Is Now a Smart Time to Travel?

Here's What We Think.

It's a question we've been hearing a lot lately: is now really a smart time to travel?

The headlines aren't exactly reassuring, are they? Protests against overtourism are making news across Europe. Cruise ships are being turned away from ports over pollution concerns. Short-term rentals are being blamed for squeezing out affordable housing for local residents. Conflicts popping up every time you turn on the news. With global politics and alliances moving faster than a toddler on a sugar high, a lot of travelers are left wondering how welcome they'll actually feel when they arrive somewhere new.

We understand the hesitation. We’ve had them ourselves, especially as members of the LGBTQ+ community. These are real issues and they deserve to be taken seriously.

But here's what we have found to be true: the answer isn't whether to travel. It's how.

We're about to spend nearly seven weeks in Europe this summer, at the height of tourist season, visiting some of the most popular landmarks on the continent. We've thought carefully about how to do it well — as guests, not just consumers. Here's what we've learned along the way.

Linguistic Diplomacy: Learn a Few Words

This is the single easiest thing you can do, and it makes an outsized difference. Before you arrive anywhere, learn a handful of phrases in the local language. Hello. Thank you. Please. Excuse me. And most importantly, Where is the bathroom?! You don't need to be fluent. You don't even need to get the pronunciation right. What matters is the attempt — it signals respect, and locals notice.

Don't arrive assuming everyone speaks English or that tourist destinations owe you communication in your native language. They don't. A little linguistic humility goes a long way.

Acknowledge the People Around You

Shop owners take genuine pride in their businesses. Greet them when you walk in. Thank them when you leave. These are small gestures that cost you nothing and mean more than you might expect.

If you're staying in a short-term rental, remember that your neighbors live there year-round. They're not on holiday. Keep noise down after hours, be considerate of shared spaces, and treat the neighborhood the way you'd want visitors to treat yours.

Put the Phone Down Sometimes

As content creators, we're probably the last people you'd expect to say this — but not every landmark exists for your Instagram moment. Using a centuries-old monument as a backdrop prop or treating a wild animal as a photo opportunity isn't just disrespectful, it can be genuinely harmful and dangerous.

We love sharing our travel experiences with our audience, and we always will. But we've learned to ask ourselves whether what we're doing is adding to a place or just taking from it. There's a difference, and it's worth thinking about.

The Power of the Passeggiata: Embrace How Things Work There

Part of the joy of travel is discovering that the whole world doesn't operate on your schedule. Shops close in the afternoon in some countries. If you are used to eating your dinner at 5pm, you might find it challenging to wait until 9pm or even 10pm in some cities. Things move at a different pace. Rather than treating these differences as inconveniences, lean into them. Order a coffee, find a bench, watch the world go by for an hour. Dining at 9pm and then slowly strolling the passeggiata can be very romantic.

Being open to how other people live — rather than expecting everywhere to feel like home — is what makes travel genuinely transformative and meaningful.

Use Common Sense

Research your destinations before you go. Know the current travel advisories — the U.S. State Department's website at Travel.State.Gov is updated regularly and worth checking before any international trip. Secure your valuables. Stay aware of your surroundings. The same common sense you'd apply at home applies everywhere else too.

Never Underestimate the Power of a Smile

In all our years of travel, across dozens of countries and hundreds of cities, we have

found one thing to be consistently true: a genuine smile and a sincere thank you will get you further than almost anything else.

When you can't find the right train platform, when you don't know the word for something on the menu, when you're lost and running late — a smile and an open attitude will bring people to your side every single time. Even in complicated times. Even when the headlines suggest otherwise.

So, pack your common sense. Pack your curiosity. Pack a sense of humor and a willingness to be surprised.

And don't forget to leave a little room in your carry-on for humility — it travels well and never takes up too much space.

The question is never really whether now is a good time to travel. The question is whether you're packing the right mindset when you go.

Grandpa Bobby and Grandpa Scott