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My 7 Travelling Truths

BY ONEIKA RAYMOND



I am well-travelled: I’ve been to over 40 countries, have lived, studied, and worked abroad in 4 different countries (for a total of 5 years), and have been on too many plane rides in too many time zones to bother keeping count. The varied and shape-shifting nature of my voyages have revealed certain travel truths; I know what I like and, alternatively, what I can’t stand, when I’m on the road. I’ve come to realize that these travel preferences, gripes, and tenets to which I hold dear colour and temper my experiences on my jaunts abroad.

So what are they? Here are my 7 travelling truths.

1. I am a bit of a princess when it comes to travelling.

I am squeamish at the sight of mildew in my hostel’s bathroom, hate flies, and fight nausea when confronted with unfamiliar smells. If I could afford it, I would stay in posh hotels all the time. I pack light but like to look “cute” when I travel, so I am sure to pack at least one dress and my makeup kit (consisting of at least concealer, eyeliner, and lipstick) every time I travel. I can’t eat at dirty establishments, and will send for a new fork if the one on my place setting is crusty. No shame in my game!



2. I hate museums and art galleries.

Don’t bother stifling that gasp and concealing that look of abject horror. I don’t mind. I’m comfortable enough to admit that I am not a museum/history/art gallery buff. Years ago, I took students on a trip to the Louvre in Paris, only to drop them off at the entrance and pick them up two hours later (don’t worry, I left them in the care of another (appreciative of art) teacher. I have yawned through many of the exhibits at some of the greatest museums in the world and have skipped dozens of others. Put me in front of natural archeaological wonders or man-made structures (i.e. Ngorongoro crater or the Acropolis) and I am caught up in the rapture. But artwork or pieces of artefacts on display/ behind glass? Meh. I’ll pass on the museums and meet you at the market instead.

3. I’m not a partier when travelling, but when I do party, I party on my own terms.

I don’t drink and I like to go to bed (fairly) early, so going to Ibiza and partying the night away just doesn’t appeal to me as a ‘must-do’ on my Spain trip. Nor does going to that Full Moon party in Thailand and dancing on the beach until dawn in an alcohol-induced haze. Don’t get me wrong. I love to shake my bootay on the dancefloor. But I also like to be home before 1:30am, in time to get a good rest so I can get up early the next morning and explore my travel destination with energy and zeal. Call it old age…

4. I can be inflexible when travelling with others (i.e. I’m not that concerned with following the status quo).

Ok, this isn’t as bad as it seems. I don’t think that just because we’re travelling together, we have to do and see the exact same things at the exact same time, or alternatively, do things that we are not interested in at all. Travelling with a partner is about compromise, but it is also about asserting your independence and preferences when you see fit. Sometimes “going with the flow” can mean that you’ll miss out on that museum exhibit you really wanted to see (that I obviously don’t, since I hate museums). Sometimes, splitting up and doing what you like, instead of going with the status quo/group mentality that says that everyone has to stick together all the time, can be a peacekeeping measure. Win-win, and everybody stays happy!

5. I’ll come to your country, but I probably wont eat your national dish.

I’ve fought really hard against this tendency, but is more of a health issue than anything else. I love to travel, but my stomach is the weakest link when I’m on the road. I am a champion upchucker and it would seem that I have tossed my cookies in the most exotic of international locales: over a cliff whilst trekking in the foothills of the Nepali Himalayas, in the quaint and idyllic surroundings of a small village southern China, and in a restroom in Monterrey, Mexico, after an experience with a mystery meat sandwich just outside of Zacatecas. Eating local food has left me in intestine-twisted, writhing-on-the-floor agony in Turkey, Tanzania, Germany, and Indonesia. So I skip the drama and accept that my stomach just doesn’t jive with foreign delicacies. For the time being, this girl will stick to the basics whilst abroad: bread and peppermint tea, biscuits and broth.



6. I hate those “know-it-all” travellers you sometimes meet on the road.

Great, you’ve been to 80 countries. I (kinda? sorta? maybe?) envy you, but I don’t dig that you think that you’re the resident expert on Prague because you spent two days there back in 2006. I try to avoid travellers that wear their stamp-filled passports as a badge of honour; they annoy me with their incessant recitations of their travel history and their arrogant “been there, done that” know-it-all attitude. Travel is not a race, and I’m not interested in getting into a pissing contest.

7. I tend not to get along with “hardcore, die-hard” travellers. You like to rough it when you travel? Fabulous. But I don’t, (see #1), so you take the floor and I’ll take the bed. There’s nothing wrong with going back to basics when travelling, but I don’t take well to those who feel they are superior precisely because they go to “extremes” when they travel. Have you hiked Kilimanjaro in half the recommended time, with a bum leg, and $2 a day budget, all whilst learning to speak fluent Swahili from the porters who DIDN’T carry your pack since you were more than able? Cool beans. But don’t hate on my 5-star all-inclusive vacay to the Dominican Republic. All travel is valid and valuable, my friend.

What are your travelling truths?

SHARING IS CARING

140 Comments

  • A few of my truths…

    I really don't party much in different countries.

    I have to go to a high point and take pictures of the city I'm in….(don't ask me why)

    I'm flexible for anything as long as I'm prepared! Don't ask me to go with you to another country and not tell me what it's like because I like being prepared for it. I'm not an impulsive person, but once I know the details I'm down!

  • I agree with everything you said minus I LOVE museums and galleries and I eat everything (minus meat). I probably bring a couple of more dresses than you do as well hahaha. AWESOME post!

  • Chile is going to be a blast. I would have to agree with all of these except I will try ALMOST anything in terms of food.

  • I was reading this post and happy to find that someone shares most of my views on travelling. I like visiting museums and such though and totally get why you don't. I believe in having emergency funds to upgrade accommodations reserved before hand which aren't up to scratch.

    Also agree on eating simply after India this is something I live by. I also try to spend more time talking with the locals than other foreigners I meet to get a real feel for the place. I am looking forward to your next adventure. Take care.

  • I totally agree with you on a dirty hotel room. My friends laugh and won't bring their bags in the room until I have inspected the bathroom and the rest of the room. If the bathroom is yuck, I am not staying there.

    I have a queezy travel stomach too and stick to the basics. Not a fan of museums or galleries but I want to go where the locals go.

  • I get parasites just by breathing in the direction of food – so I am super super cautious while eating abroad.

    I'll go to a museum, but i'll spend 30 minutes there, not 6 hours. I am walk around and get out kind of girl

    I don't do hostels.

    I don't care if you've been to 132 countries, good for you, but it's never polite to brag, particularly when no one else is impressed.

  • One of mine is I don't like to travel on a schedule, I know you need to be on time for trains and planes but while I'm in the spot traveling. No dang watches and no schedules and no early mornings. I do that everyday at home, I don't want to do it traveling. I just want to go with the flow.

  • I travel on a loose itinerary.
    I don't have to party–but I do have to find a jazz club 🙂
    I LOVE museums and enjoy archaeological sites, but I don't necessarily need the history of the place. Allow me to just marvel.
    Oh and like you I MUST look cute when I travel.

  • "Travel is not a race, and I'm not interested in getting into a pissing contest."

    So true, and that would be one of my truths. I'm all for splitting when in groups (I've got a few friends I travel a lot with – we split during the days and reunite for dinner quite often).

  • AAAAHAHAHAHA, I LOVE the last one. I am the exact same. Actually I identify with all your traveling truths except #4. I am laid back to a fault and never care if I just go along with someone else's plans.

    I am totally going to do a travel truths post, GREAT idea Oneika!

  • this is awesome! you should have totally made this a "tag" post because..well…i'm gonna do a post like this 🙂

  • My travelling truths include: I have to research, research, research before I even enter a new place. I am not spontaneous at all.
    I will stay in hostels but usually need my own room. Hotels are cool but not necessary.
    I must take a day trip out of the main city I am visiting if I am there for 3 days or more.
    I am not a lover of trying new foods. I am good on sandwiches or familiar looking foods. Nothing too exotic for me.

  • oh! I forgot…..museums and art BORE me to tears. I love history but could care less about museums and fine art or anything of the sort.

  • I sadly have to agree about the strange foreign food. The one time I tried to be adventurous in my eating in Portugal, I came home with a parasite. I also can't stand the travel braggers. It's so strange travel brings about bragging for some people.

  • Haha! Love this! Hilarious that someone mentioned India as the deciding factor in their cuisine choices from here on in!

    I'm pretty flexible. Sometimes I like to party, sometimes I don't. I am a bit more germaphobe than I use to be though, because of India!

    I always pack something cute to wear with a bit of make-up. No reason to look backpacker-ish all the time.

    And man, I am the same when it comes to "travel name droppers". Please keep your bragging to the people who care, who are NO ONE.

    I'm don't hate on hostels, but I would like my own bathroom, LOL. Makes no sense unless I have my own room, huh?

    I feel like I know you better and would feel like a princess traveling with you! 🙂

  • I hear you!! I am dork, so I love art museums and such. Part of me wishes I had been a history of art major in college, so I do like all of that. One of the things I don't enjoy so much is shopping. Unless it's for something that the specific country is known for, I don't really feel the need to shop…except maybe in London because I love the clothes/fashion there.

    I agree about not totally going with the flow. I think it's why it's so important for anyone to travel with someone with a similar travel style.

    Also I am grown *** woman, and I really can't do the craptastic accomodations anymore. Heck to nah! You are not alone and not a princess. 🙂

  • Please for Christ sake help this poor guy from Haiti
    Visit my profile to know how.

  • Wow, I identified with all of these, except #5. I loved #1, I NEED to stay in clean places when travel. I love to try the foods of different countries, but I try and make sure it is from a safe and hygenic source. The one time I got food poisoning was from airplane food! It was the beef choice…I was stuck in a hotel room and missed out on about 2 days of sightseeing and exploring in Greece. I now choose a vegetarian or vegan option for a meal when I travel 🙂

  • I think it's great that you've got your travel style figured out. Something I've learned about myself in the past year or so is that I have more fun if I research beforehand. I don't have to stick to a strict itinerary, but making myself a list of possible things to do helps me enjoy places more than I did when I thought it sounded cool to just roll up somewhere with no idea what to do.

    Number 5 makes me sad for you because I LOVE trying local foods when I travel, but I recognize that neither approach is right, they're just two different ways to do things.

  • @Naomi: You know what?! My boyfriend is totally all about the "view" (as he calls it) and ALWAYS has to go to the top of some building or other to get an aerial view of the city he's in!

    @Andi: I REALLY have to practice restraint when it comes to the packing dresses and makeup- glad we are on the same wavelength!! 🙂

    @AbsoluteADT: Chile WILL be awesome! I'm glad that you'll try everythign- at least I can take a picture of what you eat and get your assessment… 🙂

    @kimvan- I'm all about talking to the locals as well! I would much rather learn about the city from them than on a guided tour!

    @Lisa- I'm with you on the local hangouts, museum-hating, and bathroom-inspecting! What a team we would be if we were to travel together!

    @Deidre: How do you find travelling with your gluten allergy? Do you ever have issues? It pains me to not eat the local food, but I need to be well enough to see the place I'm in- I find that more important!

    @Flaming: I hear ya, but I guess I prefer early mornings since my internal body clock wakes me up early even when I'm on holiday. 🙂

    @kvowel: Yes, I am all about the marveling!! I don't necessarily need the historical write-up; I can look it up on Wikipedia later… 🙂
    @Sue: Thanks for dropping by! I think that splitting up when travelling with groups is so important for one's sanity!

    @Mamacita: Just saw and commented on your post and LOVED it!! Don't you wish that wherever we travelled to it was summer?!!?

    @Kay: Please do!! I would have but I'm not very good with Twitter and didn't know how to do that LOL!

    @Rhona: We are travel twins!! I also am a big fan of the day trip to break up a multi-day city stay.

    @Suzy: Regarding travel braggers, I guess they feel that they have accomplished something big and want to share, but it just comes off as being condescending and annoying most of the time!

    @NomadicChick: Travel princesses UNITE! You know, I don't mind sharing my room as much as I mind sharing a bathroom! Because I am a germaphobe and bathrooms are teeming with germs, I get all weird about sharing. As far as sharing a room, as long as you're not a big snorer, we're all good!

    @Terri: LOL @ craptastic accomodations! So true though. I'm in a better financial situation than when I was a student so I try my best to stay in decent accomodation! I'm also not a big shopper when travelling; if I do buy anything it's usually clothing or shoes and only if it's amazing and I know I wouldn't be able to find it anywhere else.

    @Ajoa: I'm ALWAYS afraid of getting sick from plane food, though it's never happened, and I actually tend to enjoy plane food! But yes, I try to stay away from beef (not a big fan of it in general) when flying. I opt for the chicken or veggie dish. Another thing I can't stand on planes: eggs! Eww!

    @Emily: I'm the same when it comes to itineraries- it doesn't have to be strict, but I enjoy sketching out what I'll do on a day to day basis when visiting a particular place. That way, I can be sure to maximize and take advantage of my time there. Planning also comes in handy when certain sites are closed on certain days! I am also a guidebook girl- I nearly always buy one for the places I'm going.

  • I'm so happy to hear that so many other travelers don't do hostels! I just can't do it anymore. They were so great when I was young… Great post! I was nodding along with you on about half, and so not annoyed on the other half. You'd be great to travel with! I feel like even though you can't eat local food, you wouldn't mind being around me while I did, etc. I hope to meet you some day!

  • Great post! We all travel in different ways; no way is right or wrong.

    I agree about travelling with others, just because you travel together doesn't mean you need to be together 24/7! I need my space to wander around alone. This could be one day a week or even an hour every day.

    I enjoy going out for a drink or two, but I have never understood people who constantly get drunk when they travel; you can get drunk in your backyard, but you can't see the Eiffel Tower there. Why waste your time being hungover or unaware when you may never have the chance to visit again!

  • Lol. Loved reading this. I related a lot and was the opposite a lot. I love eating national foods, no matter how icky they taste. I also pack light and try to look cute too. I LOVE art galleries, but more often enjoy the street life.

    Fun to learn things about you!

  • I also can really just leave museums and galleries behind. Ehhh.

    I will also do things while traveling abroad that I would never dream of doing at home. i.e-hitchhiking.

    I will go back to a landmark or site again if I don't like how my pictures turned out the first time.

    Really cool post!

  • @Abby: I hope to meet you at some point as well! I really don't mind if others indulge in local cuisine- I just know that in the vast majority of cases, I can't participate (sad face)! I've definitely outgrown hostels but may be willing to make concessions for a private room in a hostel (though I would prefer not to, lol). That being said, I have stayed in some really nice, clean hostels in Europe…

    @kellytraveler: I've always wondered if I was weird for enjoying my own company so much! As great as it is to share travel discoveries with someone, it can be just as great to experience some things on your own with peace and quiet! And I 100% with your stance on getting drunk while travelling!

    @Hannah: You are just like my boyfriend! He LOVES trying new foods, even if he is repulsed by them. He is just grateful to have had the chance to try something new!

    @Claire: I am also much freer when I'm on the road- I've never hitchhiked before but to be honest, I'm not opposed to the idea, either! I also am bad when it comes to pictures; I'll spend ages sometimes taking the same picture over and over until I get it just right!

  • Hmm. I hadn't really thought of myself as a princess before, but after reading your post, I guess I am, too. I mean, I only ever wear sneakers, and I don't mind getting dirty, but at the same time I only ever wear dresses, I wouldn't ever see a reason to go out into the world without some basic make up, etc.

    Anyhow! I'm with you, we all travel differently, and that's awesome 🙂

  • Loved the post. We all travel differently and value different experiences. I never loved museums, however, the churches in Rome are opening my appreciation for art. Though I'm always on a budget, I like to "nest" so my "home" has to be liveable.

    I use the fact that I'm 55 as my excuse for finding validity in my uniqueness!

  • I definitely agree with number 3. I am an occasional partier. I don't mind it once in a while, but for the most part I am in bed before midnight while traveling. I also enjoy a comfortable stay in my hotel room. I don't need to stay at a 5-star hotel or the penthouse suite. I just want a nice, clean bed and bathroom!

  • @Faith: Glad to find someone who can get down and dirty in a dress and eyeliner.. 🙂

    @rosann: Agreed! I feel like I can't get comfortable in my lodging if it's not clean and liveable. It's very important for my sanity!

    @danielle: The way I figure it, parties/clubs are basically the same everywhere. Why miss out on the real reason you're travelling (seeing the sites,etc) because you're too tired from going out the night before?

  • 4. I can be inflexible when travelling with others

    This is definitely something to which I can relate. i cant stand being cooped up in a group at all times, sacrificing my time and energy to placate a group of co-dependent "travelers." Not for me. I'll meet you back at the house around 5. We'll have dinner then.

    6. I hate those "know-it-all" travellers you sometimes meet on the road.

    They also grind my gears. What's good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander. Just because I had a mindblowing experience hiking barefoot through foot-deep mud in the jungles of panama, doesn't mean that's well-suited to your likes or capabilities. I'll do my thing, you do yours, and we'll meet afterward to discuss!

    -Vaughn

  • I adore your traveling truths, especially when it comes to traveling with others and roughing it. I couldn't have said it better myself 🙂

  • Love it! “All travel is valid and valuable.” Now if only my pockets could afford the 5 star resorts that I would much prefer to be in.

    • Haha! I hear ya! Glad that line resonated with you.. :-0

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