Awhile back I wrote there is no bad reason to want to go somewhere. I stick by that assertion; everywhere is worth seeing to the right person. However, over time I’ve encountered reasons that don’t make sense for me personally. While other people may see these spots out, I tend to avoid them. Here are some reasons that I personally don’t find compelling enough to visit a place:
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It’s a party hot spot- The IT spot varies from year to year, but it is usually characterized by throbbing nightclubs, huge crowds and high prices (see: Ibiza, Cancun). There are people who love visiting these nightlife hot spots because of the cache and party atmosphere. I am not one of those people. Call me old but crowds and jacked up prices make me cranky.
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Everyone says “you must go there”- “You can’t go to Europe without visiting Paris/Amsterdam/whatever.” Actually, you can. I’ve been to Europe three times and I’ve yet to make it to Paris. I like crepes as much as the next girl but I just haven’t had a strong desire to go. It’s expensive, the people are unpleasant and the Eurostar from London was too damn expensive to warrant a trip. I’ll probably make it there eventually but I won’t be bullied into visiting just because everyone else has.
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It will give you street cred- There’s this competition that rises up between travelers at hostels to see who is the most hardcore. People are always trying to one up each other “You went to Russia? Well I went to Chernobyl!” Good for you but I’m not playing. Going somewhere just to brag you’ve been doesn’t make you more interesting, it makes you less tolerable (although Chernobyl does sound pretty intriguing).
Now don’t get me wrong, there are reasons that these places become popular and they usually are meritous. I will go to Paris someday, I have no doubt. Maybe you disagree; you are a nightclub enthusiast but ancient ruins bore you to tears. That’s fine. My point is that you should never feel like you HAVE to visit somewhere due to other people’s opinions. There’s no Best Traveler contest and you won’t be proving anything. The only places you have to visit are the ones you actually desire to see.
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I never had much of an urge to go to Paris, either. But last summer I realized I was going to be very nearby, so I decided to stay there for 3 nights just to get a feel for it since everyone had hyped it up so much. While I didn’t love it as much as some people do, I was really glad to experience it. There is an incredibly unique culture, and some of the landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc d’Triumph, Versailles, Notre Dame, and the Louvre may sound like lame and over-hyped tour attractions, but I can assure you that I was absolutely blown away by each and every one of those things. I also enjoyed the bizarre Pierre Lachase (sp?) cemetary, where great writers, musicians, and thinkers are buried, and tiny bakeries and pastry shops tucked away from the tourists. I was initially reluctant to go there and mostly just went to check it off my list, but it really impressed me and made me realize that maybe there is a reason why so many people love it and go there.
I totally agree that sometimes just going somewhere to say you went there is lame, but sometimes it turns out to be a place you unexpectedly like. Regardless, places like Paris have such incredible architecture and history….definitely worth going to at least once in your lifetime (and I would not mind never going back — now more interested in other parts of the country).
I definitely agree with #1 and #3 (although I’ve been to my share of places “just because it’s cool”… but not with the intent of bragging about it later!)
As for point #2, I have to say that if a place is overwhelmingly recommended, there is usually a reason for that. When people give you one of these clichés, dig a little deeper: are they reciting the guidebook or is there really a personal emotion, a spark when they retell their travel? Most people get teary eyed talking about Bali or Kyoto… and usually it is because they had a true travel hight point, if not a near-mystical experience there.
A last word about Paris specifically… I have a particular view about this city, having been born there, having left and later come back as a tourist. It’s a city that’s hard to tame. You know how some places make you feel at home right away, and others challenge you? Paris is of the second kind, hardcore. Only if you measure up can you access the best it has to offer – and it is truly amazing, and a lot more than what the guidebook says.
Emily- Yeah I do think I’ll get there eventually, it’s just never been much of a priority. I would like to see the cemeteries there though, I’ve hear Père Lachaise is very beautiful.
Aelle- That is a good point. It’s not that I’m against taking recommendations from people; that’s how I’ve ended up in som really cool places. I’m just not fan of the idea that there are certain places you HAVE to see when you visit Europe or France or the US or whereever.
Steph-
I definitely agree with you about the bragging nonsense that goes on in hostels and bars (usually conversations with douchebags you can’t quite seem to get away from).
I have been to Paris twice and just loved it, but I feel that Paris is to you what Prague is to me. It has been so overwhelming recommended by all the bragsters that I am completely turned off. Perhaps some day I will visit.
I do have say that Paris is amazing..don’t take my word for it, though. The time I loved it most was when I went to visit a friend and we did unconventional things that were somehow distinctly still Parisienne. Nothing can beat getting the city from a local.
Great piece!
Theoretically, I agree with your point in this post, that people should go wherever they want to go, and not where people tell them they “should” go, and people’s reasons for choosing their destinations are very personal. However, I do have to ask: If you’ve never been to Paris, how do you know the people there are unpleasant?
I agree that in theory these points are correct; especially when Prague is involved. What I think is worth mentioning is the value in visiting major epicenters around the world because, inherently, they were the starting points for the development of the rest of the country and its culture. Major cities, usually those that one “must” visit, offer an important point of comparison that helps to understand cultural development in both rural and urban settings. For example, if someone has never visited Rome, will they fully understand the significance of a Roman coliseum in North Africa? This is not to say that it is necessary to visit Paris before vacationing in Normandy, or Beijing before a boat cruise on the Mekong River, but doing so will help you understand and appreciate your chosen vacation spot all the more.
Great post. I’ve always had places I’ve just never had interest in going, like the Caribbean or Disney World. And I agree with you about the competition thing being annoying when meeting fellow travelers.
Btw, I do have to say I’ve enjoyed Paris (and Amsterdam
), but everyone’s tastes are different, so you shouldn’t take my word on it!
Actually, when I met a person who’d been on a Chernobyl tour, I thought “very cool, I wanna go hold a geiger counter!”
In regard to Paris, I did find people a bit rude the first time I visited, but that was also the night of the French ultimately winning the ‘98 World Cup in their own country (against Brazil) so I’ve forgiven the offenders.
The second time I went, I stayed with a Parisian I met in India, and hung out with her friends, going to a NYE house party. It was a lot of fun, and I appreciated my time there much more.
“I’ll probably make it there eventually but I won’t be bullied into visiting just because everyone else has.” — a good approach
Wow! Lots of comments on this one!
Susan- Prague is another place that suffers from overhype. I was actually pretty underwhelmed by the city when i went (although the fact that is was damp cold November didn’t help). I think if I knew a local that would be a great excuse to visit Paris.
Gray- You’ve got me there! I guess I should say the people are supposed to be unfriendly.
Jason- Another good point, although I would say it works the same in reverse. If I’ve seen the roman ruins spread out over North Africa, Turkey and even England then finally visiting Rome would give the experience an entirely different meaning than hitting it cold. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from travel it’s that everything is related to everything else and there’s no one linear way to tackle it all.
Nancy- Yes Disney is another great example. So many families feel like they “must” go and after spending so much money and effort to arrive there is so much pressure to have a good time. I’ve never seen more crying children than I did at Disney World.
Dave- I do want to go to Chernobyl actually. But I want to go because it sounds like the sort of thing I’d enjoy, not because I want to brag that I’ve been the Chernobyl.
Interesting post, but…
I don’t think prejudices are a good reason not to travel somewhere. You say that people there are unpleasant, yet you’ve never actually been there.
I think the reputation that some Parisians may have is mostly spread by American tourists, who haven’t bothered to learn even a few phrases of French and then are surprised when they are not treated with special attention. Of course this applies to only a fraction of tourists, but unfortunately, some of them don’t respect the customs and the way of life of a foreign country.
On my three visits to Paris, the most unpleasant people have been American tourists, who think nothing of blocking the stairs to the metro or stopping in the middle of a narrow street, or not even saying hello to the tobacconist. They tend to make the most noise and take up more space than everyone else.
Fun post. I won’t go to a place just to party, but if I happen to find a one, I’ll probably join in. I’ve found that people who travel solely to party tend to be the most irritating travelers I’ve come across! I’m also try to be steadfast about saying no to people who try to steer me towards a place that I HAVE to go to. I think the more you travel, the more you figure out what kind of places you enjoy before you get there. But I have agree with the people who defend Parisians… I never found them to be unfriendly and many people were actually quite helpful.
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Ooph I am getting a lot of flack for that dig at Parisians! While I have heard a lot of complaints about the attitude of the people of Paris I will definitely reserve judgment until I actually get over there!
It’s funny because I’ve been to Europe 5 times, and been to Paris 3 out of those 5 times! I loved it every time.
But I do agree that you don’t have to go somewhere just because it’s in all the guide books. You can find something for someone just about anywhere.
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I heartily agree with this post. People keep telling me that I *have* to see Central America. I really am not a hot, humid, jungle-y person, so while it’s somewhere I’d like to see *eventually*, that region isn’t high on my list of travel priorities. Then again, I get a similar reaction from folks when I tell them I want to go to Mongolia and Tajikistan. “Why on earth do you want to go there? There’s nothing there!” Exactly.
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well *I* want to go to Mongolia so I’m totally with you there. but I hate the idea that I “have to” anything.