Banned: the travel writing clichés our subs won't allow
February 7, 2008
When you consider the source material travel writers use, it's startling how often glib, tired phrases creep in.
I'm not claiming Travel Weekly is innocent - after all, a magazine that insisted on absolute originality in every sentence would be lucky to publish two issues a year - but there are some coinages that are vetoed in our style guide.
- Brit of alright
- Culture vulture
- Eastern promise
- More than just X
- Souk it and see
- Swing when you’re winning (on golf-related stories)
- There’s something for everyone
- Turkish delight
I also asked our feature writers for a few nominations, and here's what they came up with:
- Discerning travellers (tour operator-speak for 'no chavs')
- Typically/authentically
- A city/country of contrasts
- Colourful markets
- Vibrant culture
- Rich in history
- Friendly locals
What do you think? Unfair? Or are there some pernicious clichés that we've missed out?
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Nathan Midgley
Comments (5)
not forgetting...
spa treatments to die for
quirky designer shops
bustling markets
lively nightlife (...warning bells)
party till dawn (yawn!)
international star DJs
theme parks with white-knuckle rides
for adrenalin junkies, of course,
all with a price tag to match
... or for a fraction of the price you’d pay at home.
All washed down with a bottle of the local vino.
hey, we've all done it at some point, so don't feel too bad.
Posted by Mark Hodson | February 9, 2008 7:52 PM
Posted on February 9, 2008 19:52
We could go on forever...
Just read something with the headline:
XXDESTINATIONXX or bust!
Also, don't forget to 'take a bite out of the Big Apple' when visiting New York, or when you go to Eastern Europe visit a 'New kid on the bloc'. Yawn. (even though I'm sure you can find above examples under my byline - must try harder!)
Posted by Emily Ashwell | February 11, 2008 4:11 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 16:11
Interesting post! I just wrote a post about writing clichés on my blog. Hope it was ok that I added some of your examples.
Here are a few I thought of:
majestic mountains
quaint villages
snow-capped mountains
lands of contrasts
off the beaten track
crystal clear lakes
pictueresque villages
golden beaches
panoramic views
clear-blue water (not 100% about this last one, is it really a cliché?)
Posted by Erica Johansson | February 22, 2008 2:35 PM
Posted on February 22, 2008 14:35
Thanks Erica.
I've been thinking about the one that annoys me most, and realised it's actually a formula rather than a particular phrase:
- The [X] is great for [category of X] fans
So "the theatre is great for culture fans" or "the football stadium is great for sports fans". Not exactly insider knowledge...
Posted by Nathan (Travel Weekly Blog) | February 22, 2008 3:06 PM
Posted on February 22, 2008 15:06
Sorry, I'm a year late but there's a whole bunch of travel cliches with explanations and notes on their hidden meanings at www.thejadedtraveller.com/Toptravelcliches.html
Posted by Adam | February 18, 2009 5:40 AM
Posted on February 18, 2009 05:40