The Different Types Of Travelers

1. Weekend Break

Weekend break, anybody? What’s your fancy? A little beachside bungalow or a peakside mountain retreat? Whether it’s a two-hour drive or a two-hour flight, a weekend break is one of the most glorious getaways. It won’t reduce your carefully banked vacation time and you can find yourself plenty of great deals out there.

Depending on where you live, the options for a weekend break abound. You can, of course, rent a gorgeous cabin for the weekend like our picture above. Or, if you live in any of the port towns of the world, perhaps you’ll consider a cruise to nowhere. You’ll quickly find that you’ve managed to recharge your batteries without depleting your savings account. Indeed, the weekend break is one of the finest spices of life.

2. Staycation

A staycation is one of our personal favorites. Be a visitor in your own town. Go to that B&B that always catches your eye whenever you’re downtown. Book a room and enjoy your home away from home. Order up some room service and hit up the town.

If you always walk past the local museum or that tantalizing art gallery and say, “I’ve got to check that place out,” it’s time for a staycation. Plan it and don’t back out! It’s another one of those wonderful ways to recharge the batteries without bruising your bank account. And hey - why not end things with a gorgeous massage as the sun sets on one of your finest weekends?

3. Volunteerism

Have you ever felt the itch to get away but weren’t sure where to go? It’s funny, we all have our private lists of travel destinations, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to go next! When these moments arrive, perhaps you’ll consider an act of volunteerism (also known as voluntourism) as your next vacation. There are so many causes out there that would love a pair of helping hands, even if only for a weekend.

Consider the causes that matter to you the most. Perhaps you’ll choose some wort of wildlife conservation effort. Or, maybe you’ll take a sabbatical and go teach English as a second language in Kyoto. The New York Times recently published an article titled, “How to Plan a Volunteering Vacation”. In it, they detail some of the most reputable volunteer organizations to help you start planning your journey.

First up, they put the spotlight on Charity Navigator. They focus on charities in the United States. If you’re looking for a company that provides worldwide volunteering opportunities, check out GivingWay, International Volunteer HQ, and Volunteers for Peace. Wouldn’t that be an exciting way to experience anywhere from Kyoto to Kiribati? Best of all, you’d be pairing your interests and skills with a worthy cause. If that’s not one for the travel journal, what is!

4. Road Trip

If you have a good chunk of time to yourself, gear on up for a fantastic road trip. This allows you to cover a lot of ground on your own terms. There’s no rushing to catch flights, no hoping your Uber arrives on time. It’s just you, a map, and a black pen to check off your destinations as you go.

One of your best options is going to be Route 66 in the United States. You can cover terrain that extends from Chicago to California. Then, while you’re there, you might want to consider driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in sunny California. Your travel journal will evolve into a travel binder by the time that trip is through.

Or, instead of traveling from east to west, you might want to consider traveling north to south along the Mississippi River. This will take you from the snowy mountain terrain of Minnesota to the frying pan known as Texas. And, finally, if you’re really looking to unplug, why not consider The Loneliest Road?

This is a long stretch of U.S. Highway 50. The moniker refers to the largely uninhabited region. But, you’ll be following along the Pony Express! You’ll enjoy the magnitude of old mining camps, steep mountain terrain, and juniper forests the size of heaven. With plenty of gas stations and cafes to guide you along the way, who knows what kind of adventure awaits on The Loneliest Road?

5. Gap Year

If the opportunity for a gap year presents itself, lasso it in. You have the rest of your life to work, return to graduate school, and “be an adult”. According to the Gap Year Association, a whopping 92% of travelers say they gained life experience or grew personally from their gap year. In a way, stepping away from the life we’ve known for four undergraduate years and releasing some of that pressure into a year abroad is the best thing you can do for yourself. What future employer wouldn’t look favorably on someone with a worldwide perspective on life?

You can design your gap year any way you like. Perhaps you’ll bounce around from country to country. (Just remember there are visa issues to contend with when going abroad for a year.) Perhaps you’ll enroll in a homestay or language emersion program. Maybe you’ll land paid work somewhere. Or, perhaps you’ll just strap on your backpack and follow out a carefully laid plan to record it all in your travel journal, blog, or vlog. A gap year is almost on the same level as a semester abroad. It’s an opportunity you may never receive again and your entire worldview will shift, all for the better.

6. Backpacking

Speaking of which, it’s time to throw backpacking into the mix! Although backpacking is a totally freeing experience, don’t embark on this exciting journey too lightly. You’re going to need a well-stacked playbook. One of your first essentials is a train pass to get you from one corner of your journey to another. You’ll also want to be fully aware of every top-rated hostel or campsite along your way.

The Savvy Backpacker has a wealth of resources for backpacking travel. They’ve broken down the entire process into three clever stages: initial trip planning, budgeting and money, and packing. In it, you’ll uncover how to enjoy each city to the fullest, and how to get there with minimum stress.

It’s funny because we tend to envision backpackers as free spirits. And, while they are, they’re also well-researched spirits. Given its well-executed train system, Europe is the prime location for a little backpacking goodness. Don’t be afraid to start mapping out your stars today!

7. Business Travel

Business travel seems to be something people either love or hate. It largely depends on your home situation. If you’re free and clear, being sent to London this week and Tokyo next week might be invigorating. If you’re looking to start a family, being on the road isn’t quite as appealing.

Alas, a large portion of business travel is what we make of it. Nowadays, there’s so much gadgetry to get you from one location to another, flying is practically a breeze. If business travel is going to remain on your map for quite some time, be sure you’re fully stocked. Here are some of the essentials:

First, you’ll want a nice travel pillow to help you catch some shut-eye on those trans-Atlantic flights. Then, you’ll want a top-class briefcase, with plenty of organizational compartments for everything from your laptop, to your chargers, to your protein bars. A sturdy rolling suitcase is going to be your constant companion, so don’t skimp there. An e-reader to help you fall asleep in Oslo tonight and Berlin tomorrow night will also serve you well. The lighter you can travel, the freer you’ll feel. Enjoy this time! Not everyone gets sent around the world on the company dime. For as long as it lasts, make sure everyone’s winning.

8. Group Tour/Package Holiday

If you’re heading into uncharted territory, consider a group tour/package holiday. For example, I’m an American living in Savannah, Georgia. When I travel to Kyoto in 2020, I’m likely to embark on a group tour/package holiday. As hard as I’m working on my language classes, it’s not likely I’ll be able to bop around Kyoto with lingual proficiency.

A group tour will provide the assurance that I’m not peeking into neighborhoods I shouldn’t, eating things that will turn my stomach, or frankly, just lost somewhere in Daimonjiyama. One of the greatest friendships I’ve ever had was with the woman who ran my package holiday through Ireland. We went on to become great friends, traveling back and forth across the pond to visit one another.

Being grouped together with a ton of folks who share a common interest is quite fun, actually. You’ll be hard-pressed to get totally lost and your guides are going to usher you through the most spectacular sights with the greatest of ease. When I was in France, I relied heavily upon Viator. If there’s a locale you’re interested in investigating, it’s likely Viator has a well-planned excursion to get you there. I was able to cover everything from Versailles to the Champagne Region with their expertise. So, never hesitate to explore this wonderful option if you’d like someone else to give you a hand in the planning stages!

9. Luxury Travel

We’re talking five stars, friends. We’re talking diamond club treatment. Luxury travel comes in many forms, but its decadence is everywhere. On a luxury vacation, you’re looking at penthouse accommodations, dining at Michelin star restaurants, and amenities out the wazoo. Gear up for the finest spa days of your life.

For many, not every getaway can carry the promise of a five-star retreat, but every once in a while, it’s worth saving up for some luxury travel. You’ll feel the difference immediately. The concierge will offer those extra perks to make you feel welcomed and at home. The complimentary breakfast will include decadent touches. The wine and cheese hour will be overflowing with goodness and wonder. It’s hard to describe. These are little touches that we don’t require, but when we experience them, they leave a lasting mark.

During my first solo trip to Paris, I booked a really nice hotel in a really nice neighborhood (believe me, I couldn’t afford it. It took me several months to pay down that credit card.) But, I just didn’t want to feel alone or unsafe. And, I tell ya. The memory of the front desk greeting me by name, the luxuriousness of each daily breakfast, the speed with which a taxi was hailed - all these things made a difference. It’s not something I’m likely to splurge on again, but I hope you’ll be able to pull out your MasterCard for a treat like this someday!

So many ways to experience the world

Isn’t it amazing? Are we a blessed nation of travelers, or what? Whether we choose to slap on a backpack for a European trek, check into the little B&B downtown, or splurge on the trip of a lifetime, we can see the world any way we want. If it’s a business trip​ or a call to volunteering, even these endeavors can allow us to drink in the sunrise over Fiji tonight and the moonrise over Finland tomorrow.

Thanks to the Internet, there’s a resource for every modality. Hopefully, this short little guide has sparked a fire within. Whether you’re cozying up for a staycation or loading up the car for a road trip, we wish you the safest of travels and the happiest of memories. See you out there on the traveler’s highway to happiness!