There’s a lot I love about travel and a few things I don’t. A
big one is dealing with a travel snob.
You know the type. They know the best places to stay, the
best restaurants to dine in and the best tours to take. They know everything. And
even if their advice isn’t requested, they’ll give it anyway.
They are the masters, superior to others, while holding a
narrow-minded view
of travel. And their conversations are all about them. What others think is
unimportant. And the saddest part is that often they are oblivious to how their
comments and behaviors affect others and exhibit no insight whatsoever.
Here are ways to identify the travel snob, how to not be
one, and healthy ways to deal with them.
Commenting About Other’s Itineraries
“I can’t believe you didn’t see xxxx or, how did you miss
that?” You know, just because a certain place is high on your priority list,
doesn’t mean it is on someone else’s. Please don’t assume every traveler is
like you and has the same interests in mind.
The ‘Know It All’ on Tours
On a small group walking tour of Genoa, Italy, a gentleman
instantly became the “quasi” tour director, interrupting, constantly giving his
opinion and elaborating on the historical points made by the tour director whom
he seemed in direct competition with.
It was obvious the group wasn’t happy, evidenced by their
eyerolls and sighs. A few tour guests took the tour director aside and
explained their disappointment in the situation and how it was distracting. But
instead of confronting the individual directly, the group let the tour guide
handle it. He took the person aside in a
private, professional manner. After a few minutes, the individual decided he
would rather venture off on his own.
Even if you are excited about a particular venue or
destination and want to share what you know, or think you know, let the tour guide
do his/her job. People are there to hear his expertise, not yours.
The Expert on Another Culture
Experiencing new cultures is one of the most delightful
parts of the travel experience. To assume you are an expert on a culture simply
because you’ve visited a destination more than once is faulty.
I recall touring a fascinating Native American museum in
Santa Fe where a gentleman went on and on about the Pueblo people who created
many of the works in the museum. One of the friends I was with is an art expert
on the tribal communities and he instantly recognized that the gentleman was
incorrect about many of his facts. An expert on the Pueblo people? Hardly.
Complaining About Too Many Tourists
This has to be one of my favorite pet peeves. The couple who
visits Venice or Santorini in the summer and complains about
the crowds.
The thought that instantly comes to mind is, “Well you’re
here, doesn’t that make you part of the problem?”
Criticizing Others Who Love Iconic Places
“We don’t travel to touristy spots. We prefer the small,
remote, hard-to-reach places that reflect a true cultural experience.”
I’m sure we’ve all heard something similar to this from the
lips of the travel snob.
Here’s some advice. You do you, and let others do what they
want.
My extended family took a spring break trip to Amsterdam and
visited the Anne Frank house. A tourist snob later commented, “Why did you go
there, it’s a tourist trap?” Well, first, my family wanted their children to
experience this emotionally touching part of history, and secondly, what sane
person visits the Anne Frank house and leaves thinking it’s merely a tourist trap?
Just wow.
Dealing with the Travel Snob
One of the main ways to deal with a travel snob is to first understand
their underlying motive. Self-promoting methods like bragging often cover for an
underlying sense of insecurity. No, you are not responsible for deep-diving
into their heads or solving their issues, but, nor should you have to deal with
behaviors that are bothersome when you travel.
However, there are healthy and non-healthy ways of
responding.
First, no matter how irritating a travel snob is, don’t waste
time challenging their comments. Doing so will force them to dig even deeper to
support their viewpoint.
One of the best ways we’ve found is to simply disengage. On
a European river cruise, a couple took some seats next to my husband and I and two
of our friends in the lounge. Almost immediately, the couple began asking
questions and then inserting their personal perspectives into the discussion
and dominating it.
We could tell our friends were uncomfortable, as we were,
but instead of engaging or challenging their attitudes and points of view, we merely
left the area and went top side explaining that we had other friends to meet.
Another way to respond, that I wouldn’t personally waste my
time with, but those with quick minds and a sense of humor like my
brother-in-law handled a travel snob’s comment about the Anne Frank house this
way, “Because I can’t see the Anne Frank house in Asheville, North Carolina.”
That quickly ended the conversation.
The bottom line here is this. Please don’t be “that” person-
the travel snob. Bragging and being opinionated won’t help your self-esteem
issue. That may take therapy.
Next, don’t get all wrapped around the axle when you encounter
a travel snob. No matter how I’ve been tempted to respond, I remember that I
love travel, and no one has the power to ruin my experience, unless I let them.
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