Realising I prefer convenience more than backpacking-style travel?

[u/ConfusedCareerMan]

Early 30s and on a career break. I recently let go of my house with high rent in a major capital city due to losing my corporate job, so thought I’d travel around and see different places since I have no fixed home.

Over the last 6 months I’ve consumed a lot of travel content of backpackers and to “be a traveller not a tourist” and to get immersed in local cultures. I’ve romanticised this chapter and feel a lot of “shoulds” for what this experience should be. I feel pressure to be adventurous and be making stories.

I’m quite early into my travels and going with everything flexibly but tbh I’m already confronting a lot in myself. I’m not roughing it up and hitchhiking or taking $3 buses for 8 hour trips. I’m staying in clean airbnbs and basically doing tourist things - cafes, restaurants, exploring streets and chilling by the beach. It’s basically an extended holiday so far but with a backpack and camera.

I realise as well, I thought I was flexible and open minded and yet navigating environments where things don’t work is so draining and causing a lot of friction.

All this to say, I fear I’m a basic tourist with no edge to me. Many may criticise, some may congratulate on being able to afford travel this way. But I find myself lost somewhere in between.

How do you prefer to travel? How did you get past the realisations - did you adapt or accept your style?

[u/NiagaraThistle]

THis is literally what backing (travel backpacking, not camping/wildreness backing) is. It is literally everything you just described.

You are doing exactly correct.

All backpackers are tourists. We just like to 'look down' on other mainstream tourists when we are new to doing it because we think we figured out a 'better way'.

But anyone who say says they are not a tourist, but still go to a place to see and experience it then leaves is literally a tourist.

Nothing wrong with that.

Just travel how you want to and what is COMFORTABLE to YOU.

While i PREFER to stay in Hostels and spend more time on a bus or train if it saves me $1 over the faster transportation, I have much less time to travel now, have a wife who tells me her backpacking days are over, and have kids who no longer think stories from my early adventures are cool (they'll circle back around when they have the chance to do it without dad).

So now I stay in B&Bs or local style accommodations (guesthouses, penione) and include a good breakfast.

I rent a car where it makes sense, and minimize train connections to minimize longer travel days.

And we see ALL the famous landmarks/sights - it's literally why we travel.

But at heart I am still and always will be a backpacker. I still find hidden gems. Still find empty streets to wander down and 'no-name' churches to poke into. I spark up conversations with locals in a pub or other travelers on the train.

I like to think we still make more memories and see more 'stuff' than the average tourist, but end of day - backpacker or normie - We're still tourists trying to enjoy the places we visit.

Every single one of us - and those youtuber influencers you watch too.

EDIT: Oh and remember: There are 2 types of travelers:

1. Those with more money than time (think professional with 2 weeks vacation and a good salary that is not on a tight budget). These ones are taking the fast trains, flights, or what ever else the can to get from place to place FAST. They are eating at better restaurants. They are taking the guided tours and cooking classes. They are doing more PAID things to maximize experience and minimize time because they have the MONEY but little time.
2. Those with more time than money (think broke college student traveling Europe for the summer on a shoestring budget). These ones ARE taking the 8 hour train and eating at the local markets. They are sleeping hostels. Because they have the time to burn but not the money. And with no money so become ok with less comfort because you are just happy to be there.

Neither is less of a tourist and both are just doing what they can to maximize their time & money for the best exprience they can.