My first Unpopular Opinions post was my most popular post of 2018! I did have a few travel opinions weaved into that post (about Instagram, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon), but decided to dedicate a whole post to unpopular travel opinions.
Disney parks actually suck. If you’re a childless adult, unless you love Disney (and I mean love), it’s not worth it. The parks are crowded, hot, expensive, filled with obnoxious kids and irritable parents and the attractions are just okay.
Volunteering trips usually do more harm than good. I’ve seen several of my friends posting for months asking for donations for a charity trip as if they’ve been passionate about this issue their whole lives and will continue such work after their trip. In this case, people usually want others to pay for their travel under the guise of “charity” work. Sure, workers can do some good by building a house or two, but most of them are just going to the exotic excursions that come after, never to think of the organization or project again.
I don’t want to “quit my job to travel.” I got my degrees because I’m passionate about conservation and want to pursue that to make a difference. I love traveling but I also love working in my field. Similarly, I don’t want to travel for months on end either. I enjoy coming home to family and friends to recharge.
Not everyone wants you to play your music on your speakers. I cringe every time someone recommends Bluetooth speakers as a gift for a traveler. I’m usually quite busy when I travel and want to relax when I come back to the hostel in the evening, not arrive to a mini-rave. Playing music out loud in a common area is so disrespectful of others.
I don’t go for the window seat on planes for most flights. I have mild O.C.D. when it comes to the bathroom and sleeping. In my undergraduate degree, it used to be really bad where I would have to use the bathroom up to a dozen times before I could fall asleep to make sure my bladder was as empty as could be before falling asleep. It’s gotten a lot better over the years, but flying is still my weak spot since it usually takes me a while to fall asleep. I don’t want to disturb others in my row, so on flights where I need to sleep, I’ll take the isle seat so I can use the bathroom at my leisure.
Cruises don’t appeal to me. While ports of call can be exciting and cruises are a great way to see several places in one trip, you don’t get a lot of time in each destination. I also wouldn’t be eager to spend time around so many people (especially kids) and wait in line for everything. Finally, I can take in activities and entertainment offered between ports of call at home probably for a lower price. While I won’t say “never,” cruises aren’t my first holiday choice (or second, or third…).
I avoid drinking while travelling. I almost never drink in excess on travel. Yes, that means I’ve never been on a pub crawl, but I’d love to some day! My Europe trips were always so short and wanted to make the most of it by hitting the pavement early, you can’t always do that with a splitting hangover. I also avoid drinking to save money and keep my head when I’m alone in an unfamiliar place. I might have a cheeky pint at the end of the day at most.
I have no problem with delayed flights as long as I don’t have a connecting flight or important obligation waiting for me at the other end of my journey. At the airport, I have a bathroom, WiFi and all the overpriced food I need. I think I’ll live.
Do you strongly disagree with any of these? Fight me.
Photo by Zoran Borojevic.
I am 100% an aisle seat person on planes. Partly for the loo thing and partly because I feel claustrophobic and trapped stuck between a wall and strangers (I’m usually flying solo).
My unpopular opinion is plane food usually isn’t that bad…
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I don’t hate it, but for some reason it always makes my tummy upset. I’ll usually grab my own food in the airport before boarding just to be on the safe side!
hahaha I love this! I’m hurt by the Disney one but I get where you coming from on all points! I love different takes on travel posts, its refreshing. So I will meet you outside to fight you on Disney World. 😉
I’m the opposite to you about the loo I think. I like to sit in the window seat as once I’m sat down I don’t really get up again until it’s time to leave the plane.
Totally agree with you about the Bluetooth speaker thing it’s just disrespectful and annoying!
Cruises don’t appeal to me either!
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On my most recent flight, the other ladies in my row didn’t get up once in 9+ hours! Amazing.
I did that on my way back from South Africa. I just don’t like using the loo on a plane.
mostly actuall agree with you, except the quitting my job to travel. I would definitely quit my current job to travel! but if I could travel and write books, I could work and travel, so I’d still technically be working! I do agree that going to do charity work, is normally an excuse for people to go and do something that will benefit them more than anyone else… x
I actually agree with all of these, apart from I’m a window seat person (oddly helps me with nausea being able to see out) I mean yeah there’s days I wish I could just travel the world but I actually do enjoy my real job a lot.
What a fun post! Agree with most of the points too – especially concerning Disney World. State parks are my favorite place to travel too.
I agree that volunteering trips can be harmful, they often seem to feed into a ‘White saviour’ complex…
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Exactly! Have these people ever asked locals what THEY want?
This post, and your views, are actually so interesting and I really like the concept of the blog post! I can’t imagine the stress that must occur for adults at Disney Parks.. and whilst I love a window view I always sit nearer the aisle on a plane because I’m always up and down to the toilets! Thank you for sharing your opinions 🙂
I love this post! I could never give up my job to travel, I hate being lonely and love my friends and family too much to be away all the time. I too opt for aisle seats just for the loo though, sitting at the window feels like I need to apologise to having th human right to pee everytime I need to go.
I don’t usually drink nowadays anyway but if I am travelling to another country etc, I wouldn’t drink, just to ensure I was safe! These are great opinions, I like to read posts like this!! Thank you for sharing! Xx
This is such a wonderful blog and it takes me right back to when I travelled in the late 80s and early 90s. I really admire you for having the guts to do this.
For some reason I love hearing other people’s unpopular opinions haha. And I 100% agree with you about volunteer trips, I just listened to a podcast episode about voluntourism that was very interesting! Great post!