Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good thread! I have enjoyed hearing from travelers my age (Gen X) reminisce about the 90s. It really was a golden age of sorts. I stayed at the Caesar Augustus on Capri for 80,000 lira a night ($40) and had a seaview balcony - it was written up in Lets Go Italy. Stayed at the Villa Rosa in Positano for $80. Took the ferry to Santorini and secured a room after arrival - gorgeous pool and private bathroom $40/night. This was all before the Euro. You could be spontaneous and show up and find lodging. I also studied abroad in Amsterdam and lived in London and Rome as well. I came from very modest means, but put all my savings into trips. Still have friends to this day from those times.

We live in Europe now with the USG. We can travel off season and it's been great, but I agree that it's not the same. Even if you book Eiffel Tower tickets in advance, there is still a 1-2 hour line for your reservation window. And the Louvre and Vatican Museums are insane. It wasn't like that 20-30 years ago.You could get tickets that day, you just had to get up early. And you used to be able to walk around the Forum anytime for free (I am glad they are protecting it more in this case). I am excited that overnight trains are making a comeback - I love slow travel and looking at my window as the landscape changes.

I agree about the meaning of travel - take time to appreciate the people around you and build community. That really is what life is about.

YEs! The 90's, in our 20's, was when to travel, for sure. Now, in our 50's? No thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good thread! I have enjoyed hearing from travelers my age (Gen X) reminisce about the 90s. It really was a golden age of sorts. I stayed at the Caesar Augustus on Capri for 80,000 lira a night ($40) and had a seaview balcony - it was written up in Lets Go Italy. Stayed at the Villa Rosa in Positano for $80. Took the ferry to Santorini and secured a room after arrival - gorgeous pool and private bathroom $40/night. This was all before the Euro. You could be spontaneous and show up and find lodging. I also studied abroad in Amsterdam and lived in London and Rome as well. I came from very modest means, but put all my savings into trips. Still have friends to this day from those times.

We live in Europe now with the USG. We can travel off season and it's been great, but I agree that it's not the same. Even if you book Eiffel Tower tickets in advance, there is still a 1-2 hour line for your reservation window. And the Louvre and Vatican Museums are insane. It wasn't like that 20-30 years ago.You could get tickets that day, you just had to get up early. And you used to be able to walk around the Forum anytime for free (I am glad they are protecting it more in this case). I am excited that overnight trains are making a comeback - I love slow travel and looking at my window as the landscape changes.

I agree about the meaning of travel - take time to appreciate the people around you and build community. That really is what life is about.

YEs! The 90's, in our 20's, was when to travel, for sure. Now, in our 50's? No thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Good thread! I have enjoyed hearing from travelers my age (Gen X) reminisce about the 90s. It really was a golden age of sorts. I stayed at the Caesar Augustus on Capri for 80,000 lira a night ($40) and had a seaview balcony - it was written up in Lets Go Italy. Stayed at the Villa Rosa in Positano for $80. Took the ferry to Santorini and secured a room after arrival - gorgeous pool and private bathroom $40/night. This was all before the Euro. You could be spontaneous and show up and find lodging. I also studied abroad in Amsterdam and lived in London and Rome as well. I came from very modest means, but put all my savings into trips. Still have friends to this day from those times.

We live in Europe now with the USG. We can travel off season and it's been great, but I agree that it's not the same. Even if you book Eiffel Tower tickets in advance, there is still a 1-2 hour line for your reservation window. And the Louvre and Vatican Museums are insane. It wasn't like that 20-30 years ago.You could get tickets that day, you just had to get up early. And you used to be able to walk around the Forum anytime for free (I am glad they are protecting it more in this case). I am excited that overnight trains are making a comeback - I love slow travel and looking at my window as the landscape changes.

I agree about the meaning of travel - take time to appreciate the people around you and build community. That really is what life is about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to love travel and have studied abroad, was in the Peace Corps, had international boyfriends, have international friends I visited. It was formative for me when younger because I lived a very controlled and small life growing up and my parents scorned travel and other cultures. It was enlightening to understand anything that seems like a norm in the US is subjective.

That being said, the older I get the more I value actual depth and learning. When I traveled, I met local people and learned their languages and customs and tried to live similarly. I wasn't in resorts, I wasn't hiring them to entertain me. I stayed for more than a week. And what did I learn? That most of them don't travel much, and are poor by our standards, and are content. They put all their efforts into their families and communities. I brought that attitude back with me and have invested time and energy getting to know my own cities and counties. There are so many subcultures within the US, I could never get bored.

I also have gotten more into nature. Emily Dickinson barely left her garden. Within a few yards there is a whole ecosystem we can barely see. Traveling is more of a state of mind than a practice. And doing it the right way doesn't involve Instagram or photogenic poses.

Brilliantly said. This was my takeaway as well after years of traveling and living abroad.

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Anonymous wrote:TLDR. I a rich old person who has seen the world many times. It’s gotten boring, and crowded with all these tourists. I’m posting because I want everyone to know why this years Christmas card isn’t all of us in Tahiti.

Nah, you’re just an unimaginative old geezer with more money than smarts I imagine. There are so many undiscovered places out there, you just have to know where they are. The fact that you mentioned Tahiti just shows me you’re another typical tourist yourself.

Not PP. I'm sorry but you are the worst type of tourist. The holier than thou who thinks they are special because they don't go where the other "basic" people go and are now ruining places that should be left alone.

Ha ha, OK. Enjoy Barcelona then!

I've been to plenty of pretty remote places. And off the beaten path places. And I stopped getting excited by them once I realized I was just repeating a theme. There's not that much to differentiate between remote places on one continent with another remote place on another continent. I've had trips that involved four and even five flights just to get to one remote island. Like the Bandas in Indonesia. Was it worth it? Ehh.... I don't regret the trips but at the same time the experiences aren't making me eager for more of the similar kinds of trips involving a lot of effort just to get somewhere remote/off the beaten path. So much of the world is also fairly unremarkable. Local culture these days is all same-same. They all watch TVs and have cell phones. I do like to travel for pleasure but I am realistic about it too.

Doubtful you have been anywhere at all. Just stop already.

"Just stop already." Very mature.

Are you upset not everyone shares the same enthusiasm? A great deal of it surely comes down to age. When I was in my 20s, even 30s, I was eager and excited by every trip regardless of the challenges and logistics. Now I'm in my 40s, priorities are different. But I have to admit even in my peak exotic travel years I was always bemused by the hippy backpackers with dreadlocks and keffir scarves and who loved to sit around drinking and being bewitched by local extortionists telling tall tales and spiels of human fellowship across the globe and how we're all brothers and sisters in mankind, and always with a subtle hand extended for cash payments. Getting down and low with the locals, eh? Meanwhile the smart ones are cashing in on the dumb tourist dollars everywhere with cheap resorts and packaged tours and tourist dollars and unwanted stops at gift shops in the middle of nowhere.

Wow, this is a lot of words to say nothing.

Your responses aren't impressing anyone because they're the words of an angry person with a head buried in sand because she refuses to understand other experienced travellers can have different perspectives on the realities of travel.

Sound like the rankings of someone who doesn’t like travel at all. That’s OK, you can stay home. You don’t need to try so hard to justify your apathy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLDR. I a rich old person who has seen the world many times. It’s gotten boring, and crowded with all these tourists. I’m posting because I want everyone to know why this years Christmas card isn’t all of us in Tahiti.

Nah, you’re just an unimaginative old geezer with more money than smarts I imagine. There are so many undiscovered places out there, you just have to know where they are. The fact that you mentioned Tahiti just shows me you’re another typical tourist yourself.

Not PP. I'm sorry but you are the worst type of tourist. The holier than thou who thinks they are special because they don't go where the other "basic" people go and are now ruining places that should be left alone.

Ha ha, OK. Enjoy Barcelona then!

I've been to plenty of pretty remote places. And off the beaten path places. And I stopped getting excited by them once I realized I was just repeating a theme. There's not that much to differentiate between remote places on one continent with another remote place on another continent. I've had trips that involved four and even five flights just to get to one remote island. Like the Bandas in Indonesia. Was it worth it? Ehh.... I don't regret the trips but at the same time the experiences aren't making me eager for more of the similar kinds of trips involving a lot of effort just to get somewhere remote/off the beaten path. So much of the world is also fairly unremarkable. Local culture these days is all same-same. They all watch TVs and have cell phones. I do like to travel for pleasure but I am realistic about it too.

Doubtful you have been anywhere at all. Just stop already.

"Just stop already." Very mature.

Are you upset not everyone shares the same enthusiasm? A great deal of it surely comes down to age. When I was in my 20s, even 30s, I was eager and excited by every trip regardless of the challenges and logistics. Now I'm in my 40s, priorities are different. But I have to admit even in my peak exotic travel years I was always bemused by the hippy backpackers with dreadlocks and keffir scarves and who loved to sit around drinking and being bewitched by local extortionists telling tall tales and spiels of human fellowship across the globe and how we're all brothers and sisters in mankind, and always with a subtle hand extended for cash payments. Getting down and low with the locals, eh? Meanwhile the smart ones are cashing in on the dumb tourist dollars everywhere with cheap resorts and packaged tours and tourist dollars and unwanted stops at gift shops in the middle of nowhere.

Wow, this is a lot of words to say nothing.

Your responses aren't impressing anyone because they're the words of an angry person with a head buried in sand because she refuses to understand other experienced travellers can have different perspectives on the realities of travel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLDR. I a rich old person who has seen the world many times. It’s gotten boring, and crowded with all these tourists. I’m posting because I want everyone to know why this years Christmas card isn’t all of us in Tahiti.

Nah, you’re just an unimaginative old geezer with more money than smarts I imagine. There are so many undiscovered places out there, you just have to know where they are. The fact that you mentioned Tahiti just shows me you’re another typical tourist yourself.

Not PP. I'm sorry but you are the worst type of tourist. The holier than thou who thinks they are special because they don't go where the other "basic" people go and are now ruining places that should be left alone.

Ha ha, OK. Enjoy Barcelona then!

I've been to plenty of pretty remote places. And off the beaten path places. And I stopped getting excited by them once I realized I was just repeating a theme. There's not that much to differentiate between remote places on one continent with another remote place on another continent. I've had trips that involved four and even five flights just to get to one remote island. Like the Bandas in Indonesia. Was it worth it? Ehh.... I don't regret the trips but at the same time the experiences aren't making me eager for more of the similar kinds of trips involving a lot of effort just to get somewhere remote/off the beaten path. So much of the world is also fairly unremarkable. Local culture these days is all same-same. They all watch TVs and have cell phones. I do like to travel for pleasure but I am realistic about it too.

Doubtful you have been anywhere at all. Just stop already.

"Just stop already." Very mature.

Are you upset not everyone shares the same enthusiasm? A great deal of it surely comes down to age. When I was in my 20s, even 30s, I was eager and excited by every trip regardless of the challenges and logistics. Now I'm in my 40s, priorities are different. But I have to admit even in my peak exotic travel years I was always bemused by the hippy backpackers with dreadlocks and keffir scarves and who loved to sit around drinking and being bewitched by local extortionists telling tall tales and spiels of human fellowship across the globe and how we're all brothers and sisters in mankind, and always with a subtle hand extended for cash payments. Getting down and low with the locals, eh? Meanwhile the smart ones are cashing in on the dumb tourist dollars everywhere with cheap resorts and packaged tours and tourist dollars and unwanted stops at gift shops in the middle of nowhere.

Wow, this is a lot of words to say nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLDR. I a rich old person who has seen the world many times. It’s gotten boring, and crowded with all these tourists. I’m posting because I want everyone to know why this years Christmas card isn’t all of us in Tahiti.

Nah, you’re just an unimaginative old geezer with more money than smarts I imagine. There are so many undiscovered places out there, you just have to know where they are. The fact that you mentioned Tahiti just shows me you’re another typical tourist yourself.

Not PP. I'm sorry but you are the worst type of tourist. The holier than thou who thinks they are special because they don't go where the other "basic" people go and are now ruining places that should be left alone.

Ha ha, OK. Enjoy Barcelona then!

I've been to plenty of pretty remote places. And off the beaten path places. And I stopped getting excited by them once I realized I was just repeating a theme. There's not that much to differentiate between remote places on one continent with another remote place on another continent. I've had trips that involved four and even five flights just to get to one remote island. Like the Bandas in Indonesia. Was it worth it? Ehh.... I don't regret the trips but at the same time the experiences aren't making me eager for more of the similar kinds of trips involving a lot of effort just to get somewhere remote/off the beaten path. So much of the world is also fairly unremarkable. Local culture these days is all same-same. They all watch TVs and have cell phones. I do like to travel for pleasure but I am realistic about it too.

Doubtful you have been anywhere at all. Just stop already.

"Just stop already." Very mature.

Are you upset not everyone shares the same enthusiasm? A great deal of it surely comes down to age. When I was in my 20s, even 30s, I was eager and excited by every trip regardless of the challenges and logistics. Now I'm in my 40s, priorities are different. But I have to admit even in my peak exotic travel years I was always bemused by the hippy backpackers with dreadlocks and keffir scarves and who loved to sit around drinking and being bewitched by local extortionists telling tall tales and spiels of human fellowship across the globe and how we're all brothers and sisters in mankind, and always with a subtle hand extended for cash payments. Getting down and low with the locals, eh? Meanwhile the smart ones are cashing in on the dumb tourist dollars everywhere with cheap resorts and packaged tours and tourist dollars and unwanted stops at gift shops in the middle of nowhere.

Anonymous wrote:Who wants to visit random middle class areas in europe? We want to go to the main cities. People don't fly down to Florida and skip Orlando and Miami and visit Gainesville.