Editor’s Note: I originally posted this back in mid-2007. Since then I’ve received numerous replies and emails about it. Some people have complained I am a snob. Others think I am being too judgmental. Some agree I’ve hit the nail on the head with my rant about the Ulles, the book, the TV show, and the cultural mediocrity it all represents.
Whatever your opinion, I am adding this preface and reposting because I have a question for you. Week in and week out, this post is one of the most searched for on our blog. Hundreds of people Google ’1,000 places to see before you die’ and they end up here. And thus I am curious: when you type that search term in Google, what are you actually looking for? Are you simply hunting for a pre-packaged marketing concept broadcast over on the Travel Channel? (If so, I assume you haven’t made it even this far into the post…)
Or are you looking for actual, unbiased, honest-to-goodness travel inspiration? If so, let me make a humble suggestion: Skip the ’1,000 Places to See Before You Die’ book, television show, T-shirt, DVD, podcast or whatever. Just go. That’s always the best advice. Just pick a destination and go. And as always, leave me a comment telling me what a snob I am, how wrong am I, how right I am.
* * * * * * * *
If only we had made it to Timbuktu
Once upon a time I was excited by the concept of ’1,000 places to see before I die’. As a lifelong traveler, the idea of visiting a thousand of the world’s most exotic, far-flung and inspiring destinations before — what’s the right word here, perishing? kicking the bucket? fading to black? — felt like something I had to do. Success was not to be judged on actually accomplishing this goal, but in the effort spent trying.
And the effort would be daunting. Assuming you can tackle 1 ‘must-see’ destination per week, you’ll need to set aside nearly 20 years to visit all 1,000 locations. On a budget of $25 per day, those 20 years will cost $182,500. If I adjust for inflation, well, we’re talking some serious cash.
But that’s part and parcel of the concept’s power. To actually visit all 1,000 places requires Commitment (note the capital C). It requires sacrifice. It is not something for weekend warriors or mere armchair travelers.
And then a few years ago I discovered a book called 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. My first reaction was annoyance. I was annoyed that somebody had actually written a book about the concept, thereby sucking the authenticity out of it by transforming the noble idea into a crass commercial project with a bottom line and a marketing plan.
I was equally annoyed that it wasn’t me who had the foresight to suck the authenticity out of the concept, by transforming it into a book with a bottom line and a marketing plan…
Clearly I had been scooped. But who was the author? Was she in the model of Tony Wheeler, the legendary founder of Lonely Planet and a man who knows travel? (Pardon this brief detour: Check out Tony’s book, Bad Lands, an account of his travels in George W. Bush’s so-called ‘axis of evil’, Iraq, North Korea and Iran. Now that’s a travel book!)
The author is Patricia Schultz. I’ve never met Patricia. But I’m certain she is a lovely person. She is a freelance travel and fashion writer based in New York City. And as a one-time freelancer based in New York myself, I can recognize Patricia’s project for what it is: a great idea written by somebody who was at the right place, at the right time.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the concept is 100% compelling. And I think some of Patricia’s recommendations — a hot-air balloon ride over the plains of Kenya, the Pushkar camel fair in India, etc — are spot on.
I just wish the book had been written by a road-weary traveler who has spent — sacrificed, struggled through — 20 years personally tracking down each and every one of these ‘must see’ sites. I suspect that our New York City-based travel writer has not personally visited more than, say, 50 of the 1,000 places she writes about. I’m happy to be proven wrong. (If she has visited more than 250, I will eat a hat. If she’s ticked off more than 500 on the list I will personally carry her bags and cook her meals on her next trek in Nepal.)
Normally I don’t get this worked up. However a few weeks ago I started seeing television commercials — and billboards and magazine ads — about a new show on the Travel Channel called ’1,000 Places to See Before You Die‘. The advertisements were omnipresent. They were slick. And they did a good job getting me excited about the show’s USA premiere last month. So I surfed the Travel Channel website and found this:
“Inspired by Patricia Schultz’s best-selling travel book, ’1,000 Places to See Before You Die’ chronicles the journey of a young couple who put their lives on hold to travel the world for 14 weeks.
Albin and Melanie Ulle, newlyweds from Colorado, experience the vast beauty and diverse cultures of 13 amazing countries and approximately 100 of the 1,000 Places from the book, while unearthing all the local charms and traditions along the way!”
Hang on a second. I was expecting some life-changing description. I was expecting the Travel Channel to throw resources at this idea and to create the definitive television travel experience. Maybe my expectations were unrealistically high. But I can tell you I was not expecting “a young couple who put their lives on hold to travel the world for 14 weeks.”
Fourteen weeks? Are you serious? 14 weeks? That’s barely three months. Was this TV show really about a newly married couple who travel the world for 14 weeks? Because in some parts of the world these are called ‘honeymoons’ and they don’t usually end up on television.
I know of a dozen people out there, on the road right now, who are better qualified to lead armchair travelers on a journey to the world’s top 1,000 sites. How is it that the producers of the show don’t bother to include some authentic travelers into the mix?
The answers — that character-led programming is what drives television ratings, that this couple beat out 900 other couples in the auditions because telegenic good looks are more important than actual travel experience, that nobody really cares if the backstory is coherent as long as the program makes money — are no surprise.
The problem, of course, is that a show about real travelers, going to real places, would not make money. Alas, this is why I am not a television executive. Yet I am a traveler. I have authored a dozen travel books and visited more than 50 countries. I am not bragging. I am just saying I can tell the difference between travelers and tourists.
And on the road leading to the world’s 1,000 must-see places, the Ulles from Colorado are merely tourists. There’s nothing wrong with that. The world needs tourists. But I wish the producers had shown us the real travelers they met along the way. In doing so they would have created a compelling television program that lives up to the promise of its concept. Instead we get ‘travel lite’ with too many commercials.
April 21, 2007 at 11:59 PM
I can really feel your pain and I’m sorry for you.
They better rename their channel to tourist channel if they like to produce shows like one you described
April 24, 2007 at 2:12 PM
I’m from the other side of the fence – a proud tourist – so I will probably enjoy this series. I like to see the attainable side of travel. As much as I love a “traveler” experience, sometimes there just isn’t time to seek it out.
April 26, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Great point! Can’t stand the tourist scene and many of the places she describes have become just that. I have only been in about 30 countries in 30 years…lived in several for months at a time. You can’t know a country by flying through on a tourist bus….you can’t know the people or the culture. It reminds me of Chevy Chase’s American and European Vacations…..
May 4, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Dear Scott…your passion for travel is certainly infectious. I have recently overcome some serious fears of travelling and especially flying and would love to hear some of your tips on how to get into the business of traveling and seeing all wonders of the world as a living
Is that even possible?
May 4, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Thanks Brandie, that is a very nice compliment. Your question is an interesting one — how can somebody make a living from travel? Probably the easiest way is to start writing about it, and asking people to pay you! As strange as that sounds, I know a number of people who make a living as travel writers. The best place to start is your local papers or local weeklies. Most travel publishers — Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Footprint, etc — will not hire people as travel writers without some writing experience, so try to get yourself published, it really doesn’t matter where. Maybe contribute a restaurant review, a trip review, that sort of thing. It doesn’t really matter what you publish, the publishers are mainly looking for somebody who cares enough to get their work out there.
These days, a good blog also helps. So why not start your own blog.
The second big thing to consider is experience. Most publishers want somebody who has an area of expertise. It could be the city you live in, or it could be a place you’ve visited many times before. In most cases travel publishers won’t simply give you free reign to go somewhere you’ve never been before. They prize experience, especially if you can speak a foreign language. This isn’t a deal breaker if you don’t speak a different language, but you need to find something for which you’re an expert.
Once you have a few writing samples in hand and a good idea of your area of expertise, email or mail the travel publishers. Most have staff who constantly look for new writing talent. Many will have a writing test and an application. You may not get offered something immediately, but I’ve found that if you are persistent (in a nice way) and show you really, really, really want to try your hand at travel writing, they will eventually find you an assignment to test you out.
It sounds like a lot of work, I know. But here’s the bottom line. If you want to travel and write about it, you need to start traveling and start writing. Actions speak louder than words, and if they see you are seriously committed to both travel and writing, well, you’re off to a good start.
Keep us posted on what happens. And feel free to send us an article or two for consideration. The same goes for anybody reading this blog — we, too, publish features from travel writers, so if you’re interested in submitting a travel blog feature, simply leave us a comment and we’ll be in touch.
Good luck Brandie!
May 6, 2007 at 6:39 AM
Our city is the most diverse of coastal cities in Florida. You my have heard of us as “da burg” but Saint Petersburg is swarming with women whose rocks will send them to the bottom of the ocean, to a growing undercurrent of young men and women living life as if they are in the projects.
The Tourist industry has nothing of importance to stop its countinueing explosion. The beaches are beautiful especaily this time of year. Lined with hotels, tiki bars, live music, and weekly drum circles at sunset. When you want off the beach, come dowtown, takes five (fifteen) minuets. Here you will find the Devil ray stdium, plenty of art gallerys, and tatto parlors.
I would recommend this place to experience for anyone, I love my burg!
So in your opinion Scott have I a chance in this lifestyle?
ps your funny-
May 20, 2007 at 9:45 AM
The episode about Nepal and Bhutan was so disappointing: I nearly started counting the occurrence of such expressions as “That’s so amazing” and “That is so cool.” I wouldn’t have been surprised if they varied their exclamations of wonderment with an occasional “gee whiz!” Their response to a community’s recent acquisition of a drinking water system was something on the order of “That’s really good.”
But I should have known, if I had read the Discovery Channel’s blurb on their Web site: The couple actually put their lives ON HOLD to do the series. Good grief.
May 20, 2007 at 9:56 AM
Fran, I couldn’t have said it better myself. GOOD GRIEF, indeed.
Next time the Discovery Channel wants to do a travel show, they should start by hiring some real travelers.
June 7, 2007 at 1:23 PM
haters..
June 9, 2007 at 3:33 AM
Dear Scott,
My wife and I are on our six and a half month honeymoon, but doing it young world traveller style: spending a month in Madrid, three months exploring SE Asia, and then returning to Germany and whoknowswhereafterthat. We own the ’1,000 Places to See Before You Die’ book and ended up once on the Lofoten Islands in Norway because of it, hitting an Artic storm, missing our boat that could not dock, and about losing our proverbial sh*t in the process. Good times. I would say that the volume does have some value, especially to those of us who tend to wander off the beaten path and like to have a bit of direction in so doing.
Why not write ’501 Places to See While You’re Still Able to Walk’ and really cater it to the traveler instead of the tourist? Best wishes in your adventures in life! And thanks for the great read of your article!
Martha
June 9, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Yeah, that’s a good idea. I like the idea of ’501 Places to See While You Can Still Walk’. I just checked that URL and it’s available, so Martha, I think *you* should write that story!
I also agree that the book has some value. Sara thought we were ‘haters’ for being too negative. Maybe so. However my point is that, while there are some good pointers in the book, the concept of ’1000 places’ has become so heavily commercialized it’s lost most of its original meaning.
Anytime you get too many people following the same path, doing the same thing, then that’s where the trouble starts. You see it with Lonely Planet guidebooks on the road — dozens of people all reading the same 5 restaurant recommendations, all going to the same places, all driving up prices so that only foreign travelers end up at these places, pushing the locals out.
Either way, the real answer to these problems is simple. Travel is incredibly personal, the journey is about you and your discovery of the world, the connections you make with people you meet. Sometimes all you need to do is throw away the guidebook, turn off the TV, and hit the road with no clear destination in mind.
June 10, 2007 at 5:33 AM
Amen, Scott. Certainly the essence of travel and the greatest moments therein come from the unexpected turn around the corner, that moment when things seemingly go wrong–but an incredible story is your gift afterwards. Some of us certainly live for such things, as long as we live through them, that is.
We use the Lonely Planet often as a checklist to begin a day out, gain some history on the sites, and ensure that we see most of what any city has to offer; I never leave home without it quite honestly (we have three with us for this trip). But they are well named as ‘guidebooks’ and are never the endall of our adventures. We often head for one restaurant, check menus along the way, and make an unexpected turn into a gastro-orgasmic place. The best moments do come when we just hop on a bus, head for something with trees on a map, and see where we end up!
I, too, have noticed that the places touted as being “where the locals go” do not often seem to be so. It happens quickly, as well, as at least one place just recommended in the Spain guide from LP (just released before we left) was predominantly littered with ‘folks like us.’ Still a great time, mind you, and we did have the pleasure of meeting a stranger from Australia who enriched the experience for us.
Thanks for the push to write the ‘Walk While You Can’ guide, too, Scott. Part of this adventure is to give me time away from my former working world (as a writer, in fact) so that I can dedicate time to a book of my own. So I will have to keep that one in my pocket for the future. (Unless someone manages to preempt me on the idea after reading it here! HA!)
Great reply … thank you again!
Martha
July 15, 2007 at 3:23 PM
My wife and are are avid travelers, That is how we started our relationship, We took a U-drive from
R.I. to Seattle and hitch hiked down the west coast into Mexico ,Guatemala and Belize in 1978
I was so disappointed in the show. There were alot of wows and oh mys and yucks that is crummy commentary.
Since 1978 are situations have changed and we do not have to hitch hike anymore , although
we did hitch a ride in St. John two years ago. I think a show more in the lines of a budget traveler
Like Lonely Planet with a little Anthony Bourdan commentary throw in would do alot better, althought
Ian is an excellent travel journalist. Thanks for the forum to let me rant. I have been to 17 countrys and my wife 25 . We do use lonely planet books as a general guide. I enjoyed the book the show sucks!
Terry
,
August 14, 2007 at 9:49 PM
Tedious narration (‘The Ulles are blahblahblah… the best blahblahblah in the world!”), limited travel scope (Lake Como and Venice is ALL that is to Italy?), uninspired expressions (“Wow that was cool! Amazing! I will always remember it!”)and spending 20% of the show stating the painfully obvious (“Wow the speedboat was so fast! We got to ride a boat around and it was so cool!”) does not a good travel show make. The concept was good, but frankly I’ve never found a travel show to be so painful to watch.
Globe Trekker > 1000 Places
August 20, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Scott,
I checked the book out at the library and was kinda disappointed by the high number of hotels.
I mean, really… does one need to visit hotels as “places to see before I die”. Hardly !
Someone needs to improve on this concept and make a TRUE 1000 places to see before you die
without all the fanfare and tourist gimmicks discribed in the book…just my opinion.
December 6, 2007 at 9:00 PM
I also take issue with this show. As a traveler, I’ve seen some pretty nice places, however were I to die, I’m not sure London, Brussels, or even Antarctica would be an appropriate place to see before death. Places to see before one dies should include…
1. An antidote
2. Medical help
3. The knife being removed from your chest
4. A hospital
5. An X-ray specialist
6. A surgeon
7. Some sort of transplant
8. A specialist
9. Someone with the cure to cancer
10. An alternative doctor
11. A priest, rabbi, or other form of spiritual leader/consultant
12. Your loved ones
13. A lawyer to write a filthy joke into your will
14. A lawyer to write me into your will
15. A room with a life-support machine
16. The fountain of youth
17. Another source of immortality
December 29, 2007 at 2:47 PM
Thank you. You have put perfectly into words how I feel about the book and the t.v. program. I am not a seasoned traveler… I should probably graduate highschool first. I am however an admirer of knowledge. I appreciate the knowledge more though when it comes from experience not from google or wikipedia. If you could suggest more travel books, from authentic travelers I would be much obliged.
-Ave
December 29, 2007 at 7:39 PM
Thanks Evelyn. Glad you’re keen to explore the world for yourself with eyes wide open. Keep us posted if and when you hit the road, we’re always interested in reports from the road.
In terms of travel books, I’ll let others pitch in as well because the range of opinions is certainly going to be large. Caveats aside here are a few of my favorites:
“Wind, Sand & Stars” by Saint-Exupery, the author of “The Little Prince”. If you want one book that captures the excitement of adventuring in foreign lands, this is it.
Most anything from Bill Bryson. He’s not a hardy traveler, hardly somebody who’s tackled the world the hard way and now writing about it. He’s more of a genteel traveler. But he’s very, very funny. Definitely worth reading.
“Cruelest Journey: Six Hundred Miles To Timbuktu” by Kira Salak is a great read. A little depressing in the way that the world can be depressing when you stop and think about it. But wonderful all the same.
Check out Paul Theroux. His “Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia” is a superb read. As is his “Mosquito Coast”.
Finally I also love “Sheltering Sky” by Paul Bowles. This isn’t a typical ‘travel book’ but I don’t care. Read it, you will love it.
January 20, 2008 at 4:41 AM
the idea of visiting a thousand of the world’s most exotic, far-flung and inspiring destinations before someone die is a great idea and worth to be achieved, however it is a little bit difficult
June 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I agree. I watched parts of this show and found it done in a very cheesy way. Something attempting to be such a profound concept- of all the corners of the world, these are the 1,000 (100 for TV purposes) places you should absolutely, without doubt, see before you die- should not be a glamorized honeymoon. The deal breaker to me was when wife refused to do a cliff jump in Hawaii. Isn’t being adventurous and fearless part of the entire travel experience? This show is a waste. The author is correct in his statement that you are better off picking places in the world to travel and just going and seeing for yourself. If you need suggestions, find your globe and spin it.
July 26, 2008 at 3:19 AM
I watched part of one of episode on the TV show– The show is not for me as I prefer my own memories– Maybe the show is for armchair travelers. I love the book and was sent a copy in November of 2003. It has been a “guiding light”. I wish workman press would up date the book–The lists in the back of the book are useful too. Enjoyed reading your blog– Norman
September 6, 2008 at 5:35 PM
think that you have to cook for her in Nepal… she says in a interview for the LA Times that she has been in 80% of the places she describe in her second book… its easy to do, drive through Chicago and you have already 13 spots… before you left the state, only 920 to go…. each American family will do that… so what makes her then the expert? because she was at Oprah’s book club????
just wondering where I can find that list of ” 1000 places in the world ” online on the next, don’t want to buy the book because I don’t like to support these kind of traveler-wannabees…. have much more respect for the guys in their ‘Irene’ to Mongolia…
reason why I like to have the full list, wanna see what she have missed out, what don’t belong inside and coming up with a list of REAL 1000 spots to go so long you can walk…
November 19, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I was disappointed, too. My wife and I took 149 days and drove to all 50-states on two-lane roads, and I wouldn’t trade our list for those in the book.
November 27, 2008 at 5:53 AM
Other than wishing you’d had a good idea before it became a good idea i’m not sure what your point is. It takes someone writing a travel book to make you realise that sometimes the world kicks you in the nuts and disappoints you. These are all things you should have realsied as you travelled. Good lord man, have you not been to Africa?
The crass irony of complaining about the mass media meddling in ‘sacred travel’ in an article on a travel website is stupidity itself.
The condescending attitude of ‘real travellers’ truly knows no bounds. Just go and be a proper traveller without caring if people know it.
November 27, 2008 at 9:53 AM
Hi John – here’s the point in 10 words or less.
Mass-market travel television is not a happy development for honest-to-goodness travel.
11 words, oh well.
Actually John, my broader point is this. Yes, I have been to Africa since you ask. But look at the travel surveys for the under 25s. The number who have been, or are planning, a trip to Africa is down 45% since 2000.
I’m sure there are many reasons for this. But in my bones, I believe that one of them is the eye-candy nature of travel television. Nobody wants to go to the ‘tough’ places anymore, because it’s just no fun.
Clearly you are not affected by this problem. But go ask somebody under 24 and see what they say, report back to us.
January 11, 2009 at 8:52 AM
I just now discovered this article after a year of being posted on your website. Scott – you have truly gained my respect! I’m a seasoned traveler both in the US & Abroad and I work as a Producer behind the camera mostly shooting industrials. My main focus is shooting Sales Incentive Trips of actual people taking a trip of a lifetime at the companies expense. Hey…if you can win it cash in! I then edit the 7 days of footage into a 20 minute videography they can keep as a memento. Straight forward and nothing scripted with the exception of a few talking head shots stating how great is it to win the trip (just so the people who did not win the trip will work hard next year to achieve this goal).
Back on track…I too was intrigued about the TV show “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” thinking how wonderful it would be to see real travelers highlighted as I do this for a living. What a wonderful concept and a change it would be from the same old reality scripted shows to see real people discovering our planet and all it has to offer. After the opening credits and 10 minutes of seeing the Ulles I turned it off. To see an auditioned selected couple flown to pre-selected locations to only highlight the obvious (Gondola ride in Venice…well duh) I was truly disappointed. Didn’t the travel channel already produce this show…Samantha Brown’s Passport to Italy?”
I can see why someone would enjoy the show if they travel very little and enjoyed seeing the world through another’s-eye or if they wanted to just reminisce about the trip they themselves experienced. My first advice would be to read the book instead. It is full of fantastic destinations not even mentioned in the TV series and it does set your mind to wondering about all the exotic locations you could go that you did not know existed. However, the best advice I can give is to get off the couch, put down the book and start your own travel journal. The best memories you will have are those that happen by chance when you travel or those that you book through Viator that were not on your original itinerary. (Plug for Viator….but worth every penny). Perfect example: On a 23 day trip to Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti at the last minute I decided to book the Viator day trip to Cape Tribulation and Daintree 4WD Safari in Cairns, Australia. It was by far the most wonderful unplanned excursion we experienced and we still talk about it to this day!
My favorite travel quote:
Do not go where the path my lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
It doesn’t matter that you get to someone else’s 1,000 places…just get to yours!
February 22, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Same here I want to prove to Patricia Schultz that you have to go to all the places. I am in 10th grade in high school and Ive been saving a dollar a day. When I get out of college I am going to visit all the places in the book.
February 28, 2009 at 8:43 AM
I just randomly stumbled across your article, and completely agree with you. I also admire your passion for true traveling, and would love to hear some of your own stories. I myself (even though I am young) have always had a passion to travel. I hope some day that I can go to all of the corners of the world, not as a tourist, but as one trying to truly appreciate the majesty of what is around us.
Thank you for putting this up.
March 5, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Good article – just discovered it, having just watching the “1000 places” show being shown now in the UK on Discovery HD, went looking for the show website to figure out how and why the Ulles got selected to become the hosts. Seems the show site is actually gone now?! Not surprised.
The book I consider a seperate issue – let’s remember that the book is not a travel guide or journal, but a list. And by it’s nature it is going to be limited in detail and with the target number of 1001 it is going to be reasonably concise in nature. I guess I wasn’t shocked to see it is seriously USA biased, but that said the USA does have lots of cool stuff to see! I treat the book like I treat other travel guides (again as opposed to journals or stories/biographies of travel) – use it as a starting point and then find your own way. Yeah, go see the 1001 but be conscious that you should be adding your own 1001 alongside. List like that is going to be controvesial – and again thats not such a bad thing to develop debate (here we are!)
I’m neutral about the book – use it but its just one amongst many books on travel. Something to prep you before you get off that sofa/out of that plane.
The TV show is a train wreck…if you like to actually get off the sofa and see the world. If you don’t, if you are an armchair tourist then great! Here is a high-def chance to see some amazing places in the world. Just please do not think this is what the world is really like. Not at all.
And no, the rest of the world doesn’t think that all Americans travellers are like the Ulles – they are actually usually much smarter, worldly, eclectic and interesting…or the perfect stereotype every now and then who stick out like a sore thumb!
The kind of person who would like the “1001 places” show was once summed up for me by someone I met who said “I have been to the Vegas Venetian…so why would I need to go to Venice?”
Thanks Scott – Keep making that trail!
March 6, 2009 at 6:27 AM
There is 1 Indiana destination noted in the book – The Amish Flea market in Shipshewana, IN
I live 8 miles from the site, and alas – have not made the journey, but I hear it’s a great place to go buy some socks for cheap.
I would suggest the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on race day is a much more interesting destination, as are several other places in this mundane state.
March 9, 2009 at 9:31 AM
I know that I’m totally biased, what with living there etc, but I truly believe the the french alps, during the autumn, are incredible. No-one around, amazing colours everywhere, and beautiful warm days. It’s also incredibly cheap as people are just happy to take what they can get for accommodation at that time of year. I came here for the snowboarding, but now I’ve stayed for the walking and photography. I must be getting old!
March 27, 2009 at 6:47 AM
Wow. I found your blog post by accident, I was link following from an entirely different web site, but the title of the rant caught my eye. I followed it because I agree, and it doesn’t seem to be “hip” to do so, it’s nice to find someone that can validate your feelings.
I get frustrated at the 100/1000 places to see before you die, because there are always things on the list that appeal, but that I’ll never get to do, no matter how attractive, because I’m busy going to other places – so rather than feeling elated/happy with my own plan, I’m left feeling deflated that I’m still missing out on something. BUT if you treat these things more as 100/1000 places to CONSIDER seeing before you die, and then pick the ones that really appeal to you – the secret is then MAKING it HAPPEN. That seems to be the part most people omit.
I love travelling, Despite living (and working) in 4 different countries on 3 continents, I’ve not done nearly enough and I’m trying to rectify that by currently sailing around on my little sail boat. I’m also lucky enough to take side trips to more distant parts by plane from time to time. I currently have a 10 year plan, of places to visit either as a traditional tourist, or in many cases actually living/travelling through some area on the boat.
The thing is – how does one decide where to go? Where does that inspiration come from? TV? books? Fellow travellers? What is wrong with 1000 places to go before you die as an inspiration?
OK, I know I’ve come full circle. Life is like that to sometimes.
Good luck all with your travels and my you find inspiration on where to go from all places.
P.S. My grandfather thought Foreign travel was ridiculous – said he still hadn’t seen enough of his own country. I like that philosophy (to a point) – and in my 20′s I deliberately alternated exotic travel with “home country” travel. Now I don’t really have a home base (except my moving boat), but I still keep travel guide books even for my home country, and continue to find new and cool places every time I go back.
March 27, 2009 at 7:04 AM
Well, i do share lots of your views on the book a 1.000 places to see before you die. A huge weakness is of course that mrs. Schultz probably didn’t visit as much as 200 or even 100 of those places she describes.
I am a big fan of the book and with the book in my hand (and of course many other travel guides!!) i travelled to many of those places with my wife.
What bothers me a lot about the book is the fact that many of those places are just restaurants and hotels. I think, why? I mean, there are restaurants mentioned, but… those are not actually the places that take my breath away. For example restaurant Manoir Inter Scaldes in The Netherlands, where i live… well, i think they have great food over there but there are at least 20 other top restaurants who are wayyy better then Inter Scaldes. Then i think, why didn’t she write a book like “a 1.000 restaurants to go to before you die” and “a 1.000 hotels to stay at before you die”?
Super Dawg in Chicago? Give me a break! How can you compare a hot dog place like that with Chichen Itza, Cuzco, Yosemite and Venice?
Still, i love the book but some places i don’t take that seriously.
Ufuk Akgün
The Hague, The Netherlands
April 29, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Once I have seen the camel fair in Pushkar. It was just amazing experience, thousand of animals and thousands of people. I have not seen this kind of fair in my life before. When I started my journey to Pushkar from Agra, it was not easy because the state “Rajasthan” is too hot.
April 30, 2009 at 11:09 AM
I found this blog while looking for inexpensive plain tickets to Scotland. I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland to see Loch Ness. Somehow I got onto this site and I was intrigued. I have been saving my money since I was 14 years old. I’m 19. I have just enough money to stay in hostiles and go around Scotland for TWO days. And this is the happiest I have ever been.
Reading this blog has really shown me that I’m not the only one that gets excited for traveling to go somewhere they’ve always wanted to go. I have 4 places that I want to go in my life. That’s it. That’s all I ever wanted. And I can have one now. I think I may stay out in Scotland and do that travel writing you were saying back in 2007.
Thanks a lot. It’s been a real eye-opener.
Rachel
April 3, 2010 at 8:57 AM
I saw a comment about under 25ers having not been to Africa. I am 26 and have had the good fortune to travel a fair amount for my age, I have been to South America, Europe and Asia. Not Africa. I want to go to Africa, but have you seen how expensive it is to fly there? That may be a large factor in why people my age haven’t made it there yet. Tanzania and Ethopia are both very high on my list, but as far as exotic travel destinations go, Peru and South East Asia were cheaper to fly to, and also, I’m guessing from my internet research, cheaper on the ground. Don’t judge my generation, we just don’t have the earning potential or savings of those older than us. Our list have a lot less crossed off. So while am I saving to trek Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 24 I could only afford the Inca trail.
July 2, 2010 at 6:08 PM
I know that I’m totally biased, what with living there etc, but I truly believe the the french alps, during the autumn, are incredible. No-one around, amazing colours everywhere, and beautiful warm days. It’s also incredibly cheap as people are just happy to take what they can get for accommodation at that time of year. I came here for the snowboarding, but now I’ve stayed for the walking and photography. I must be getting old!
October 24, 2010 at 7:54 PM
To answer your question; “What were you looking for?” I reply a website like the UNESCO World Heritage one so that I could look for the pins which would mark what SHE thought was worth seeing when I am going somewhere. Yes, she co-opted the notion and hit the big payoff, and over one hundred of her ‘places to see’ are lodgings, how can that be? She made a hash of it…but she did it first.
October 30, 2010 at 10:09 AM
As a world traveler I found the TV show so sad-The Ulles Couple are so trite-
They seem like the” ugly un-informed american tourist”
Their vocabulary is “like” a “wow” -15 year Olds-
Get some new hosts !
November 5, 2010 at 9:18 PM
1,000 things before you die TV Show is god awful-
The Ulle couple are so boring and I can not watch the show due to their
language and stupid commentary-
Please get some other hosts that are not so annoying and have a better grip on the english language-a better vocabulary -
January 26, 2011 at 11:02 AM
David says that To answer your question; “What were you looking for?” I reply a website like the UNESCO World Heritage one so that I could look for the pins which would mark what SHE thought was worth seeing when I am going somewhere. Yes, she co-opted the notion and hit the big payoff, and over one hundred of her ‘places to see’ are lodgings, how can that be? She made a hash of it…but she did it first.,can anyone comment on this?
April 23, 2011 at 8:48 AM
I am happy that someone agrees with us. I can not believe they casted some random people (that probably haven´t been out of the US) in there whole lives. My husband and I feel very blesses to had the opportunity to be in more the 60 countries and we just turned 30 years old. We are from Mexico and I can not believe they didn´t mention Oaxaca, the beautiful beaches of the Riviera Maya, among other.
When you travel you are open to new cultures, and trying the local food it is one of the best ways to experience the country. They do not know how to talk, eat and travel.
Regards
May 10, 2011 at 3:02 AM
I find it odd to react to the book as if it were trying to be a gauntlet for the expert traveler. It’s a coffee table book! That is all. It’s a blast to leaf through it and think “Gosh it would be fun to visit that island on the other side of the world.” Because it’s for daydreaming, it’s geared more towards opulence. That means expensive hotels and restaurants instead of hostels and hole-in-the-wall cafes.
I’m planning a six month trek through Spain next year and picked up the book at a Goodwill so I could get a few ideas. I’ve found it helpful in learning about museums and small towns to visit. The restaurants can be an occasional treat (during the cheaper lunch hour, of course), and the hotels will be a lobby visit or maybe a meal.
Anti-commercialism is an easy fad to go along with, but the comments section here reads much more like an excuse for “inner circle” travelers to snark at newcomers and daydreamers.
All that said, I haven’t seen the show at all, but I feel they should be judged as separate entities.
July 27, 2011 at 2:46 PM
I own a copy of her book that’s pretty beat up right now from the number of times I’ve looked through it. Although I do agree with some of the responses I saw above about how she has too many hotels and restaurants in the book, I still had to make this post to say that I’m glad she wrote the book and I’m glad I own it. I’ve visited about 38 of the places in there, and although I’m not trying for all of them (I’ve been to countries where I didn’t do a single one of her suggestions just because they weren’t my “style,” and I’m not going to stress on it), I believe her book is a great resource when I’m planning a trip to a new area. I’ll look at other books too, read some travel writing based in the area, and check out websites to get as much info as I can to kind of direct me on voyage (leaving plenty of space for spontaneous events as well.) Some of her suggestions I hadn’t run into anywhere else, and I had really enjoyed them when I went. I’ve also been to some great places that WEREN’T in her book too, so that’s why I’m saying to just use her book as a reference and not a mandate. I have to say that I’m glad the book exists, though, and just wanted to give her credit for putting it together. I WOULD be very interested to know her number of tick marks as well. Does anyone know?
August 2, 2011 at 5:26 PM
You’ll probably hate me just for trying, but I’ve set a goal to see every on of the 1,000 Places listed in the book. Personally, I don’t see the harm in taking a chance on someone else’s recommendations. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by books, movies, and travel destinations that other people have chosen for me.
December 20, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Books like “1000 places to see before you die” are great starting places to see where you might like to go next on your journey. For example, if you know nothing about a country, and see that they have an amazing national park that you might like, you can then learn more about other places in that country, and what language they speak, and what food they eat, etc. You have to start somewhere.
As far as the travel channel show with the 14 weeks, yes, that is ridiculous. However: I’m an American living in France for the year, just because I wanted to. In a year I can see much of the country, meet many people, speak the language. Unfortunately, I realize that it would take much more than a year to master the language, have truly meaningful friendships, and see everything here that I would like. My point is, even with a year in every country, it’s not enough. Nothing is ever enough. So, sometimes you can only visit a place for a week, and isn’t that better than nothing?
January 14, 2012 at 9:15 PM
In response to your ? Thus I am curious: when you type that search term in Google, what are you actually looking for? answer: The Ulles now. What they’re doing, how did this show/travel redirect their future plans, would they do it all again, are they still a couple, kids, and were they able to “settle down” to the rat race after so much freedom. Thats about it.