Internet Up in Arms Over Carnegie Professor’s Controversial Tips for Preventing Vacation Disappointment
Nobody wants to plan a disappointing vacation for themselves, so when your best-laid travel plans always seem to fall short in the satisfaction department, you might start to wonder what it is you're doing wrong- and how to rethink your future plans so that your next vacation will actually be great.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published May 22, Carnegie Mellon University professor Jeff Galak outlined three research-informed pieces of advice for preventing vacation disappointment. However, when Galak's piece was discussed on CBS Mornings recently, the reporters (as well as their audience) were unsure about his controversial guidelines.
The basic breakdown of Galak's advice, as discussed on @cbsmornings, is as follows. Firstly, "do less of what you love," as Galak claims that constant enjoyment will wane over time. Secondly, don't compare too many different choices in the planning stage- if you find something you like, stick to it. Finally, get out of your comfort zone- though his suggestion of taking public transit rather than a taxi or rideshare service left the CBS Mornings hosts in stitches.
The hosts weren't the only ones who found some of Galak's advice questionable. Online, many lambasted his travel tips, finding them contradictory, stress-inducing, and even downright unsafe.
"Don’t do what you like, do what you like, get out of your comfort zone and do something you don’t like. Top notch guide here," quipped @locomocionn.
"NEVER ever leave your phone, especially in another country," @claudiamag79 argued against Galak's suggestion of leaving your phone in your hotel room. "In case of an emergency it might be your lifeline."
"Rule 1-don’t do things you enjoy. Rule 2-only do things you enjoy," @joeshmoe snarked.
In Defense of Galak's Travel Advice
I'll admit, as it's presented here, Galak's editorial seemed like a headscratcher at best. Still, I figured that the full piece would be a bit more substantial than the "Cliffnotes" version from this report. So let's consider Galak's WSJ travel article, starting with his direction to do less of what you love.
Hitting High Notes
It's not that Galak wants vacationers to intentionally plan mediocre trip itineraries. Instead, consider "quantity, variety and timing." For quantity, wrap up your activities (like a beach day) on a high note; don't wait to leave till you're sick of it. For variety, mix up activities within the span of the day (for example, going to the beach in the morning and hiking in the afternoon instead of doing one full beach day and one full hiking day). And for timing, Galack advises taking short breaks in the middle of doing what you love, as it "resets the decline in enjoyment" and keeps you riding the high for longer.
Avoiding "Choice Overload"
His second piece of advice, "limiting your choices," isn't a contradiction of his first. Galak is simply critiquing the tendency some travelers have to research every possible hotel, restaurant, tour group, etc, eventually giving themselves "choice overload." Not only does that make trip planning more stressful, but you're more likely to end up disappointed with your picks because you have dozens of alternatives to compare them to.
Obviously, research is essential. However, if you've found a place/activity/etc. that meets your metrics, don't feel like you need to research all potential alternatives before locking it in. Galak cites a 2002 study suggesting that satisficers (people who pick the first thing that looks good) are happier than "maximizers" because they don't suffer from choice overload.
Push It To The Limit
As for getting out of your comfort zone... frankly, that's always been sage advice for any aspiring well-rounded traveler. I do agree with the critics who are against Galak's tip to ditch your phone at the hotel for a walk. Travel safety is paramount, and you don't need to be buried in your phone to have it on you. Otherwise, though, I'm on his side.
The easiest, most tourist-accessible experiences often lack a lot of authenticity and depth. As long as you can do so safely, explore and try something unfamiliar. Honestly, as a big train rider myself, I liked his suggestion for riding public transit. You learn a lot more about the local culture by sharing the metro with commuters than by taking a Uber. Not only do you get a more authentic experience, but as Galak says, the less-polished points of your trip will make the high notes stand out all the more.
Even if you're still skeptical, I encourage you to read Galak's article, "How to Have a Great Vacation: What Science Tells Us." Though his controversial advice may not be for everyone (there are some vacationers who thrive off of non-stop indulgence), his guidelines might be the shake-up many bored tourists have been looking for.
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