It sounds a bit like the author's forgotten what it's like not to travel at all. As an American, I wish my friends would venture outside our borders so that in the future when, inevitably, we will need to invade yet another country perhaps we will reconsider. I'll gladly take the risks of homogenization and narcissism to the risks of an insulated population that accepts the media's perspective of the world rather than their own firsthand (albeit limited) experience.
Maybe everyone here makes 6 figure salaries, but overseas travel is ridiculously expensive. I've found that it's mostly the people who can afford it who proclaim the benefits of travel.
I traveled all around South America for six months and spent maybe 10k total on the trip and I wasn't living frugally at all. I stayed in Airbnb's over hostels, ate good food often, and went on lots of paid excursions. I probably could have spent 5k total if I did the hostel thing, ate on the cheap, and didn't pay for any tourist activities.
My point is you can travel on the cheap if you put effort into it, especially in South America. Traveling in Europe? Sure, that's going to be just as expensive if not more than simply living day to day in the states. There are definitely places you can travel without making a six figure salary however.
The problem is not having a job when you return from South America. Most people can't simply expect to get a decent job in a reasonable amount of time.
Going to resorts and fancy hotels is expensive. Traveling is not. Most people I meet traveling including myself are spending way less money than they do at home.
