Budget or Luxury Travel, You Choose

Perhaps I am peevish because of a forced home recoup period or maybe it is because of all the BS that I am watching in the presidential debates. I thought today about labels and how they can stifle growth. The label thoughts were brought about because I was finishing my piece on a recent trip to Puerto Rico. The trip was what I like to call a, James Bond and Indiana Jones tour. That means rough adventure by day followed by nights in a classy resort, it really doesn’t fit many of the labels or niches that are imposed on the travel media or travel outlets. I find it a shame that some live with those labels that discourage any kind of traveling outside narrow perimeters.

If you go to many outlets you will find that they all claim to be either the best, most authentic or the only way to travel. Strangely I find sites devoted to budget travel just as snobbish as those touting luxury, almost as if spending money cheapens exploration. There is no right or wrong way to travel, it is and should be up to the individual. I remember reading a lot about Tony Wheeler being a sell out because he sold Lonely Planet and said he wanted to do some luxury travel. God bless him for what he has done for budget travel and I doubt if many have traveled harder trails then he has. The point is how and why he travels is his choice. I personally enjoy the shear act of seeing new places and in different modes, label me as just plain traveler. I will not force myself into any one style, there is just too much to see out there! Let the debates begin.