Defining Well Traveled

I usually associate the term with knowledge. People who KNOW the what, where, whens, etc of traveling regardless of whether they take two trips a year or 20.

You can even spot the difference. I see people zipping through the airport with the perfect luggage system, etc who just know exactly what they're doing. And then there are the people who go into the X-ray without removing their belt or taking 20 oz mountain dew bottle or laptop out of their bag.

I consider myself well traveled, in addition to my vacations I have lived in Germany, Italy, and Bahrain.

In the US I have lived in MO,OK,TN,FL,WA,NJ,IL, and, VA.

My Dad used to say “ Did you know the baker “? He meant were you part of the fabric, did you talk to everybody, did you learn what makes the neighborhood tick ? The neighborhood being more of a true study than mastering the politics or history of a place.

For instance , I spent a couple years living in rural Japan with Japanese families . I know Japanese people and Japanese culture. I know the rhythm of that country.But I can’t tell you where to get a good haircut or buy a suit in Tokyo. I have no idea . Like visiting America and living in rural Texas instead of New York or LA.

In 2018-2019 I traveled or will travel to BC, Thailand, Monte Carlo, Italy and France. All for pleasure. I go to a place and walk and eat and chat people up.Everything seems a little larger than life when I travel. I feel alive out of my comfort zone.

But I meet people who REALLY travel. Wealthy people. I’m not that. I eat cheap and go off the grid. I wander. I’m doing 3 weeks solo in Thailand soon with no real gameplan. That’s how I like it. Just go and see what happens.

I agree HGG. I have no idea how to define it. It’s like SCOTUS with pornography: “I know it when I see it.”

FWIW I’ve been to maybe 10-12 countries and 26 states and I don’t consider myself well-traveled.

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DoUrden

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You ARE well traveled. You’ve set he travel board benchmark very high.

Hard to define, but I would say I do not set the bar too high as far as how many trips. I don't necessarily think it is about the quantity of countries, but the quality of experience.

For example, I know people that spent a summer backpacking Europe and maybe hit 10 countries, but used travel agents and spent the entire time on Hop-on-Hop off buses or guided tours. Or people that have hit 6 countries in the Caribbean on cruises. I would not define either of those people as "well traveled".

On the other hand, I know people that spend their summers traveling different parts of the US and only a few places abroad, but in local areas where they really got a feel of things. I would consider those more well travel than the aforementioned.

As for me, I have been to 44 states, and 6 countries (although I will add Germany/Czech Republic and Vietnam over the next 6 months). I would consider myself well traveled, but definitely not "very" well traveled.

There are definitely a few that have posted in this thread whom I would consider very well traveled and always appreciate stories and advice from
I am very lucky to have parents that taught me the importance of traveling and how it shapes your view of the world and the people in it.

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I know people who have traveled plenty, but they don't know anything outside of the walls of the resort they stayed in or the guided tours they went on.

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There is a difference between a Tourist and a Traveler.

Absolutely, and, unfortunately, there are plenty more of tourists than there are travelers.

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There is a difference between a Tourist and a Traveler

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Good way of putting it