Sometimes it’s better to be a tourist. Really.
My last rant here was an anti-tourist-pro-traveler shpeal. And, as much as I think there is so much more value in being a so-called ‘contrarian traveler’, there are some times that you must stick to the book and not go against the tide, for your sanity and the sanity of the people you are traveling with.
In a recent article, Christopher Elliot accurately points out 4 situations where contrarian travel can just mess-up the entire trip:
- When you are visiting family for the holidays: Airports and airlines add more staff to deal with holiday rush so it really isn’t that bad traveling during national/international festive period.
- When you are planning a seasonal holiday: It is a season for a reason; make sure you check what the place is like off-season or you will regret using your contrarian traveler drive.
- When you are traveling with children: Don’t experiment when with little ones, they will give you enough surprises as it is, so go with what’s tried and tested to avoid unnecessary frenzy.
- When you want to see what everyone else is seeing: Don’t try to be smart and cut corners to see what everyone wants to see but in your own way — you probably won’t get it right. Save your alternative spirit for alternative travel sights.
There is one I would like to add:
- When you are traveling with your family: When I lived in Australia, 10 of my family members came to visit me, and we did a 3-week trip up the coast. Used to hitchhiking and backpacking I had completely different ideas of what we should be doing, all received with a smirk and conveniently ignored. The one idea I had that was listened to (unfortunately) was of doing an off-trail hike in Darwin’s outback. This resulted in my family of 6 adults and 4 children having to swim 800 meters of a river to get off the trail. Everyone was scared and upset, I should not have tried to be adventurous with them. So also with family, take the tour guides and follow the books!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:30 pm
As someone who used to travel off the beaten path and now travels regularly with two small kids (ages 2 1/2 & 1), I have to second the statement about not feeling the need to “wing it” with them.
While there are lots of difficult things about travelling with my kids, one of the great joys is the way that they help break down the barriers to interacting with locals and experiencing “real” life. It feels great to make friends with the neighborhood baker in Rome because he gives your son free pizza every morning, or to help your kids kick a ball with local kids in a plaza in Madrid & pick up a little Spanish as they go.
What’s more, the kids force us out into the parks, playgrounds, and local markets and out of the big tourist sites where it is so easy to get caught up in “seeing” everything instead of experiencing it.
That doesn’t mean that we stick to the big cities alone, or only to child friendly chain restaurants, but when you’re travelling with someone whose comfort in life comes from regularity and routine, it’s good to have the basics (like where you’ll sleep each night) taken care of in advance.
And yes, I have enough suprises just getting them dressed and out the door in the morning some days!