Comments on: Changing Your Travel Style

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:45:19 +0000

And I find myself going in the opposite direction to you, oddly. At 63 in 2010 I stayed in a hostel for the first time, albeit in a private room. Last year, at 64, my income having dropped some more, I stayed in a dorm for the first time. Honestly, neither were the interesting experiences I expected them to be, although I was surprised not to be the only person over 50, or even 60 in fact. Having now done the gamut I think, from a grotty hostel in England to the Gritti Palace in Venice and much in between, given my druthers I would take a good B and B (or the equivalent in whatever country – farmhouse accommodation perhaps) or a small hotel to really get to know folk and for friendliness, and just as comfy as the big hotels, although couchsurfing with a good host has to be the best.

By: Turner

Turner — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:28:15 +0000

I don’t think it’s age per say, nor income, but rather the travel experience you accumulate and how it affects you. Obvious you might be sick of budget travel after backpacking around Thailand for four years, whether this happens at age 18 or 27. I’m kind of going through the same shift myself; unlike you, I don’t have greater income or more years under my belt, but I still don’t like the direction I’m headed. Maybe the solution is just to try budget travel in a completely different area. I’m through with that in Asia and New Zealand… on to Africa?

By: jforest

jforest — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:50:09 +0000

I think it’s natural to move upward a bit. I too started out in large dorms, but have upgraded a bit. When I’ve traveled with girlfriends, we’ll usually stay in a cheaper hotel, or a 2 person room in a hostel. It’s still cost effective, but you do miss out on the friendships that come from hostel living. As long as you still shop where the locals shop, and eat where the locals eat, you’re getting a MUCH better experience than many travelers. At least you aren’t staying in 5 star hotels and not eating at huge chain restaurants!

By: Don Nadeau

Don Nadeau — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:09:37 +0000

Who says you have to travel in just one way?

Although I am older and probably have a bit more money than some people here, I’ve never forgotten my backpacker roots. I love that lifestyle, but no longer want to travel on the cheap all the time.

Sleep is a lot more important now. I really need a comfortable and private place after a long flight.

But, from then on, it’s often a mix of guesthouses, university dorms, hotels, and hostels. For someone like me who doesn’t drink, there’s no better place to meet people than hostels.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:04:19 +0000

I think it’s gotta be income. My husband and I have been married 2 1/2 years, we’re both 28 years old and last month we went traveling and still stayed in a 24 bed dorm with all the recent graduates on their Euro Trips. The difference from how we travel now and earlier on in our relationship is, we had nice cameras with us, a mini camcorder, etc. to record our travels better. I kind of wish I had a digicam back when I was studying abroad in Europe when I was 18 instead of my 35mm camera with blurry photos. Sigh.

Maybe your traveling style has modified, but your mindset is the same. My husband and I have more money now so instead of cooking inside our hostel, we like to ask the locals what type of cuisines they like to eat and we’ll go there. That also gives us a taste of local culture.

Oh and when we travel with his parents, they are all about 5-star everything and fine dining, but when we travel alone we go right back to dirty and rugged with our backpacks. So you can definitely go back to backpacking if you wanted.

P.S. Love your site

By: andygeog

andygeog — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:20:10 +0000

Totally agree.

Me & the missus took a 6 week trip and stayed in top-end hotels. We felt isolated from the action, for example our hotel in Bangkok was 20 mins in a tuk-tuk from Khao San Road.

In August we’re going back on the road and will be doing it properly. Perhaps not staying in dorms but I think ‘flashpacker’ sums it up nicely! I’ve only just come across this post having bought my DSLR 9 days ago!

(not 100% sure on the body products though, a bar of soap is really all that’s needed!)

Andy

By: pam

pam — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:01:49 +0000

Oh, Matt. Cheaping out is not always the best way to connect with locals. I’m notoriously cheap, don’t get me wrong, and I’m a HUGE advocate of dining local, but who’s sleeping in those dorm beds and hostels? Our low end hotel in Bangkok filled up with local/traveling businessmen and women, the place we stayed in Hanoi the same thing happened and if they happened to have local hookers with them, well, uh, that was a weird scene to observe but no less local for us being in a hostel. If you rent an apartment and decide you’re going to do your own cooking, you’re off to the supermarket more often, if you take public transit, if if if … I’ve done the aggressively low rent track and I don’t miss it, not one bit. And because I sleep well, unbothered by snoring bunkmates or partying drunks stumbling in late, I’m way more open when I step out of my digs into the street.

Just sayin’. But disagreement aside, I think the idea of style is interesting. And you betcha, my style has changed.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:44:35 +0000

So Matt,
as your travel style changes….and because you rely on the internet as a revenue stream…and looking back at your “essential items for a flashpacker” post I’m really wondering how you keep all of your gadgets from getting stolen.

Are you finding lockers in hostels or do you just lug your stuff with you?

By: Mark H

Mark H — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:00:57 +0000

Interesting and though-provoking article based on the repsonses.

I suspect it is an equal mix of age and finances. I don’t agree that you have to stay in a hostel to get the local vibe – quite the opposite. In my experience, hostels never had locals staying at them but rather long term backpackers from various OTHER place (not a local experience at all and often not in a convenient part of town). Most cities have great economical and central homestays, B&Bs, little pensions etc that I think more greatly enhances your local experiences and where you are far more likely to meet people from the same country. It has scored me invites to eat with them or join with them for a time as they proceed on their travels. I have found over the last 20 years (or more – I’m in my 40s now) that I have got much better at really experiencing local places and cultures. Being better off, I can eat more of the local food (and not bread and cheese in a hostel kitchen) but it doesn’t stop me using local public transport, sitting in parks, walking the towns, chatting to people, popping into museums or whatever takes my fancy.

To use your example, Bangkok is got far more depth and culture than anything you can find on Khao San Rd (where I stayed the first time I visited). I’ve been to Bangkok 15 or 20 times now over the years in many guises from work, to stopever to holiday visit and this street is designed for backpacker visitors and hides much of what Bangkok is about. I suggest people stay elsewhere, by all means visit Khao San Rd it if they want some cheap eats or an evening of backpacker good times, but not if they want to unmask and experience the true beating heart of Bangkok.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:55:24 +0000

Not all nice hotels are chain hotels! Nor are they all impersonal. I’ve stayed in a handful of nice hotels in France that were local, unique hotels. One was a castle, one had its own wine production and tasting cellar, etc. These are real experiences that are cool and authentic AND in a nice setting.