There are many examples of the pithy travel quote that are often shared around online. These lines are usually written by famous authors from a time when travel was very different: when travel really was about the journey and when travelling off the beaten track was easy.
But how would these quotes look if written in 2010? Would Robert Louis Stevenson or Mark Twain make the same observations now as they did in their time?
I suspect that they would view the modern world very differently, and their timeless quotes would infact have a more modern feel to them. I’ve listed 10 suggested amendments to some of the best known travel quotes, to make them suitable for a 21st century audience.
1. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a hastily uploaded picture of a plane at the departure gate”
2. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take”
3. “Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely gives us material with which to brag to our friends on Facebook”
4. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a tweet stating where you were last seen alive”
5. “The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. The blogger sees what will fit neatly onto his new WordPress template”
6. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home. Do not despair however; you can still call yourself a travel writer”
7. “It is not the arrival that matters, but how many new Facebook friends you add during your journey”
8. “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect when turned into an impossibly euphoric blog post”
9. “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. He just knows how far away he is from his next wi-fi fix.”
10. “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. Either way, they’ll make good blogging material”
A nod to Brave New Traveller for their 50 most inspiring travel quotes of all time post, from which much of the above has been mangled together.
Wonderfully funny collection! Mainly because it’s (sadly) true lol
Lol! Awesome collection! 😀
Very funny. Just my style of humor (a little wry).
So funny! I’m actually retweeting it now. Heehee.
Thanks for the nice comments guys
Ah, so funny because it is so true! Great little list.
LOL I`m literally having a big smile on my face and couldn`t stop laughing… This is a great collection and oh so true!
Love it!! You totally made my day.
Totally agree! I definitely have the plane at the gate photos all the time!
Awesome and hilarious. Well done!
Great stuff! As a fan of travel quotes, it is great to see this. Have a great weekend!
This made me laugh. And god help us, I hope we are not REALLY the people who say these things.
Number ten is so true. Been there, done that!!
Oh Andy, this is rich. I hate to say it but I kind of despise travel quotes (sorry Lao Tzu) but these are so personally relevant I actually lol’d at my desk!
Thanks for sharing this. Made my day.
Thanks again for the nice comments. Some posts are so much fun to write – this is obviously one of those
Lol clever! Nice job on these.
Very nice text! And so funny! Thx for these laughs!
Great quotes!
Made me laugh (especially #4)
I think this quote is also apt, it is not a rework of an old travel quote but one from the 20th century which holds true today.
“In the middle ages people were tourists because of their religion, whereas now they are tourists because tourism is their religion.”
Robert Runcie
great posts! who thought about all those? i can relate to everything except no.6. yeah!!
Great job! Very funny and creative!
Funny stuff Andy, thanks.
Brilliant! and so so true
OMG – I saw myself in too many of these. Still, pretty funny stuff.
Love these truly QUIRKY quotes!
Thanks again for the lovely comments on what was a really enjoyable post to write!
Only just found this point, but haha, it’s hilarious! Love #6 especially!
Andy thanks for the laugh on this rather gloomy Tuesday. I often look at the 50 most inspiring travel quotes you mentioned at the end of the article but now this will be my go to for inspiration. #10 is my personal favorite. Much appreciated!
Can’t believe I’ve missed these until now! Brilliant!
Ha Ha Ha Ha..
Awesome collection ! I am going to share them with my circle.
Hope you keep adding in this collection.