April 7, 2025
I remember the days travelers would ask co-workers, friends, and family for referrals of a place to stay? There was even a time when hotels were the center of the social fabric of a community. Hotels offered travelers a “sense of place” where one would go to see new landscape, meet new people, hear new songs, taste new foods, explore, discover!
Travel once involved a sense of discovery, spontaneity, and immersion. In today’s world of mass tourism and constant connectivity it is challenging to have those experiences.
So, who stole it?
The big hotel brands and the big online travel agencies such as Expedia, Booking, and, to an extent, even Airbnb. The brands commodified experience by making everything look the same, taste the same, and sound the same with their “brand requirements”.
The rise of online travel agencies has transformed travel planning from an authentic adventure into a transactional experience. Travelers are now faced with a confusing mix of accommodations, from budget hotels to corporate apartments, all vying for attention. What used to be an exciting journey of discovery has become akin to sifting through a bargain bin, where you must dig through countless options, trying to decipher prices and hoping for a clean, comfortable stay. This shift has stripped away the spontaneity and joy that once accompanied planning a trip.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want “vanilla experiences” every time I travel. I want to experience all the flavors a “place” has to offer. I want to meet the staff, other guests, get genuine guidance of where to have my next epic, ah-ha moment.
If you agree, then use Equation Travel to explore! It’s a curated site with only small businesses, caring innkeepers, tour guides, and ah-ha moments.