Comments on: Raising Responsible Travelers

By: Turtle

Turtle — Wed, 01 May 2013 06:17:45 +0000

Traveling off season was recommended by the book’s author. It’s also just so much nicer as a visiting tourist. I’m not sure what the difference is for high and low season in Cambodia. For example, I visited some castles here in Germany during off season and that meant that the gardens weren’t in bloom, the fountains were turned off and covered, and many of the rooms were being refurbished. It also meant that we had two people in front of us in line, had a group of 3 families on the tour, and we could take our time. Cambodia has a milder climate than Germany, so I wonder if off season there just means more rain?

By: eileen at FamiliesGo!

eileen at FamiliesGo! — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:08:39 +0000

We really enjoyed our visit to Cambodia a few years ago. It was off season so it was hard to gauge how heavily touristed Ankor has become. Hopefully they will come around and do things that are done in other places (like Machu Pichu) to limit the number of people coming through to a manageable level.

By: Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

Michele {Malaysian Meanders} — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:56:08 +0000

I’ve really been struggling with this while traveling through Asia. When we went to Chiang Mai, I was unsure about visiting a long neck hilltribe village. Was I perpetuating a lifestyle that they’re maintaining only because it’s a source of income? In the end I was glad I visited since the women I talked to indicated that their life is better making and selling handicrafts in the village rather than working in the fields.

I don’t know what I’m going to do in Cambodia, though. In my brain, I know that giving the street kids money only encourages their parents to continue sending them out to beg. Not giving them money will help them in the long term. But in the short term, they will be deprived of whatever that money buys, like food. That just breaks my heart, especially when I know that my picky eaters will probably leave food behind on their plates in Cambodia.

In Penang, Malaysia where I live, I visited a school for Muslim refugees from Myanmar. They don’t get have a right to education here, so it’s led entirely by volunteers and donations. When I left, I realized that the airfare that we were using for our Australia trip would have paid for 5 years of rent for that school. That really weighed on my mind for a while.

Us travelers are so fortunate to be able to take our kids to see the world. But sometimes it doesn’t seem quite fair for those children who can’t even get a decent meal or education.

By: Turtle

Turtle — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:45:29 +0000

Lisa, yes, exactly. Other countries being treated like our own personal playground. That’s the perfect description. And Danielle, I agree that it is more difficult to feel the responsible tourist when so focused on our kids. But, in some ways,having kids has probably made it easier/more natural to be better travelers. I mean, I am more likely to want to stay at a nicer hotel that isn’t as good to the locals (I don’t know how to find this information out on a per-hotel basis) or want to go to a restaurant that I know my kids are more familiar with, but I’m also more likely to avoid the huge crowds and even try quiet restaurants away from the tourist area.

By: Rebecca@R We There Yet Mom

Rebecca@R We There Yet Mom — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:41:59 +0000

We love staycations – we plan several a year!

Thanks for linking up.

By: Lisa Goodmurphy

Lisa Goodmurphy — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:35:51 +0000

Lots of interesting points to think about – particularly the idea of approaching travel in other countries the way that we would approach travel where we live. I think too many travelers treat other countries like their personal playgrounds rather than someone else’s home.

By: Danielle@Bubs on the Move

Danielle@Bubs on the Move — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:51:49 +0000

Well said. I find that it is more difficult to be responsible tourist with kids because (just as I am when I am at home with them) I am focused on just coping. The staycation idea is a good one.

By: Turtle

Turtle — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:39:37 +0000

I will have to check out the book, too. It’s available on the kindle, so that makes it easier for me to do so.

By: Andrea, Passports And Pushchairs

Andrea, Passports And Pushchairs — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:30:52 +0000

This is definitely something we think about with every trip we take. I will have to check out this book!