I was at a Cafe the other day and happened to overhear a conversation at the table behind mine. One of the girls was planning a trip to London and the others were enthusiastically telling her where she should and shouldn’t go.
“Stay clear of the London Eye,” one of them said. “It’s nothing but hype. There’s so many better things to see in London, so don’t waste your time over a giant glitzy Ferris wheel”
“And don’t get that typical photo of yourself in a red telephone booth that everyone does. That’s so mainstream” said another.
You’ve probably read and heard “warnings” like these on numerous travel review websites, And there’s no shortage of articles telling you about touristy places you should avoid. But I’ll tell you what. This Philosophy? It’s nothing but BS.
Seriously. I think a lot of you will agree. There’s a sudden trend that demands every travel experience to be “spiritually awakening” and “soulfully enriching.” The feeling that every moment of the journey must have a profound impact, or else it’s worthless. Popular listicle sites share the difference between a “traveller” and a “tourist,” making them appear to be two different breeds of people. There’s a great word for that.
Travel Snobbery.
Yes, it’s great to go off the beaten path and explore. It’s something I enjoy immensely. There’s no better way to experience the everyday side of a place. But that doesn’t make the popular attractions any less deserving of your attention. Travel snobbery demands that you abstain from being touristy and sadly, robs you of the chance to see some of the world’s most amazing places.
Sometimes, travel is just about having a good time in a new place and I think an important part of that is taking in the famous sights. You can either take the attraction as a crowded, commercialized, overrated experience or as an enjoyable escape.
So what if your version of having a good time means wearing a floral shirt and clicking silly photos in front of crowded attractions? In fact, why would anyone go somewhere with a world famous site and lose the opportunity of seeing it just because other people want to see it too?
I remember standing in line in Mont Tremblant, Canada, not once, but three times – to ride up to the top of the hill in a gondola and ride down in a go-kart. We could have just gone up by bus or cab to admire the scenic town from the top, but you can do that literally anywhere! The gondola + gokart… that’s special!
Sadly, we don’t have unlimited time to travel and most of us will only visit a new place once. So staying away from a historical or cultural monument, or even a silly tourist attraction, for the sake of being a “real traveller” seems misguided.
That aside, you can still enjoy a cheesy tourist attraction without being surrounded by a horde of people with some basic planning. Go early in the morning, buy tickets in advance so you skip the long lines or visit during off season (for cheap). If all else fails, thank your stars while standing your blistering feet, that while you’re in line to see a world famous attraction, there are people at work who are dreaming of being in your place.
The next time you’re in a new city, take advantage of the fact that NOBODY KNOWS YOU and go to whatever embarrassing attraction you fancy. Let the man in the striped shirt, straw hat and tight pants sing to you in a boat in Venice, get a picture of yourself pushing the Leaning tower of Pisa, answer the hand-gestured call of a mime and jump on the damn Ferris wheel!
When all is said and done, you’ll have some fabulous photographs. Just don’t upload it on Facebook and Instagram.
Or do… who cares!
