This was published 5 years ago
Do you recognise any of these clues? The 18 signs you're a travel nerd
By Ben Groundwater
There's no need be embarrassed. Embrace your travel nerdiness.Credit: Alamy
There's nothing wrong with being a travel nerd. Sure, your encyclopaedic knowledge of the world's airport concourses might win you a few funny looks at parties, but mostly it's a handy thing to be a total travel dork.
You save money. You travel more comfortably. You don't lose things; you don't get lost. Advantages like these easily outweigh your inevitable status as a social pariah.
So don't feel bad. If you recognise a few of these signs, or a lot of these signs, or maybe even all of them, there's no need be embarrassed. Embrace your travel nerdiness …
You have Skyscanner bookmarked on your internet browser
You also have traveller.com.au, of course, as well as TripAdvisor, Kayak, Smartraveller and probably a whole host of other travel-related websites ready to load at the click of a button. One of them is probably your homepage.
You know the difference between an A350 and an A340
One has two engines, the other has four. But then, you already knew that. You also know what the letters "XWB" mean, and you know which of these aircraft you would prefer to fly in.
Your friends and family treat you like their personal travel agent
"Hey," the text begins, "just got a quick travel-related question for you …" And so begins a lengthy missive from a friend or family member in which you're essentially asked to plan their entire holiday. And the weirdest thing is you're totally happy to do it.
You always answer the geography questions at pub quizzes
"Name the capital of Burkina Faso." All the heads at the table swivel in your direction. "Ooh," you say, "that's a pretty hard one." Before quickly scribbling down Ouagadougou.
You have a packing spreadsheet
Actually, you have numerous packing spreadsheets, tailored towards the sort of holiday you might be taking. There's a skiing spreadsheet, a cruising spreadsheet, a hiking spreadsheet, a camping spreadsheet, and so many more. Each time you're preparing to travel you just need to check everything off and you're ready to go.
You're a "level 6" contributor on TripAdvisor
You review places wherever you go. You don't just hate-review either, you don't jump on to give one-star reviews to hotels or attractions that have annoyed you. You give three- and four-star reviews. You actually enjoy this stuff.
You know the most comfortable seat on any given aircraft
No need for SeatGuru. You already know the seat you want to book on any given Boeing or Airbus, and will plan your holiday around its availability.
You keep all your old passports (and boarding passes)
I have a friend who shall remain nameless – Brian – who has kept every single boarding pass from every flight he's ever been on. That's next-level nerdery. Most of us are content to just keep old passports and flick through them wistfully every now and then.
Your inbox is filled with travel mail-outs
Every time you check your email it has already filled up with sale announcements from various airlines, updates on your frequent flyer points, deals on cruises, new tours from your favourite companies…
You have a favourite airport
Credit: Neoscape
It's Singapore Changi, obviously. Or maybe it's Tokyo Haneda. Either way, you have a definite favourite, whereas non-travel-nerds are really just happy to be flying and don't care where they're passing through.
You have a collection of foreign currency (with favourite notes)
You have a three-peso note from Cuba and a $100 trillion note from Zimbabwe. You have a triangular $2 coin from the Cook Islands, and a Scottish five-pound note that you tried to spend in England and everyone looked at you like you'd just tried to pay with a three-peso note from Cuba.
You refer to airports by their IATA codes
"Just arriving in BKK," you say in a text message to family or friends. They know what you're talking about, too.
You actually know how best to use frequent flyer points
Do you buy economy flights to expensive destinations, or use your points to upgrade on flights you've already paid for? Do you seek out credit cards that give away bonus points, or not really worry about it? Do you fly off-peak or go for the most expensive times? If you know the answer to any of those questions, feel free to drop me a line…
You always carry zip-lock bags and gaffer tape
There's almost nothing these two things can't fix when you're on the road.
You pack an amenities kit for long-haul flights
Why should business class passengers have all the fun? You carry an on-board amenity kit that has a good eye-mask, ear-plugs, moisturiser, fresh socks, and pyjama pants for long-haul journeys.
You know all the current exchange rates
No need to check the internet to see how the Australian dollar is going against the euro, or whether now is a good time to travel to the US, or how many baht or rupiah you're likely to get for your hard-earned – you already know. You always know.
You only travel with carry-on
The true measure of a travel nerd, sometimes, is whether they can pack everything they require for a two-week trip into one small, carry-on sized bag. Personally I've never mastered this skill, or even tried to. But there are some out there who take pride in their ability to pack freakishly light.
You email travel writers to point out minor inaccuracies
You know who you are.
See also: Why we love the A380 superjumbo (even if airlines don't)
What do you think are the signs you're a travel nerd? How many of the above do you recognise?
Email: b.groundwater@traveller.com.au
Instagram: Instagram.com/bengroundwater
LISTEN: Flight of Fancy - the Traveller.com.au podcast with Ben Groundwater
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