Value Of Disconnecting From Online Travel

Written by Menswear Style
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Travel

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4th February 2025

It’s fair to say that travel is one of the best ways to enjoy a genuine adventure. Sure, you might not be hunting artifacts in old temples and dodging traps like Indiana Jones, but there’s nothing quite like taking a natural interest in a place, heading there, learning all you can about it, having some fun, spending some money, and coming back richer for the experience.

Yet it’s also true that thanks to the wonderful advent of the internet (which we can’t denigrate too much, given how you’re reading this post on it), travel has become more accessible than ever. We can book tickets on the fly, learn about travel tips, check the exchange rate immediately, and see events taking place nearby. All great.

But it’s also true that sometimes, the internet can impede our travel experience. Knowing when and where to disconnect is important. Let’s consider where the value in that lies:

Be Mindful Of Online Travel Videos 

Sometimes, a traveler can have a poor experience and document that on their YouTube channel, making you strike off that place from your plans and losing out on an experience you could have loved. It’s also true that any advice you read, if not given by consensus or an official source, is by its very nature biased. For example, going on wonderful India Tours with guides who are familiar with the locations you head to can be nothing if not inspirational, and give you a much deeper understanding of this ancient land.

Travel Mistakes Can Sometimes Lead To Fun 

Getting lost in a new city or missing your train might feel stressful in the moment, but these mistakes can sometimes lead to unexpected discoveries, and if you’re flexible enough to roll with it, you may find plans adjusted are plans you really do remember. Maybe you find a local café while trying to get your bearings, or you meet friendly locals who help you find your way and get invited to an event with them later on.

Online travel guides try to eliminate every possible mistake for obvious reasons but that can strip away the chance encounters that make travel memorable. Sometimes, the best stories come from when things don’t go exactly as planned (with a fair balance to keep in mind of course), like finding that amazing restaurant because you took a wrong turn, or discovering a hidden beach because you misread the bus schedule. In general, this cuts to the heart of what travel is all about. 

It’s The Less-Traveled Places That Offer The Best Experiences 

 Tourist hotspots are famous for good reasons, but there’s something quite heartfelt about places that don’t make it onto every travel influencer’s Instagram feed. Small towns and villages often preserve their traditions better than major cities for instance, and can really do with your tourist money. The locals tend to be more excited to share their culture with visitors who make the effort to reach them and you might learn more about authentic cuisine this way, for example. You might find yourself invited to a family dinner, or learn about a festival that tourists rarely see like a folk celebration in a village. These places don’t show up in many “top 10” lists online, and that’s exactly what makes them special, because they’re still genuine, still surprising, and still have the power to make you feel like you’ve discovered something real. 

With this advice, we hope you can put online travel insight in its right place instead of feeling dictated to by it.