I converted a non-believer

How kind of him to let you know how much he enjoyed his trip and your part inspiring his vacation, bonus intangible investment returns for you :)

Not specific to Europe, but I have encouraged and supported several different people getting over a fear of traveling alone. Several actually did it and had a good time which was wonderful to witness.

Not necessarily converted a non-believer, but some people got inspired to travel solo after they saw that a full-time working mom can do it (on an early basis). I've actually helped two moms from my kid's school with advice on how to make a solo trip come to a reality. And they were grateful and already planning their next one.

We did a food tour today in Budapest. We are on day 71 of spending 83 nights in Europe. We call it living abroad. While I can’t confirm that anyone on our tour will change the way they travel, I can say our travels and the length of them were met with much curiosity and interest, almost incredulousness amongst those in our group. Many of our friends own 2 homes and just travel back and forth between them (aka snowbirds). We prefer not owning 2 homes and being nomadic for half the year.

I’ve been able to encourage and support some travelers to take the steps to travel again after the loss of a spouse. It makes me so happy when I see them stepping forward and finding ways to enjoy travel again.

As a solo traveler since the mid-90s, I've shared my trips with many friends and acquaintances and several of them have decided to travel solo overseas. It's usually on a tour, but at least they're going. I wish more would. I still talk to those who say they just can't do it, but they want to know if they can travel with me. The problem is getting them to commit to it, and I think that's where most people fall short.

Many of our friends own 2 homes and just travel back and forth between
them (aka snowbirds).

In the early 2000's we almost bought a home in Arizona. This was long before I even knew I wanted to travel outside of North America. I'm glad my wife talked me out of it.

We have been on many Rick Steves tours and love traveling to Europe. I talk about how much we love them but many friends inwardly roll their eyes and think “I would never go on a BUS tour” but one couple finally tried the Best of England and actually texted during the trip last month that they were on their “BEST TRIP EVER”. I definitely felt gratified and happy that what I had touted was enjoyed by someone else. It’s the innate salesperson in me I guess haha.

How wonderful, Allan. I'm so glad he reached out to let you know about his trip and how your encouragement helped make it happen.

A fair number of people ask for my advice or information, but so far I don't think any have turned browsing into buying. When I ask them about it they kind of look at me dreamily as if that was the pipe dream and never real. For some I know financially it would be very difficult, for others I'm not sure. I did recently cajole someone into trying a cruise instead of her usual Caribbean all-inclusive. She loved it.

As for the previously mentioned folks with second homes, that's my sister. She has a beautiful place in Florida and cannot understand why I'd spend money on a trip rather than an "investment ". Yes, they are financially way ahead of us (and would be no matter lifestyle choices) but we value different things. And I can visit for the price of a few meals!

I was converted to be a believer too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tpxXDILZHs

Just like Luv2Travel, we have been on many Rick Steves tours and always encourage our friends to try one. The usual response is “bus tours are not for me” even though most have never taken any tour. Two couples joined us for the RS Paris tour in 2022 and loved it, despite the crazy Covid protocols then in place. They are joining us for Switzerland tour in August so I can now claim to have converted some non-believers.

“I would never go on a BUS tour”

I'm impressed you got through to them. Preconceived notions are tough to break through. We have one friend who will never do this, and never do that, and will just mumble when I ask why. Somehow, no matter the preconceived notion, I've usually had a breakthrough after I tried. I think my first was probably when I was four years old and thought girls were icky. Happily, and just like your friends and the tour, we all eventually found neither were icky.

Let me add another statement that we hear often on this forum, “ I would never go on a cruise.”

I’m the first to admit that every mode of travel isn’t for everyone. It’s great to do what you enjoy and really works for you. However, the “I would never….” statements are usually made by people who have never actually tried that particular mode of travel. I have far more respect for those who say, “I tried (fill in the blank) but it didn’t really seem like it was for me.”

I do understand people’s reluctance to try new things. Travel isn’t inexpensive and there is the concern that one might be spending big bucks on a subpar experience. I do encourage trying some new ways of travel and seeing if you can expand the options available to you. Most people are usually glad they did.

Thanks Carol now retired. I said that too, until I took one and understood the attraction. It's just a different way to travel and not for everyone.

I've talked to enough people about traveling to understand that not everyone has the same goals. Some people want relaxation and a carefree experience and others want the stimulation and adventure of foreign travel. Sometimes it's the cost that people are concerned about and once we go through the numbers, they can see a European trip is feasible. But they have to have the curiosity and interest first.

European or overseas travel is not for everyone. Of course, for someone to really know whether they would enjoy such travel, they have to at least try it. But then the question becomes not whether they disliked their trip, but how much did they enjoy it, especially compared to the types of vacation they normally take.

And for someone who has never done it, European travel requires a lot of work and can be more than challenging--it can be frightening. On these forums, we sometimes forget there is a learning curve that has to be climbed for people to truly travel in Europe on their own.

And I am guilty of the mindset that I have no interest in traveling to certain places--for me, China, Africa, South America and India hold no interest (though Japan unquestionably does). Years ago, I did not care for Mexico and Russia (thoroughly disliked it). Broadly speaking, my travel interests are limited to North America, Europe, and perhaps one day, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

But they have to have the curiosity and interest first.

I may be an oddball because I didn't know I wanted to go to Europe until my wife told me I did. I was perfectly happy with our Disney type trips until we did a Mediterranean cruise and a week in Rome in 2014. It was after that trip that I developed a curiosity and interest for history and in particular religious history thanks to a visit to the Vatican, not to mention I should have a bumper sticker on my car stating that I brake for castles.

I asked friends to take a tour of Turkey with us. I got an incredulous laugh and “why on earth would you want to go to Turkey“? We also have friends who would never take a bus tour because they would feel like cattle. It’s insane because they took a cruise and did bus tours at each port of call.

I've been trying to convert people to the light way of packing, but so far no one has taken an interest. A friend just went to Italy for 10 total days (including travel days) and took 10 bottoms, two of those were jeans! WHAT!!!????

We're scheduled for the RS Heart of Portugal tour this fall with friends who've only done the big boat cruises. We'll see if they can be converted. I think they're hoping we'll do a cruise with them someday, but since it's nice and sunny in H***, I doubt it!

I've been trying to convert people to the light way of packing, but so
far no one has taken an interest.

I've decided I'm not going to try and convert people to that. I think it's in my best interest to encourage everyone to check baggage to ensure there's overhead space for me.

Our 38th trip across the big pond. Been traveling across since 1996 sometimes twice a year. Begin all this because my countries Army decided to send me to Germany for 2 years. We have taken numerous friends and family with us and many have continued the journey across. For the last 6 or 7 years we have decided to travel alone. Two is fine now. We're 78 and know the time is getting close to calling it day. Germany is our second home for 75 days a year. 11 more days and we're gone.

I was speaking to a German guy in Barcelona, we sat “too close” next to them in a restaurant and ended up having a lot of laughs and conversations. He asked me why we went to Europe when we could just visit other parts of the US. I replied that our trips to Europe always end up being a “big adventure”. He was perplexed, but to him travel to Spain from Germany didn’t have the same effect.

In terms of adventure, a more precise characterization would be to call it a “manageable adventure”. We aren’t climbing K2, traversing the Silk Road or on foot or making a pilgrimage to Timbuktu. We have money, hotels etc. However, it’s different and difficult enough to feel like an adventure. One thing to note is there are lots of other people out there doing it too, people hiking the Camino or GR routes, cycle touring, driving trips or traveling around to big cities by rail, so it’s not just us that are adventuring which is reassuring.

it’s different and difficult enough to feel like an adventure.

Milestones that I can think of over the years that made it feel like an adventure:

• Crossing a road in Rome for the first time after reading in the RS book that it could be an adventure.
• Taking the train for the first time. Now it's not a big deal, but that first time and managing a big train station...
• Driving in England for the first time.
• Driving in England the 2nd time.
• Driving on a single track road in Scotland for the first time.
• A sheep in the way on that single track road with a bus behind me and cars facing me and no way to get to the passing place.
• Trying to understand what in the heck the Scot sitting at the table next to me at the restaurant was saying.

I have lived overseas for nine years (5 in Saudi Arabia and 4 in Germany) as well as visiting 84 foreign countries or territories (I count Bermuda and Hong Kong).

My former barber (he is now deceased) always took his vacations to the same place in the mountains of North Carolina. We live on an island on coastal Georgia. He liked going there in the Summer and enjoyed its cooler climate and the scenic mountains.

I can't imaging having such tunnel vision to only do the same place all the time.
I have enjoyed everywhere I have gone, but some places more than others. Still, that doesn't keep me for doing new places. We have a trip to Armenia and Georgia in August.

Favorite countries: Italy, UK, Japan, Peru and Australia.
Enjoyed the sites in China, Russia and India, but we found the Chinese people were very rude in public (nice one on one), Russians cold in Public, but nice if you made friends and India, loved the people, but hated the terrible crowds and awful traffic.

Scenic places like the fjords of Norway, Cruise around the Horn of South America, Glacier Bay in Alaska and the wildlife preserves of Tanzania. Also, the Galápagos Islands.
Historic places like Rome, Paris and London.
Cultural and other things like going to the Marinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg to see Swan Lake or watching the British Parliament in session for question time or an opera at the Sydney Opera House.

My advice is to try to do it all. Study what is out there and just do it.

I'm curious who else has a feel-good story about somebody's new travel
discoveries thanks to you.

My wife took a good friend to London and Paris last summer. They had a wonderful time! She had never been to UK or Europe. In the US, most of her travel is to visit family, a beach or a cabin in the woods. Coming to our daughter's wedding six years ago was their first trip to NYC.

She and her husband are committed to a future Christmas Markets trip---which year is TBD.

Allan,
Your driving in England and Scotland anecdote made me spill my morning cuppa! When I first moved to Skye and was driving my neighbour to a medical appointment she was horrified at my driving. Not my overall speed (plenty fast enough for a local), or my use of passing places, but rather that I had stopped because there was a sheep in the middle of the road. “Dinnae stop for those wee ba*****s”, she said; “or we’ll no get to Portree afore I’m deed”. Despite not really having got to grips with the local vernacular at that point, I certainly understood what she said!
My top tip to visitors to our small island, is never stop for a sheep. Slow down by all means, but keep rolling and show ‘em who’s boss, they WILL move, I’ve never hit one yet……
Jacqui

@Jacqui,

I went back to look at my Trip Report from 2022 and it was actually a cow. Not sure if you also nudge those ba*****s out of the way. Here's an excerpt from the TR about my sheep experience on Mull;

we passed a mamma sheep with two babies lying on the edge of the road in a passing place. Just as I passed, I had to stop because a wide tractor was coming toward me, and since I was closest to a passing place it was my job to back up and let the car through. I had to carefully maneuver into place while not running over the baby sheep.

Thanks Allan, great thread! "I didn't know I wanted to go to Europe until my wife told me I did'. That cracked me up. My H didn't know he could go to Rome for successive trips and have a great time until I told him we'd have a wonderful time! (No newbie to travel, it was just about the chaos of Rome.)

A dear friend despairs of me giving her a list of all the places my RS friends are traveling, 'Gosh that's SO MUCH WORK', then she goes somewhere for a few weeks in her RV, and I think, 'Gosh, that's way too much work'!

I wish! I try to encourage people to try some of the places I've been and loved. But so many people I know take the same "week in Florida" vacation every summer or go to the same resort in Jamaica every year.

@geovagriffith, you said "I can't imagine having such tunnel vision to only do the same place all the time." Please help me to understand. Why does returning to a familiar destination become tunnel vision? I am genuinely curious about how we differ here. I've not been to 84 countries; the number I've been to I can count on two hands with three fingers left over. For high-frequency travelers, it seems the “engine” relies on constant novelty to be stimulated. If the scenery doesnt change, does the mind register it as stagnation?

But speaking only for myself, I'm probably wired differently and feel a bit out of place in these discussions. I feel a kindredness with the barber you mentioned. There is something about regularly visiting a familiar place that you've stayed in many times before; it's old hat, but you notice the subtle changes. The same restaurants, knowing where the local grocery stores are, and how to use local public transit. You are never going to be local, don't pretend, but this place is near the level of your third place. I visit new places, but consistently make returns to others especially London. Yes same hotel, the same view, tube stations, and Sainsbury, Tesco, and Co-Op. For my brain, a familiar destination isn't a rut; it is an infrastructure. There's the rhythm of how a favorite place works. In travel, I can't think of many things more peaceful and beautiful than returning to a loved place once again. It's a comfortable relationship with a recurring space.

VAP,
I like your metaphor of a familiar destination as an "infrastructure". It is good food for thought. Thank you! I love seeing new places and hope to be around long enough to get to some, but also like going back to favorite places on our frequent California road trips, even those places that are less well-known to others, and maybe a little bit corny. Some roads that we have traveled over and over again in California are like old friends, as are the towns and sights along the way. We can stop for a meal or a drink at a familiar cafe. These trips and places form our infrastructure.

I would never go on a BUS tour

Well, that's me, too! I would NEVER go on a bus tour. I don't do buses, period (except short commuter distances.) So sometimes there is a style of travel that a person knows isn't for them, and nothing will change that.

When I went to college in the US it was popular amongst students to hitchhike round Europe in Summer (often partly-financed by selling old frayed and faded Levi's, worthless in the States but commanding a princely sum from European youth). Most of my contemporaries (college-educated end-run baby-boomers...I'm born the same year as Rick) continued to travel as much as work and family responsibilities allowed, and still travel in retirement as much as health and finances allow.

We will never take a group tour. Without getting specific, I physically can't count on being able to vacate the hotel before late-morning. That's not an issue on a cruise, so we've taken two...but never again...at least not one with mainly American passengers. We're each natively-fluent in a different European language as well as have varying levels of competency in familial offshoots of those languages (Romance in my case, Slavic in my spouse's); by virtue of directly connecting with Europeans whose English skills are rudimentary, we embrace a wider sampling of socioeconomic- and educational-levels of Europeans and it affords us a more realistic sense of how a majority of Europeans actually views their own countries...as well as ours. So we're more aligned with independent travel, or maybe a river-cruise with mainly European (counting UK as such) passengers.

I'm not going to debate people who say "NEVER", because it's your life, your choices in how you travel, but to me it's such a permanent word that I can't imagine anyone means it literally. There's always going to be exceptions that come up that may make you at least reconsider the benefits of alternate forms of travel.

Allan,
I have learned to never say never.
Besides choosing to go on a guided tour trip for reasons I mentioned above, I also am more accepting of them, even for Europe, because at 82 and 83 we are not as comfortable driving on our travels. And getting our carry-on sized bags and small personal item onto and off of trains, or making the sometimes long hikes through metro stations, etc. with bags is more difficult than it used to be. The opportunity to have someone drop us off at our lodgings or tour sight gets more attractive with each passing year. Thus I will "never" rule out a bus tour! (Oops, I said "never".)

In talking to many friends and acquaintances about traveling to Europe the main reasons people do not are several:

Language is number one. People do not want to feel uncomfortable not understanding the language. No matter what you tell them about how many people speak English, they don't believe it. As one of my skeptical friends said to me, "If people speak so much English, why do we have so many people living here that don't?"

Second is cost. Let's face it, travel to Europe is not cheap. Two airfares are usually almost $3,000. People in the US will drive and $3,000 can get you a pretty decent vacation in the US if you drive.

The other most frequent answer is that Europe is seen as backwards compared to the US. Not true of course, but that is a perception people in the US have about Europe. You know, pay toilets, gas prices sky high, tiny hotel rooms, no AC, drive on the wrong side of the road 😊,etc.

It certainly did not help the perception of Europe when during the world cup many Europeans came to the US and raved how wonderful it was in the US compared to back home.

I do agree, once someone travels abroad, many get hooked. It is getting them to take that first trip that seals the deal. I think it did for most of us.

I'm not going to debate people who say "NEVER", because it's your
life, your choices in how you travel, but to me it's such a permanent
word that I can't imagine anyone means it literally. There's always
going to be exceptions that come up that may make you at least
reconsider the benefits of alternate forms of travel.

To Allan:

Okay, if I was stranded in a desert and a bus tour came along to save me? Indeed, I would go. If I had to take a bus tour to a remote place where I could obtain a rare life-saving medicine for a loved one? Yes, I'd do it. If someone held a gun to my head, and told me get on the bus or I'll shoot you? I'll get on the bus.

You see where I'm going with this? Yes, there are always extenuating circumstances, but when I say I'd "never" go on bus tour, I mean I LITERALLY would never willingly go on a bus tour.

PS... if you've ever spend several hours on a bus with your head in a barf bag IN SPITE of Dramamine, sea bands, motion sickness patches, ginger chews, or any other remedy you can try, I guarantee that you'd "never" willingly go on a bus tour, either.

Returning to a place vs. always going somewhere new: I’ve been to the same place in Portugal three times. What do I say to myself when we arrive? “I love it here”. Also, sometimes it’s nice to have a trip without a lot of planning and logistics involved (and I’m someone who really enjoys planning trips).

Bus trips: Not interested, at this time, maybe someday maybe NEVER! 😀