Questions/Comments that Drive You Nuts from Infrequent Travelers
May 5, 2015, 3:49 pm
#243
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I agree that travel is (or at least should be) a deep and enriching experience, and to reduce it to a count of pins on the map misses the point almost entirely. That said, I regard the question, "How many countries have you been to?" as simply an easy starting point for any number of interesting conversations, not the totality of the conversation itself.
May 5, 2015, 5:03 pm
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I agree that travel is (or at least should be) a deep and enriching experience, and to reduce it to a count of pins on the map misses the point almost entirely. That said, I regard the question, "How many countries have you been to?" as simply an easy starting point for any number of interesting conversations, not the totality of the conversation itself.
That said, Mrs. Lee and I do literally have a large world map in our den with map pins in each place we've visited. Kind of fun to watch it grow and a nice conversation piece, even when just the two of us are sitting there reminiscing and aching with wanderlust.
We will not add a pin in a location unless it was a true visit - staying several nights, eating local meals, visiting sites, etc.
It's also a neat way to remind ourselves of how big the world is and how much of it we haven't experienced yet (and thus need to plan a trip to!).
May 5, 2015, 9:48 pm
#246
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
May 5, 2015, 11:13 pm
#247
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Had one tonight "How do you get your flights?"
I said "I buy them over the internet"
I said "I buy them over the internet"
May 6, 2015, 1:34 am
#248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
May 6, 2015, 6:42 am
#249
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Choice Elite Platinum
Posts: 433
1. I told a friend of mine that I travel frequently on mistake fares and that you have to be signed up to various FT threads/bloggers in order to catch the mistake fare. He says, "Yeah, I know all about it. I've signed up for Kayak alerts, but they get annoying after awhile."
2. Yesterday:
Me: I'm going to Iceland next month.
Friend: WHY?! The only thing there is ICE.
Me: No...*explains different attractions we're going to visit*
Friend: Okay, take a picture of an igloo. I've never seen one in person.
Me: Um.
2. Yesterday:
Me: I'm going to Iceland next month.
Friend: WHY?! The only thing there is ICE.
Me: No...*explains different attractions we're going to visit*
Friend: Okay, take a picture of an igloo. I've never seen one in person.
Me: Um.
May 13, 2015, 5:08 am
#252
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
May 13, 2015, 5:15 am
#253
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
19 years ago I bought a cork board and trimmed a map to fit it for precisely the same reason. We use colored pins to mark each city/area we've been to. I couldn't tell you exactly how many pins are in it, beyond "Well over 100." I'd have to stand there and count. Which isn't the point. Though I can tell you with more precision how many countries I've visited. It's "14 to 17, depending on how you count them."
May 13, 2015, 7:04 am
#254
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Overheard in SYD int'l duty free:
American tourist (loudly and slowly): "Do. You. Take. Dollars. ?"
Duty-free employee (sweetly): "Yes, of course."
* American tourist tries to pay for something.*
Duty-free employee (still smiling): "Ah, no, sir, we only take AUSTRALIAN dollars."
American tourist: "grumble grumble stupid foreign money grump grump."
Duty-free employee (still smiling): "Have a nice day, sir."
American tourist (loudly and slowly): "Do. You. Take. Dollars. ?"
Duty-free employee (sweetly): "Yes, of course."
* American tourist tries to pay for something.*
Duty-free employee (still smiling): "Ah, no, sir, we only take AUSTRALIAN dollars."
American tourist: "grumble grumble stupid foreign money grump grump."
Duty-free employee (still smiling): "Have a nice day, sir."
May 13, 2015, 12:08 pm
#255
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Shanghai (PVG/SHA)
Programs: SQ Gold, AF Platinum, AA Platinum (sadly, expiring soon), QR Silver, EK, MU, HU, PR, HO, OZ, KE
Posts: 685
When at my CouchSurfing host in Mexico City, another American surfing with him asked me, "Where in Singapore are you from?"
"Erm... Singapore is just Singapore..."
"Come on, there must be at least 10 cities there!"
Had to drag him over to the computer and open up Google Maps, type in "Singapore" and then zoom out...
Same guy later, attempting to tell us where he went in Southeast Asia, drew a "map" of the area which basically just had 2 big blobs...