Travel is full of contrasts. Life is full of contrasts. Some are unconscious, based on other decisions taken but sometimes we go looking for contrast in our travels. Just in the last month I have enjoyed a fortnight of 5* luxury in the US, then enjoyed equally 4 days away sailing with very few creature comforts. Contrasts work for me!
A few reasons why we travel
A while back I took the time to think about
why we travel – each of us has our own reasons and they constantly change. Lots of the contrasts for me come from the different reasons we choose to travel at different times – to relax, to find adventure, to see new things?…
Business vs Pleasure
Business vs pleasure
If you asked me a few years ago if I wanted to travel overseas with work I would have jumped to say yes! Ask me now – 100 odd flights later (and a hairy aborted landing last week) and I would admit that the
perks (as good as they are – airmiles, tier status, brief glimpses of new places) aren’t necessarily what they are cracked up to be! I do indeed love to travel with work. I have been all over the place (and am very accustomed to the
nice seats in a plane), usually the
US and Switzerland and France. The most memorable trip was a solo trip to
India, which ended up being somewhere that I am desperate to go back to explore more. But I’ve noticed how different travel for pleasure is recently – my husband used to travel long haul at least once a month and in recent times he hasn’t needed to. I love how excited he gets, in the absence of business travel, about any trips that we plan and take together. I think it is easy with too much business travel to lose the buzz for adventure and travel. Travelling for pleasure is a complete luxury, something the generations before us couldn’t dream of.
Luxury vs Budget
Luxury vs budget
I harp on about luxury being what you make it and fully believe it isn’t just about spending $$$ on fancy hotels. But there is of course something to be said for spending $$$ on fancy hotels – that kind of luxury is rather amazing it has to be said especially when reserved for a rare treat. Places like Cliveden House or the Chedi don’t exist without reason. But much as I enjoy living in the lap of luxury from time to time, I also like to get back to basics. Whilst it is fair to say that my wilderness camping days are behind me (traipsing round the Lake District in the snow to get my Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award was just about enough), a little camping trip or a few nights miles from anywhere in a dinky little self-catering cottage are just perfect. A fraction of the price but a different kind of luxury it is to be squirrelled away miles from other people. In fact just last weekend I bought a new sleeping bag ready for an upcoming sailing trip.
City vs Countryside
City vs countryside
I love visiting a new city, a short city-break is there to be enjoyed. Current favourite cities are definitely
Washington DC,
Vienna and
Singapore. Thankfully each of those 3 cities has masses of green space to enjoy which is probably something that draws me to them. Much as I love
being in London for work, the rest of the time I am thankful that we live 20 minutes from the New Forest and the South Downs and the Solent. The city is fun, but the countryside is where I go to relax and unwind. There is something rather perfect about having no 3G or WiFi coverage and switching off completely. In the UK, being in the countryside means staying in a cute self-catering cottage, stocking up on good food and wine, finding a local village pub, snuggling up by a fire with our books and plenty of footpaths to plan a day out on foot or on bikes.
With friends vs With our partner
With friends vs with our partner
Sam and I are incredibly privileged to have travelled as much as we have – whether for work or pleasure – something that neither of us take for granted. Fortunately we travel well together – we’ve got the measure of the type of break that works for us. ‘Us-time’ is so incredibly important and something I always look forward to (we don’t have anything planned for the rest of the year – I need to get planning). But being away with friends is also a lot of fun. Isn’t it marvellous to plan a weekend with a few friends – a real treat for everyone. Normally we end up doing something outdoors and active (boats, bikes and hills) which means we come home exhausted but happy. We both sail too, but on separate boats. It has been a while since I’ve been away for any length of time without Sam, but this
summers sailing will mean quite a lot of time away. I’m not sure who is looking forward to it more – Sam for the peace and quiet at home (!!) or me for just getting out there and sailing with a great bunch of people?
New Places vs Old Favourites
New places vs old favourites
I have a
split personality – I love visiting somewhere new and learning about a new place or culture. In fact I probably love the planning phase of going somewhere new as much as the bit where we actually go – if I am giddy with excitement by the time we get to the airport then that is the sign of an exciting new adventure (I then get hiccups when I have a glass of lounge or plane fizz). But I’m a home-girl too and I love what I know, so I can’t help but
return back to somewhere.
Cornwall is my go to place, swiftly followed by
Norfolk where I have happy summer teenage memories. To me the hallmark of a good holiday is wanting to go back – be that to those favourites, or further afield to
South Africa,
Greece, the
Caribbean or
Sardinia.
Looking vs Photographing
Looking vs photographing
I always return from a trip with hundreds (if not thousands) of photos from any trip I take. However there is a difference between taking photos and taking in the view around you. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower when we
visited Paris in February, hardly anyone was gawping up at the architecture and watching the pretty lights. Instead the vast majority were facing away from it with a selfie-stick held out in front of them trying to get a picture of themselves and the tower. It always makes me chuckle. Increasingly one sees signs that say something like ‘just for a moment, don’t photograph, don’t instragram or tweet, just look and enjoy’. And I couldn’t agree more – the view isn’t going to change if you just take it in and enjoy it for a while first, capture the memories first then the photographs.
Culture vs Vulture
Culture vs vulture
There are of course those contrasts that are noticeable when abroad that can embarrass. What frustrates me the most is people that don’t respect the culture they are visiting. This is a very simple thing to do with great ease – read the internet, read the guide book, or simply use common sense. Our visits to
Arabia are those that I treasure. The most beautiful building in Abu Dhabi is undoubtedly the Grand Mosque – I could have stared at the view from our hotel for hours on end. We visited the mosque one morning – we left behind the western ‘within hotel’ beach attire and suited up in full length tops and trousers as well as a head scarf for me. I wouldn’t call this rocket science, I would call this respect. Sadly the transfer-bus from the hotel was full of other visitors (predominantly British…) in shorts, tshirts, strappy dresses etc. Thankfully the mosque expected these idiots and they provide full length gowns to cover people up – but seriously, it doesn’t take much to ensure you appearance and behaviour can’t offend the local culture. The contrast between those that take the time to try and understand a place and those who don’t give a damn sadly is something that I find hard to understand.
This has been written as part of a travel link up with Kelly’s, Emma’s and Rebecca’s blogs and this months lovely co-host Zoe from Love and Limoncello. Come and join the fun, or click on these links to see some other takes on the theme.
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Lovely post! So on the mark with many of your contrasts!
Author
Thank you – the theme made me have a proper think! Looking forward to reading everyone else’s!
I’m usually one for seeking out new places though there are some countries that are so amazing that I really want to return like Hungary and South Africa. Very nicely put together, Anna
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
Author
Thanks Suze – have never been to Hungary but I need it in my list 😉 South Africa we could go to time and again, glad you love it so too! Ax
I love your point about looking. I think it’s so important! I’m also horrified at some of the outfits that (usually British) people wear – or don’t wear, as the case may be. I just don’t understand how you can go to a place and not realise that may have different customs to those you’re used to at home. I loved reading your list!
Author
Thanks Rachel – I hate to be critical of other travellers but these things always annoy!!
I second the photographing and not enjoying – how can that be enjoyable!?
Author
I love just arriving at a place and looking and enjoying, then photoing (without a selfie stick!!)
Great contrasts! I agree with what you said about respecting cultures – it’s important to live into a contrasting culture to be respectful – well said!
Author
Thanks Liz – enjoying and learning the new culture is part of the travel process…
Great post Anna, and interesting contrasts. I smiled when you mentioned Cliveden and Chedi as they are too places I would love to stay at. xx
Zoe | Love and Limoncello
Author
Thanks Zoe… Aren’t you off to try the Chedi soon… I hope so 😉 xx
Such fantastic contrasts – I totally agree about focusing on the experience, rather than trying to capture every moment for Instagram/the blog! It’s hard not to when you’re faced with such exquisite beauty in some destinations, but at the same time, you really just want to be able to fully enjoy it.
Author
Always at the back of our minds…. What about the blog???
Interesting to think about the contrasts in our travels – I am so with you on the pull between places I love and new places to explore, I think it’s a bit of a bloggers curse of always wanting to find something new to write about, otherwise I’d be back to New York, Sorrento and Dorset every year!
Author
I guess we can keep visiting the same places in different seasons if we can escape the pull back!!
I share your frustration about people who have no respect or awareness of other cultures or the place they are visiting. I sometimes wonder why these people travel if they’re more comfortable acting like they’re still at home?
Author
Good point – I often wonder what the point is if you aren’t going to explore and learn!
Have to agree that it’s the contrasts that make travel so wonderful. I love staying in luxurious hotels where nothing is too much trouble and I aslo love camping, althoough I have to admit I prefer a bit of glamping these days. And then time at home with family and friends is good too.
Author
Variety is the spice of life!! I have never glamped, I think I should!!
When I brag about luxury hotels to my MIL she always says we will never be able to go back. But we love our times at the roadside inns just as much because of this – travel contrasts. Each has it’s place and each is an experience.
Author
Careful choosing always finds some form of luxury I think, even if it isn’t obvious at first!
I totally agree; contrast is what travel and life is all about. We like to mix it up in everything we do, which makes us quite eclectic in our tastes and that can only be a good thing. Great post on contrasts.
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Contrast makes for always having an exciting time! Thanks Paula!
I travel a lot for work and people always say ‘going on holiday again?’ agghhh! but it does have its plus points too! We stay in a lot of 5* hotels for work but we don’t really have the time to enjoy them so staying in a self-catering villa on the beach in June was fantastic 🙂
Author
I always used to think my husband was off on holiday with work until I started doing it too much! Exhausting, a beach villa sounds perfect!
So many great travel contrasts here Anna!
It grates me A LOT when tourists don’t dress appropriately; we had some Australian girls on a trip a few years ago who thought wearing footless tights under their cut off jean shorts was appropriate attire for Libya and Egypt…honestly…and then they complained about it…whack, whack, whack!
I’m very much like you, I don’t mind splashing the cash but I’m also rather happy camping under the stars.
xx
Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes
Author
It happens so often it isn’t a surprise there is so much trouble! xx