I have a hard time defining it, but I know it when I see it.

There are pockets within the U.S., Canada, and Europe that still seem highly exotic to me. If a place has awesome natural beauty and has managed to integrate a tourism industry in a tasteful manner, then it doesn't have to be 24 hours of flights for me to be inspired and find it to be at least somewhat exotic.

That's probably why I may never make it to the Maldives or Seychelles. There are parts of Kauai, Lanai, or Molokai that I'd find just as appealing. Or maybe a Caribbean island (although I know less about those). Whatever the miles/points/time/money needed to get to those farther locations, I'd quickly think "I should be using these on something besides an island/resort type trip."

And maybe some of it is the sheer presence of other tourists. I found Dahshur in Egypt to be highly exotic. Got lots of good photos without another human being in sight. When we entered the North Pyramid, we were the only two there...just a couple guards and our cab driver waiting outside. The quiet of the desert made you forget that a few miles away was Giza with its throngs of bus tours and hawkers selling trinkets...