#Microblog Monday 236: Vacation Strangers
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There’s a company that is looking for two strangers to go on an all-expenses 50-day, 5 continent trip together and agree to have the whole thing filmed. No, I’m not entering.
Not just because being filmed for 50 seconds (much less 50 days) sounds unappealing. The other side is the stranger aspect. They could turn out to be an awesome travel partner, which would make the trip fantastic. Or they could be a terrible travel partner and end up ruining 50 days worth of sights. So much of the enjoyment that comes with a trip is taking it with people you like. Seeing things with people you want to have a conversation with afterward. Going on a trip with one other stranger is also veeeeeeery different from going alone on a trip with an organized group. With a group, you may have time apart or multiple people to choose from.
Plus… the judges are three white men. If the goal is to thoughtfully place two people together who can travel in harmony, they may want to get more diversity on the team. Unless that isn’t their goal.
So while I would love an all-expenses 50-day, 5 continent trip, cameras and strangers are deal breakers.
Would you travel (filmed!) with a single stranger?
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13 comments
Uh, no. Traveling filmed with a friend/family sounds a bit concerning (especially given the trend to edit for maximum drama) but traveling with a stranger for 50 days, out of my comfort zone, filmed….sounds like a version of Hades for me. I mean, I like traveling, but half the pleasure of traveling for me is traveling with compatible companion(s).
I would consider it because it would fix all the parts of travel I don’t want to do – the scheduling, the fixing of flights and hotels and itineraries, etc. I wouldn’t be GOOD at it because I don’t talk that much and need alone time and try to avoid cameras. But unless someone is holding me back from seeing what I want to see, I don’t care about their attitude. (See: several trips with my husband who gets upset when things are unknown. And my travel style is to book transport and hotels and otherwise just have a vague plan of what to do.)
I would totally do this, if I were single and childless! I have traveled alone a fair amount in the past, so I don’t agree (for me, anyway) that “so much of the enjoyment that comes with a trip is taking it with people you like.” In fact, I have had some terrible times traveling with good friends and even my husband, and some great times on my own.
My one hesitation would be having to be filmed. I don’t care for that aspect.
If reality TV wasn’t so rigged, I would totally consider it. I feel like they have probably put together a group that would be so different just to make it fun for viewers. I’m probably too boring to even be considered.
Never. 50 days of travel alone sounds hellish to me. Let alone with people I don’t know and being filmed. Nope. No way. Not a chance. And, and what about my dog? I can’t be away from her a day…..nope
Um 50 days with my spouse would probably be nightmare let alone a stranger. I think being with a stranger is way different from traveling alone. It’s awkward no matter what and they could turn out to be really annoying. No thanks.
When I was young and more photogenic (I’ve never been photogenic, but I am less now than I have ever been!) I might have. Good grief – I’ve just looked at the judges. You just know they’re going to choose gorgeous young athletic and adventurous people. So I would never have applied.
I am currently planning a 50 day trip (give or take a couple of days). I love doing it with my husband, but I’ve travelled with friends too, and sometimes they surprise you in good ways and bad. Also going with someone different often opens you to different experiences, which is great. But it could be horrific.
In a word–nope. Wouldn’t do it. Under any circumstances.
At first I was thinking No. But then I read a’s comment and think that’s more accurate for me. I might give it a go. The sticking point is getting away.
Travel: yes, travelling with strangers: yes, filmed: No.
I try my best to keep my name and image off the web. Maybe they are just looking for free actors in a long commercial/advertorial to show off how well they can organise tours around the world. It seems a bit hurried to me, 5 continents in 50 days. I would probably feel jet lagged for at least half the time!
No, but no thank you. 🙂
Thanks for hosting Micro Mondays, Mel
why not? while 50 days seems like a long time and it could backfire if the person was horrible, it sounds like a nice adventure and I’d probably feel safer these days going off the beaten path if I knew there was a whole camera crew with me. Even if it wasn’t ideal, imagine the stories you’d have to tell for years to come.
Traveling with a stranger, maybe. Being filmed, absolutely not.