What Kind of Traveler are You?

When it comes to planning your vacation, it is helpful for us to know what type of traveler you are. This can assist us in choosing the destination you will enjoy the most and the types of experiences that align with your values and tastes.

Are you a mix of types, or do you gravitate towards one? Is there a type you aspire to become? Which would you like as a travel companion and which would drive you crazy? We’d love to hear your feedback!

The One Off

Do you get a thrill finding the uncommon and off-the-beaten-path? If overnighting with a nomad family in a Mongolian yurt, listening to Aborigines play a didgeridoo in the Australian Outback, and sleeping in an underwater hotel or ice cave lights you up, you are a One Off. These folks delight in storytelling and sharing their authentic experiences with more mainstream travelers.

The Yogi

Do you look for transformative experiences that will provide inner peace and self-knowledge? Do you prefer secluded and serene places over crowded cities? Are you a visitor of shrines, religious and otherwise? Do experiences like walking the Camino de Santiago, hiking to the top of a mountain and meditating, and going to wellness resorts appeal? If you want to receive a Masai blessing when you renew your vows in Africa, or travel to the Amazon for a Shamanic experience with Ayahuasca, then no doubt you are a Yogi.

The Grass Roots Traveler

Do you like to take a deep dive into a destination’s history and culture? Do you like to share a meal with a local or find a drinking buddy at the town bar? Would you rather stay in one place a long time versus doing a whirlwind tour to see as much as possible? Do you prefer individualized attention with private touring? Grass Roots Travelers love reading books about a place before they depart, and once there, they take joy in visiting small museums and practicing the language. While they are intellectuals, they are also socially adept and can talk to just about anyone.

The Maximalist

Are you out early and back late, seeking to take in as much as possible when you travel? Are your senses heightened, wanting to devour every sight, taste, and smell? Do you come back from a vacation needing a vacation? Do you have a very long travel bucket list? The fear of missing out and not living life to the fullest is ever present for a Maximalist. To mitigate this, they do heavy research before departure and make sure they see the tourist hot spots wherever they wander. A shopper who loves to bring back lots of local goods for friends and family is a sure sign of a Maximalist. Sound like anyone you know?

The Free Bird

If you don’t do much research before departure, you may very well be a Free Bird. This type of traveler likes to go with the flow. You will often find them sitting in a sidewalk cafe or laying on the beach with a drink in hand. They hate having an agenda because this leaves no room for spontaneity. If you like to travel solo, sleep in, have a leasurely breakfast, then head to the hotel concierge for a dinner reservation and to see what activities they recommend, consider yourself a Free Bird.

The Adrenaline Junkie

If ghost hunting expeditions, ballooning, skydiving, surfing, eating ants egg soup in Thailand, swimming with sharks, rappelling and ATV tours appeal, you are an Adrenaline Junkie. An ordinary car rental won’t do for you, it’s got to be a Jeep for those off-road experiences. You will always choose a National Park, a beach at sunset, or a hiking trail over a big city destination. Your need for that next fix to step out of your comfort zone limits you to traveling solo or with others like yourself, as you’d be bored traveling with any other type.

The City Slicker

Do you love the energy of big cities like New York, Paris, London, Rome, Singapore, and Tokyo? If you prefer the comforts of luxury hotels, trendy restaurants, shopping, a vibrant nightlife, and the theater that only a modern metropolis can offer, you are a City Slicker.

The Documentarian

If you find yourself journaling about your experiences, behind the lens of a camera or iphone, or having to keep your selfie stick in check, you may be a Documentarian. You get as much joy reliving your adventures upon return as you do in the moment of travel. You may find yourself spending time during your trip posting photos on social media, giving slide shows with elaborate explanations of each photo to friends and family back home, or creating beautiful scrapbooks of your journeys.

The Sophisticate and the Sophisticate-in-Training

This is the most discerning type of traveler. The Sophisticate wants the best of the best and is willing to pay for it. They will spare no expense to stay in a 5-star hotel and eat in a Michelin-star restaurant. They can be found wining and dining the night away or at a spa getting pampered with many treatments. The Sophisticate-in-Training has champagne taste with a beer budget and can get easily frustrated when their wallet doesn’t align with their desires. However, they are very creative at finding ways of achieving luxury by getting a good travel credit card, going on shorter vacations, and by choosing their destinations carefully, ie skiing in Slovakia versus St. Moritz.