Tourists – they usually have a defined, short period of time to tour a destination and typically have a list of popular attractions to visit.
Travelers – they tend to stay longer in one place, integrate more with locals, and perhaps find more authentic attractions and foods.
Many of us start out as tourists and morph into travelers. That transition can be frustrating, comical and eye-opening.
Tourist Blunders
Likely my first tourist blunder was on our honeymoon. We were in our mid 20s. We had never taken a long trip together and this time we were staying 5 nights in one place. It should have been perfect but I had a long list of places to see and had scheduled every morning, afternoon and evening so that we could fit it all in. Let’s just say our stay was nice – filled with good memories – but it could have been better if I’d not tried so hard to cross so many places off my must-see list. In the end, it became more of a job than a holiday.
Our honeymoon was a good lesson and you’d think I would have learned enough not to repeat it. Not so. About 12 years later we did something somewhat similar on a trip to Arizona. We flew into Phoenix, stayed a couple of nights in Scottsdale, then drove the loop – north to Sedona, then The Grand Canyon and back around to Tombstone, and Tuscon arriving back in Phoenix to fly out. This time we made the mistake of staying just one night in each of those places. We were on the road A LOT. Too much. We were tired, cranky, always packing, unpacking and fought too much. THAT was the final lesson – we learned to always spend 2+ nights in every destination while on vacation.
Numbers of Travelers Increasing
The statistics I’ve read point to the same thing – the numbers of travelers are steadily increasing.
Millennials seem to be traveling younger, before starting families and often setting up businesses they can work at on the road. On the other end of the spectrum, the retired or semi-retired are finding cost effective locations for longstays. In the middle of the pack are the fortunate ones who can work remotely from anywhere and can enjoy traveling for longer periods of time.
Traveler Tips and Services
This increase in travel is one reason we’re seeing a bevvy of new travel products on the market. For instance:
Facebook offers a “Nearby Places” option for your iPhone or Android. This option suggests excursion ideas. The app becomes available on your mobile when you turn on “Location Services”.
Mobile service while traveling is important especially if you travel longer and want to stay connected with family and friends while on the road. Several options now exist for international SIM cards: iRoam, ChatSim, KnowRoaming.
Some travelers are taking the opportunity to learn a new skill, a new language, enroll in a learning program or volunteer. Maybe you’re interested in Tuscan cooking, English country gardens or animal rescue programs.
Services like ShowAround and Vayable connect you with locals who offer recommendations. With Jetzy, you earn rewards and connect with locals.
For food recommendations, EatWith connects you with diners and chefs. Using BonAppetour, helps find cooking classes and market tours.
Whether you are a tourist or traveler or somewhere in between, be sure not to overfill your trip. Stay long enough to experience the lesser known sights. Be sure to pop your feet up, beverage in hand and soak in the beauty and uniqueness of your destination.
