Are You Travel Bragging? 4 Helpful Tips For Talking About Your Travels With Family and Friends

Ever worry about sounding like you’re travel bragging? It’s a common concern for many of us who love to travel.

When you’re freshly back home, catching up with friends, and the question “How was your trip?” comes up—how do you start? Especially if it was a transformative travel experience. What do you say? What do you include? At what point should I stop without sounding like you’re travel bragging?

In my 10 years of traveling and coming home to this question several times, I’ve learned it’s not the fact that you talk about your travels to others; rather, it’s all about how you share your stories.

I don’t know about you, but talking about my travels with friends and family used to make me feel weird. How can I be concise when sharing my travels? How do I avoid sounding like I’m bragging?

If that’s how you feel, then this post is for you!

I created this post to include some easy-to-follow guidelines to help you talk about your adventures without sounding like you’re bragging.

This is what I do, so I hope it can help you, too.

Ready to dive in? Let’s explore how you can share your travel memories without sounding like you’re bragging!

Disclaimer:

It’s important to mention that even though this is a post that shares tips on how to not sound annoying when talking about your travels, you can only do so much to “avoid” being “annoying” to others, whether talking about your trip or anything in life.

You cannot control how others see you or interpret what you tell them. You only have control over yourself and how you present yourself.

So, while you take these tips to help guide you when sharing your travels, some people might still decide to see/hear your stories and assume you’re bragging, regardless, because that’s just the way they decide to see the world.

This post is ultimately to encourage you to share your stories (to those who ask) while being mindful of how you can share your amazing trips in a way that is also fun for others.

Enjoy!

1. Don’t always share the small details

The truth is, unless someone specifically asks for your advice on a destination you were at because they are going to be there, no one really cares that much about the places you have been. At least the small details.

It’s important to realize this, especially when it’s a trip that meant so much to you. People will only understand so much and won’t get the depth at which you want them to understand why the trip was as special as it was for you.

And that’s ok!

It’s harsh, but it’s important to note this before someone says it to you after you explain the time you did XYZ or saw something and met so and so, all excited.

Some people want to know the bullet points of your trip and don’t care to know about how beautiful the Eiffel Tower lit up at night while you drank wine and had the time of your life.

A lot of those inside jokes or “you had to be there” details won’t translate the same, so sometimes it’s just best to keep the stories and details a little surface level unless they ask for more details.

Those amazing moments don’t always translate the same to others because they are your own experiences and feelings that you were lucky to feel. However, just because they aren’t the same level of special to others doesn’t mean that they’re not special at all.

2. Consider your audience

Who is asking you about your travels? The way you share your travels (and how deep you’ll go into the details) largely depends on who you’re talking with.

Your immediate family or close friends might be more interested in learning about the small details of your trip, like what foods you tried or what exciting things or special moments you experienced.

Co-workers and other acquaintances, on the other hand, might not care for much detail (which is okay!). They might want a list of the places you went to, things you saw, and whether you’d recommend them.

So, depending on who is asking, adjust how you talk about your travels.

2. Get to the point

You know those times when someone goes on and on about something, but never seems to get to the point quick enough?

Avoid being that person when you talk about your travels!

Just like I mentioned before, chances are, many people don’t really care to hear too much about your travels when it’s unsolicited.

So, if there’s something that you’re dying to share, make sure not to have the story drag on with extra things and details.

Below are a few examples of what I mean.

Not getting to the point: Last summer I had the amazing experience to go to Positano, Italy where I got to try authentic limoncello as well as other authentic italian dishes at this restaurant that was by a shop. The shop owner confused me for an Italian, and then we got talking, but then I noticed the prices in there were expensive, and then I saw a cute Italian guy walk in…(getting into smaller details).

Getting to the point: Last summer, I had the amazing experience of going to Positano, Italy! I was able to try authentic food and Italian drinks like limoncello, and the shops nearby were amazing.

The fewer details you give about your travels, the more people will be interested (and attentive) and will ask you more about the type of food you had and the different shops and people that you met, if they care to know that much. Trust me.

3. Share some takeaways in your travel stories

If you have been able to travel and come back to share stories and insight, it’s nice to try to think of a way of sharing your experiences with some takeaway for whoever is listening.

It could be something like sharing the single most important travel tip you learned in X destination, an airport hack that you successfully tried, or which dish was your favorite and you recommend.

In doing so, you’re not only sharing stories of what you saw and experienced but also adding something valuable that whoever is listening to you can take away and serve them when they travel.

Whoever listens to you share a tip or suggestion may want to know more about your trip and may be more interested in what you experienced abroad.

4. Don’t repeat the same travel story

Don’t go around telling the same story about the time you… XYZ in some city in the world. Also, keep track of who you’ve told this same story to. No one likes to hear things twice.

Sometimes, it’s unavoidable when you gather with one friend and tell them about your travels, and then you meet up with more mutual friends with the same person who already heard your story.

However, this is more about being conscious of who you’ve already shared your travel stories with, so you don’t keep repeating the same things again.

The Wrap-Up: Are You Travel Bragging? 5 Tips For Talking About Your Travels With Family and Friends

I hope that this is a good starting point for you if you are unsure how to start sharing your travel stories.

As a recap, here are my main tips:

• Don’t always share the small details
• Consider your audience
• Share some value in your stories
• Don’t repeat the same story

Overall, be mindful of the tone that you speak with because it’s not so much what you say, but it’s how you say it.

With that said, feel free to leave a few of your tips in the comments!

Is there something you would add to your list? A story you have on this? I’d love to know!

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