Your travel secrets: To tell or not to tell

There’s a little meme making its way around the blogosphere right now, called “My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets.” I came across it on Jen Laceda’s gorgeous blog and was anxious to read the secrets that had already been spilled by other travelers. Then I thought about the concept – does telling the world (or at least your blog’s readership) about your favorite, undiscovered destination put that place in jeopardy of losing its appeal?

Over at World Hum, Peter Ferry wrote an article entitled “Find Your Own Damn Zhihuatanejo” in which he talks about the sleepy beach town he fell in love with long ago and how now that place is nearly unrecognizable due to tourism. When we tell the world about the place we love do we risk exposing it to the crowds, so that years from now everything that made that place so special has been ruined?

We all worry about our favorite off the beaten path destinations becoming overrun with tourists, but I think there comes a point when it’s possible to worry too much. So I tell people about the hidden places I discover. As a travel writer, it’s my job, but I also do it because I want other people to be able to enjoy these wonderful destinations.

Am I concerned that one day I’ll return to find the empty streets of Laguardia, Spain, teeming with tourists? Actually, not really. The city is hard to get to and there are few hotels and restaurants. It’s not exactly in the number one spot on anyone’s “must-see” list. And that’s one of the reasons why I like it. So I recommend it to other like-minded travelers all the time, knowing that few will ever go there, and those that do will (hopefully) want to preserve it as much as I do.  I also recommend my favorite restaurants in Chicago freely. Sure it means I may have a hard time getting a reservation some nights, but it also ensures the restaurant stays in business. The owners are doing something right, and they should be able to profit from it.

So what about you? Do you share your travel finds and favorite “undiscovered” places with others, or do you keep your travel secrets to yourself?

Photo credit: Rob Winton via Flick