My name is Jeremy Branham and I love to travel. Check out my stories, tips, guides, and adventures on travel. If you're a new visitor, check out my Travel confessions Part II
By Jeremy Branham on May 22, 2011 with Comments 77
I am a note-taking, guidebook nerd
Everyone has faults. We all have weaknesses. However, there is a certain level of vulnerability involved with admitting weaknesses to other people.
Last week, I took the time to put myself out there and share my travel confessions. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. I was afraid that being too honest about my travel weaknesses and mistakes would turn people off. It may even cause people to question why in the world someone like me is writing about travel in the first place.
To my surprise, many people could relate to many of my weaknesses. However, not everyone shared all of my weaknesses so obviously I have issues when I travel. Just ask my wife.
However, there were a couple of negative comments that I wanted to address. The point of my travel confessions was not to say that life is bad or to be too negative about the little things that happen. I just wanted people to understand I’m not the perfect traveler.
So after baring my travel soul, showing people my vulnerable side, and confessing those things I sometimes don’t like about myself when I travel, I’ve decided to be throw caution to the wind…and share even more confessions.
Maybe you will find more things that you agree with me about travel or maybe you may really question why is THIS guy writing about travel?! So why am I doing this? I am peeling back the layers to show that we can’t all be stereotyped when we travel (although I like to do that when I travel – confession #3). As for the other reason? Well you’ll just have to wait until I bear my soul a little more first.
So with that said, here it goes…
Travel confessions – Part II
1. Sometimes I don’t like budget travel
Yep. Take a moment to let that one sink in. The guy who does travel tips, spends hours researching deals and planning my own trips to save a few bucks, and who wakes at 5:30 am every Tuesday (that’s a BIG DEAL – see #4) just to write my travel deals of the week doesn’t always like budget travel.
Don’t get me wrong – I still do the research, love the details, and will spend hours researching flights, hotels, and other things to find a good deal when I travel. However, I do like to splurge. I’ve spent over $100 on things like soccer/football jerseys, tickets to sporting events, and even a pair of jeans in Italy. Yet I won’t spend 100 euros for a gondola ride, may be too cheap to buy a souvenir, and will skip a great attraction because it costs $5 too much. Yet I’ll still spend hours of research to save $10 on a flight or $20 on food. Yep, I’m complicated like that.
Sporting events can break my budget for travel
2. My wife is more frugal than me
Without a doubt, this is true – both at home and on the road. At home, she may go an entire month without eating out once for a meal. She loves coupons. My wife has gone shopping and saved so much that the store actually ended up paying her to shop. She’s saved us over $1000 in the last year alone grocery shopping. And every week, we get free things in the mail because she researches deals.
This also works for travel too – I can be a bit more up and down in my budget travel pursuits (see #1). Truth be told, my wife planned most of the trip to Spain and Portugal and saved us a lot of money – quite possibly even more than I could have saved us. Quite honestly, she might be better at saving money than me – at home and when we travel. I just enjoy the details and research side of this stuff a little more than her when traveling while she applies her skills at home.
3. I stereotype people when I travel
I stereotype and even judge people when I travel. I label someone as soon as I see them or meet them. “Oh they like to party and go to clubs”, “They are the obnoxious loud Americans”, “typical tourist with sneakers, fanny pack, and camera around their neck – they don’t care about the culture”, and even the tourist from different countries have stereotypes as well.
Given my confessions, I should realize travelers are complicated and don’t just fit stereotypes. After I meet people and talk to them, often my impression of them changes. I don’t ever let anyone know that I may have a certain impression of them nor do I let my behavior towards them be influenced by my stereotypes. However, it happens, I do it, and I admit that it isn’t right that I do so.
4. I am not an early morning traveler
Ever since I was a kid, I haven’t like mornings. I waited until the last possible moment to get up to start my day. In Estonia, I skipped breakfast every single morning and got up in just enough time to meet my group downstairs as they were walking out the door. I’m probably never going to see a sunrise unless I happened to stay up all night and saw it rise before I actually went to bed (there’s a much better likelihood of that).
Even at home, I rarely eat breakfast. I don’t have time for that because I need to sleep in as much as possible. When I travel with my wife, I annoy her because I don’t want to get up for breakfast because I want to sleep. Many mornings she went and ate without me as I slept. I just don’t do early mornings – either at home or when I travel.
5. I enjoy the comforts of home when I travel
Don’t we all right? Well sometimes this comes at the expense of budget travel. When I travel, I drink the same things – water, wine, or soft drinks. Many times, soft drinks are more expensive than wine. I don’t care – I want my caffeine (I don’t drink coffee – see # 7). And I will pay for it.
I also love the internet. I am a travel blogger right? Of course I loved the internet long before I wrote about travel. When I traveled a few years ago, I had to always get on and check email, sports scores, and have even listened to live sporting events online (like South Carolina Gamecocks football games while in Portugal). Some things I just have to have even when I travel.
6. I really like guidebooks
Secretly, I am a nerd. I love details, numbers (my degree is in accounting), history, research, and analysis. When it comes to sports, I am a stats analysis guru and debater. When researching trips, I will spend hours doing it – just because it is fun (even if I don’t save a lot of money). And when it comes to the actual travel, I love guide books.
My wife thinks I can be a bit of a fanatic. I follow the tips, walks, and have to read every single piece of information about every piece of art in my guidebook as I go through the museum. It can take me three times as long to go through museums as other people because I have to read everything in my book about it. Even when I am not traveling, I read guidebooks for fun and will spend months reading a guidebook from cover to cover before I even travel. Sure, I like to get off the beaten path and get away from the crowds. However, I’d feel naked on a trip without a guidebook.
7. I don’t care about food when I travel
I know for some people, food is a big part of their travels. For me, I could care less. This doesn’t mean that I am not going to try new foods or don’t want to share in local delicacies. It’s just not a big deal to me. I am not going to plan a trip around food.
Honestly, I would prefer a quick meal or just grabbing a few items from a local market or grocery store. I don’t even drink coffee (I’ve had a total of two cups my entire life) so even that or wine tasting doesn’t excite me. I guess my easy meals for budget travel guide would be a good indicator of how I eat sometimes. Even at home, I go eat at the same places over and over and over again (my wife gets tired of this) so honestly food doesn’t matter. It’s one reason why a cooking school is one of the vacations I will never take. Food just doesn’t matter that much to me when I travel.
8. I am very boring at home and more adventurous on the road
Sure, everyone who travels says this. I’ve done the nude beach in Portugal and got locked out of my hotel and slept on a girl’s couch that I met on the street in Florance because I was out too late at a club. Of course, we all like to break out of our routine and try new things when we travel. That’s not the confession.
The confession is more the first part – I am boring. I like routine at home and even when I travel. I wake up at the same time, eat the same things, have the same schedule, and have quirky routines each and every day. Unless I am traveling, I am really boring. Maybe that is a surprise to some people but to break some of my routines or do something different than the way I have done for years is a bit uncomfortable. Maybe it makes my adventurous side when I travel that much more surprising.
I don't like the beach
9. I don’t like beaches
If I haven’t offended or shocked anyone by now, this should do it! You see, I grew up near the beach when I was in high school in a very popular tourist area – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I went to the beach every year on vacation with my parents. And I just don’t care that much about beaches.
Part of it has to do with the fact that I am fair-skinned and can burn easily. I need lots of sunscreen and it’s a pain to deal with. Then there is all the sand and the mess it creates. I don’t like being out in the sun non-stop and enjoy some shade. And I just don’t like all the crowds.
I do like the beach in Tahoe but I am surrounded by mountains on a lake with no waves. I’ve been to Hawaii but enjoyed hiking and other activities more than the beach itself. I don’t think I’ve ever planned a vacation just for a beach. It’s why I’ve never been to the beach resorts in Mexico or any of the popular beaches in Florida or the Caribbean.
Give me the peace and quiet of the mountains and a little shade here and there. And any place where I don’t need a lot of sunscreen is good.
Defining who I am as a traveler
Maybe more travel confession is good. Maybe it’s cathartic. Maybe being a non-beach lover, budget travel hypocrite, guidebook nerd, late sleeper, and boring traveler with no taste for food makes me a bit more real or even a bit more…unique….after all these travel confessions.
However, this much I realize – at home and when I travel, I am a complicated person.
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Filed Under: Featured • Traveling Thoughts
More interesting post, Jeremy! Yes, I was surprised at ‘you don’t like beach’ point. It’s the opposite for me. During my travels, I discovered that I absolutely LOVE beach! I think my favourite part is reading while lying on the beach. I like the peace and warm atmosphere.
I am definitely not an early bird, and I don’t think I ever will.
Food is really a big part of my travel (just check my blog out. Talk about food all the time!) but I understand the priority is different for everyone.
In general, that is the best part of Travel, get to know myself. Figure out what I really like and what I don’t, without any foreign influences.
Good one Jeremy!
Thanks Juno. Maybe part of my aversion to the beach is that I grew up near the beach and got tired of dealing with thousands of people going there and getting in my way! I haven’t gone to many beaches that aren’t crowded (except in Hawaii) so it is hard to find peace and quiet on the beach. Plus, if you were white like me, you might have a little more sympathy for what it’s like being in the sun!
As for food, it’s not just you but a lot of people that really focus on food when they travel. I appreciate cuisine but it’s just not me. Like you said, different priorities for different people.
As you can see, getting to know yourself when you travel can be good and bad. But if you don’t get to know yourself at all, that’s the worst thing of all!
Noone is perfect. The fact that you have travelled so much, you know so much about other people and other places just makes you an amazing traveller. My biggest issue is that I do not like traveling alone, but when traveling with people I get annoyed easily. Is not that contradictory? My cousin is a budget traveler and always wants us to go buy some sandwich bread at local supermarkets. I hate that. I just want to eat local foods but she wants to save in food. I am a very morning traveler. Love to get up very very early, but he does not. He says he needs to rest. I get so annoyed. But I love him, and, after all, I love traveling with him. you see? we all are so complicated.
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Thank for your comments Adriana. Yes, you are right – we be quite complicated when we travel. I am like your cousin – I like to eat a cheap sandwich at a local store and save on food. I don’t mind eating out either but I would rather save money and explore more. Yet I will also spend $4 on a coke when I go out to eat. That doesn’t make sense. My wife and I are similar but also travel differently. Traveling alone teaches you a lot about yourself. Traveling with someone else teaches you even more. Yep, we’re all complicated.
After your first confessions, I thought we were very similar. Now, not so much
I am a budget traveler to a fault. I hate overpaying for things and rarely treat myself. Yes, I really do think this is a fault.
I love to get up early and see the city before everyone else is in my way.
And food is one of the biggest joys I get out of traveling.
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I really am a budget traveler and pretty hard core about it. However, I am sure there are things that you would spend more money on me. We all have those. Obviously, you are going to spend more money than me on food!
I enjoy the comforts of home when I travel as well. My husband and I sleep with a fan, so we have to take a fan with us!! Sometimes, it’s a real pain – like the time we used an adapter instead of a converter in Ireland (live and learn) and burned up the motor on our precious fan! I had to go to a hardware store in Ireland in November and they were kind enough to find a fan for me in their attic. It’s ridiculous but we have to have it!!
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Wow, now that’s enjoying the comforts of home! And you have a great story to tell about buying a fan in Ireland! Yes, we all have our comforts of home when we travel!
Kudos for recognizing and disclosing these confessions. When we set off on our adventure I had some really rigid rules about what I would and would not do… Of course most of those fell by the wayside, but most of them were also replaced by others that I learned about myself along the way!
We’re similar with the beach thing, my hubby great up in Ft. Lauderdale, try telling him that there’s anything better than the white sand of a Florida beach!
Jillian recently posted..Strange Bikes
I think part of traveling is discovering ourselves and things we may not see or learn when we are at home in our comfort zones. It’s when we get outside of those comfort zones that we are challenged. And I think we learn even more about each other when we travel with someone close to us. They have a way of pointing out things we just can’t see.
And your husband is wrong about the beach thing!
I like guidebooks too and can take or leave beaches – but I LOVE food and learning about places through it!!!
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Understand Robin. Different stroke for different folks. I love learning when I travel – just not through food! I do not have a culinary gift whatsoever!
Well, you didn’t have to confess that you were a guidebook/numbers nerd; we already knew that, LOL.
I too love guidebooks and enjoy spending hours doing research. Regarding #3, I was struck a few years ago by the Buddhist lesson of seeing yourself in others, and I try to do that when being around other people– it helps me not to stereotype when I think that we are all human beings and I’m not better than anybody else. That camera-toting lady could be my grandma (or even me), and that sneaker-wearing guy could be my dad.
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Thanks Jenna. Maybe my nerdness is obvious to some.
As for the stereotypes, there is no doubt we all have them. We are human. I guess I was just admitting mine although I do try not to let any biases I may have affect my interactions with people. I will take what you said a step further though. Often the things that most annoy us about other people are the things we don’t like about ourselves! Ponder that one!
I hope you could sense I was just joking with you a bit about the nerd thing…plus, I think many of us have a bit of that in us with the tendency to research/guidebook obsess.
I agree that we all have stereotypes. I have learned some serious lessons about that through my teaching, which has made me think about it a lot. Also, I have traveled with family a lot over the years and know that people probably looked at some of us and had those stereotypes. That has made me more sensitive to it.
Jenna recently posted..My Favorite Museums in São Paulo- Brazil
Don’t worry about the nerd thing. I take it as a compliment!
As for the stereotypes, anyone would be lying if they said they didn’t have them. It’s how you choose to act upon them that matters. I think that is the key. So while I may have my own preconceptions/stereotypes, I am careful to do as you say and not let it affect the way I treat anyone. Often, people can completely change the stereotypes that you have.
There you go with the anti-fanny pack reference again
I am not a beach fan either. I like to swim, and when I want to swim I like to take a dip in a pool or a beach, but I would never ever center my whole vacation around a beach. Maybe a day on a beach, but after that give me a mountain, forest, lake, or a trail somewhere.
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Ted, I actually had your name in that section to specifically point you out with that reference but I decided to take you out. Didn’t want to make it personal!
Like you, the beach is great for a day if it’s not the only thing you do. As I kid, I did a beach vacation for a week where that is what we did every day. Couldn’t do that again and I know there are many people that do. One day is plenty for me as I need other things to do also.
Not sure I would classify most of these as faults or weaknesses.
Can certainly relate to a number of them. I like guidebooks, get bored silly after more than an hour at the beach, enjoy backpacker joints AND hotels where the room has its own swimming pool (but think the in-betweens can be a bit bland). Also, I’m not really a foodie and often skip meals, especially when travelling. But I’m off on a press trip in a few weeks that involve cooking. Maybe I’ll change my mind
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Very true Sophie. The heavy stuff came in the first confessions post. Interesting about your cooking press trip. Will be curious if you change your mind. I’ve listed that as one of the vacations I just won’t take. I guess I could do anything once but a vacation centered around food doesn’t appeal to me whatsoever.
I’m with you on the food — for me it’s just fuel for the ride. I know that’s horrible, but that’s just the way I’m wired. I think I was born without taste buds. The beach thing however…let’s just say my comment starts and ends in “tsk”…
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Raymond, nothing wrong with the beach. I like the beach. However, making an entire vacation with each day spent at the beach is a nightmare! Just too boring! I did it enough as a kid I don’t need to do it now.
As for food, my taste buds always crave the same things. To me, food is that thing I do in between activities!
Not much of a beach person myself. I always think they are great, right up until I get there and sand gets everywhere, I’m burnt within 30 minutes and I’m bored with sitting still. would much rather be out hiking or skiing or something.
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You are exactly right! The beach sounds fun but can be a bit of a pain. I never cared much for sand and sun but it’s nice to enjoy every once in a while. Making a vacation out of it is not really something I enjoy.
I think in regards to #1 that *most* of us don’t always like budget travel — yet there are plenty, like me, who always do it anyways. Personally, I budget travel because I love traveling so much that I want to see as many places as possible, which means I try to do everything cheaply just so I can keep going. Sometimes I do, in fact, prefer budget travel — after all, it does mean more interactions with locals and less being sheltered — but there are other times when I secretly wish I could go to one of those 5-star resorts and spend all afternoon in an infinity pool.
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I admit I do like budget travel. I can be quite nerdy about it. I like budgeting so much that I designed my own complicated spreadsheet to manage family finances. It’s actually fun for me to balance a checkbook and see how many ways I can come under budget each month. So budget travel really is my thing.
However, it shows that there are things we enjoy that we will spend more on. Honestly, 5 star resorts and luxury travel don’t even appeal to me that much but it doesn’t mean I won’t splurge on things I enjoy!
Now I have to make a confession: I don’t like budget travel at all!! One of these days I’ll be broke flat, but until such time I will have enjoyed my trips to the full. And, I too, like guidebooks. I like books…full stop.
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Inka, how lucky for you! The thing is, I liked budget travel when I had money. Years ago, my wife and I both worked, had no debt, and we were still frugal and traveled on a budget. For me, it’s not a matter of whether I have money or not. It’s more of a personality thing. I guess I’ve always been that way.
Love guidebooks. Aside from the information inside, the tangible nature of the guidebook is like taking a trusted friend with you somewhere.
I’m a morning traveler. AND I’m always first in line when something opens. I get a lot of criticism for that one.
Beaches are my favorite – though it took me awhile to get past the sand in every crevice fear.
Beaches are fine. I just couldn’t make a vacation out of them. However, you and I would not get along in the mornings!
I think you need to have the right mindset to vacation at the beach. It’s not about the discovery, but just the need to chill out and do nothing.
We all have our flaws. And i find your article very inspiring. I think that you are just being true to yourself and i really like that. It’s good when you admit something about you because it means that you accept it. And for me, if people can’t accept who i am, then it’s not my problem anymore. As long as i don’t harm them i think i am in good position. This is a very nice article by the way. Thank you for sharing this one.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments. Travel is a great way to learn about yourself. However, it doesn’t matter what you do or where you go. Understanding who you are is important to growing as a person. Yes, it is good to admit once you realize who you are. It’s this process of discovery that is important for all of us!
And if you didn’t see it, there is also a part I as well and those are a little more personal and vulnerable than these!
Not sure I see these as weaknesses either. They seem to be your preferences and there is nothing wrong with that! Understanding and admitting who you are is the hard part.
Personally I am a mountain, lake and stream girl. Beaches are nice but not my preference. I am a definite morning person! When we travel my husband gets up even earlier than I do but I know I can always find him at the nearest coffee shop! Guidebooks are awesome.
Of course, my preference would be to travel without worrying about the cost but unfortunately I haven’t found my oil well yet so I must adhere to a budget because my Financial Management degree will not let me go in debt
Enjoyed learning more about you!
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Debbie, you are probably right. Most of these aren’t weaknesses although the stereotypes part could be. We would definitely disagree on the morning part but do well on the beaches and budget and money thing though! Considering I love spreadsheets and have a degree in accounting, I guess it is in my blood (my dad is a Controller!)
You don’t like food, I don’t like hiking – will we ever end up in the same location?
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I didn’t say I don’t like food. I just said it isn’t an important part of traveling. Tell you what – I will do the hiking and you bring the steaks!
I think it’s good to splurge every once in a while. We are really great about saving at home, but when we travel we don’t like to limit ourselves as much. I feel like that takes a lot of the fun out of traveling and we would miss out on cool experiences.
I can also understand why you don’t enjoy the beach. I don’t like hanging out on the beach anymore either. We go to surf and that’s it. The crowds are ridiculous and I don’t want to get all that sun like I used to when I was in my teens.
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As for the budget thing, if I want to do something I set aside the money for it. From my accounting background, I look at it as a sunk cost – money you are going to spend that you know you aren’t going to get back. The problems is if I go over that set amount. Then it bothers me. When planning ahead for the trip, a budget is a must for me and I rarely splurge on that.
I know you two like to surf but I don’t even do that. Growing up on the east coast, the water here in California is too bold anyways!
Hey Jeremy, I really like your ‘travel confessions’ series, I think its great you are putting yourself out there. When people do that it makes them human, relate-able and genuine. There are always going to be people out there who have different thoughts and feelings based on their own life experiences, but that doesn’t mean anyone is right and anyone is wrong, and no one should hate on another person for that, you’re entitled to be you, the differences are what shapes us all.
Though I’m the opposite about food, we share a lot of similar nerd qualities. I too absolutely adore researching stuff. All my friends have me plan their vacations for them. I will read a million books and reviews on places but then I go on and on how I hate carrying around guidebooks! I guess if I have it memorized it doesn’t count. I also realized I love looking at beaches, but I hate sitting on them, unless its at a tiki-hut or a fresh fish shack!
Liz | Two Weeks to Travel recently posted..The “No Vacation Nation”
Thanks for sharing Liz. I have to admit I was a little nervous about sharing some of this because I thought it might turn people off. However, the response has been very positive.
Like you, I have a lot of people asking me for advice to help them out. It’s fun to help people save money and research. If I didn’t like doing it, it would be a horrible gift to have!
I can relate to a lot of these… Bob is definitely more frugal than me, I like (really like) guide books, hate doesn’t even begin to describe how much I hate early morning travel! But, I love beaches- I just find them so peaceful. And while I do like food- I really the comforts of food that is found at home. sometimes I don’t want to eat the locals food- shocking I know… I just want a taco!
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If I am not mistaken, you have had nice beaches on the both coasts! You are a bit spoiled there!
Beaches are great to enjoy for a day or so but I can’t plan a vacation around them. As for being frugal, it’s good that Bob keeps you check or you might really blow through the travel money quickly! 
Holy mackerel- you got a LOT of comments for this. For a second, I thought we could travel together. I am definitely not a fan of budget travel, but I could spend an entire vacation at the beach and food is our evening activity when we travel.So hasta la vista, baby.
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With some of your more luxury destinations on your blog and with Steve as a chef, I figured you wouldn’t agree with those!
Enjoyed this one! How come u do not like beaches? Where do u relax then?
I grew up at a very touristy beach and just got tired of all the traffic and sand and crowds. I like quiet, secluded beaches. However, it’s just not how I want to spend a week’s vacation.
Wow, so many confessions. I don’t think you’re alone in a lot of these things. We met several people lately who don’t care about food, we don’t like budget travel at all (but it is sometimes necessary) and we’re not early morning travel either. I don’t think anyone is alike on all points – thank goodness too because if everyone was the same type of traveller there would be no variety in experience =)
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I think there is something probably all of us can relate to in some aspect of our lives. And I think some of these will contradict themselves at certain times as well. We are complicated people who have likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. And you’re exactly right – thank goodness we aren’t all the same (although on some issues, it would be nice!)
I definitely do a few of these… Sometimes I break from budget travel (big time) and sometimes I stereotype as well… I’m sure a few others of these too…
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I think we all do some of these. Whether you do these particular ones, I guess I am trying to point out that we are complicated creatures and don’t do things the same way every single time. It’s what makes us human beings and not robots when we travel!
J….
Aloha…
Since we are relatively new in our search for personal travel blogs that we will turn to on a regular basis I thought I would post a quick response!
Actually we think your confessions will help those that have read your column or stumbled upon your blog learn whether or not your advice or experiences suit their own travel style. That in itself is a valuable gift you have given your readers.
Everyone has extrremely busy lives and trip planning can (especially for us, since we are detail oriented but try to be very immersive in all cultural aspects) be time consuming. Not only do we consider a budget, but our time when it comes to research and our actual adventures.
Each one of us is unique, which in turn makes our planning and/or experiences unique.
There is no right or wrong way to travel. As cliche as this is…We believe it is about the journey and how you personally appreciate it.
and how that journey speaks to your inner soul will not be the same as anyone else even the bestest of friends and/or the closest of couples.
Honestly, after reading your confessions we aren’t able to relate to your travel style or perceptions of life/people on the road. However, it’s quite obvious you speak to and for many other travellers that have posted here. Perhaps, we are the odd one
We wish you calm seas throughout your travels and career!
A hui hou!
OurPassportStamps
I think your soul searching is great! It’s good to know what you like and don’t like, especially while traveling. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with any of it. Everyone’s different. It’s also funny that you admit you don’t like the beach. It seems a lot of people are like that. I love the beach, but only for a short time because i get antsy and need to go-go-go and do something. I can’t just lay around all day.
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I think that is a major part of traveling – not just teaching us about the world around us but learning about ourselves. Without that, I think we miss out on some of the best educational experiences if our lives.
And I feel the same about beaches – great experience for a day but can’t make a vacation out of it. With that said, how did you like my “where in the world am I?” this week?
[...] like tourists” and “Family travel scares me.” The discussion even led to a Part 2 follow-up [...]
We’re all complicated people – that’s we have to simplify things and pigeon hole them into ‘ignorant tourists who don’t appreciate culture,’ and ‘typical drunk Brits abroad.’ Yes, I’m guilty of the judging too and then when I meet the person and discover they’re really nice and actually quite interesting, I feel guilty while speaking to them.
As for the beaches – great! – we’re not fans either! They look nice…but they’re boring.
Julia
Julia, I think you hit on something. As human beings, we stereotype people because we have a need to explain and rationalize behavior to help us understand. Fortunately, we are able to see past those biases at times but I think it is human nature to judge. Sometimes we are right in our opinions and sometimes we are wrong. The key is learning to deal with the stereotypes and judgments that we form.
Thanks for sharing all your likes and dislikes as they relate to travel. I agree with Michael, it’s great to know what you want out of travel. I think it makes you a very grounded person in the sense that you know who you are. I’m also more into lakes and mountains for the same reasons – very fair skinned and I’m not used to dealing with the sand mess
but I do like the beach for walks, and for surfing, which I only discovered last year.
Thanks Christina. The reaction to my confessions has been mostly positive. I guess traveling has taught me a lot and I can’t help but learn from it. There is good and bad in all of us as we have our quirks and flaws. It just goes to show that travelers comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, likes, interests, and styles of travel.
As for the beach, I don’t mind the things you mentioned (I don’t surf though) but I just can’t make a vacation out of it. With that said, check out where in the world am I for this week – that should make you laugh!
Hi Jeremy! WOW! thanks for sharing such insights into who you are as a traveller! Love this post. I can relate to alot:) Anyway, everyone has their weaknesses… Half your points are mine too. Guilty of no. 1, 3, 5, 6.. but LOVE food and the beach.. hehe:D Great post!
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Glad we agree on some but I knew we wouldn’t agree on food and the beach!
I could’ve written this, we share such similar traits! We don’t like beaches either. EXCEPT when there’s snorkeling to do. C’mon – you don’t like snorkeling beaches either?
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Snorkeling is fine. At least I’m doing something besides sitting on the beach doing nothing. Last time I went snorkeling was in Kauai I think. I went one time in Maui and forgot to put on sunscreen. That was a VERY painful evening!
I´m not a huge fan of beaches either, though I do love laying out in the sun. I just hate sand.
As for not caring about food, that is just madness. Food is so important to me!
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Yeah yeah yeah – we all know about our natural tan and beautiful Argentinian skin. The rest of us fair skinned people have to be careful though. Don’t want sand rubbing on sunburned areas!
As for the food, I eat it, try different things, and definitely enjoy sampling the local cuisines. It’s not why I travel
I really love the beach, but I don’t see it very often though. I’m sure it would be very different if I grew up pretty much living near the beach. I also have to admit I sometimes stereotype people that I come across. I know it’s wrong, but sometimes I just can’t help it.
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Thanks for the comments! The beach is OK for a day or so but not an all day, all week thing. Even growing up at the beach, it wasn’t my favorite thing to do. I rarely went. I know a lot of people I grew up with did go a lot but the funny thing was that I lived in a beach town but still had my every day life to live. Not much different than life now?
As for the stereotypes, I think all of us do it to some degree as a way to rationalize human behavior. However, it’s the effort that we must make to go beyond that that can be difficult at times.
Not liking the beach is a HUGE confession, that’s like blasphemy in SC.
I can understand, though, with the whole burning aspect. At least you are listening to your body instead of forcing it into burning situations, bringing on pain and skin cancer.
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Well growing up in Myrtle Beach I had all the sun and sand I could get. When I was younger, we did week long vacations there. It was fun but I am not that big of a beach person. I don’t think Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach would want me as a spokesperson but I do have a lot of connections there!
Sometimes budget travel sucks, other times its ok. Let’s get serious, if all of us owned oil wells, we’d be living in sicker digs.
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I am not sure that is the case. Sometimes luxury travel is nice but I think it can also isolate us from the things that we want to experience in travel. I think a good balance of budget and comfort is a great way to travel!
Well done on your honesty – we all have things that don’t quite fit our profiles. I understand your beach thing – I HATE sand!!
Thanks for the comment Fiona! Yes, I don’t like the sand but some beaches are OK.
Great post and great job sharing your habits and likes and dislikes!
Two things really surprised me as I was thinking that any traveler loves beaches and the food, especially local food, the one that you only find visiting some particular location.
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Yep, call me different but food and beaches don’t matter much to me. I guess growing up at the beach had an effect on me but in the opposite way. I actually like towns, cities, and the mountains much better. However, that is why we are all different!
I got what you mean.
I’ve been born and spend my childhood in the land locked european country, so I guess that is why I love ocean and beaches!
Hi Jeremy,
What an interesting article! Again it shows that everybody is different, f.e. I really do care about food when I am travelling. Why? Because probably I give myself time to enjoy it, at home most probably I don’t give myself the time as there are always things to do. I do share the vulnerable side you show. Also you do more adventurous thinsg while travelling but you hope they will work out and give you the (after)feeling you have hoped for. Kind regrads, Mark.