Travel Snobs

We did a similar thing in the South of Spain and there were, fortunately, no "snobs" - although I do know the kind you mean.

The opposite end of the spectrum was represented in our group. There was, at least one couple who seemed incapable of being left on their own to do anything. They forgot to pick up their passports from the hotel reception before leaving, despite our having been clearly instructed to do so.

As the entire group was between 50 and 70, you would think they had been on the planet long enough to know how to take responsiblity for themselves.

It was a very worthwhile holiday, though, and the embarrassment of being herded was rewarded by the queue-jumping which we were able to do at the Alhambra, the Mosque in Cordoba, etc., as all group entrance fees were pre-booked and paid for.

Yes was on a river cruise down the Danube and had to sit at a dinner table with the ultimate travel snob, who moaned all the time that she was used to much better food, had been to much more interesting places, met far more interesting people than us dull little souls who sat and watched the river go by.

Jayanna We had one of those on our cruise. Been on every cruise going. I think he said it was their 5th that year. Absolute authority on ALL cruise companies. Food, excursions, entertainment etc. A terrible boor.
On the other hand there was a couple who delighted in everything. It was their first cruise, they were in their 60s and it was their honeymoon. They really lifted the spirits. When they could get a word in edgeways that is.

The best thing is to ignore such twits. Make your excuses and drift off. We do go on those tours and tend to keep to ourselves as people can be so tedious at times, a good morning is generally all I manage!

I have not been on many organised holidays, but there does seem to be a rule that any such holiday will contain a person or couple whose sole aim is to find fault and work themselves up to a complaint.

I think you can get people of that ilk in any large-ish group. In a book club, they're the ones who've read every book ever printed, or in a sports group such as golf have played with every golf celebrity evah, or at parties, name-drop about other, better parties they've attended in the past.

It says more about their insecurities than it does about you!

Am I a travel snob? We too have just returned from an organised holiday in Northern Spain (and southern France). One of the main subjects of conversation among the group, was the absence of such irritating people, whom we had all experienced in the past.

No Monica, annoying people can ruin a holiday. What is annoying depends on the individual, incessant chatter whilst the guide is talking is infuriating. Not people but I hate things hanging down from overhead shelves.

I don't like the use of the word snobs. On various holidays I've found it very interesting to hear other peoples' experiences and its been a good chance to pick people's brains for top tips and things to avoid. Other people are often the making of a good holiday for me. Just because others might have been to more places than me doesn't make them travel snobs. Similarly, these trips can be very expensive so the food should be good!

My husband and I have been using Airbnb's a lot in the last couple of years and we love being part of a home rather than just staying in some impersonal hotel.
However a couple of people I know have both said "nothing less than 5* would do for them! In fact all the homes we have been in are at least 5* with the added knowledge that we are paying less and we get to hear about where the "secret" places are

overthehill off topic I know but who did you travel with? I often travel alone and have been considering going on an organised tour and would like some recommendations.

We have just returned from Western Sicily using a well known travel co. We knew we would have to mix with all sorts, we chose the holiday because it seemed interesting, and we only had to turn up at the airport.
Most of the group was very nice, chatty and friendly. but... there were two groups of five who considered them superior and NEVER mixed with us "plebs"; they were taken off the coach first so as to eat only together. In fact at the end of 8 days I realised that some of the people were actually with us and not some other random group! It rather spoiled it.
But what rankled was the the tour manager pandered to such behaviour! we all paid the same, we should have been equal. No, they were far more equal than the rest!

Sun seeker, have loved my travels with Just You. A friend regularly uses Solos. Explore also very good if you don't mind roughing it a bit.

Archers/Cosmos tours are very good. We've developed a bit of an Archers habit, I must confess! If you're up for it, they have a system where they pair off singles (if they want to share a room and save the single supplement). We had two women on our tour once who were absolutely chalk and cheese, but got on like a house on fire. There are usually Americans and Canadians on the tours as well as British people, which makes the company more interesting.

We did a cruise on a small recently refurbished chartered ship. The owner and his wife, wealthy Eastern Europeans were on board - perfectly friendly but not overly so. One couple made a beeline for them managing to sit at their table at mealtimes, sitting at the bar with them every evening and hanging onto their every word. The other passengers were very amused that this lasted about three days and then it became obvious that the owner did his best to avoid them cutting them dead when he saw them come into the dining room.

Thanks Jayanna and Maggie I will make a note of those - like the idea of mixing with people from other countries too!

I met one on a cruise. She asked how many cruises I'd been on. I said it was our first. She replied she'd been on five. She asked if I'd heard of Leeds as that's where she was from!!! When I told her I was from Belfast she looked like she was sucking a lemon and turned to speak to someone else.

inishowen. That sort of person needs to be wound up; invite my DH!!!

We usually travel independently, and find we always meet nice people,I havent met travel snobs.We have plenty here around where I live, people here ask what kind of holiday we have had, then dont wait to hear, thats the end of the conversation, but immediately they begin to tell when they were there, in great detail. I am really disappointed at times, as I think it is nice to be able to tell prople what kind of holiday we have had.
One thing I cant stand, is getting on a plane and having a "talker" next to me, needing to talk the entire journey, I must admit I usually only fly over to the UK, and it takes two hours, but sometimes two hours are nice to either read, or just relax, this is somethig coming fom me who is definately a "talker" Better be quiet now!

Sunseeker
We went on our first but definitely not our last Rail Discoveries holiday.
There was one lady by herself who mixed easily with us and others.
DH has decided he's had enough of airports and flying so we tried this. Loved every minute of it as did others but not the TSs of course.
Travelled premium class on Eurostar breakfast going out and dinner coming back. Then high speed train to Spain then coach to lovely 4 star hotel. We found nothing to complain about.....fantastic

It is funny when I meet these people near where I live part of the year in Portugal. Then they start telling me where I should go and the best places to eat which I politely listen to. Then they ask me have I been here before and I tell them I live here. The funny thing is they don't ask me where to go etc.

We have been lucky on our tour holidays that way. Did do a tour of Greece and had an overbearing tour director... left us all shaking our heads and wishing she'd just shut up! Finally someone took her aside and told her we could do with just some quiet time to enjoy the scenery. Turns out this well known UK tour company requires their TD's to give out a certain volume of information and she was new! We said we'd not report her if she left some bits out. By end of tour we all loved her to bits and were sad to leave her and the coach driver.

Our funniest tour was the National Parks Canyonlands in the US. Being American, I grew up on East Coast and had never seen the Grand Canyon LOL! So off we went. One mother and daughter on the tour had done this tour about 8 times. It was the cheapest way to get a good hotel in Vegas where they extend their stay by a week at the end. They were so much fun as they knew the whole tour by heart. I guess they just liked travelling around first before settling down at the slots and tables. Our TD was on the verge of offering them a job to round up the strays who never seem to make it back in time from various stops.

This is making me want to book something, somewhere...in the US. But first want to be sure Trump does NOT get into office!

I jusr went to Italy with One Traveller who were very good at looking after you. Several people felt it was the best of the solo companies they had used.

We went to Sorrento last year with a well known travel company .We have done organised long haul holidays but usually 'do'Europe ourselves .It was surprisingly relaxing and very good value .A bit too much 'nannying'for us but you soon learn to tune it out
Most people on.the trip were actually very well travelled ,but some were aging and in many cases one partner's health was not brilliant .W'd do it again in an area where travelling independently is a hassle. We met one couple at the hotel who admitted getting everywhere by public transport was a pain (no-one not in the first flush of youth /in their right mind would willlingly drive in this area)