoned building / whatever. Do you speak Spanish? Ohhh, well THEY had gone and married a native speaker and now use all the street slang and innuendo that you will never master. You think you actually KNOW Guatemala! Ha! Not until you've spent a year living in the countryside with no running water can you even PRETEND you know ANYTHING about Guatemala! They, and only they, could be authorities on the country they'd been to.

Oddly, their advice often differed greatly from that of people from the actual country, who (gasp!) sometimes enjoy visiting their own tourist spots themselves, and (double gasp!) would sometimes complain about crime, politics, trash, and other problems.

And FYI I did some pretty adventurous travel myself back then, including riding many second class "chicken" buses in Latin America, but quickly realized that there was no competing with these people in the Authentic Travel Olympics (tm). And it's definitely not good to ask them for travel advice because they will sneer at anyone else who does not meet their exacting standards for Who is the Right Kind of Traveler.

Also, as someone who has worked with asylum-seekers, I find the comments about them upthread to be absolutely abhorrent. First of all, there is no neat divide between "economic migrants" and "refugees." Second, a lot of them are actually reluctant to even share the full details of the horrors they have escaped from. It's much more common for someone to say "I came to the US for a better life" and only later to reveal the fact that they were threatened, raped, had family members killed by gangs, etc. And the lawyers who advocate for these people are required to provide evidence of these threats in immigration court. So yeah, someone who claims to "know" these countries better than anyone else and then who also sneers at anyone who would consider going there for being the "wrong" kind of traveler is just really...special.

Hi. I'm the poster who started all of this by dissuading the OP from choosing El Salvador over Costa Rica or Puerto Rico over spring break. I actually agree with you one hundred percent on literally everything that you just said. One Hundred Percent.

I'm just having some fun with the Holier Than Though Marriott Gold Poster who had a nice trip to El Salvador, spoke a little Spanish, and on that basis has concluded that anyone who points out that a first-time visitor should know that, compared to Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, El Salvador is (a) poorer, (b) has an less developed tourism infrastructure and (c) has a major litter and environmental problem is a pampered Ugly American who can only be happy in Punta Cana. The self-righteousness is stunning, and having some time on my hands I just had to mess with her.

I'll try my best to stop it now.

Marriott Gold poster here. I love how you act like you’re laughing with the PP while they’re actually laughing at you. You’re the one who exemplifies their point by mentioning in every post that you are “fluent” in Spanish and so well traveled (highly doubtful by the way; I’ve heard your generation try to muddle through Latin America with terrible Spanish) without realizing it’s actually not that difficult or impressive. In fact, I never mentioned that until my last post. You’ve given yourself away by the language you use (the very offensive “chicken bus” — maybe your Gen Z kids can teach you to do better). Of course, speaking the native language isn’t a prerequisite to visit a country, although I’m sure you would disagree. In any event, sorry if I challenged you by saying your travel stories weren’t “impressive” enough, and that anyone can easily do the same. I’m abroad right now in fact; it’s really no big deal at all. So considering I encourage people to travel, and you discourage them, which of us is really competing in a Travel Olympics (which I agree exists, as you have so well demonstrated from the very beginning).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yea, Cuba would be cool. The Canadians got that one right.
I'll grant you that.

Wasn’t implying that the Canuckleheads got it “right”

Not sure what you mean. I'd love to go to Cuba. Without the Canadians, of course!

As a PP stated, “They don’t go to the best places, they go to the cheap ones”

I guess if you are interested in seeing decaying infrastructure and a population that is suppressed by its government, Cuba would be a great place to visit.

Sure, it is cheap to visit, but those tourism dollars are going straight to the Communistas in charge, and the people doing the actual work there get the crumbs.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this has been a most highly entertaining thread!

[Anonymous]

lol, OP are you even still reading at this point? This thread is crazy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am fascinated by this thread. It is reminding me of my early 20s in DC when I'd bump into the global non-profit / Peace Corps crowd who just LOVED to humblebrag (although we hadn't invented that term then) about their travels, each competing with the other to tell stories of the "real" "authentic" travel they had done. Usually they were wearing some kind of Guatemalan textile while they did it. Dreads optional; makeup not allowed ever.

Anyway, these folks especially loved to point to tourist spots and say "that's not the REAL Mexico/South Africa/India." Woe betide you if you had gone somewhere touristy, even by accident! And then there were gradations of judgment in case you had been to the country they knew the most about. Did you stay in hostels? Ohhh, well THEY had lived with a family / camped in the jungle / squatted in an abandoned building / whatever. Do you speak Spanish? Ohhh, well THEY had gone and married a native speaker and now use all the street slang and innuendo that you will never master. You think you actually KNOW Guatemala! Ha! Not until you've spent a year living in the countryside with no running water can you even PRETEND you know ANYTHING about Guatemala! They, and only they, could be authorities on the country they'd been to.

Oddly, their advice often differed greatly from that of people from the actual country, who (gasp!) sometimes enjoy visiting their own tourist spots themselves, and (double gasp!) would sometimes complain about crime, politics, trash, and other problems.

And FYI I did some pretty adventurous travel myself back then, including riding many second class "chicken" buses in Latin America, but quickly realized that there was no competing with these people in the Authentic Travel Olympics (tm). And it's definitely not good to ask them for travel advice because they will sneer at anyone else who does not meet their exacting standards for Who is the Right Kind of Traveler.

Also, as someone who has worked with asylum-seekers, I find the comments about them upthread to be absolutely abhorrent. First of all, there is no neat divide between "economic migrants" and "refugees." Second, a lot of them are actually reluctant to even share the full details of the horrors they have escaped from. It's much more common for someone to say "I came to the US for a better life" and only later to reveal the fact that they were threatened, raped, had family members killed by gangs, etc. And the lawyers who advocate for these people are required to provide evidence of these threats in immigration court. So yeah, someone who claims to "know" these countries better than anyone else and then who also sneers at anyone who would consider going there for being the "wrong" kind of traveler is just really...special.

Hi. I'm the poster who started all of this by dissuading the OP from choosing El Salvador over Costa Rica or Puerto Rico over spring break. I actually agree with you one hundred percent on literally everything that you just said. One Hundred Percent.

I'm just having some fun with the Holier Than Though Marriott Gold Poster who had a nice trip to El Salvador, spoke a little Spanish, and on that basis has concluded that anyone who points out that a first-time visitor should know that, compared to Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, El Salvador is (a) poorer, (b) has an less developed tourism infrastructure and (c) has a major litter and environmental problem is a pampered Ugly American who can only be happy in Punta Cana. The self-righteousness is stunning, and having some time on my hands I just had to mess with her.

I'll try my best to stop it now.

Marriott Gold poster here. I love how you act like you’re laughing with the PP while they’re actually laughing at you. You’re the one who exemplifies their point by mentioning in every post that you are “fluent” in Spanish and so well traveled (highly doubtful by the way; I’ve heard your generation try to muddle through Latin America with terrible Spanish) without realizing it’s actually not that difficult or impressive. In fact, I never mentioned that until my last post. You’ve given yourself away by the language you use (the very offensive “chicken bus” — maybe your Gen Z kids can teach you to do better). Of course, speaking the native language isn’t a prerequisite to visit a country, although I’m sure you would disagree. In any event, sorry if I challenged you by saying your travel stories weren’t “impressive” enough, and that anyone can easily do the same. I’m abroad right now in fact; it’s really no big deal at all. So considering I encourage people to travel, and you discourage them, which of us is really competing in a Travel Olympics (which I agree exists, as you have so well demonstrated from the very beginning).

You've really gone off the rails and get more silly and nonsensical with every post. Quite amusing. I suggest you take a breath, re-read what you just wrote, and reflect on whether you're really acting like a rational person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yea, Cuba would be cool. The Canadians got that one right.
I'll grant you that.

Wasn’t implying that the Canuckleheads got it “right”

Not sure what you mean. I'd love to go to Cuba. Without the Canadians, of course!

As a PP stated, “They don’t go to the best places, they go to the cheap ones”

I guess if you are interested in seeing decaying infrastructure and a population that is suppressed by its government, Cuba would be a great place to visit.

Sure, it is cheap to visit, but those tourism dollars are going straight to the Communistas in charge, and the people doing the actual work there get the crumbs.

I recognize that. That's why I said I'd "love" to go, not that I will go. I'll bet Cuba is a beautiful country, and I'm sure the people are awesome.

I won't go to Israel, either, because of how the government there treats the Palestinians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow, a lot of diverse opinions! Our family has been to Costa Rica and Nicaragua and we liked both places. This time, I am taking my 70-year old mom along so I am a little more risk-averse. We are hoping for pretty beaches and also hiking. Not planning on going to restaurants or stores except for groceries. In any case, thanks to the PPs and welcome any other advice or suggestions!

Are you kidding me? You are risk adverse and thinking of El Salvador? The most intensely gang occupied country in the hemisphere? You must be trolling. I mean, must. In case you're not, I'm here to let you know that if you're risk adverse, El Salvador is not the place for you. If you're looking for somewhere to go for Spring Break, it's also not the place for you. Think anywhere else in Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean before you head to El Salvador for spring break. I speak from experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this has been a most highly entertaining thread!

Ha ha, thanks. Marriott Gold haaaates me!

[Anonymous]

I love the post about the Authentic Travel Olympics. Remember the thread about DCUM archetypes? Authentic Travel Olympian is definitely one of them.

This forum has some great advice but there are also a few subgroups that are just not operating on the same plane as the rest of us—just mention Iceland and it’s triggering for a bunch of them! Then there are the posters if it’s not a Rosewood or similar, why even bother?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the post about the Authentic Travel Olympics.[b] Remember the thread about DCUM archetypes? Authentic Travel Olympian is definitely one of them.

This forum has some great advice but there are also a few subgroups that are just not operating on the same plane as the rest of us—just mention Iceland and it’s triggering for a bunch of them! Then there are the posters if it’s not a Rosewood or similar, why even bother?

I liked the post too, and I'm the one who's ridden the chicken buses all over Central America ha ha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the post about the Authentic Travel Olympics.[b] Remember the thread about DCUM archetypes? Authentic Travel Olympian is definitely one of them.

This forum has some great advice but there are also a few subgroups that are just not operating on the same plane as the rest of us—just mention Iceland and it’s triggering for a bunch of them! Then there are the posters if it’s not a Rosewood or similar, why even bother?

I liked the post too, and I'm the one who's ridden the chicken buses all over Central America ha ha.

Again, they were laughing at you, not with you.

And please, for the love of God, stop using that derogatory term “chicken bus.” It’s not used by the locals, but only smug foreigners. It’s not cute, but in fact pejorative.

See https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/chicken-bus.2865812/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the post about the Authentic Travel Olympics.[b] Remember the thread about DCUM archetypes? Authentic Travel Olympian is definitely one of them.

This forum has some great advice but there are also a few subgroups that are just not operating on the same plane as the rest of us—just mention Iceland and it’s triggering for a bunch of them! Then there are the posters if it’s not a Rosewood or similar, why even bother?

I liked the post too, and I'm the one who's ridden the chicken buses all over Central America ha ha.

Again, they were laughing at you, not with you.

And please, for the love of God, stop using that derogatory term “chicken bus.” It’s not used by the locals, but only smug foreigners. It’s not cute, but in fact pejorative.

See https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/chicken-bus.2865812/

The wordreference forum you linked to has a post from someone identifying themself as Guatemalan who says that these buses are typically called camioneta gallinera in Spanish. It's a pretty neutral term, and describes something that happens pretty frequently on second-class (and cheaper) buses in Mexico and Latin America.

I think you might be looking to take offense where none was meant. This is a frequent trait of the Authentic Travel Olympian (tm). Beware!