Summary
- Understanding the arrogance of travel snobs.
- The fallacy of comparing travel experiences.
- Valuing meaningful life experiences over a travel checklist.
The other day we met a guy at an event who actually had the nerve to say, “Ask me how many countries I’ve been to, because I guarantee it’s more than you.”
He then went on to tell us that he will show us his passport stamps later if we want to see them and that he has just flown his 1000th flight on an airplane.
He is what I would call one of those arrogant travel snobs.
Just because you stepped foot on a few more chunks of earth than everyone else doesn’t make you special. It simply makes you someone who travels a lot.
Travel Snobs are Unacceptable
Can you imagine someone else showing off their accomplishments so blatantly? I was thinking about other scenarios where this could have happened.
Imagine if someone said “Ask me how high my marks were in school because I guarantee mine were better than yours!”
What if someone else said “Ask me how much money I make because I know I make more than you.”
Nobody in their right mind would say something like that. And yet, some travellers feel that they have the right to brag about everything they do.
Life Experiences VS Travel Check List
We feel that life experience and an active and happy lifestyle make your time on earth rich, not a tally of what you’ve seen or where you’ve been. It’s how meaningful that moment was when you saw it.
Who were you with, and how were you feeling? Were you happy? Our friends and family haven’t been to as many countries as us, but they have very successful lives.
They have amazing careers, raised beautiful families, maintain active and healthy lifestyles, and enjoy cool hobbies, all while being supported by a circle of friends.
We have friends who save lives and protect their communities, friends who volunteer and help people, and others who entertain and create joy. They have great lives.
Life is not a competition.
People can have equally beautiful experiences at home as they can while traveling abroad. It’s about balance. Travel is beautiful, but being grounded is equally beautiful.
Having a home, enjoying your career, finding love, and sharing a good laugh are all beautiful aspects of life. Dammit, Life is Beautiful.
Dave and I choose to travel because it’s always been our dream to work together. Travel was simply the catalyst that made that happen. Over the years, as we explored more places, we realized we loved spending 24/7 together—challenging ourselves and discovering new experiences.
It was travel that helped us create a richer life at home and strengthened our relationship. We are thankful for that, but other people may have been inspired by something else in their lives.
Our goal in life wasn’t to hit a hundred countries, but to live as rich a life as possible and to find happiness and fulfillment.
That’s what life is about to us: Pursuing Happiness. I phrase it as ‘pursuing happiness’ because I believe that true happiness is challenging to achieve, yet it is worth every bit of effort.
Life will inevitably have its ups and downs; challenges and difficulties will arise. However, the best way to find happiness is to stop judging others, maintain an open mind, and be willing to listen and learn from people. That’s what works for us.
Just because you stepped foot on a few more chunks of earth than everyone else doesn’t make you special; it simply makes you someone who travels a lot.
Travel Planning Resources
Looking to plan your next trip? Here are resources that are tried and tested:
Find Your Flights: Start planning your adventure by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have found them to consistently offer the best deals.
Accommodation: You can find the best prices on hotels with two providers. Use Booking.com in Europe, and for other regions, use TripAdvisor.
Apartment Rentals: For apartment rentals, check VRBO for great deals.
Travel Insurance: Don’t leave home without it. Here’s what we recommend:
- Safety Wing – for occasional travelers.
- Medjet – for global air medical transport and travel security.
Activities: Searching for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? We recommend Get Your Guide.
If you need more assistance while planning your trip, make sure to check out our Resources Page, where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.
