I feel blessed that my parents take my brother and I to nice places. You see it's not every family who can travel around the world. We went on a 3 month trip of Europe. I know some people who have never been on an airplane let alone out of this country. So you see we need to count our blessings. I'm 22 so it even makes it more special.

I even know some parents that leave their kids behind or they leave their adult children at home to fend for themselves. They know how much I love to travel and learn about the different cultures.

I even heard at a dinner party that a familie's teenagers say they want to stay home as they are not sure of what to expect only to find out that they really wanted to go on the trip but it was too late. I laughed to myself saying"Man I would jump at such opportunities to travel" I don't even remember saying I don't want to go.

If I stayed at home when someone offered to pay for my vacation I would be so dumb especially for a Flyertalk Member who cannot help but be on the move.

I am even more gracious that I have grandparents who will pay for me to see them. I know I could pay my way if I had to but I guess I can be spoiled can't I?

With my family I have stayed at some Four Seasons and a Ritz Carlton plus I have been to many resorts.

And actually thanks to Flyertalk I have been able to score myself upgrades on the airplane and most of the miles I have earned on American were paid by different people so it's like an extra gift.

I am one to appreciate the First Class experience without forking out the money.

I have also learned how to get more for the money such as looking for condos,full size cars upgrades at resorts/hotels and on flights.

I would like to get responses to this forum topic from teenagers and adults who also see the value when their parent's invite them. I mean shoot I could be told to stay at home for 11 days. And I even let my parent's have some alone time while my brother and I spend equal time.

Any responses to this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Amen! I do feel blessed to be able to see different parts of the world, the different cultures and such.

However, I do pay for my fares so I guess that part sucked

My feelings on the subject are mixed. Family vacations included a pretty good "big" trip to Hawaii (was 10) and a third-world-shock one to Jamaica when I was 12 that definitely didn't go as planned but was very educational. From then on it was more like car vacations to places like Myrtle Beach, which is what most families did.

On the one hand the 2 or 3 longer family trips got me used to flying and exposed some things I wouldn't have seen, but on the other it wasn't quite the critical mass that'd launch me with travel on my own (but it still counts as being blessed). Doing a "gap year" around college wasn't on the radar screen for students at universities in the South, and money always seemed way too tight for things like study abroad. Maybe if your friends were doing it, it would be different, but my friends also didn't have the inclination or funds. If I only knew then about resources what I know now.

It wasn't until a short business trip at 27 that I started getting interested in travel again, and I was 29 before I started putting pieces together that were forerunners of today. Saving for six months for an Asia trip that year was also life-changing, and I started the mileage-run/elite status/computer-booking bit that same year (some 14 years ago).

Without going on and on, the best thing I can say is to try to get out there and do the "real" travel while you're young. You won't find it at the Four Seasons or in places like Cancun. The most memorable experiences will come from stepping out of your comfort zone. For me, those were in places like Cambodia (before the crowds), Vietnam, Irian Jaya, Maluku, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Nepal, etc. Many of the places I went aren't "safe" now (making me more glad I went), while in others, like Cambodia, it's much easier now but there are a lot more crowds.

In any case, those type things will give you the stories to tell the future generations, even if they may not always seem great at the time. But when everything is new to you and you have a lot of energy and stamina, you can do the backpacking and hostel-type trips that many, many people (especially in the U.S.) never get to do. Save the trips to "easier" countries (UK, Canada, Australia, much of Europe) for later in life, as you might need the creature comforts more by then, and the costs to travel in the first world are higher, anyway.

danielonn,

I think it's a wonderful tribute to your parents and the way they raised you that you feel blessed to have experienced so many great things in your 22 years. It's not often that people of any age step back and realize just how fortunate they are to have what they have. And that does not necessarily mean monetary or tangible things.

It's nice that you appreciate being with your family and are enjoying your grandparents. Life changes quickly and you can never get those moments back, so savor ever one.

I traveled a lot as a child with my grandmother. She was a world traveler and took me to places that none of my friends ever dreamed of. Heck, most kids my age (back in the early 1970s) had never flown. On every trip, she would bring those orange cheese and peanut butter crackers. That was her ritual. Now, when I take my 3 kids anywhere, I always bring the cheese and peanut butter crackers. They know why. It's a little bit of family tradition.

When my sons each had the opportunity to go to Paris at the age of ten, I tried to impress upon them how fortunate they were to be going somewhere that 99% of people in the world hope to get to but probably never will. They are truly appreciative of the opportunities for travel that they have had and they are now the ones who seek out the next destination.

Continue to enjoy seeing the world, and more importantly, continue to enjoy moments with those you love, and always be thankful for what you have.

What a very thoughtful and respectful post. I imagine your parents and grandparents hope that you will do the same thing for your children as they have done for you.

I guess some people really enjoy hanging out with their parents instead of having 10 days of picking up girls, drinking, partying and having fun. If that's your choice, all the more to you. Just remember that you're only young once and the world isn't going anywhere. I personally wouldn't trade the fun times I had for any travel. Those college years are the most fun years of your life and you make bonds with friends that you will never again have the chance to make.

One thing you should remember though, is that people who 'feel blessed' really should be doing what they can for others. Being a 1A traveller is a very elitist thing in a world where many people live in fear and go hungry most nights. Do you want to really feel blessed? Do something nice for others. Having rich parents and grandparents means that you're spoiled and priviledged. Using that priviledge to make a difference in the world is being blessed.

OP: Very thoughtful post.. its good to see people appreciate things and not take
them for granted.

Very well said ^

I also make it a point to give back to society to help those with disabillities. I make it a point to help those who need it the most. I am not a snobbiish person as I care about society. I work for a College Campus helping students to get acclimated it is really rewarding to be able to give back to society. That is part of my upbringing. I have voulenteered many hours to show how much I appreciate the world we live in.

I don't quite understand the purpose of this thread....

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'm 22 and I pay for all of my travel expenses myself. Those of us who weren't born with the silver spoon in our mouth have to make opportunities for ourselves, hence why I started collecting FF miles in the first place. Good to see you realize your good fortune. ^

(But I'd rather be picking up women than hanging out with my parents, I think that's where we diverge)

I started enjoying vacations a lot more when I paid for them. If you're young and privileged, what are you vacationing from?

I wish my family could have traveled more when I was growing up. Now I appreciate not only the nice hotels and upgrades, etc. but also the things I see along the way that show how amazing this world really is.

It is fantastic that you appreciate what you have been given. Hopefully soon you will fund your own travels and get to appreciate them even more.

I'm curious to know if you are preparing to enter a field that will allow you business travel.

Leave the guy alone. Here's a guy reflecting on the joy of being with his family and enjoying some nice things in life (Things that most everyone on this forum like to enjoy or would like to enjoy - picture flashes in my mind of guy standing near the CSR, flyertalk tag on his briefcase, waiting to hear about an upgrade.) and the best you can offer is to pick apart his English.

Your veiled jealousy is sad, silly, and self-serving. (I know, I know - I didn't indent this; please show me some mercy.)

Jealous? No. Let us all hold hands in a circle and sing Kumbaya for the winners of the ovarian lottery, then.

Some people take vacations not to get away from things, but to experience more, to open their eyes and to take part in things they've never seen before. Some people take vacations to meet people, share stories, and develop bonds that transcend political borders.

I shudder to think of the day when travel becomes my escape from everyday life.

Before you start a little cheering section it might be best you do a search and read some of the...( well.. I best not catagorize them ) posts the OP has started recently and you might find "jealousy" not quite the appropriate feeling on reaches

mike