anti-trends for travel in 2012
Staycations, babymoons, mancations. It seems a holiday just can’t be a holiday these days without jargon tagging along as a travelling companion! In defiance of the trend to er… create travel trends, Intrepid Travel has released a list of travel trends that we hope don’t enter the urban dictionary in 2012.
A vacation is awesome just by virtue of being time spent relaxing, exploring new sites and cultures and spending time with friends. No matter what you do, we don’t think it needs to be dressed up with a fancy name…
Anti-trend No. 1 – McTouring
Let’s be realistic – travel isn’t cheap. Yet people save their hard-earned money and vacation time to travel halfway around the world to see new sites, take in new culture and eat at western fast food chains? While there’s something to be said for the comforts of home, there’s surely a time and a place. We don’t have to convince the foodies around the world, but Intrepid hopes never to see a trend towards travel that embraces the globalisation of food.
Anti-trend No. 2 – Statuscations
You can check in, tag your friends and up the bragging rights on all of the amazing things you’re seeing and doing while abroad – all with the flick of a finger. However, there’s no need to miss your own vacation to ensure your friends at home are jealous. There will be plenty of time for that when you return! So take a second, turn off the smart phone, raise your head and make sure you’re not one of the many people too obsessed with updating their status to actually experience your travels.
Anti-trend No. 3 – Divacation
Your luggage is carried, doors open before you and not a day passes without a fresh set of towels awaiting you in the shape of a swan, turtle or terrycloth heart. Yes, it’s easy to feel like royalty while travelling, but is it really worth it when the locals are your loyal servants? Avoid the destinations that cater to a demanding and pushy tourist. Stop acting like the Queen of the Castle, and take some time to chat with the locals, hear their story and ask what it’s like to live in their country. You’d be surprised what you may discover.
Anti-trend No. 4 – Apptouring
We don’t deny that technology is becoming increasingly prevalent and that it makes life a lot easier. Want to check a train schedule? There’s an app for that. Want to check in for your flight? There’s an app for that. Forgot to wax? There’s an app for that! Well, maybe not yet. It’s so easy to succumb to the convenience and ease of apps and technology, yet this comes at a cost of a loss of frivolity, curiosity and the ability to roll with the punches. Don’t forget to explore while travelling. Rely on your own instincts to show you where to go, what to see and get lost in the wonder of a new destination.
Anti-trend No. 5 – Stupification
No, this is not a mind-numbing spell by the likes of Harry Potter – we’re talking about the times when you drink yourself so silly, you forget the experience all together and waste a day lazing around as a slave to your hangover. There may be some incriminating photos, but these barely qualify as evidence to add to your travel album of life-long memories. We’ll never deny the enjoyment of taking in the local flavours and quenching your thirst – just make sure it’s not at the cost of self-induced amnesia as you drink yourself under the table.
Got any other travel trends that you don’t want to see trending?
Tell us and we’ll try to put a stop to them here and now!
* photo by Yvonne Lin – Intrepid Photography Competition
Boastacarion – going somewhere and then continually boasting about how things are better at home
I see so many people running their vacations from Apps, like Lonely Planet, etc… They certainly have their place, but finding the coolest little local lunch place off the tourist trail is always so much more rewarding… This article is such a good reminder to appreciate what is happening around you… Talking to locals is one of my favourite things to do, and in foreign language speaking countries it helps so much to improve language skills. That being said, I’m putting away my iPad and am going to wander the streets a little.
This is fantastic, and true. I just finished 6 weeks in India where, on purpose, we made no forward plans, avoided 5 star hotels, smartphones and apps in order to have a trip that was ours, not care of a guidebook. It was the most fantastic 6 weeks; we got lost, we got found. We looked, we talked, we sat on the street and drank chai. We got dirty, and we laughed like never before. We saw a side of life that we may never have otherwise seen. I love India, and cant wait to return.
visiting orphanages!
be really careful when visiting orphanages – what you think will help can actually harm others. Please see: http://www.thinkchildsafe.org before you travel or volutneer!
[...] a Stupification in 2012? How about a bit of McTouring, or a Statuscation? Intrepid Travel has released a list of travel trends that we all hope don’t enter the urban dictionary in the [...]
Eat at a local restaurant. Talk to random people. Explore the country by foot. Get lost. And learn life’s greatest lessons!
Don’t get too drunk, alcohol eats away sanity and makes you do stupid things. Get sober or forget great memories.