The This or That Travel Edition: Fun Travel Dilemmas for Your Next Trip
Dilemmas are a fantastic way to pass the time and spark engaging conversations, especially when you’re traveling. Whether you’re enduring a long flight, waiting for a connection at the airport, or simply enjoying a scenic train ride, a good ‘this or that’ question can turn a quiet moment into a lively discussion. This This Or That Travel Edition offers a series of fun scenarios to ponder, challenging you to pick between two intriguing travel choices. Thinking about these travel questions can also help you consider different aspects of planning your ideal journey.
Talk to Animals or Speak All Foreign Languages?
Person considering language options for travelThis one presents a tough choice right from the start. On one hand, speaking all foreign languages grants easy access to connect with people’s hearts and cultures across the globe. On the other, the ability to converse with animals opens up a completely different realm of understanding and interaction with the natural world.
For me, the preference leans towards foreign languages. While speaking with animals is undeniably fascinating, building a true connection with them involves more than just linguistic ability; it requires understanding their behaviors and needs on a deeper level. As a human, understanding other humans comes more naturally. Therefore, the power to communicate fluently in every language spoken worldwide feels like a more impactful and achievable way to enhance travel experiences and broaden horizons. Considering travel preparations often involves thinking about what to pack for various destinations, like knowing what to pack when traveling to paris – effective communication is just as vital as packing the right gear.
Hotel Suite Upgrade or First Class Flight?
Without hesitation, I would opt for upgrading the hotel room to a suite. While the luxury of first class is appealing, it’s typically enjoyed for only a few hours during transit. A hotel suite, however, is where you’ll likely spend significantly more time during your trip.
The value proposition is much stronger with a suite upgrade. You get more space, potentially better amenities, and a greater sense of comfort for the duration of your stay. It feels like a better return on the ‘bang for your buck,’ even in hypothetical scenarios where cost isn’t a factor.
Tour Vineyards, Breweries, or Distilleries?
Friends enjoying drinks at a brewery tourAs someone who appreciates a good beer, touring breweries holds significant appeal. However, when considering the sheer number globally – Belgium alone boasts over 300 breweries – visiting all of them seems like an insurmountable task.
Conversely, the number of distilleries in the world feels more manageable, and I also have a fondness for whiskey. Furthermore, vineyards and distilleries often seem to be situated in locations that are naturally more scenic or historically interesting compared to the more varied locales of breweries.
Be Left Behind in the Bush on an African Safari or in the Water on a Scuba Trip?
Scuba diver encounters a turtle in the oceanHaving experienced walking safaris and with scuba diving still on my travel wish list, both these situations feel potentially realistic. Faced with the dilemma, I believe I would prefer to be left in the bush.
While there’s a higher chance of encountering wildlife in the bush – a prospect I’d certainly want to avoid in that scenario – I feel there’s a greater likelihood of survival on land if I were to face a predator compared to being isolated in the open water. Additionally, covering ground by walking is far less exhausting than swimming for an extended period, and admittedly, I can be prone to laziness sometimes.
Trip to a Dutch Town with Friends or Dream Destination with a Frenemy?
Small boat on a canal in a town in the NetherlandsThis situation doesn’t present a strong challenge for me; I anticipate enjoying either scenario. However, if forced to choose, my preference leans towards an all-expenses-paid trip to a small town in the Netherlands enjoyed with my best friends.
Exploring new places, especially a dream destination, is fantastic. But the quality of the travel companions often outweighs the destination itself. Being on a trip with close friends makes the experience significantly more enjoyable and memorable. This feeling might be amplified by recent global events that highlighted the importance of connection, but even without that, friendship elevates any journey. For those seeking comfortable and stylish travel apparel, considering options like wrinkle-free travel blazer womens can also enhance the travel experience, ensuring you look and feel great wherever you go.
Travel the Ocean Floor or Journey to Outer Space?
Vintage deep sea diving helmetThis question is particularly difficult because the possibility of encountering undiscovered life forms feels higher on the ocean floor. Journeying into outer space is an incredible concept, especially considering humanity’s ongoing presence in orbit, which is truly mind-boggling. While the desire to participate in space travel exists, I must choose only one.
My choice is the trip to the ocean floor. The prospect of observing the ‘monsters of the deep’ in their natural habitat, perhaps even discovering a new species that could bear my name – like a “Fred-octopus” or a ‘crispy Fred fish’ – is too compelling to pass up.
Travel Back to Meet Ancestors or Forward to Meet Descendants?
Person with a historical sword, considering the pastMoving beyond spatial travel into the realm of time, this dilemma presents a significant challenge. The allure of knowing the future is immense, but so is the curiosity about what the past was truly like.
Ultimately, I believe I would travel into the future. Seeing what lies ahead offers the potential to understand the consequences of present actions and perhaps even gain insights that could influence choices today for a better tomorrow. I’d be particularly interested in seeing what forms of travel exist and which ones might be worth promoting.
Wear a Sweater in the Sahara or a Speedo in Antarctica (for 15 mins)?
Icy landscape in AntarcticaGiven that the duration is only 15 minutes, neither scenario is likely to be fatal, thankfully. While wearing a sweater and beanie in the Sahara during the day sounds comical, one could technically circumvent the extreme heat by doing it at night when the desert climate is cold.
To truly embrace the spirit of the dilemma, I would choose to wander around Antarctica in a Speedo. It’s a more extreme contrast and guarantees a memorable (and frigid) 15 minutes. Plus, the local penguin population would undoubtedly get a sight they’ve never seen before! Packing appropriately for vastly different climates is always key; thinking about best lightweight men’s jacket for travel or women’s quick dry travel clothes highlights the importance of versatile clothing for unexpected temperature shifts.
Climb Mt Everest or Walk the Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall of ChinaThe core question here is whether to climb 8848 meters or walk approximately 21,196 kilometers. While the Great Wall might initially seem ‘easier’ in terms of technical difficulty compared to Everest, the sheer distance raises questions about how engaging all those kilometers would be. It’s easy to imagine large stretches being quite monotonous.
On the other hand, climbing Everest is universally known as an incredibly demanding and challenging endeavor, requiring significant physical and mental fortitude. Despite the difficulty, I think I would prefer the challenge of climbing Mt Everest. It feels like a singular, monumental achievement.
Airplane Lavatory Embarrassment: Mile High Club or Diarrhea?
People traveling on a trainBoth scenarios involve potential public embarrassment related to an airplane lavatory, though one is intentional and the other is an unfortunate accident. Assuming one doesn’t choose to get diarrhea, the latter is involuntary.
Joining the Mile High Club sounds considerably more enjoyable than enduring a severe case of in-flight diarrhea. However, the involuntary nature of illness might garner more sympathy from the cabin crew, though you’re unlikely to see them again anyway. It’s a genuinely tough choice. Ultimately, I think I would prefer the door swinging open during an attempt to join the Mile High Club. It feels like a situation that would result in a funnier, more outrageous story to recount to friends later.
Sleep in a Shark Tank or the Paris Catacombs?
This is an easy choice for me: the shark tank, without a doubt.
Sleeping in the catacombs would be incredibly unsettling. Despite considering myself a rational and scientific individual, the idea of sleeping surrounded by the remains of countless people is deeply uncomfortable. The possibility, however irrational, of encountering restless spirits or animated skeletons would prevent any chance of sleep. A shark tank, while potentially intimidating, deals with known, living entities, and presumably, the tank is secure.
Lose All Your Money or All Your Photos?
Honestly, just take all my money. Photos hold irreplaceable memories and capture moments in time that financial wealth cannot recreate. Money can potentially be earned back, but cherished photographs are often unique records of personal history and experiences.
Window Seat or Aisle Seat Forever?
Given the choice for every flight for the rest of my life, I would select the window seat. The views offered from a window seat can be spectacular, providing glimpses of landscapes, clouds, and city lights that significantly enhance the travel experience.
Furthermore, on most flights, I don’t frequently need to use the lavatory, meaning I wouldn’t be inconveniencing others by needing them to move. While the aisle seat offers easy access, the opportunity to witness the world unfolding below from the window is a far greater appeal for me.
These travel ‘this or that’ questions offer a fun way to explore your preferences and imagine different travel scenarios. They can spark debate and reveal surprising insights into what you truly value when venturing out into the world.