We at tripwolf feel that new and better ways to travel have become
possible through the internet and social networks. We tried to put this
feeling into words and
we have come up with a 10-point manifesto for a new generation of
travelers.
Please read our manifesto and let us know: Do you share our thoughts? Are we onto something here? Do you have anything to add or did we miss your personal travel mantra? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Please read our manifesto and let us know: Do you share our thoughts? Are we onto something here? Do you have anything to add or did we miss your personal travel mantra? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
A Ten-Point Declaration for Digital Nomads, Flashpackers, tripwolves, and other Travelers in the 21st Century
1.
We are not tourists – we are travelers!
We plunge directly into the life of the place where we travel. We do not desire to be spectators at an amusement park, we do not want or desire canned tourism where one checks sights off a list. We seek real adventures and authentic experiences with local people. We thrive on sharing aspects of their daily lives, jumping fully into every experience – then we move on.
2.
The Internet is our most vital companion
The Internet helps us cultivate connections no matter where we are in the world. We use the Web and mobile devices to retrieve information and to make contacts, transcending any boundaries. We are connected through friends with the entire world, getting better tips from people on the ground than we could ever get from tourism professionals or outdated manuals that cannot keep up with the ever-changing world. We have embraced the Internet to make travel easier than ever before
3.
We travel directly, forging new paths
We don't want travel agents, packaged tours, pre-planned routes from tourist guides; middlemen who present flat postcard images of destinations and restrict our travels to limited preconceptions and social stereotyping. We create our own itineraries and let personal recommendations inspire and guide us.
4.
Friends are the key to our destinations
Through our social networks, we have friends all over the world. We know how to establish contacts before we even arrive. Whether in the bazaar of Tehran or the Peruvian Andes, the Internet allows us to find like-minded people who share the secrets of their homelands and even become lifelong friends. After we leave, we nurture our friendships across time zones and continents. Our network is ever expanding.
5.
We are missionaries of the Internet
We don’t mind a little dust on our electronic devices. Our laptops and cell phones are shamelessly part of our packing list. We know there are Internet cafes to be found around every corner from Morocco to Vietnam. We regard unrestricted access to the Internet as a fundamental human right for everyone. That’s why we seek hotels and cafes with free Wi-Fi – and boycott those that charge extra for Internet access.
We are not tourists – we are travelers!
We plunge directly into the life of the place where we travel. We do not desire to be spectators at an amusement park, we do not want or desire canned tourism where one checks sights off a list. We seek real adventures and authentic experiences with local people. We thrive on sharing aspects of their daily lives, jumping fully into every experience – then we move on.
2.
The Internet is our most vital companion
The Internet helps us cultivate connections no matter where we are in the world. We use the Web and mobile devices to retrieve information and to make contacts, transcending any boundaries. We are connected through friends with the entire world, getting better tips from people on the ground than we could ever get from tourism professionals or outdated manuals that cannot keep up with the ever-changing world. We have embraced the Internet to make travel easier than ever before
3.
We travel directly, forging new paths
We don't want travel agents, packaged tours, pre-planned routes from tourist guides; middlemen who present flat postcard images of destinations and restrict our travels to limited preconceptions and social stereotyping. We create our own itineraries and let personal recommendations inspire and guide us.
4.
Friends are the key to our destinations
Through our social networks, we have friends all over the world. We know how to establish contacts before we even arrive. Whether in the bazaar of Tehran or the Peruvian Andes, the Internet allows us to find like-minded people who share the secrets of their homelands and even become lifelong friends. After we leave, we nurture our friendships across time zones and continents. Our network is ever expanding.
5.
We are missionaries of the Internet
We don’t mind a little dust on our electronic devices. Our laptops and cell phones are shamelessly part of our packing list. We know there are Internet cafes to be found around every corner from Morocco to Vietnam. We regard unrestricted access to the Internet as a fundamental human right for everyone. That’s why we seek hotels and cafes with free Wi-Fi – and boycott those that charge extra for Internet access.
6.
We regard travel as a fundamental lifestyle
For us, traveling begins around the corner in our own neighborhood, on any street that we have not yet absorbed through traveler’s eyes. We know that traveling has little to do with distance and everything to do with curiosity and the exploratory spirit of a child. Wherever we go we are always open and thrive on new experiences.
7.
We fully experience every destination
We immerse ourselves in our destination completely. We want to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch it – and above all, understand it! We know we need to supplement our first hand experiences with knowledge and background explanations. We would rather have an NGO employee walk us through the slums of Mumbai than be on a sightseeing bus in the city center amongst clueless tourists.
8.
We leave few footprints
When we travel, we adjust to the local customs and respect the local practices, be it in a Syrian mosque or a New York City bar. We are aware that travel has its negative effects on our planet, from airplane emissions to putting strain on fragile natural wonders. We try hard to leave behind very few ecological footprints – and where it is unavoidable, we take positive steps to compensate.
9.
We grow through our travels
We have learned that traveling places inevitably brings up questions about the way we live and the way we see things. We think that those who have mastered challenges and gained new perspectives abroad are more tolerant at home. Indeed, we believe that our experiences with people from all over the world – on our travels and on the Internet – help us become wiser.
10.
We document our travels
We write online journals and reviews, take pictures, and shoot videos in order to share our travels. We pour our experiences into the world’s knowledge pool so that they become a source of inspiration and advice for future travelers, for our friends: the digital nomads, the flashpackers, the tripwolves.
We regard travel as a fundamental lifestyle
For us, traveling begins around the corner in our own neighborhood, on any street that we have not yet absorbed through traveler’s eyes. We know that traveling has little to do with distance and everything to do with curiosity and the exploratory spirit of a child. Wherever we go we are always open and thrive on new experiences.
7.
We fully experience every destination
We immerse ourselves in our destination completely. We want to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch it – and above all, understand it! We know we need to supplement our first hand experiences with knowledge and background explanations. We would rather have an NGO employee walk us through the slums of Mumbai than be on a sightseeing bus in the city center amongst clueless tourists.
8.
We leave few footprints
When we travel, we adjust to the local customs and respect the local practices, be it in a Syrian mosque or a New York City bar. We are aware that travel has its negative effects on our planet, from airplane emissions to putting strain on fragile natural wonders. We try hard to leave behind very few ecological footprints – and where it is unavoidable, we take positive steps to compensate.
9.
We grow through our travels
We have learned that traveling places inevitably brings up questions about the way we live and the way we see things. We think that those who have mastered challenges and gained new perspectives abroad are more tolerant at home. Indeed, we believe that our experiences with people from all over the world – on our travels and on the Internet – help us become wiser.
10.
We document our travels
We write online journals and reviews, take pictures, and shoot videos in order to share our travels. We pour our experiences into the world’s knowledge pool so that they become a source of inspiration and advice for future travelers, for our friends: the digital nomads, the flashpackers, the tripwolves.
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