Originally Posted by
House
You may argue that people who can't cope with the full-on local experience should not bother visiting, but I do think that even trips where tourists end up sheltered in international hotels and the like bring positive cultural and economic benefits to all concerned.
My only point is that there are a number of ways to travel, and there is also a fundamental difference between tourism and travel. As you say, everyone has their comfort zones, but it's worth knowing all the options. Incidentally, I'm in my mid-50s.