The Hurried Tourist

As a Geographer, I’ve traveled. A lot. I’ve taken solo jaunts and been on guided excursions; been a group tour guide and one for myself. After years of traveling from all different angles, there’s one thing I’ve noticed: most tourists try and do too much.

Whether you’re planning a trip on your own or you have a travel agent/company doing it for you, be careful to pace yourself. Here are a couple examples…

Let’s say you only have a one week vacation coming and you want to “do Europe”. The first-time tourist (and sometimes the perpetual tourist) might think, “Okay, seven days…I’m seeing London, Paris, and Amsterdam”. Can it be done? Sure. But can you REALLY appreciate anything along the way in five days? (Five days because it takes one to get there and one to get home). A trip of five days visiting London, Paris, and Amsterdam might look something like this:

Day 1: Fly from home to London, overnight flight

Day 2: Grab the “tourist” hop-on-hop-off bus way early and zip around the city with stops at Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. In the evening, visit the British Museum or the Tate Gallery (depending on tastes).

Day 3: board early morning Eurostar to Paris via the chunnel, arrive in Paris in time for lunch. Secure hotel and take Metro to see Eiffel Tower, Sacre Cour, and Notre Dame. Overnight in Paris.

Day 4: The Louvre and Museé D’Orsay.

Day 5: Take early train from Paris to Amsterdam, arriving in afternoon. Visit the
Hague and take a canal tour. Overnight in Amsterdam.

Day 6: Outdoor museums, walking, “cafes”.

Day 7: Fly home.

Doable, yes? Should it be? I would advise against it. I mean, what about Portobello Road, Hyde Park, and Greenwich--all staples of London and so fascinating!? And then there's Versailles, the Montmarte Cemetery, the Sewers, and street life of Paris--they should be included in any itinerary that wants to "see" Paris!

My suggestion would be SLOW DOWN! On a whirlwind tour, is there really time to take it all in…savor the moment?

If you are limited on time when traveling, focus on fewer destinations and more time in situ—in place. The moral: when traveling, see more by doing less.

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