Traveller vs. Tourist

Quoting Wocca

A positive mental attitude is what it's all about

That's how we look at it! We may dress like the average tourist, but we dress that way at home too. That's just us. We may stay in a resort for 2 weeks or travel the countryside. Either way, we enjoy learning about the people, their culture, the country. We talk with the residents to learn from them. We never sit there on the beach expecting to be waited on or wishing it was like home. If that's what I wanted, I would have stayed here. We may not fit the generalized definition of traveller, but we don't fit the tourist bill either. Besides, Mr I looks good in Hawaiian shirts and a pair of flip-flops (no socks w/shorts combos here).

Quoting isadora

Quoting areinstein

he will be taking a catamaran cruise to the US Virgin Islands.

Tell you husband he will be having company on the cruise. Love pix of Kilimanjaro but rather be on the cruise - guess we're "tourists" and proud of it!

We do adventure around and plan out trips as travelers do - not all vacations are spent at a resort. But, the cruise sounds cool and we're not a hiking crowd.

Just let your husband know to expect 2 more!

Sure will!

Quoting wmcs

I am backpacking in SE Asia in May, he is taking a luxury cruise to Alaska in August. I will be climbing Kilimanjaro in 2006, he will be taking a catamaran cruise to the US Virgin Islands.

It must be difficult to have a holiday with your husband being he is the opposite to you when it comes to travel. Do you often travel together..?

Yes, actually we do. He complains all the time that we dont but last year we went to Europe together and we did it my way and his way. My way is few hours of sleep and little rest in between...his way, we stayed in comfortable hotels just the way he likes it .

I also took him for a long weekend to the Bahamas for our anniversary, that was a surprise for him.

The year before we went on a cruise for a week to the Caribbean (and believe me, I hated it). All I did was read read read read read read read and read some more. There was nothing else to do, cant imagine spending a more boring time in my life. That wasnt relaxing for me at all. I kept thinking...you know, I can do this at home and I can even go to the beach anytime I want...

So in reality, we do go places together enough but we also do our separate vacations...

Quoting Wocca

The more I travel, I realise that most of what I see is just a superficial societal presentation designed for the tourist market

That's perfect! You've described my experience in New Orleans perfectly. I'm going to quote that one.

People, all your answers are fabulous! I think we tend to picture "tourists" as people in knee-high socks aboard a big bus, and "tavellers" as sweaty vagabonds with no particular destnation in mind.

But in the end it's all relative. I like to travel alone, away from crowds, but I also like to have a shower EVERY day and like best to plan a little. I forgo the eyeliner but insist on face cream. I like old, comfortable shoes but never feel "right" unless I'm dressed in clothes that would make me feel good at home. Am I a tourist? A traveller"? A "tourveller"? Dunno. I just like to go elsewhere and see other things.

Maybe "tourist" and "traveller" are labels we give to other people.

Good post Isa.

I'm not really sure which one I am. I would like to say that I'm a traveller but, in all honesty, up to this point I've probably been more of a tourist.

I'm probably a mix of the two I suppose. I'm someone who likes to go into the smaller towns/villages or the countryside when I'm visiting a country, but I also like to see the main attractions too. It's just that I get sick of being in really commercial, tourist-oriented places very quickly.

The longest I've ever been away travelling is for about 2 months I think. So, Ive never gotten into the swing of what being a traveller, in the real sense of the word, is all about. But I believe that at heart I'm a bit of wanderer because I have a very restless spirit.

I think if I say that I agree with Tway on this one, no-one will take me seriously

but it's true, I do.

I agree with both of you. I do think the traveller/tourist labels are how we view the people within our line of sight in a particular place. If you saw us standing in an airport line, you'd automatically think "tourist". But, if you met us somewhere else and we started conversing, you'd lean toward "traveller" (and ignore the Hawaiian shirt). I like the tourveller label - it encompasses both -or neither.

I also agree that the responses have been great. It has caused people to think about how they view other people who are "vacationing", no matter how they chose to do their trip. We dress up and we dress down but we rarely dres the same. That's also how we view or trips.

Quoting samsara2

I think if I say that I agree with Tway on this one, no-one will take me seriously

Aw, jeez, Eve - there you go again!!

However, I must agree with Eve about growing quickly tired of over-touristy locations. For me, it's not so much the place itself (the Eiffel Tower was crowded beyond belief - but, hey, it's the Eiffel Tower!) but the "emptiness" of places that have been hyped up. I assumed I'd be seeing the true, blue birthplace of jazz in New Orleans - but what we got was the "touri-cised" version of what must have once been a great city.

THE NOMAD WAY OF LIFE

No Place, but everywhere
No One, but everybody
No Predestinations, but a new destination each day
No Ties, but linked to the world
No Religion, but faithfull in life
No Losts, but getting lost by yourself
No Deaths, but a new life in each choice!!

Do you think it can be called a tourist?

Quoting csfreixo

THE NOMAD WAY OF LIFE

Do you think it can be called a tourist?

I'd call it "idealist"

Quoting tway

I assumed I'd be seeing the true, blue birthplace of jazz in New Orleans - but what we got was the "touri-cised" version of what must have once been a great city.

I have to agree with you about New Orleans. I rather expected the "old" New Orleans. Though, considering I was there with 20,000 other scientists for a Federation meeting - I was just happy to have been there at all. I had a great time and spent a day on my own walking photo excursion. I also haad fun at Pat O'Briens each night.

We did find the same feeling with Key West. I think we were expecting more of Hemmingway's, or at least Jimmy Buffett's version of KW. But, that wasn't what we got... Still, (again) we had fun and decided it wasn't for us.

Maybe it's not us, but rather the places we end up that throw us in one catagory or the other - at least for the time we are there...