Travel hipsters and those in search of the wild and dangerous, sometimes the path most traveled is the best…
Hey travel hipsters! Have you been turning your nose up at lists of the most popular travel destinations? With travel becoming more and more feasible nowadays, why are you ignoring some of the best and most popular destinations?
You may, like myself, not be attracted by the idea of lining up for hours to see one small painting in an overly crowded museum. Nor are you interested in seeing the sites that everyone else puts on their Instagram.
However, I want to convince you that every country has something to offer.
After all, despite how much you or I want to ignore the common knowledge, certain destinations are popular for a reason.
However I won’t leave you with just that. I want to change your opinion, or at the very least, give you something to think about. Here are 8 reasons why you shouldn’t write off those popular tourist destinations just yet…
Young Travelers, Solo Travelers, and Traveling Families
The first reason applies to who you are as a traveller. Different people want different things out of their holidays and travel. This is something that took me such a long time to understand. Everyone will do things differently and you should focus on lighting your own way rather than trying to dampen the fire of others.
If you would like some more advice on healthy mindsets for travelers, check out an old post I wrote here!
That said, popular tourist destinations are a good idea for young travelers or first time travelers, solo travelers, as well as family travelers. You may have different requirements or difficulties as you travel and the more popular destinations might be able to help you mange those better.
For first-time travelers, solo-travelers, or a mix of both, travelling to a city like London might be considered easier for you than other countries. And there are many reasons, which I will list here for you. Similarly, some cities could be more comfortable for parents or families who are travelling. This could be because of travel and mobility, accommodation, or other reasons.
Of course not everyone is looking for the easier trip. So if you really want to rough it up in the wilderness then you should go for that. Even if it is your first trip. But if you are also looking for a holiday that will be relaxing or one where you do not need to feel on guard all the time; these rules might apply to you.
A Pre-Existing Tourism Sector or Economy
Having the structure to accommodate tourists is really helpful. Frequent planes and surplus (good quality) hotels means you can at least try to find the best prices at different times. The right things in the rights places; well-maintained toilets, escalators, ATMS/exchange places. All of these create a more comfortable and convenient travel experience.
This will be probably the biggest and most important reason for why you shouldn’t ignore popular destinations. It also relates to and complements some of the other topics I’ll raise as well.
Whether you consider yourself a travel hipster or not, having a structure to support you will help. The structure of a tourism economy can be felt in a number of ways.
How many things are in the right place at the right time? Do you need to search far and wide for toilets on your trip, and how well maintained are they? What about escalators for people who can’t use stairs? And how easy is it for you to withdraw or take out money?
These are all simple signs of an economy that is used to having people move through the city. It also makes things really easy for you. Again, their presence is subtle but you begin to miss them when you notice they are missing. Ask yourself this question…
How easy is it for you to accomplish your goals? Can you buy necessary items, or communicate with locals if you are lost?
Ease of travel is one thing but a pre-existing travel industry can also be good on your budget. Having more planes going in and out of your destination means you might be able to navigate a cheaper deal. The same goes for hotels. The more there are, the more vacancies and competition there would be.
And finally there is safety to consider. I still remember my first study trip when myself and friends walked across the canyon at Jabal Shams in Oman. The second largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon and there were no handrails in sight!
A Good Public Transport System
Also part of the above point; a good public transport system. Spain, Japan, the UK, Germany all have well connected and thorough train systems. Public transport also covers things like ferry services and tour buses.
Ultimately this means you can get to where you need to be easily, and can cover more ground with your time.
Another sign of a city that is used to having people move in and out of it is, it is not necessarily planned with cars as the main mode of transport.
London and Tokyo both have very well known and expansive networks. Similarly Spain, accordingly, has the second highest length of high speed rail lines in the entire world.
Of course, that isn’t to say these train networks are faultless. These systems can often be delayed, full of people, or problematic. However what is important to note is that many of the tourist locations of popular cities are accessible by public transport. They are also well connected to the larger network of metropolitan public transport.
Even for travel hipsters, you want to move from your favourite haunts freely and focus on soaking up those vibes.
You can also see if there are bus or day trips tours available to you. Another unique example, is the ferry service in Istanbul. With the same travel card you use for buses and trains, you are able to catch a boat from Europe across to the Asian side of Istanbul.
My point is that the better connected a city is via it’s various transport networks, the better for you ultimately. You will have access to more locations, and you can cover more in your limited time. You become very mobile. This is something that I have found in destinations that are popular or very well visited.
Destinations which are used to seeing tourists.
People are complicated. And to say that any group, city, our country of people will act in a specific way will never really be accurate.
For example the sellers at the Bazaars in Istanbul have a basic grasp on an outstanding amount of languages. They can greet you and probably even sell to you in your own language. However, once you escape the tourist throng it is not always easy to find people who speak English (in my experience) in Türkiye.
Similarly, there are very popular tourist destinations that are renowned for giving their guests a negative experience. Again people are complex, and it’s too simplistic to say one group or another is nicer to tourists.
However if a destination is used to receiving lots of tourists you might find interactions with people a bit easier. It might be easier to find someone who speaks your language. Also there might be various support systems to cater to tourists, for example; tourism or information centres.
The path less taken, is still probably pretty well taken. Safety as well as readily available travel advice.
Even if you go to a popular city like London, there are still paths that are less traveled than others. In this case, the path less taken is still pretty well traveled. However you can find many unique experiences that might only be accessible to locals or to those who are looking for something a little different.
Actually it’s likely that you will find many options in the larger and more popular cities. Since economies are always looking for new ways to draw in tourists, you can count on there always being something new and entertaining for travel hipsters and the more adventurous travelers.
Even if you want to go completely “off the map” you probably aren’t the first person to have done it. And this might be what you’re looking for. Even smaller towns or villages will already be used to seeing newcomers; if not from overseas than from other places in their own country.
This means that a day trip to somewhere obscure or unheard of is;
- accessible via transport,
- safe and accommodating to outsiders,
- and still likely to capture your imagination with local sites of attraction.
You can visit multiple cities!
Perhaps Rome is not your cup of tea, or plate of pasta in this case. But what about the isles of Sicily and Sardinia? Or how about the Friuli region, where traditionally they spoke a completely different language?
There are many spots even in typically “popular” locations that have much to offer those who are seeking something different. Many cities and townships still hark back to days long ago, or preserve unique and fascinating cultures.
If the country already has a stable tourist economy these smaller destinations are likely to be visited by locals and accessible to the adventurous and resourceful traveler by some of the ways I mentioned above. Look out for smaller, unique tourist locations for lovely daytrips!
Furthermore if you want travel hipster bragging rights, you will still be able to mention that you went to a region or area that most people have not visited or potentially even heard of!
More centres of culture (even for travel hipsters!)
Try not think of travel as an all or nothing situation. Many people will look at the culture of a place and think, “this must be all there is.” However, a lot of cities and locations have multiple waves of culture and sub-culture running beneath the surface.
You might be interested in a city’s nightlife, street food, drinking culture, art scene or many other things. Chances are if you go to a more popular destination, you can find multiple options for you if you just look.
Cities that have long been considered cultural “hubs” or capitals have had time for various cultural movements to flourish and become part of the landscape of that particular area.
For example; I have enjoyed taking note of how people in different European cities enjoy their free time or socializing.
- In Paris my wife and I enjoyed sitting at outdoor cafés and watching the world go by.
- In London, I noticed that many people love to spend time at corner pubs once the sun goes down. Even if it means standing in the cold, with your beer balanced on the outer window sill of the establishment.
- Turkish people love a tea or “çay” break so you can find them almost anywhere enjoying tea from their characteristic small glasses. You can even find people taking a tea break in coffee places!
- During our brief stay in Frankfurt we immediately noticed groups of people enjoying a stand up coffee outside their favourite coffee venues.
More options for special interests
Your interests are what keep you happy and satisfied, but they may also affect how you travel.
What makes you choose to go to one museum over another? Museums are one way that cities can cater to the special interests of their citizens and tourists. If you’d like to read about some unique museums within Istanbul, check out an article I wrote here!
If you have some special interests you can rest assured that the more “popular” tourists locations will have something for you.
Just like various cultures are given the freedom to grow and blossom in the more populous cities and locations, so are hobbies and interests that might seem unique, quirky, or weird!
On our trips to Germany and Switzerland I was so happy to find board game and tabletop gaming stores in central areas. This was proof that there was a thriving community here which I could jump in and experience.
For board games in particular, there’s even a specific kind of genre of board game known as the “Euro Game” that started from these areas. Who knows what other hobbies you could discover in places like Paris, London, or Tokyo!
That’s the main thing in the end, more choice!
For some reason I always felt constricted by cities and countries that I felt were too popular. Or, I hate to say it, too “mainstream”. I looked at the open taigas, desserts, and plains as a way to free myself from these constrictions. However, the big city can be just as freeing.
How? Because of the smattering of choices you have!
There is a lot going on in what we consider popular destinations. So much so that, you may not even be able to experience all a city has to offer in one visit. You could very well stumble across a rabbit hole that turns out to be very deep.
No wonder some people keep coming back to their favourite cities. They have found something that is either different each time, or something that gains more and more meaning with each visit.
So, by all means seek out the experiences which are less common and those that are unique. However don’t let a superficial snobbishness deprive you of the amazing experiences “mainstream” tourist locations can provide.
It is not the travel destination, but what you make of it that matters!
