International travel "better" than domestic travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

totally agree- this is what we are doing as well- we do one intl and 2 domestic trips every year, but more focusing on domestic while the kids are very little b/c they should know their own country and its lovely- the natl parks are awesome! Sun Valley is amazing, So is Antelope Canyon. We were ballooning in Cappadocia and the balloonist was like- oh you should go in new mexico -its awesome, so you shouldn't knock domestic travel at all.

+1,000!

Co-worker loves to share photos from her international vacations. When I told her DH and we're headed to New Orleans for our anniversary she acted as if we were wasting our time. Turns out, she's never been to a host of incredible American cities - including NYC! She's the one who is missing out. P.S. Those who go on about NOLA is all about Bourbon St and Mardi Gras are the least cultured of them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pretentiousness of this thread is hilarious!

Better to travel Internationally? You're kidding? Different? Definitely. And something I think everyone ought to do at least once (the UK doesn't count).

To say that it's "better" or "more sophisticated" is a joke. You suffer from the same small-penis syndrome (metaphorical or not) that your basic BMW owner is accused of suffering from. Geez.

Oh, and by the way, you "worldly and sophisticated" travelers are the one's laughed at and scorned the most.

And I say this having been an ex-pat (not gov or mil) for a third of my 51 years, living in multiple countries on multiple continents and having visited more than 70 countries.

Do the world a favor. Stop at CVS on the way home, buy a needle and pop your ego.

I bet you didn't even realize that you took it to a whole new level, since you felt the need to try to one up everyone by pointing out just how much more you traveled, and how much better you are because you lived outside the US as an expat--and gasp! not with the military or government. So it must have been better and more authentic! You win! whoo!!

Did you stop by CVS yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

totally agree- this is what we are doing as well- we do one intl and 2 domestic trips every year, but more focusing on domestic while the kids are very little b/c they should know their own country and its lovely- the natl parks are awesome! Sun Valley is amazing, So is Antelope Canyon. We were ballooning in Cappadocia and the balloonist was like- oh you should go in new mexico -its awesome, so you shouldn't knock domestic travel at all.

+1,000!

Co-worker loves to share photos from her international vacations. When I told her DH and we're headed to New Orleans for our anniversary she acted as if we were wasting our time. Turns out, she's never been to a host of incredible American cities - including NYC! She's the one who is missing out. P.S. Those who go on about NOLA is all about Bourbon St and Mardi Gras are the least cultured of them all.

I am admittedly not well travelled in the US- I had a modest upbringing and our vacations were mainly camping or to visit family in New England. Once we flew to FL to go to Disney (again, staying with family). I've only been to the west coast twice as an adult. Going to Chicago for the first time next month. So there are a lot of places I still need to go. DH travelled a lot more as a kid and had been to many National parks in the west. He wants to share those experiences with our kids, so we definitely prioritized international travel pre=kids. We knew it would be harder to do these kinds of trips with little ones in tow. We went to SE Asia for our honeymoon and most of our family thought we were completely crazy (Mom: "I don't understand why anyone would want to go there" in reference to Vietnam). But I look back so fondly on that trip and the adventures we had.

Anyway, it doesn't have to be a competition- there are so many amazing domestic and international places to visit! I imagine most of our vacations will be in the US for a while but I'd love to take the kids overseas someday.

[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."

New poster here.
I am Croatian. I have been many times, many people do go every summer.
However, I hate the beeches there. Most have rocks,no sand. The beaches are often packed. I much much prefer Cayman.