Post: #1

I've been thinking that this may be the best time in history to be an American with the travel bug.

Why it's better now than the past:
1. Commercial flights are relatively new and have only gotten cheaper and cheaper, making weekend warrior trips to Costa Rica (for example) affordable to almost everybody. In the past, most people were priced out by the cost of travel, but now a 3000 mile flight coast to coast costs less than most Americans earn in a single day.

2. Information is so readily available you don't have to try and figure things out from scratch anymore. If I were to travel to Colombia, I could spend a couple hours researching the free info on this forum and already know the best way to bang a hot non-pro Colombiana. 20 years ago this would not have been possible.

3. English is more widely spoken now, such that we can go almost anywhere in the world and get by without having to learn the local language.


Why it's better now than the future:
1. We're still exotic. Few things in life are better than being a celebrity without having to do anything, and with still only a quarter of Americans holding passports, a gringo can easily find a second-tier city and be the only American the locals have seen in months. This was my experience in Manaus Brazil. The exotic factor will go down with time as more and more of us leave our greasy fingerprints everywhere. Look at Parque Lleras in Medellin as a good example.

2. The world is still largely un-americanized. Americanization across the globe is happening at an increasing rate, and this is a very bad thing for us. The more McDonalds that open up, the women will get fatter. The more episodes of "Friends" that air, the women will get bitchier (oops, I mean "empowered") and more feminist. Plus, the more Americanized a foreign culture gets, the less reason there is to visit it. If I wanted America I would stay at home.

3. Geo-arbitrage. The more globalized the world economy becomes, the fewer opportunities will exist that allow one to live a superior lifestyle for less dough. For example, many US companies are outsourcing jobs to the UPI. The law of supply and demand dictates that therefore wages will go up in the UPI, which means I'll have to pay more there for my full time chef and masseuse. The less efficient the market, the more opportunities for arbitrage, period.

Post: #2

The answer is yes. Large swaths of Eastern Europe even 10 years ago was a single man's paradise in ways that I cannot even describe to people because nobody would believe me in today's day and age.

It's always better to be 3-4 steps ahead of Joe Sixpack and the McHerd.

Post: #3

(10-02-2010 03:53 PM)gringoed Wrote:  I've been thinking that this may be the best time in history to be an American with the travel bug.

2. The world is still largely un-americanized. Americanization across the globe is happening at an increasing rate, and this is a very bad thing for us. The more McDonalds that open up, the women will get fatter. The more episodes of "Friends" that air, the women will get bitchier (oops, I mean "empowered") and more feminist. Plus, the more Americanized a foreign culture gets, the less reason there is to visit it. If I wanted America I would stay at home.

Are most Americans still under the mistaken impression that the American empire is in ascendance and it's world domination will continue indefinitely?

If so, a lot of you are in for a very rude awakening.

Post: #4

I would hope that as American dominance recedes, so does its soft power of spreading its values upon the world.

In particular, feminism, obesity, and mindless consumerism are viruses we've created that I wish would cease to exist. The world can't cope with a China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia that all want to live like American people do. The resources aren't available and at the end of the day the math just doesn't work.

This is the best time in the world for people in general to travel. But as Gringoed pointed out, our niche as Americans will slowly dwindle. As an Asian guy I fit a different niche about what makes me unique and thus high value so I fit in well in different parts of the world.

On a random note, ryanair recently started flights from Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Turkey to Estonia. Here comes the cockfest....

Post: #5

(10-02-2010 09:46 PM)ManAbout Wrote:  

(10-02-2010 03:53 PM)gringoed Wrote:  I've been thinking that this may be the best time in history to be an American with the travel bug.

2. The world is still largely un-americanized. Americanization across the globe is happening at an increasing rate, and this is a very bad thing for us. The more McDonalds that open up, the women will get fatter. The more episodes of "Friends" that air, the women will get bitchier (oops, I mean "empowered") and more feminist. Plus, the more Americanized a foreign culture gets, the less reason there is to visit it. If I wanted America I would stay at home.

Are most Americans still under the mistaken impression that the American empire is in ascendance and it's world domination will continue indefinitely?

If so, a lot of you are in for a very rude awakening.

I think the OP is in agreement with you, as am I.

Our dominance is receding, but the "tail effects" of our previous cultural dominance are still propagating out, which for the most part is bad for gamers-- entitled women, more money overseas, more fatties.

Post: #6

F-no. Try like 25 years ago before backpackers ran places like South America.

Post: #7

It depends what your values are. If you're just interested in easy sex. Yeah, I suppose now, depending on where you go. If you mean ease of travel and quality of destinations and ease of communication, I imagine they're going to get better as time goes on for the most part.

Honestly, the whole "instant celebrity" thing bugs me as much as I enjoy it. As nice as it is at times, having women flock to me just because I'm white gets tedious after a while because you know all they want is money and a sugar daddy. The women this ends up attracting are the vacuous ones with no personality and usually no intelligence.

I also see Americanization of a lot of these cultures as a bad thing. Fortunately, I feel like that's starting to plateau a bit as well as there being a decent amount of backlash in many parts of the world.

Overall, it's an excellent time to travel, but I imagine some aspects of it are only going to get better. While the woman side will probably even out and a lot of the advantages we enjoy today won't be worth as much in the future.

But honestly, as crazy as this sounds, and as ignorant and annoying as a lot of American girls are... I appreciate a woman that I've worked for and connected with back home a lot more than a lot of these 3rd World women who you just walk by, say hello, buy a drink and that's that.

Human nature is to appreciate what you've earned, and that's one thing (if maybe the only thing) that Western women seem to understand that women in the other parts of the world often don't.

But then again, maybe I'm just a bit jaded right now because I'm in Thailand and I can't get away from the fucking prostitutes... sigh... Grass is always greener.

Post: #8

I would say it was better in the past.

Being American had a benefit, where today after a certain President, being American is a wash.

"Information is so readily available you don't have to try and figure things out from scratch anymore."

This cuts both ways. Back in the day, you had to have some inside knowledge or be a pioneer. Now its almost too easy, and therefore more kooks in the water, so to speak.

But, technology has made things easier like running a biz back in the states while you travel.

I do think the future will be worse than today.

Post: #9

(10-04-2010 02:25 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Being American had a benefit, where today after a certain President, being American is a wash.

Very very true. This certain President brought out a terrible image of the US that will linger for many years and it has had a negative on most American's travels abroad.

Post: #10

Not only have we lost our "exotic" benefits, I really think we have lost a lot of respect.

It doesn't seem like forgeiners really like America, or respect us as much. I have had at least 3 different girls ask me, "American girls are really fat, yes?" on this trip. Either they are reading Roosh's blog, or we just have a big image problem.

Gone are the days of girls looking at you with a glow in their eye and a smile on their face and saying "Oh! You are American! From California! I love California. My dream is to one day go to California".

Granted, it is not really that bad today, and I am comparing it to glory days gone by, but I really have noticed a difference.

Anyone else? (Keep in mind this question really applies to people that did a lot of traveling in the last 20 years. If you started traveling 5 years ago, I doubt you would notice anything different).

Post: #11

For Americans, the best time to travel was probably the late 90s. Clinton and as a result America had a very positive image around the world. Of course, there were the usual dissenters, but the world was a friendlier place for Americans. And the economy was booming. Working in IT, it was absolutely nuts. Consulting companies were offering $100K+ packages to guys with barely 2 years of experience. They were desperate for warm bodies just to fill their jobs. I used to work doing consulting in the US, 4 days working, 3 days off. On the weekends, instead of coming back home, I used to take off to where ever there was a direct flight. London, Amsterdam, whatever. When I submitted my expense reports, nobody even blinked.

Post: #12

(10-04-2010 02:25 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  I would say it was better in the past.

Being American had a benefit, where today after a certain President, being American is a wash.

"Information is so readily available you don't have to try and figure things out from scratch anymore."

This cuts both ways. Back in the day, you had to have some inside knowledge or be a pioneer. Now its almost too easy, and therefore more kooks in the water, so to speak.

But, technology has made things easier like running a biz back in the states while you travel.

I do think the future will be worse than today.

What country are you in?

Post: #13

As far as Eastern Europe however, aren't the secondary cities still fairly ugly-American free ? I know in Novosibirsk there is hardly any expat community, and it's one of the largest cities in Russia.

Hard to economically get to if you've got to be back at work in a couple days though.

Post: #14

(10-04-2010 01:15 PM)newplayboy Wrote:  

(10-04-2010 02:25 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  I would say it was better in the past.

Being American had a benefit, where today after a certain President, being American is a wash.

"Information is so readily available you don't have to try and figure things out from scratch anymore."

This cuts both ways. Back in the day, you had to have some inside knowledge or be a pioneer. Now its almost too easy, and therefore more kooks in the water, so to speak.

But, technology has made things easier like running a biz back in the states while you travel.

I do think the future will be worse than today.

What country are you in?

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Post: #15

Interesting how nobody said the future. How bleak!

Generally, we're not as exotic anymore, but that's still only true for 1st tier and some 2nd tier destinations. There are still a TON of places off the map where we might be the first American people have ever seen. Hint: Tell them you live in Hollywood!

G: Good points. I'm always amazed at how much my foreign friends know about American news and politics, which of course means they know about all our stupid shit that we've done (not going to mention names). Respect definitely lost. We need to do something good again besides Apple products. Like, be friends with Cuba or something.

ManAbout: It's always good to have unlimited spending. However, even 10 years ago I would have been pretty clueless on whether girls are better in Bolivia or Colombia. That's that kind of info that can make/break even the most spendthrift trip.

Post: #16

I have no doubt that travelling is easier and better nowadays. I can get to any point in Europe spending 10 euros on a flight. There was recently a reporter that flew all over europe for 10 euros flights and staying with couchsurfers. The no visa restriction for most of european countries is a bless. Thank you Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, Norwegian, etc, etc. God bless the low costs carriers. I really miss skyeurope a low cost that made Lisbon-Prague for 60 euros. Ahhhh Sky Europe...
Transcontinental flights are also cheaper. Waiting for Ryanair to start doing them.
I hear from various people that EE was better 10 or 15 years ago. But if you go there and travel to a secondary city like Mixx did with Lasko you will still find gems.

In the future there will probably be standing seats, Ryanair and some chinese airlines are already studying it. Flights will be even cheaper. There will probably come a time were we can teletransport ourselves like in Star Trek.

The downside of it is the losing of cultural heritage and deep globalisation.

I was recently planing my trip to Moscow with some friends but all the paperwork, visa, invitations, etc, between other stuff made us postpone it. Maybe I will try Budapest in the end of the month.

Post: #17

Why is now a bad time to travel for Americans?

Because we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan and continue to opress many Central and South American countries. We are the world bullies. Though most people look past this, I've definitely talked to a couple of girls in clubs in Brazil that wouldn't talk to me because I was American. I was even talking to one for a good 3 minutes until I asked where I was from and told her the US. Her bitch ass response was, "You're American? I don't want to talk to you."

Post: #18

Brandon,

"I've definitely talked to a couple of girls in clubs in Brazil that wouldn't talk to me because I was American."

You are the only person I have heard mention that on here, although one of my good friends said the exact same thing.

I wonder if it was the timing, he went I think 3 years ago or so.

The more I think about this topic, it amazes me anyone would say that traveling is better now than in the past when you consider security hassles these days.

Pepini, break this down: "I can get to any point in Europe spending 10 euros on a flight."

Post: #19

Brandon and G,

That's weird about the Brazilian girl, but she might have thought Brandon was a sex tourist if in Rio? I don't know.

The security hassles are definitely a pain in the ass at the airports. But how great is it to have all this travel info available on the internet, and the ability to book tickets and reservations online, instead of having to make a bunch of phonecalls? That part of it is fucking awesome!

Post: #20

It happened to me twice, once in Sao Paulo the first day I arrived in Brazil and once in Vitoria. Both the girls were obviously snobby cunts and we were at upscale clubs. The one from Vitoria went on about how she preffered Europe and how everything was better in Europe than the US. It was almost like she wanted to keep talking with me just to tell me how bad the US sucked.

Post: #21

(10-11-2010 12:58 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Pepini, break this down: "I can get to any point in Europe spending 10 euros on a flight."

I´ve actually already travelled for free. After a reportage by BBC about Ryanair, the following day the low cost carrier without advertising offered completely free flights. At that time I would check Ryanair site everyday cause promotions can be annouced at 02 am and soon cheap tickets are taken.

I booked like 10 flights but only made this trip to germany.
http://www.ryanair.com/

Just check promotions and you will fly almost for free. If you wanna see the promotions from the country your departing from or making connections change the country language in the right corner.

Since Ryanair doesn´t fly from Lisbon I normally do Lisbon Madrid ( by Easyjet) and from Madrid, Ryanair, Wizzair, etc.

Here´s the documentary where this chick flies all over europe for 10 euros:

http://ipensamentos.blogs.sapo.pt/5669.html

(it´s in portuguese)

Other sites:
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/handpicked-travel-deals/
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/


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