Not everyone is the same, especially when it comes to traveling. Everyone has their own unique travel style and it’s important for you to identify your personal travel style. Whether it has to do with money or accommodations, these are the things that shape your trips and how you experience traveling. This blog serves as your guide, a guide to ask yourself questions you might not think of to figure out what your style is and what to think of when planning your next trip. This is How to Identify your Travel Style with FREE Templates.
How to Identify your Travel Style
Knowing your travel style is sooo important to identify before going on trips alone or with other people. If you’re solo traveling, you can quite literally do whatever you want. While traveling with others, whether it’s one other person or a group of people, if you are not on the same page and your traveling styles don’t match, it can make it a not so fun and memorable trip. Either way, it’s great to know your travel style beforehand so you know how to spend your time and prepare accordingly.
Now I know two people are never the same and if you have a travel partner who is 100% on the same page as you, consider yourself lucky! But, overall when traveling even if you both have the same travel style, being flexible is important too!
A personal story of mine, one time my friend texted me about going on a trip. We’ve never traveled together before and I literally said “Yes, but I have some questions first…” and started asking away about what his travel style was like! This comes after many experiences of traveling with people who are not similar to myself.
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Topics to consider when deciding your travel style?
Other than deciding on where to go or if you like mountains versus beaches, there are a lot of other things to think about when deciding your travel style. Some topics I’ll talk about when deciding your travel style are money, food, accommodations, and activities.
I literally turned down a trip to Italy and Jordan because I knew my travel style didn’t match the group of people going. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy myself and I have no regrets whatsoever! Last minute, I ended up going to the Andalucia region of Spain instead with a friend from school and his roommate that I knew were more similar to my style and had an amazing time!
Begin identifying your travel style through This or That - General Travel Topics.
Travel Style Topic 1: Money
What’s your bank account looking like? Are you on a budget? Do you have no limits? Do you have certain priorities that you plan on spending your money on?
Money has to be one of the hottest topics when it comes to traveling. It can be quite an inflexible component if you’re on a limited budget and nearly impossible to adjust if others are not. Money can also dictate the remaining topics of your travel style. When I was in college, obviously my money was tight so I was on a budget and I wanted to only spend money on things I truly wanted.
Know your monetary limits and keep money in mind for the remaining components of identifying your travel style. Other than personal preference, money can affect other aspects of your trip that we’ll continue to discuss.
Travel Style Topic 2: Food
Would you consider yourself a foodie? Do you enjoy sitting down at restaurants? Or would you rather pick up something quick at a cafe and keep moving? Eat local foods or your average fast food chain?
When I’m traveling I personally hate sitting down at restaurants. One trip I was on we spent a day in a town and ended up sitting at a restaurant for nearly 3 hours. I was literally in misery. I believe there’s so much to see while traveling that I’d rather not waste my limited time while eating at restaurants. Now, I’m not saying I’ll never eat at a restaurant, but typically I’ll only do so at dinner to not waste daylight and not every night to not waste money. Also on top of the fact that if I eat a big meal I will 100% need a nap and again, I do not want to waste daylight or time at all for that matter.
When it comes to where to eat, I do enjoy eating foods of that particular area. Like in Spain, I love a nice jamon sandwich or pan con tomate and I’m fine eating a croissant every day for breakfast while in Paris. But, I also don’t mind eating at a familiar chain every now and then, especially when traveling for a long time. Nothing brings you home like some familiar food!
Begin identifying your travel style through This or That - Food Travel Topics.
Travel Style Topic 3: Accomodations
Are you a loyal member of a hotel chain? All inclusive resorts your thing? Would you rather AirBnB? Hostels? Staying somewhere amongst the locals or even a unique getaway spot?
Accommodations are nearly the last thing I care about when traveling as long as I’m safe and have somewhere to rest my head. While traveling I don’t plan on staying in my room very often because I prefer to always be exploring as much as possible.
In college my best friend and I were trying to plan a trip and she was all about all inclusive resorts with free food and alcohol and I just cringed. The last thing I wanted to do was go to a beautiful foreign location and never leave the resort. Not hating, but that’s not my style at all at the moment. Thankfully that trip never happened. I’m sure I would’ve had fun, but it wouldn’t have been truly a trip I wanted to do.
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What's your Travel Style? Accommodations Edition
Travel Style Topic 4: Activites
Do you love doing guided tours? Learning about history? Maybe art? Visiting the most touristy spots or exploring like a local? Adrenaline activities like bungee jumping or paragliding?
Lastly, activities, what are you going to do while you travel? The location you choose definitely can alter what you’d like to do in which location. Another personal experience of mine was the person I was traveling with wanted to go to American styled bars while in a foreign place to party while I rather do more local things than party with more Americans – call me crazy lol.
While traveling, I also love to visit a popular museum and see the highlights. Would I be able to stay there all day and read every single plaque of every piece of art work? No, I would not.
Activities has to be the most complex topic when it comes to your travel style because it varies so greatly. Some people visit places and never leave the place they are staying. Others strictly do all the top tourist items. And some will live like a local and find the hidden gems. Very drastic differences so it’s important for you to figure out what’s important to you!
Last This or That - Activities Travel Topics
What is your travel style?
After reading more on how to identify our travel style, do you feel you have a better idea on how you like to travel? Of course traveling can be about compromising or maybe even going your separate ways for the day. But, I find it best when you at least know someones travel style before going on a trip together so you know what to expect. What would you define as your travel style? Leave it in the comments below!
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