Comments on: From Traveler To Tourist In 5 Easy Steps http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:56:19 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ian http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-92786 ian Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:29:06 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-92786 1: Backpacks. I once travelled with a sort of carrybag instead of a backpack. What a pain it was! Backpacks are just so practical. 2:Travel Partner. No. We'd annoy each other to death. Travelling with another traveller when your paths cross is great but when your paths diverge, off you go. 3:Hotels. Maybe. Avoid the rough hostels and at times use the cheap hotels. 4:Money. Yes more please! But more $s equals a longer trip. 5:Gut. Well, yes eat a bit better but who wants to give up on Asian street food or your own cooked feast in a hostel kitchen? 1: Backpacks. I once travelled with a sort of carrybag instead of a backpack. What a pain it was! Backpacks are just so practical.
2:Travel Partner. No. We’d annoy each other to death. Travelling with another traveller when your paths cross is great but when your paths diverge, off you go.
3:Hotels. Maybe. Avoid the rough hostels and at times use the cheap hotels.
4:Money. Yes more please! But more $s equals a longer trip.
5:Gut. Well, yes eat a bit better but who wants to give up on Asian street food or your own cooked feast in a hostel kitchen?

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]]> By: Lady Kibeth Nehema http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-81594 Lady Kibeth Nehema Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:18:49 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-81594 Haha, it's $6 a gallon for milk on O'ahu... all the tourist think nothing of spending thousands of dollars in a week... I also find it hilarious to see the diffrence between Wikiki and the rest of the island. Haha, it's $6 a gallon for milk on O'ahu… all the tourist think nothing of spending thousands of dollars in a week… I also find it hilarious to see the diffrence between Wikiki and the rest of the island.

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]]> By: Brian http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-63728 Brian Fri, 02 May 2008 04:56:25 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-63728 It's your attitude to the people and place that defines whether you're a traveller. You can travel with a backpack and still be a tourist. I've met many a tourist in backpacker hostels and I've met a few knowledgeable, respectful travellers on the road, not all that many because obviously we travel on different levels and in different circles. A traveller takes the time to make friends and learn the language and customs. He eats in the local cafes as that contributes to the local economy rather than heading for the nearest Macdonald's because "that's safe and familiar." A traveller has respect for the local customs and doesn't get annoyed because "they don't speak English" or they "don't make fries the proper way." A traveller is not someone who does 10 countries in 10 days just to show photos of him back at the office. A traveller doesn't think he is the most important being in the landscape who, because he's spending a "fortune" should get his money's worth. A traveller counts friends made rather than museums seen. A traveller has no fixed itinerary and often, no destination. Travellers are not thrill seekers. They're often content just meeting ordinary people and doing ordinary things. And travellers say "You" more than "I". It’s your attitude to the people and place that defines whether you’re a traveller. You can travel with a backpack and still be a tourist. I’ve met many a tourist in backpacker hostels and I’ve met a few knowledgeable, respectful travellers on the road, not all that many because obviously we travel on different levels and in different circles.

A traveller takes the time to make friends and learn the language and customs. He eats in the local cafes as that contributes to the local economy rather than heading for the nearest Macdonald’s because “that’s safe and familiar.”
A traveller has respect for the local customs and doesn’t get annoyed because “they don’t speak English” or they “don’t make fries the proper way.”
A traveller is not someone who does 10 countries in 10 days just to show photos of him back at the office.
A traveller doesn’t think he is the most important being in the landscape who, because he’s spending a “fortune” should get his money’s worth.
A traveller counts friends made rather than museums seen.
A traveller has no fixed itinerary and often, no destination.
Travellers are not thrill seekers. They’re often content just meeting ordinary people and doing ordinary things.
And travellers say “You” more than “I”.

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]]> By: shakester http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-62669 shakester Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:51:30 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-62669 ladies and gents much (and most) has been said, but its only my attitude that truly and deeply affects my travel experiences. Like missy said, eventually you are not defined by your budget or your luggage. I am defined by how I look at every place I visit. I do the same sanitised things everywhere (including drinking in every backpacker pub everyday everywhere I go), I am not discovering anything new in the place I go to or, or in myself. If I open my eyes, then it doesnt matter if my clothes are stained or have been washed in the hotel laundry. ladies and gents
much (and most) has been said, but its only my attitude that truly and deeply affects my travel experiences. Like missy said, eventually you are not defined by your budget or your luggage. I am defined by how I look at every place I visit.

I do the same sanitised things everywhere (including drinking in every backpacker pub everyday everywhere I go), I am not discovering anything new in the place I go to or, or in myself. If I open my eyes, then it doesnt matter if my clothes are stained or have been washed in the hotel laundry.

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]]> By: Scott http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-40137 Scott Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:23:56 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-40137 Aww man I think I will always be a traveller. Tourist vacations sound boring -Scottt Aww man I think I will always be a traveller. Tourist vacations sound boring

-Scottt

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]]> By: europe trotter http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-37626 europe trotter Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:35:59 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-37626 In a child’s imaginary world, inanimate objects come to life of an evening and have the capacity for infinite adventures and mischief. With the passage of a few years of wisdom and time spent backpacking, one realises that this is in fact true. However, the “other world” is solely inhabited by plastic bags, which become animate and migrate to the opening of backpacks, eager to escape at the first possible opportunity. This is usually in the early hours of the morning, in a hostel dormitory room inhabited by drunken late-comers, snorers, coughers and key rattlers. Due to the lack of youth hostels in Russia, I got used to either renting a private room, sleeping the accommodation rooms at train stations, or even staying in shared doubles in hotel rooms. I’ve just been reading this amusing post about “Going from Traveller to Tourist in 5 easy steps”, and am a little alarmed at the ominous signs emerging "..." In a child’s imaginary world, inanimate objects come to life of an evening and have the capacity for infinite adventures and mischief. With the passage of a few years of wisdom and time spent backpacking, one realises that this is in fact true.

However, the “other world” is solely inhabited by plastic bags, which become animate and migrate to the opening of backpacks, eager to escape at the first possible opportunity. This is usually in the early hours of the morning, in a hostel dormitory room inhabited by drunken late-comers, snorers, coughers and key rattlers.

Due to the lack of youth hostels in Russia, I got used to either renting a private room, sleeping the accommodation rooms at train stations, or even staying in shared doubles in hotel rooms.

I’ve just been reading this amusing post about “Going from Traveller to Tourist in 5 easy steps”, and am a little alarmed at the ominous signs emerging “…”

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]]> By: Mary http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-35666 Mary Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:52:02 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-35666 I find it amusing that most of the debate (at least for this aritcle)comes from travellers/tourists themselves rather than from people who work in the tourism/hospitality industry. Having grown up in a tourist town, and consequently worked in the tourism industry, I think the labels are artificial at best. Does it matter to me if you are a "traveller" or a "tourist"? It matters to me that you treat us fairly, you contribute to our economy and that you respect our city and our people. No one will ever be able to settle the tourist/traveller debate, but I think we can all agree it raises important issues about how we view ourselves in the world and how we treat others. I find it amusing that most of the debate (at least for this aritcle)comes from travellers/tourists themselves rather than from people who work in the tourism/hospitality industry.

Having grown up in a tourist town, and consequently worked in the tourism industry, I think the labels are artificial at best. Does it matter to me if you are a “traveller” or a “tourist”? It matters to me that you treat us fairly, you contribute to our economy and that you respect our city and our people.

No one will ever be able to settle the tourist/traveller debate, but I think we can all agree it raises important issues about how we view ourselves in the world and how we treat others.

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]]> By: Jay Martin http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-35022 Jay Martin Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:37:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-35022 From the multitude of comments, it is clear that this is a popular topic. And the reason that it is an ongoing debate is that we are constantly on the move and meeting new travelers. When we meet a new traveler, an exchanging of credentials takes place. You trade your story for one of theirs. It is sort of like a club, which I talk about in the post mentioned by Eva. I agree with what Tim said. Some places are poor, but many of them want you to come. And I would hazard to guess that they would rather you stick to the tourist-friendly areas than walk around for days sleeping on the street. If there are social problems, then we can include them in our stories or try our best to help out any way we can. The point I am trying to make is: as long as we have those that seem to try to put down the travel style of others, or worse, accuse the traveler of making their destination worse by visiting, we will continue to have this debate. From the multitude of comments, it is clear that this is a popular topic. And the reason that it is an ongoing debate is that we are constantly on the move and meeting new travelers.

When we meet a new traveler, an exchanging of credentials takes place. You trade your story for one of theirs. It is sort of like a club, which I talk about in the post mentioned by Eva.

I agree with what Tim said. Some places are poor, but many of them want you to come. And I would hazard to guess that they would rather you stick to the tourist-friendly areas than walk around for days sleeping on the street. If there are social problems, then we can include them in our stories or try our best to help out any way we can.

The point I am trying to make is: as long as we have those that seem to try to put down the travel style of others, or worse, accuse the traveler of making their destination worse by visiting, we will continue to have this debate.

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]]> By: Dave Brett http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-35005 Dave Brett Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:20:51 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-35005 i love this article! its so true, all year im a back packer and then one week in a year i do the normal week away in greece or some were like that for the family holiday and im amazed at how nice it is to break away from it all and be a tourist for a week!! nice point you got there ;D i love this article!

its so true, all year im a back packer and then one week in a year i do the normal week away in greece or some were like that for the family holiday and im amazed at how nice it is to break away from it all and be a tourist for a week!!

nice point you got there ;D

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]]> By: missy http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-34924 missy Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:01:10 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/28/from-traveler-to-tourist-in-5-easy-steps/#comment-34924 It is really tiresome to read these same articles over and over again. There has to be something better to write about. I've traveled with a backpack and stayed in cheap hostel/hotels not because I was a traveler vs a tourist but because I was a poor student with wanderlust. I now have choices whether it be the favorite cheapie ibis hotel in Paris, camping in the swiss alps or Morocco or a more upscale brand hotel in london or New York. We sometimes use wheeled luggage and sometimes pull out the old knapsacks but I am not defined by any of these methods and neither should anyone else. As the saying goes "If you don't live there you are a tourist" discussion over. I enjoy this site but I hope in the future the writers will avoid the easy button and find more creative, informative or just plain interesting subjects. It is really tiresome to read these same articles over and over again. There has to be something better to write about.

I’ve traveled with a backpack and stayed in cheap hostel/hotels not because I was a traveler vs a tourist but because I was a poor student with wanderlust. I now have choices whether it be the favorite cheapie ibis hotel in Paris, camping in the swiss alps or Morocco or a more upscale brand hotel in london or New York. We sometimes use wheeled luggage and sometimes pull out the old knapsacks but I am not defined by any of these methods and neither should anyone else.

As the saying goes “If you don’t live there you are a tourist” discussion over.

I enjoy this site but I hope in the future the writers will avoid the easy button and find more creative, informative or just plain interesting subjects.

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