10 Unpopular Travel Opinions Explorers Are Getting Behind to Build Their Own Trips

“Gen Z is on the move. So are Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers. This mix of generations, life stages, and experiences are fostering a diverse and inspiring mix of travel expectations and adventures,” said Jason Dorsey, President and Lead Researcher at The Center for Generational Kinetics.

“Hilton’s Trends Report reveals that while generations have their differences, one area where they align is their enthusiasm for travel and seeking memorable travel experiences that meet their unique needs,” he continued.

While enjoying my daily scroll, I encountered the question, “What is your unpopular travel opinion?” While some people argued over popularity, these were the top-voted unpopular travel opinions. 

Do you agree with these controversial ideas? Or do you think they are freeing and allow you to go on a getaway that is exactly what you need?

10. Traveling Alone Can Be So Much More Rewarding

“Traveling alone can be much more rewarding than traveling with friends or family,” someone suggested. “As much as I love and cherish my partner, I’d rather travel alone than with him. It is because our priorities on trips are the opposite. I want to chill and watch the world go by, and he wants to be on the move all day,” said another. 

9. Planning Makes Travel Better

“Planning makes travel better,” replied one user. “No need to scrounge for lodging as it is getting dark in a town with a crowded event you didn’t know about, no need to stand in line for hours to see the Vatican, no need to eat relatively lousy food because it’s convenient and you haven’t researched where would be better, etc., etc.”

8. Haggling Has Limits

“Haggling – don’t get ripped off, but don’t haggle on trinkets and things in developing countries. You’re arguing over a few cents with someone who likely makes a few dollars a day. If you’re unhappy with the product’s price, walk away,” one stated. 

“You are a traveler in their country, you have responsibilities, and those responsibilities extend to paying your share to support the people and things you came halfway around the world to experience. So just spend the few extra dollars – good for you, good for me,” another agreed. 

7. Race Matters

“This will be controversial: but race matters in the world of traveling,” one user shared. “You will be received well or be disdained by locals depending on your skin color. For example, customs officials countlessly harassed me at Swiss borders because I was the only Asian in a train car.”

“I AGREE! As a black man flying back from Italy connection in Paris, I found my Paris experience racist. Customs harassed me. I have one million frequent flyer miles. I know how to pack and travel, TSA precheck, and global entry, but with only 1hr 15 min to make a connection with ALL the people on our flight, they stopped three black families. We were not together.” 

6. You Don’t Need to Spend a Month In One Place To Enjoy It

Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t have to spend an entire month in each vacation spot I visit. So every time someone posts a question of, ‘Can I do Paris, Barcelona, Dubai, Budapest, in four days?’ 

The comments are always, ‘You need at least a week there. Or, you need at least two weeks there to enjoy it fully. Then, you need a month to grasp the culture and truly experience the city!”

“I can have a great time hitting some of the highlights of a city in 3-4 days. And have done so in many places. It’s about how you plan it out and what you are comfortable doing.”

“It annoys me to no end when I tell someone of a place I have multiple memorable experiences from, and they tell me, ‘Well, you couldn’t do this and that in such a short time.’ Trust me. It’s doable.”

5. You Don’t Have To Reinvent The Wheel

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Organized tours have done the same thing over and over. They know what works and doesn’t. So nothing wrong with taking an organized or guided tour,” replied one. “And if the site is archeological, definitely take the tour. Otherwise, you’re just walking around looking at old rocks,” shared another. 

4. You Don’t Have To Do and See Everything

“You don’t have to do and see everything. Sometimes relax! I like to go out for a couple of hours, then come back to a hostel/apartment and chill on my laptop or something. Going out for 12 hours with a schedule to see everything and anything is exhausting,” someone shared.

Another added, “Adjacent to this, leave space in your itinerary. Some of the best experiences, I would dare say the majority of the best experiences I’ve had while traveling, have come via unplanned wandering.”

3. Wake Up With The Place Instead of Doing the Nightlife

I have little interest in nightlife, but watching it wake up is one of the most exciting experiences in any city. So I’ll often be in bed by seven or eight and be up by five in the morning.”

“Find a park or local cafe that opens early, chat with people while people are setting up shop, watch the sunrise, and listen to the city come to life. Then wander to my next destination before even the most eager hawker or tour arrives.”

“It opens up a new world: fascinating stories to hear, businesses and customs you don’t usually see, and cool photographs of empty landmarks in the soft morning light. A few times, I’ve been allowed access to museums on first shifts and seen things I would not have otherwise been able to see.”

2. Not Every Friend Is a Good Travel Buddy

“Not every friend is a good travel buddy. Some trips are better solo,” one replied. “As an add-on, it’s always worth remembering that traveling companions on the road are often way easier to acquire than to get rid of,” another added. 

“I always have to remind myself that I didn’t hate Italy. I just picked the wrong people to visit Italy with,” a third shared. “Very true,” a final commenter replied, “I have a fantastic group of friends and would do anything for them…except vacation as a group again! But, unfortunately, our habits do not mesh together 24 hours a day for several days straight.”

1. Nothing Wrong Doing Touristy Things

“Nothing wrong with doing touristy things. There’s a reason things are touristy, and they’re fun if you’re a tourist,” someone stated. “Yes! Highly recommend the double-decker bus in Paris. Such a massive city with so much to see.”

“We loved sitting at the top, taking it all in,” agreed another. “Taking the canal cruise in Amsterdam, dressing up in a kimono in Kyoto, and taking to the top of the Statue of Liberty? I’m all in,” a third added.

Finally, someone said, “It always amuses when people on here qualify they avoid the touristy places and only travel off the beaten path to hang with the locals. Are you going to go to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower?”

We hope you enjoyed this Reddit picks list of unpopular travel opinions that perhaps you agree with but never felt comfortable saying out loud.