Here are some fool-proof ways to ruin your travel experiences!
Let’s face it. A lot of people don’t have an idea of how to reap the maximum benefit of travel.
During my world wanderings, I have had to listen to complaints of almost every type. What people do not understand is that their attitude has a lot to do with how they perceive the different parts of the world.
Travel can be an eye-opener and life-changing action. But before travel can teach you something, you have to open your mind, accept differences, and go out of your comfort zone. If you are willing to do what I mentioned in the previous line, congratulations, you are on the right path to becoming a great traveler (or you already are).
And, all good travelers want to get the most of every opportunity. I’ll give you a hand. Let’s start by mentioning sure ways to ruin your travel experience.
#1
You spend most of your travel time in a hotel room or resort. I understand we all travel for different purposes, and taking a break from reality is definitely one of those purposes, but I truly believe you will get much more from a trip if you fit in some experiential/authentic activities. For example, I have done several guided day tours (even though independent travel is my thing) and those have blown my mind away (in terms of exposure to scenery, local cultures, and new experiences).
#2
Expect everything to be just like home.
#3
Complain about how you are seen as a dollar sign by locals. C’mon, if you go on a cruise, how many times the staff asks if you want a drink (like 30 times per hour)? How much advertising propaganda do you receive weekly at home?
#4
Forget about eating street food.
#5
Go ahead and pack two 50 pounds suitcases and two heavy carry-on bags. If the airlines have certain rules, why not use the maximum allowance?
#6
Anticipate eating every meal over a table or in a “proper” restaurant setting
#7
Get upset off because nobody around seems to speak or understand English. Seriously, expecting everybody you encounter during your travels to speak English is not even realistic. Instead of being upset, be ready to deal with the situation. Make an effort to learn some words in the local language, use a translating app, or brainstorm ways to master non-verbal communication.
#8
“Country X has the worst service in the world. Can you believe I went to a restaurant and it took them 20 minutes to serve my meal? Plus, they didn’t have some items offered on the menu,” said tourist Y. Listen, each country has its own service standards. You cannot expect people in other countries to have the same standards as in your country. My recommendation is to be patient and gracious.
#9
Overlook being open to experiences.
#10
When you get back home, talk about all the trash and stray dogs you saw during your time abroad. Focus and focus on the negative aspects. People get more interested in that way.
#11
Eat only at McDonald’s and other well known fast-food chains because the local food is contaminated, too spicy, and/or prepared with unknown ingredients.
#12
Think travel will fit your couch potato personality. Folks, travel can be tiring. There are big probabilities that you are going to walk a lot, climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles a lot, wake up early, go to bed late, and partake in other energy-consuming activities. Plus, your brain will be working in overdrive because you are in an unfamiliar place. If you do not want to up your physical game, maybe there is no point in traveling.
#13
Give your first-world attitude to locals.
#14
Get arrested. Remember you are way more intelligent than local authorities. I am being sarcastic here but you should respect all rules and regulations in a foreign country.
#15
Follow the strict itinerary you prepared beforehand. Don’t leave anything to chance and forget about being spontaneous.
#16
Travel half around the planet to later refuse to go to an iconic place or sight because it is too expensive. I am not an advocate of overspending or getting in debt to travel but I believe you should budget for some things that are unique to a place (more if the probabilities of returning to this place are low).
#17
Choose the wrong travel companion(s). This is a crucial point a lot of people do not consider. You can have a terrible trip because you choose the wrong people to travel to and, on top of that, you can lose the friendship.
#18
Lose the opportunity to bring home something characteristic of the place you are visiting.
#19
Everything is going to happen as planned. Ha!!
#20
Forget about using your common sense and following your hunches.
#21
Don’t you ever think about befriending locals. Nobody should know you are visiting. Somebody may take advantage of you.
#22
Insist on maintaining your beauty routine while abroad (it can be any type of routine). Do your nails every two days, follow your daily routine of toner, moisturizer, sunscreen, primer, base, concealer, shadow, liner mascara, lip liner, lipstick, blush and take the usual hour and a half to work on your hair. Let’s see what happens under the 90 degrees weather. Oh and don’t participate in activities that may ruin your blow-dried hair.
#23
Do whatever you want. Forget about the people you are traveling with.
#24
“The world is about to end. My hotel room doesn’t have a TV,” said tourist Y. Once you travel, you are going to notice how different hotel rooms. Even nowadays, with a big amount of booking sites, photos, and reviews, surprises can happen.
#25
Make fun of local traditions and ways of living.
#26
Trash the place you are visiting. If you visit a National Park, destroy some of the plants. Make the place worst for others visiting in the future.
#27
Complain, complain, complain. You deserve the best.
Hopefully, you don’t think or do any of this. Travel has taught me a lot. While abroad, my desire is to practice actions that will provide me an excellent medium to absorb the local culture and surroundings. So, please, try not to ruin your travel experience!
Do you think these behaviors can ruin your travel experience? What else would you add?
wing says
Nice list you have there! Complain is the worst thing to do overseas. I don’t see why people want things to be like back at home. Come’on you didn’t go overseas so as to celebrate similarities. (although more often than not, I find a city just like the other city)
I guess, for me, I’m guilty of cheesy socks and sometimes boring conversation with others XP
Under planning too. Which link to #16. Sometimes I just want to go to some place but it become so expensive to travel to and fro. But I always tell myself, I will return next time with more cash.
#23. I don’t know about that. For me, I got to have the flexibility to do whatever I want even if I travel. I love slow traveling, which doesn’t appeal to many people. I can just sit on top of a hill for an hour. So I always have the agreement on splitting prior to our travel. Breathing space. I appreciate that. No fun when you have to accommodate so much. Not my style (:
Ruth says
Hi Wing,
Thanks for your comment.
I agree with your comment about complaining.
In terms of #16, I am not saying you should visit all the attractions or sights and spend lots of money. Or that you should spend way beyond your means just to see something. But if you are traveling to another country, I think you should consider visiting the things that are unique and not easy to find anywhere else. Like you say, sometimes the list of interesting sights and experiences is long and it is difficult to do everything. Most times, I end up not doing everything I want mostly because of time and money constraints. Like you, I think there will be another time.
In terms of #23, I think you mentioned the magic word. You “agree” with your travel companion(s) to split and do some things on your own. In the list, I am referring to people who like to do whatever they want without considering others. For example, people who disappear and nobody seems to know where they went. Or people who know about a great experience and they don’t give others the option to particpate because he or she is not interested.
I totally agree about how is not fun to accommodate a lot. That is why I choose wisely my travel companion(s).
Christy @ Technosyncratic says
Amen! Particularly #15 — in my experience most of the best travel experiences happen when you least expect them and AREN’T planning for them. 🙂
Ruth says
Christy,
Like to see that you enjoyed the post. Totally agree, unplanned experiences tend to be memorable.
Jeremy B says
I NEVER and I mean NEVER eat McDonalds here in the US. However, it is a bit of a comfort food OCCASIONALLY when I travel. I love the local cuisine but I actually had my best experience with a local because of McDonalds!
Ruth says
I am with you. Sometimes, there is no option or you want to try something familiar. Sometimes I want to see if the fast food tastes similar to the one at home. It is also cool to try the local fast food chains. Would like to hear your nice McDonalds experience.
Jeremy B says
OK, I can’t help it – I have to add more comments to this. Thought I could stop at the one but I can’t.
#5 Those people annoy me. There is NO WAY you need to pack that much stuff for a vacation. I don’t care who you are! I have a friend who travels as a videographer with all his equipment and he doesn’t pack that much!
#12 One of the best things about traveling is all the exercise I get. I love walking and prefer that to public transportation sometimes.
#19 Spontaneous and unexpected experiences are the best. It still bothers me when things don’t go as planned though.
Ruth says
Looks like we are in the same tune. I guess we can talk forever and forever about similar experiences.
robin says
Ha! 27 is a big number but I still couldn’t find anything here to disagree with, especially about the complaining and talking about trash and so on.
Very funny, and quite spirited! Did somebody set you off?
Ruth says
Robin,
I have had personal experiences with every item on the list. It annoys me every time this behavior is repeated.
David @ MalaysiaAsia says
Hey Ruth, great pointers. However, I would be very careful with #14. Cause if you’re too smart for them, that could lead you to some Serious Unwanted Trouble 🙂
Ruth says
David,
The typical thing is people insulting the police in another language (or talking in another language when stopped). For some reason, the officers don’t let you go that easily.
My uncle was once stopped in the Dominican Republic. He started to speak in English to the officer. The officer told him he would give him two options. You start to speak Spanish right now or I’ll arrest you. Busted!! Guess which one my uncle choose.
Cathy Sweeney says
I think you’ve got it all here, Ruth. I’ve seen a lot of these behaviors while traveling and once or twice 🙂 been the one at fault! I like #27 — complain, complain, complain. How often have I listened to people complaining while they should be savoring the travel experience they’re lucky enough to be having. Nothing’s perfect and we can be disappointed, but you can’t let those things ruin a trip. For everything that goes wrong, there can be more things that go right.
Ruth says
Cathy,
I am with you. I recently went on a cruise and I liked very much my dinning companions. On day 2, they startedto complain and complain when the service was near perfect.
adventureswithben says
Numbers 16 and 17 are big in my book!
Ruth says
Good picks!!!!
Caz Makepeace says
I can’t stand people who travel and want everything to be like it is back home. Why did you travel for then? Stay at home and spare us all.
Great list, definitely experienced someone who has done them all.
Ruth says
I wish they will stay home. You are right. Wow, do you know someone who has done all of them? And I thought I knew bad travelers
Lorna - the roamantics says
what a comprehensive list!!! really like #3- LOVE your counter to this! amen. we’re inundated at home as well- it’s just the method we’re accustomed to! great post- looking forward to more 🙂
Ruth says
Lorna,
It is true. I don’t know why people complain so much about this when marketing professionals are constantly studying people to learn how to sell them things. I took a marketing class and it is scary what some marketers do. Don’t know why people can’t learn to say no graciously.
Ayngelina says
Agree with every single once of these, every time I feel myself starting to complain I take a deep breath and remind myself that I am lucky to be a guest in the country.
Ruth says
That is a great way to attack the complain impulses. I have learned that complains are not necessarily help you to solve whatever problem you have or think you have.
Grace says
One word entitlement…a lot of what you have listed boils down to most people thinking they are entitled to everything. Good list Ruth!
Ruth says
I think you are using the perfect word for describing all these types of situations.
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