10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers

Anyone who’s traveled extensively can spot a tourist as quickly as a local can ~ which may or may not be a good thing!  Let’s jump right into the “Top 10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers,” so we can begin to create a meaningful distinction between the two.  Here goes…

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers, Girl Who Travels the World

Are you a tourist, or a traveler??

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers

  1. A tourist is most comfortable meeting & talking to people from his own country.  A traveler is innately more interested in getting to know people from the country they are in. 
  2. A tourist comes in with more “expectations” of how their trip “should” go (i.e. “I’m at a 5-star hotel, therefore, there should be air-conditioning!”  “Why did I pay more for my tour than he did?”).  These expectations, when not met, can create severe disappointment.  A traveler, on the other hand, comes in with as few expectations as she can. This gives her more flexibility, & the ability to handle whatever situation she may encounter.  It also minimizes disappointment.
    10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers, Girl Who Travels the World

    Letting go of expectations will allow you to wander into some of the most wonderful, & unexpected experiences..

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers

3. A tourist will typically pay more for an experience.  A traveler, on the other hand, can generally find the same experience for less ~ by talking to other travelers, knowing which blogs & travel sites to scour, & most importantly, by keeping their itineraries flexible.  And travelers always try to fly on non-peak days (Tues & Weds), & avoid holiday weekend pricing (Memorial Day, etc.).

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers, Girl Who Travels the World

Trips to Machu Picchu can run in the thousands of dollars. By waiting until we arrived in Peru, & negotiating in the main square ~ our trip cost $225 each.

4.  A tourist typically plans everything in advance, down to the last detail.  After all, they want to make the most of their vacation time, right?  A traveler, on the other hand, usually has a much looser itinerary, budgeting extra days on the front or back-end of a trip.  The idea being that most great moments happen during those unexpected, “in-between” times.  Also, an itinerary can devote too much time in a place you may not like ~ or conversely, not enough time in a place you LOVE.  Having some flexibility in your itinerary gives you the freedom to say “yes” to what you like, and “no” to what you don’t.

5. A tourist is more likely to take guided tours everywhere (this is particularly true on cruises, where guided tours are “it”)!  This works very well for some people.  But it can also prevent spontaneity, & keeps you firmly on the “tourist circuit.”  A traveler, on the other hand, is more likely to do a little of both: guided tours for some of the major sites, but more independent traveling in between, for an “off-the-beaten-path,” more local experience.

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers

6. A tourist usually wants to stay in “as-close-to-Western-style” accommodations as possible.  Which means they’ll be surrounded by people similar to them, & of similar socioeconomic backgrounds (read: more homogeneous).  A traveler typically wants more “local” experiences, which doesn’t always allow for the most luxurious accommodations.  Typically, a healthy mix of both is possible in most countries. 

7. A tourist typically has only 2-4 weeks off per year.  Thus, R&R is the name of the game!  They’d be perfectly content to lay on a beach for two weeks drinking daiquiris…and there’s nothing wrong with that!  Conversely, there’s another type of tourist who tries to cram in as much as humanly possible into their two-week vacation ~ arriving home more exhausted than when they left!  But a traveler typically has a more flexible schedule, or a job that allows them to work remotely.  Which gives them more: TIME.  Thus, their approach isn’t so all or nothing: they realize there are days for adventuring, but there are also days for relaxing on the beach.  More of a yin-yang approach : )

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers

8. A tourist typically wants to post EVERY exciting thing they do (including eating) on social media ~ which means they’re never far from their phone.  A traveler typically posts their highlights as opposed to every little detail, & can sometimes go days without being near their phone.  They recognize that being “in the moment” is hampered by constant connectivity, & as a result, know when to leave their phone behind (or on Airplane mode).

9. A tourist posts photos to social media with the express intent of saying: “LOOK AT ME!!  LOOK WHERE I AM!”  The traveler’s reason for posting pictures isn’t so much for personal gain, but more to bring awareness about all of the many astonishing places that exist around the world. 

10 Differences Between Tourists and Travelers, Girl Who Travels the World

You’ve heard of Machu Picchu…but have you heard of Pisac, Peru? A great traveler will alert you to places you’ve never heard of…

10. And finally, something I’ve noticed from personal observation: a tourist typically brings very much of themselves when they travel: their habits, their expectations, their attitudes & routines.  This can create a barrier to understanding other cultures, & also to personal transformation.  Because travel does, perhaps more than anything, have the power to transform us.  A traveler, meanwhile, tends to quiet their natural personality while in a new place.  They take time to observe, to let this new place sink into their consciousness.  Thus, it’s possible for a slightly different person to emerge than who first entered: one whose mind has been expanded.  It’s this expansion of mind that the traveler truly seeks, & is what, at the end of the day, can transform a tourist into a full-fledged traveler.

xoxo Noelia

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