The statues are iconic.
The sunset was stunning.
Discover the real, authentic Rome like a local.
The castle is nestled on a lush hillside in a quaint village that boasts breathtaking, panoramic views.
Ok, those are a little extreme, but be honest–they sound like something you’ve read before. You’ve also probably read the terms below dozens if not hundreds of times. If you write about travel, you’ve definitely used them. We’re all guilty of using these words when we write or talk about travel. Most of them are harmless, but have become cliches. Others are more problematic and carry colonialist or patronizing connotations.
This isn’t a list of banned words. There is merit in simple words that a wide audience can instantly understand. And sometimes something really is iconic. We’re not saying to never use these words (except “yummy,” please). We’re saying to think more about word choice and whether the word you’re using is the best one for the situation and actually means what you’re trying to convey. We’re also hoping it helps you notice when you’ve used “gorgeous” or “nestled” one too many times. We’re especially hoping it makes you rethink words like “exotic,” “authentic,” and “real.”
The Overused
Quaint
Charming
Old meets new
Twisting alleyways
Bustling
Buzzing
Meander
Nestled
Tucked away
Hidden gem
Hidden jewel
Off the beaten path
Quirky
Land of contrasts
Eclectic
Recharge–As in, “recharge at the spa” or “recharge in your hotel room.”
Best kept secret–Especially if it is on numerous other lists or not a secret at all to anyone who lives there.
Treasure trove
Boasts–As in, “the town boats 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites” or, as Andy Murdock said on Twitter, “the hotel boasts three pools, a hot tub, and a lazy river. Nope. Stop.”
The next…As in, “Montenegro is the next Croatia,” or something equally ridiculous.
Locals
Just–this goes for all writing, not only travel writing.
Panoramic views
Perched–For example, in this perfectly terrible trifecta courtesy of Heather Stimmler: “This charming, perched village boasts panoramic views and crusty baguettes.”
Trendy
Melting pot–Almost nowhere is completely homogenous, so this term has lost meaning.
Fabled, wondrous, and other over-the-top adjectives you wouldn’t use in real life.
Et cetera and etc.–It’s lazy. What is the et cetera? Readers probably want to know.
Sun-dappled–Say sunny.
Vibrant
Bespoke–Like quirky, this is used so often for everything from biscuits to woven baskets it has lost meaning.
Doesn’t disappoint
Unspoiled
Bucket list
Wanderlust
Be sure to catch/Don’t miss/Make sure to see…
Must-see–Instead of saying this, describe whatever the “must-see” thing is and let readers decide for themselves.
World class–Is it actually something truly exceptional? Among the best in the world?
Oasis–Unless it is a small fertile spot in a desert where water is found.
Paradise
Between East and West. Like Anna Roach said on Twitter, “This has been used to describe every city between Berlin and like, Yekaterinburg. It means nothing anymore can we stop.”
Stating the obvious–For example, “the sun rose in the east” or “the waves rolled on the sand.”
Iconic–Like world class, this shouldn’t be used unless the thing is really, truly one of the most recognized or significant of its kind. Even then, it’s used so often you should question whether there’s an alternative.
Unique–What do you mean? Is it the only one of its kind? Is it unusual? Is it distinctive? This word can be vague, so be specific with which definition you mean.
Rustic
Forgotten–Is it really?
Breathtaking–Did you actually stop breathing momentarily? If so, by all means use this term.
Amazing, incredible, gorgeous, fantastic, stunning.. These are all fine words, but often they’re used as a lazy alternative to providing a more complete description.
Venture out–This implies something dangerous or adventurous. In most cases, you are not actually “venturing out of your hotel room.” You’re just leaving it.
Undiscovered–Then how are you there?
The Problematic
Exotic–The primary definition of exotic is, “introduced from another country: not native to the place where found.” So, if you’re in another country trying a food, or seeing a sight, but that food or sight is from that place, it cannot be exotic. You are technically the exotic one in that situation. More often, it’s used as its third definition: “strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual.” This is still troublesome in travel and food writing though, because what is different or unusual to one writer may be completely normal for readers. When foreign writers come into a country and start calling something that is completely ordinary in that place “exotic,” it come across as patronizing and naive.
Untouched–This implies that locals (see, we’re guilty too) who have probably visited/touched/eaten whatever it is you’re writing about, don’t have agency.
Real–As in, “discover the real Paris.” First of all, if you’re in a place, everything around you is real. This is often used to guide people to less touristy places, but of course the touristy places are real too. They exist, don’t they? If you are in Paris, or Cambodia, or Peru, everything you do or see is part of the “real” Paris or Cambodia or Peru, whether it fits the image in your head or not.
Authentic–The meaning of Authentic is “of undisputed origin; genuine.” But, like “real,” anything can be authentic in a way. A recipe that has gone through several iterations is authentic to the person who created the most recent version. “Authentic” can also come across as condescending. It’s almost never used to describe modern sights or shopping malls or luxury resorts, but is used to describe rural areas, poor areas, or to reinforce dated ideas of places.
Mecca–Mecca is an actual place. It sounds ridiculous to say, “New York City is a Vatican for theater lovers,” so we should stop using “Mecca” in this context as well.
Bonus: Food words that drive us crazy
Delicious
Yummy
Foodie
Indulge
Libation–Say “drink,” please.
Snag–As in, a table.
Ethnic. Lavanya Ramanathan has a great piece on this.
Eatery–Would you say this word in conversation? Stick to “restaurant.”
What do you think? Is our list complete or are there other words drive you crazy in travel writing? Let us know on Twitter.
