Why don't we ever get the truth about travelling?
 

After spending three weeks trying too hard to have a good time in Spain, France, and Italy, it finally occurred to me that the entire travel print and video propaganda is just smoke and mirrors. How many of you travellers--not the soon to be travellers with stars in their eyes and dreams in their souls- but the ones who have fought hand to hand in the trenches--can honestly say they would do it all over again, fight the crowds, suck in the air pollution, wipe off poopy shoes, avoid the crowds, pay too much for what you got, avoid the crowds, look at boring, dirty, depressing sights as you zip the the main attraction to once again--avoid the crowds...to be able to go home and brag...I was there!! Too embarrassed to admit they were suckered!!
We never get any honesty from anyone in the media, and I can understand since it's a HUGE industry...but people....wake up!! And to those who have been where I just came from, why not tell the truth instead of continuing the fantasy?
To those who don't want to believe the truth, then the addage take twice or three times the money and half the clothes is all I will send you away with. It will help, as will a good map and an itinerary that skips all the big cities.
All the best.
R.

It sounds like you should have done more independent research before your trip.

Why are you blaming the media for your own problems?

You don't seem to be this annoyed on the Europe branch where you are posting about your ongoing travel.

Why did you chose to put this on USA branch?

Guess I've just been luckier than you - or just planned my trips better. I haven't experienced at all w/ what you describe.

Maybe the "boring", "depressing", "zip", and "brag" bits explain a lot.

It sounds like you spent too much time sight-seeing and going everywhere than staying in one spot and soaking in the culture. We spent 3 weeks in Europe, 3 days Rome, two weeks in Tuscany and 4 nights in Paris. Cities are great, but you relax much more and learn about the pace of life by spending time in a small village in an apartment, preferably in a villa with a pool. In that situation you can shop and eat at home some nights, and find tiny amazing restaurants over every hillside, plus relax at the pool in between sightseeing days. If you don't appreciate the difference between food and architecture/history in Europe vs. here, you're probably right...for you, it may not be worth going.

I can honestly say I don't think I've ever felt so sorry for anyone on this forum as you, ramalama. I suggest you stay home if those are the things you see and if you have to refer to travel as "trying too hard to have a good time". I feel sorry for you, I really do. Please don't lump the rest of us in with you.

No one is required to like Europe, but you can only be the victim of "propoganda" if you allow yourself to be. So you had a lousy time. That's no ones fault but your own. No one took you to Europe by gunpoint.

There's plenty of the world to see if you can stand Europe. But my sense is you wouldn't be happy anywhere.

Wow..
I bet you are the life of the party.

I'm not sure I get your rant, but I stopped subscribing to travel magazines and I read the travel pages in newspapers with a grain of salt.

Why?

When they write about a place, they have to make it sound good. They may publish an article titled "Yakima: Your Place for Adventure," but not the more honest "Yakima Sucks."

This is why guidebooks, such as those with Fodor's, Frommer, or Rick Steves in the title are useful--they try to help travelers differentiate among what is worthwhile and what isn't.

And, IMHO, a person who can't have a good time in France or Italy should get expanded TV service rather than travel.

Weird post. I don't think you're going to get many people agreeing with you here, on a travel forum for people who love to travel! In the past three years I have started traveling a lot, and have visited: Paris (2 times), London, Hawaii (4 times), Seattle, Las Vegas, Anguilla, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, etc...Each and every trip was a place to cherish and remember for different things. You should probably just stay home and relax from now on!

I think one could have predicted this from the tone of earlier questions.

I hope your mom at least had a good time.

Next time take or pick up a boy toy.

Ditto everything everyone said, especially NeoPatrick. If you're not happy traveling, fine, stay home. What's that got to do with the rest of us? (FWIW, I love big cities, don't mind the crowds, and if I have to breathe in a little polluted air and scrape off a little dog poop in order to see/be in Paris, or Madrid, or Prague, so be it!!

I think you're looking for different things out of your travels than the rest of us are. I don't go to Italy for "real" American breakfasts and spaghetti and meatballs.

Different strokes, I guess.

When will I learn to click on a poster's name and read some other posts before commenting on the tone of a single one? I just did that and now everything is crystal clear. I certainly didn't realize this was the one who HAD to have meatballs and spaghetti in Florence.

Yes. I'd really say this is one person who would definitely be better off staying at home. I don't usually use that approach just because someone doesn't like something on their trip, but this is clearly a person who has no business traveling if he wants to be happy.

Which reminds me of my then-80 year old step-FIL making his first trip to Europe. According to him, if they just used American Dollars, everything would have been fine LOL!

Acccording to the "breakfast" post, they still have several more weeks to go, including time in Paris.

Do I correctly recall reading of a place in Paris that serves "real American" breakfast? Anyone know? Maybe that would cheer her up.

This seems more and more like a troll.

I smell a troll. It must be a troll, right?!

I am a traveler and I do not expect foreign cities to be like my home, nor would I want them to be! Many of us love the assault on our senses that big cities deliver.

Do us all a favor and stay home!

Ag, you must have been typing when I was! You notice the OP hasn't responded?

I also wondered about the possibility of being a troll, but it doesn't really matter. Just wonder why this is posted on US Board unless it was done in error.

I had some friends years ago, before I had ever been to Europe, take a European Trip and when they came back they had absolutely NOTHING good to say about ANY of it. So, remalama, is not alone. I'm just glad I never felt that way and have loved every minute of every trip. Can't please everybody.

I know the poster had asked about an American breakfast in Rome, but in Paris the place is "Breakfast in America". There's one on Rue Ecoles in the fifth and another one somewhere in the Marais. It's really superb, but I'm sure the poster wouldn't be happy with it for some reason.
I've lost track of their itinerary, so not sure if they've been to Paris or not yet.

ramalama isn't alone. Some people just don't enjoy travel. Most of them aren't on this board, however, since this is a board mainly for travel enthusiasts.

It's not an issue of the "truth" about traveling, though. One person's "dirty, depressing sight" is another person's delight. It's all a matter of opinion. But I can assure you that I did not find the Eiffel Tower either dirty or depressing, and it was worth every penny. Ditto the Tower of London, the D-Day Beaches, the Anne Frank House, the cliffs of Capri, etc.

The part that made me laugh was the bit about the poopy shoes. From stepping in real poop, to figuratively stepping in the poop here!

I know it must have been shocking that Europe was expensive. You certainly couldn't have researched that before going. Oh, wait...

Patrick----on the "2 hour lunch in Paris" thread, she said they would be back in Paris in October.

I was thinking this person is just really young, but she says her mother is 80, so. . .

I am really puzzled by this post. Maybe you should have gone to Paris, Las Vegas?
I am not a typical traveler. Here's why:
I don't enjoy going to tourist spots. I hate crowds.
I don't have much money to spend.
I hate people telling me how to dress.
I hate long flights.
I am not generally into modern art.
I dislike theater and live music.
This would certainly indicate that I am not a good traveler, right?
Wrong!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Europe.
I love teeny tiny towns in No Where, USA.
I love every US city I have been to... well, maybe not Orlando.
Every place has something for everyone.
Seriously. In Paris I walked miles and miles a day, looking at the beautiful buildings and interesting shops, Cemetaries and people.
I ate from markets and street vendors.
People in Europe were friendly... or at least I thought so.
I never caught anyone looking at me 'funny' for what I was wearing... though that has happened in NYC.
I noticed the look/comment and I used it as part of my comedic approach in my presentation the next day.
Bottom line, I think possibly the problem is you, my dear.

Some people don;t like travel. If you don't, perhaps you shouldn't.

For those of us who do - it's not boring or depressing. (And not to be critical, but people who are generally bored or depresed - usually have a problem other than a bad vacation.)

I have had some disappointments in travel (not liking a particular city for example) - and some places (hotel or restaurant) have not met expectations. But that can happen at home too.

But I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every trip I've taken. (But, them I plan trips that I know I'm going to enjoy - rather than pick out what I can brag about later.)

And the only place I've ever been that I felt was a fantasy was Disney World - and there it's intentional. (ALthough not something I will repeat.)

I don't think it's a weird post at all. Even here on the forum, posters will often get slammed if they give an honest, negative opinion of a place. I do research, I love to travel, but that doesn't mean I'm going to love everywhere I go.

Good post, I can see your point (even though it could have been stated more eloquently).

I don’t think he’s talking about “being lied to”, he’s talking about the hype, and that the sites usually never meet your expectations. They promise you a personalized tour, which is not what you get.

Most people will never stand alone in the middle of the coliseum in Rome like a gladiator, but will walk around with the rest of the tourists.
Yes, that does shatter your fantasy.

We just came back from Israel where we zipped around from site to site ( http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...2007/tpod.html) and nothing can live up to the build up of Jerusalem, especially if you step out of the car and you smell … piss!!!

Here are some points we learned:

Preparation as mentioned before is key (you look at three stones and two columns and hear the guide say “this was a palace”.) that way you can put everything in context. Out of context nothing is impressive, or worth visiting.

Expectations. I told my wife before we left a sentence I first read on these boards that “the difference between Israel [Europe] and the US is that in the US 100 years is old and in Israel 100 miles is far”. You have to be prepared to go to sites that have been around for thousands of years. Guess what? That’s what they’re going to look like.

Be adventurous, let yourself enjoy the trip. So, the hotel room is not up to your standards of cleanliness (we actually have friends who don’t go anywhere because the wife is a clean freak and must stay in a place which meets her expectations ... no place does), or the pasta is not as delicious as you thought, or the people seem rude, or whatever. It’s a new culture where their definition or rude, clean, or tasty is not yours. Try new food, experiment, learn the language … you’ll enjoy much more.

Highlights. Tour of just highlights is missing the point of traveling. Zipping around the country with a checklist, taking the obligatory picture and moving along simply sucks.

I agree with a lot of what zlaor says, except this:

<i>Yes, that does shatter your fantasy.</i>

No, it doesn't. I don't have to be standing in the middle of the colisseum &quot;battlefield&quot; to imagine what it was like.

Expectations are the key - if you expect everything to be &quot;just like home&quot;, you will definitely be disappointed.

dmlove,

LOL, shatter your fantasy from the view point of what ramalama was saying ... not &quot;your&quot; fantasy.

I saw it happening a lot.

There is nothing wrong with stating an opinion but to suggest we feel the same way?! That is just wrong!

This statement:

&quot;And to those who have been where I just came from, why not tell the truth instead of continuing the fantasy?&quot;

And this one:

&quot;...to be able to go home and brag...I was there!! Too embarrassed to admit they were suckered!!&quot;

These statements portray what the op thought but to insinuate that most of us feel that way? Come on!

I read some of the op's other posts. Why would you stress yourself out and try to find lunch in Paris with just 2 hours between trains? I think many people who are well traveled know that it is better to just grab a bite at the train station and do a little people watching.

And to blame her experience on media and propaganda? That just borders on ludicrous!

Sorry you had a bad trip in these fabulous countries. Personally, I enjoyed them all! If you ever decide to brave the foreign world again maybe you should go to an all inclusive style resort that caters to your American taste.

I think a lot of people should put a whole lot more time into research and planning than they do. Once we get an idea of what a place will be like, we need to imagine how we will feel about being in that place, even if our secret feelings might be unpopular or not-PC if broadcast to others.

If, for example, you secretly hate the French for not joining us in Iraq, don't go to France. You don't have to tell others WHY you aren't going there. Just don't go. If the terrible (for the US) exchange rate will leave you feeling ripped off at every turn, don't go to Europe. If you hate humid weather, don't go to New Orleans in the summer. If you feel paranoid when others around you are speaking a different language, visit only countries where your language is the native language.

If a person will admit his own quirks, likes, dislikes and even prejudices to himself, he will be able to avoid destinations that he is likely to hate.

I will say that independent travel can be a huge hassle that is physically and emotionally draining. I can see that in a few decades, as I age, I might want to take tours, where someone else handles the details and the luggage.

ramalama, some people just don't like change. They are happier settled at home but travel somewhere just because others say they should. (I have family who will NEVER leave their part of the state, much less go to Europe!) Tell everybody you're a homebody, and don't waste your money traveling!

It never ceases to amaze me how many &quot;Pollyannas&quot; there are here. Some are defending this post as if it said &quot;not everything is perfect&quot;. huh? Did you read the actual post. The poster used phrases like &quot;Trying to hard to have a good time&quot;, &quot;fought hand to hand in the trenches&quot;, &quot;look at boring, dirty, depressing sights&quot;, &quot;too embarrassed to admit they were suckered&quot;, and even &quot;skip all the big cities&quot;. Was there even a mention of &quot;sure, some things were beautfiful&quot; or &quot;worth our time&quot;?

There is not a single shred of evidence that this poster enjoyed even a second of the trip. Not one positive remark about even the smallest detail. Read that post once more and then pretend again that this is just a post about things not quite living up to the overhyped press places get. This sounds worse than someone who has just returned from a year in Iraq! Even most of those soldiers come back with SOMETHING they found to have redeeming quality. Not this poster!

tee hee hee hee hee!

Poopy shooes!

tee hee hee hee hee!

Good point, Neopatrick, but maybe it's just one of those trips where something goes wrong at first and you just start feeling out of sorts and insecure and wish you'd never even thought of the trip.

My first ever trip to Europe was the obligatory two weeks in Europe after the bar exam. We started in Frankfort, Germany. We had German mark travelers checks and American dollar travelers checks and the restaurant we chose on the first night didn't take either, so I was left at the restaurant as a &quot;hostage&quot; until my husband could come up with some cash. (Pre ATM days). Besides that, the superfast traffic on the streets really scared me. I remember going to bed that night regretting the whole trip. I would have willingly gone home the next morning.

The rest of the trip had a lot of fantastic parts and a few more big bumps and I was glad we went. However, if the next day, a car had almost hit me, then the next day we had been mugged, then the next day I stepped in dog poop, and the next day the place we wanted to go was super crowded....you get the idea....I might have hated the entire trip.

ramalama:

Maybe you ought to consider cruising. You're right in that that travelling can be a hassle -- all worth it to those that have the stamina and love to see new things and experience adventures. Cruising gives you the opportunity to do that while having people wait on you hand and foot. Your only hassle then, if it can be called that, would be getting to your port city and later to get back home. In between, you can see as much or as little as you want, rub shoulders with crowds or not, adventure or not. There are also cruises to suite a variety of budgets.

Ramalama,

Your last name wouldn't happen to be Ding Dong, would it??

Some people should stay home. You sound like one of them. Not everyone is a natural traveler. If a BAD attitude brings on the bad, well you'll be in first place. Your generalizations about three entire COUNTRIES is absurb. And your attitude is the pits.