WHAT IS MY TRAVEL PERSONALITY?

I see travel quizzes all the time but they never seem to match me correctly. The styles seem limited because they usually focus on the type of activity or destination. Well I don’t know about you, but I like beach vacations just as well as cities or hiking vacations. To me, what motivates us to visit certain places is what determines our travel style. You and I may want to visit the same destination, but the experience we want may look very different.

This is what’s called Travel Personality.

Curious to know what yours is? Take this quick TRAVEL PERSONALITY QUIZ first, then read more about each type below

HINT: You don’t have to give a real email address or name for the quiz — just make something up.

The quiz will only assign you one particular type, but after reading the descriptions below you may lean towards more than one style. And that’s great because it means you’ll enjoy a wider variety of trips. Knowing your travel personality and the personalities of people you want to travel with is KEY to planning a great trip!

Off the Beaten Path Traveler

You want to see things most others haven’t. You cringe at the thought of cruise ships or Disney-like theme parks.  You prefer unique experiences and are willing to visit places that more tentative travelers might skip. These might be in rugged OR city locations. Popular tourist destinations may be beautiful, but you believe the most rewarding experiences happen away from such places.  It takes courage to DIY this type of travel but it can be VERY rewarding. Travel agencies specialize in this as well, but you’ll pay high prices for it.

Suggestions on how to get off the beaten path:

• Go somewhere that’s not in your top 10 places to see

• Visit a village as opposed to a city, or ethnic neighborhood instead of downtown

• Skip your first choice of continents

• Make a point of interacting with locals

Catered Luxury Traveler

You want a little comfort on the road and you’re willing to stretch your budget to get it. You prefer lodging that looks beautiful and feels luxurious. You like being catered to and not having to spend your vacation hunting for food or things to do.  All-inclusive resorts, small cruise ships or custom tour groups sound very appealing. The good news is that this type of travel is easy to find and is what most travel agents prefer to sell.

If you’re trying to keep costs down, book a few splurges into your trip (rather than going for an all-inclusive luxury resort). Consider budget hotels for most of the trip and book a 5-star hotel in an old palace on your last night. Or consider doing this in parts of the world where a splurge isn’t that expensive.  East Asia and South America are usually great choices for luxury on a budget. Cruises can also be a good option for luxury on a budget, if that’s your thing.

Agenda Traveler

You have things to do and places to be, going from place to place with a list of “must see/must do” items. You hit the road on a mission with a strong sense of purpose. Maybe you want to check something off your bucket list or save the planet. Maybe you really want that Instagram photo in front of a famous place. Maybe your life’s dream is to climb Mt. Everest or take a perfect honeymoon at a resort in the Maldives or take a kissing photo of you and your loved one in front of the Eiffel Tower.  Whatever your “must do” may be, it can form the focal point of your vacation and serve as something to build the rest of your trip around.

Immersive/Slow Traveler

Getting in touch with a place takes time. You’re the type of traveler that likes to move slowly & connect with locals. You are perfectly content to spend the entire trip never having seen anything famous or doing anything that might impress others. You are there to observe, soak it all in, and simply exist.

Slow travel is a popular style of travel, especially in Europe where vacations or “holidays” often last a month. A great way to do this is to rent lodging in a neighborhood. It slows you down and allows you to connect with an area from a local’s perspective, as opposed to seeing through a tourist’s eye. People who love beach vacations often fit this style, but think beyond the big beach resort towns. If getting away from it all is more important than swanky beach bars, look at small coastal towns away from tourist attractions.

Interest-Driven Traveler Photo by Paul Szewczyk on Unsplash

You seek travel that allows you to explore a specific passion.  Whether it’s food, yoga, hiking, photography, fashion, art, architecture, history, epic motorcycle routes, wildlife — you name it, there are trips for everyone’s specific interest.

If this sounds like you, start by writing down what your passion is and see if it fits into a larger category. For example, you’ll find yoga trips under the term “wellness.”  Pretty much anything active and outdoors will be considered “adventure travel” or “active travel.” Art, architecture and history are often lumped into “culture” trips.  People who focus on food will want “culinary” or “foodie” itineraries. Look for trips or destinations with these categories. There are websites designed to search by specific interests, so don’t hesitate to look online.

Now that you know your travel personality, start planning your dream vacation! Start here if you need some nifty planning tools.