Are You A Travel Snob?

Are You A Travel Snob?

While on the road, I’d met a couple of travel snobs – travelers who consider their travelling style better than others. In their opinion, backpacking is real travel, the best way to experience a country’s culture. They tend to belittle other forms of travelling (luxury, tour package, flashpacking) and think of themselves as the ‘better’ traveler.

To that, I’d like to ask: Does that mean a luxury traveler who visits more museums than jungles know less of a country than you do? Does it mean that a flashpacker who stays at a hotel is less adventurous and experiences less than you do? On the contrary, aren’t backpackers staying in a hostel interacting with only fellow travelers rather than locals? Everyone has his own travel style and who are we to say which is better than the other?

Snobbish Behaviour on the Net

Gary from Everything-Everywhere wrote an amusing and honest piece ‘I Don’t Give A Damn How You Travel’ in response to a reader’s comment. The reader condemned Gary on his visit to Taipei, saying ‘there is little point in travelling if you’re only going to hop from one big city to the next’. Gary made his point with the title of his post.

My previous post on recent blogging disputes resulted in more bickering and even personal attacks from the parties involved (read the comments section) . From this episode, you can clearly see that even travelers with the highest profiles in the industry are pulling rank, comparing who’s the “better” traveler.

BootsnAll published a rather provocative piece written by Paul Dow, ‘Is Flashpacking Killing the Art of Backpacking?’ He clearly offended many with biased opinions like ‘Flashpacking seems like a style of traveling to simply “tick the box” and to be able to say “I’ve been there“, which completely misses the point of independent travel.’ Inevitably it sparked tons of negative feedback from readers, debating on whether there is any superiority in different traveling styles.

One of the readers commented,

It almost seems like you identify “Real Backpackers” as this elite group to strive to be a part of. Will we be shunned by the “Real Backpackers” if we choose some creature comforts from time to time? Will we be told that we’re “doing it wrong” because we take our photos with a $150 digital camera and share some over e-mail with our family and friends? (and are therefore apparently “Flashpackers”?)

That seems kind of unwelcoming… Everyone chooses to travel in a different way. Isn’t that what it’s all about – to blaze your own trail? Why is there a need to label someone who does things in a different way?

I’m a backpacker myself, and I travel this way simply because I like it. I love eating at a street food stall, I enjoy chatting up the locals and I don’t mind sleeping in a cheap hostel (that’s ‘cos I’m broke). But that doesn’t mean other traveling styles are in any way inferior. There is no wrong way to travel.

Tourist vs Traveler

It all started with the age-old discussion of tourist vs traveler – Do tourists really get a sense of a country while toting suitcases and living it up in luxurious hotels? Travelers learn more about a country talking to the locals, trying local food and adventures; while tourists don’t.

I’d admit I used to be one of the ‘self-acclaimed’ traveler who thinks little of tourists. But having met lots of people on the road, getting to know different cultures, mindsets and behavior, I’ve grown and come to learn that you can’t generalize people like that.

There are always tourists who are more adventurous than anyone – my parents who never in their lives have picked up a backpack, would dare eat a balut (egg with semi-developed foetus in it) from the street stalls in the Philippines – I’d like to see you try that!

On the other hand, I’ve met many backpackers who think they’re way cooler than others just because they’ve meditated in an Ashram in India. Bring them to a Hindu temple where you have to go bare-feet on an oily ground – just see their reaction! Some don’t even dare step in!

It just all boils down to different personality. Some tourists might get more of a trip than a hippie just because they experience it in their own way. Similarly, the hippie got to see a different side of the country which he truly relished. Screw the differences, we’re all out to see the world, so why can’t we start thinking as one?

Different Traveling Style – Different Impact

First of all, some travelers need to face the fact that they’re not the only ones who like traveling. There are millions of people out there who has an equal passion for it. Whether they are independent travelers, tourists on a package or road trippers, there are so many out there just like you. So stop thinking you’re more experienced or better than anyone else.

Secondly, I honestly hate categorizing people, although we all do that unknowingly. How do you define a backpacker – so someone who takes local transport, eats street food, sleeps in hostels but carries a Samsonite suitcase cannot be considered a backpacker?

In Jordan, we befriended an old Aussie couple, who were absolutely friendly, humble and just open-minded (more so than many others in their 20s) – the retired pair were going on an RTW trip. They were staying in nice hotels (they could afford to) but when we met, they were sleeping in this Bedouin camp in the middle of the desert just like us – no toilets, no electricity or any luxury. And they were happy, no complaints. Does that mean they’re luxury travelers or backpackers? I’d let you judge.

On another occasion, we were staying at a big backpackers hostel in Tulum, Mexico, and we hung out with several travelers from Sweden and the U.S. These travelers were aiming at spending no more than $10 a day, so they ate only sandwiches, didn’t do anything else but spend all their money on beer. Right, you’d call them backpackers, but did they explore much of Mexico? Did they even bother learning Spanish to speak to the locals? Did they even try local food (plenty of them on the streets) – I’d dare say no.

We’ve been debating on this topic for far too long, and to be honest, I’m sick of it. I’d rather let this reader’s comment (from Paul’s article) speak for itself,

When you enter a new country, what do you fill in that “reason for entry” question on the immigration card? Backpacker?

Traveller? Flashpacker? Or like everyone else do you write “tourist’”?

Which in the end, is that not what we all are?

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November 26, 2009 · Life, Travel Tips

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12 Responses to “Are You A Travel Snob?”

Andy Jarosz on November 26th, 2009 1:21 pm

So true Nellie, well said.
Everyone has their own way of travelling and if it suits them, then let it be. I like my own mix of comforts, luxury and adventure, and even when I'm carrying my backpack from place to place and eating on the street I am a tourist. There's so shame in that label.
Considering ourselves as travellers rather than tourists is a silly game of snobbery and one-upmanship. Just ask the people who live in the place you are visiting whether you are a tourist; they'll tell you. They'll also tell you who they prefer to have around: it's nearly always the person with the wallet full of tourist $$$.
Dave and Deb on November 26th, 2009 2:58 pm

Great post as usual Nellie. I am with you and Gary…I don't care how anyone else travels. I just like to go my own way. We have done it all. I enjoy sitting on the beach at a resort just as much as the next person, I enjoy trekking through mountains and I enjoy sitting with my computer in the evening writing about it. So I consider myself all of the above. A backpacker, a flashpacker and a tourist. I don't see why there is such a debate going on out there all of the time over how people travel. I just love seeing the world.
Denis on November 26th, 2009 5:50 pm

de la puta madre nellie…..que chevere tu commentario!!!

I touched on this very debate that is raging in my blog http://www.whatsabackpacker.blogspot.com , my five cents worth was summarised in my final stanza…..

I believe the diversification of travel styles and personalities is a progressive one. Embrace it, don't fight it. After all, wouldn't this world be a boring place if everybody looked the same, if there was only one language, one way of doing things, one 'type' of backpacker. It would deny the very existence of what this world is – a mysterious unity held together through the web of diversity.

Paz y amor chica. Im tweeting your goodness.
Nellie on November 26th, 2009 8:37 pm

Muchas gracias Denis, cuanto me encanta lo que has dicho, 'de la puta madre'!

An excellent point you have there – if everybody looked the same, everybody traveled the same way, the world would definitely be a boring one. Why can't we all accept our differences and embrace it?

It's just part of life how things evolve, change and progress in various ways – I think that's what makes life beautiful!

Cuidate hombre!
Gregoyr Hubbs on November 27th, 2009 8:53 am

Nice post, but I have seen too many "ugly Americans" walk into restaurants and cafes around the world and not even attempt to speak the language. "Give me a coke and a coffee!" That is embarrassing to me, and often a huge affront to the locals. I thank the gods that I speak several languages and at least attempt to respect local cultures. I also try to remember that when I travel that I am a guest in someone else's home and land. That does not make me a better traveler, just one who is attempting to be more empathetic. By the way, the ugly American takes the form of all nationalities, of course, often in proportion to the wealth of the nation at the time, in my observations traveling for 40 years in all modes…
Angela on November 28th, 2009 7:22 pm

You really pinpoint the issue here, Nellie. I have a little confession: I cannot backpack. But, I promise, I'm not a backpackers-hater. I don't backpack simply for a couple of personal reasons: I'm usually smaller than backpacks, I tend to lose everything I put in a backpack, my back hurts if I keep the backpack on all day, let alone for a month.
I usually travel with a tiny trolley and I stay at cheap (very cheap, I'm broke, too) B&Bs. I really don't look for luxury (actually I'm a bit allergic to luxury), so I don't mind if the hotel doesn't have all facilities. Normally I only look for a bed and a bathroom, as I spend only a couple of hours in there and the rest around the city or wherever I am, eating cheap food at street stalls (which usually serve the best local food), taking local transport, interacting with locals, trying to learn every language, and exchanging emails with everybody I meet!
Speaking of "ugly Americans" abroad, Gregory, have you seen Italians abroad? No? Try an Italian restaurant, the first thing Italians do in a foreign country is looking for spaghetti!
Stephane on November 29th, 2009 9:07 pm

"Are you a travel snob"

Nellie, where is that photo taken ? That lush green rolling hills and water scenary is really inviting..
where in the world is this ?

Thanks
Stephane

PS: I follow your twits, great stuff!
Amy @ The Q Family on November 30th, 2009 3:19 pm

Well said! I think sometimes people is spending too much time on other people business. It's almost the same as the debate of Stay-At-Home mom VS Working mom.. There is no debate to begin with. It's personal choice. Yes, sometimes those choices might not go with your own personal expectation but it's their choices nonetheless. We shouldn't have to justify our own choice to satisfy someone else standard.

I truly believe that traveling in any shape or form is still better than none. But I also don't judge people who doesn't want to travel. It's their choices and who am I to tell them to get out and travel. I will just show them how wonderful it is out there.

I love to see different travel styles and read about different ways of travel. I'm not a backpacker but that's why I love your blog. Because I can live vicariously through you.
Anil on December 21st, 2009 12:21 pm

People can travel however they want and whatever they can afford – I don't see any method as 'better'. Each person and travel is so unique and circumstantial that it's impossible to gauge an experience without bias. If you can't gauge something analytically then it's just an opinion and everyone has their own.
flip on January 14th, 2010 7:35 pm

wow. i enjoyed reading your post. i often hearing this tourist vs traveler thingy and alot of people are always saying that backpackers understand more about the culture etc…

i think whatever your travel style is, the important thing is that you travel,you go out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to other culture and of course enjoy the experience.
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