40 Unpopular Travel Opinions That Might Ruffle The Feathers Of Travel Snobs

To gain some perspective on this topic from a seasoned traveler, we got in touch with Sarah Hollis, aka The Pack Mama. Sarah is an American expat living in Austria with her husband Eric and their three fur babies, and she was kind enough to share some of her controversial travel opinions with Bored Panda.

One of her hot takes is that every minute of a trip must be planned. "While this way of traveling leaves very little room for spontaneity and relaxation, this is how I make sure I am making the very most of my time in a new place," Sarah explained.

"Waking up at sunrise is my favorite part about visiting a new place. I think 99% of influencers and photographers would agree that exploring a new place extra early in the morning before other tourists are out and about is the best way to spend a morning in a new country," the travel expert continued.

Sarah also says there is a difference between a tourist trap and a tourist attraction. "Some travelers intentionally skip well-known landmarks and tourist hotspots in favor of discovering lesser-known gems, but there is a reason why certain places are so popular, so go visit them all," she noted. "Just make sure to avoid overpriced stores and people trying to sell you flowers on the street."

"Never ride the camels or donkeys when traveling to places like Jordan, Egypt, or Morocco," Sarah added. "While they make for a great photo for Instagram, you are encouraging animal abuse and child labor."

The Pack Mama also says fancy restaurants are overrated. "A lot of them charge you a sitting fee, and any time I eat at one, I always have to have a second dinner because the portions are so small."

Sarah also noted that budget travel offers a more authentic and adventurous experience. "When you stay in a hostel, eat street food, and use public transportation, you aren’t so shielded by the comforts of a 5-star hotel, fancy restaurant, and private car," she explained.

And you may not agree with this one, but Sarah has observed that many European cities are quite similar. "I would much rather spend time exploring the adventurous side of a new country rather than walking down a cobblestone street to another church," she told Bored Panda.

If you're short on time, the Pack Mama recommends free walking tours. And remember that you need to be able to adapt when exploring. "If you expect Western-style conveniences wherever you go, you will run into a lot of frustrations along your trip," Sarah says.

We were curious what Sarah's thoughts were on some of the responses in this thread. As far as the ones she agrees with, she shared, "Visiting a McDonald’s in every country is something I thought only I did. To see other people do this is so funny. Currently, I have visited 10 McDonald's around the world, and the McBoat in Germany is high up on my list."

Sarah also seconds the idea that not all of your friends will be compatible travel partners with you.

As far as an answer in this thread Sarah doesn't agree with, she noted that she doesn't understand people who insist on going to the same place every time they travel. "There are way too many places in the world to keep going to the same place over and over again," she told Bored Panda. "Sure, you can repeat a place if it’s your tradition, but make sure you also travel to more places around the world."

At the end of the day, Sarah doesn't believe there should be any strict rules when it comes to traveling. "Traveling is about exploration and personal growth, so imposing hard and fast rules would not be practical or desirable," she shared. "However, I think every person needs to remember they are representing the country in which they come from, so make sure their itinerary respects local customs, has a minimal environmental impact, and represents your country well."

If you'd like to hear about Sarah's own travels or get more travel tips from her, be sure to visit The Pack Mama!