Best Ways to Travel: Find Your Travel Style
What is your travel style? Every traveler has its own unique travel style that reflects the personality, and thanks to the style, people explore a foreign country in a way that suits them the best. There is no general best way to travel, only a style that fits your values and lifestyle. Find your travel style with us.
What is the best way to travel? Well, for every person it means something else, and without personal experience you will hardly find the travel style that suits you the best.
There are so many choices of travel styles.
If you still did not find what you like the best, no worries. We are confident that with more stamps in your passport, you will soon find out.
What is quite important to say is, that once you find your travel style, it does not mean you're done.
The ways of travel, the activities we do in a foreign country, and the way we perceive things and situations change in time.
When we were in our twenties, we were tireless. We could jump from one destination to another, from place to place, in the blink of an eye, we did not mind staying in terrible hostels, and the only thing that mattered was if the place was cheap.
Even though about ten years later we are still adventurous, and we are able to sacrifice our comfort for having a unique experience, our values, for sure, changed a bit.
The travel style develops, and it gets better with time like a fine wine.
When you travel abroad for the first time, you are only about to find out what your travel style is.
Even if you've already traveled your home country extensively, you cannot know your preferences.
Yes, you might know you are into camping, and so far you have always loved your experience. But will you be so enthusiastic about a one-week camping trip in the jungle where you share a shower with caimans, cut off from the outside world?
Everything is different in a foreign country, and much harder than in a country where you know what to do and what to expect.
One thing is sure, traveling will change your life for the better. Why do we think so?
One of the most important things on the road is, finding out who you are. Thanks to it, you will have a chance to discover your personality, and find your travel style.
When you know your travel style, and you are confident with it, you will enjoy all the future adventures much better, and there won't be any unpleasant surprises (or there will at least be fewer of them).
There is no wrong or right travel style.
Even though we prefer independent traveling, we cannot simply say that group tour buses are wrong. People on that tour bus probably found their travel style and they prefer to travel that way for a reason, and they also can share it with same-minded people.
At the end of the day, you can repeat to yourself our favorite saying that applies to all - traveling is the only thing that makes you richer, and it does not matter how you achieve it.
In this blog post, we would like to share with you the most common ways how people travel, so you can find your travel style (or the right combination of travel styles).
In case you are a more experienced traveler, you can identify yourself with a travel style, and assure yourself that the way you travel is really the best for you.
TRAVELING SOLO VS TRAVELING AS A COUPLE OR WITH A GROUP
People often define themselves as solo travelers, traveling couples, or travelers getting around the globe in a group, either with friends or family or with same-minded people who accidentally met on tour.
Yes, it is true that you can spend every vacation differently, but from our experience, we know that this is one of those things people usually do not change that often.
Some travelers enjoy being on the road alone and meet with people from time to time in hostels.
Many people travel as a couple. We think this is one of the best ways to enjoy the journey, obviously, but this travel style does not need to suit everyone.
On the other hand, if you do not plan on living alone forever, or if you do not plan to spend your vacation elsewhere than your spouse, this is probably the travel style you are going to experience one day.
To be honest, neither of us have really traveled solo, we were abroad always either with our families when we were younger, with friends, or together.
As we are a couple, solo travel does not seem too much appealing to us, even though we know that nowadays it is a huge movement, and many travelers think it is the best way how to explore the world, only with yourself.
Before you start traveling solo, make sure that you can actually live only with yourself, without other people.
Yes, you are going to meet people on the road, but at the end of the day, you will always visit an attraction alone, and you will always go to bed alone.
Similar to the backpacking, the definition of solo traveling is quite vague and only you can decide what this term will mean to you.
Plus, it’s always great to meet someone in a foreign country and travel together!
But then your travel style is not really a solo trip.
A completely different chapter is when you travel with a group.
If you have a family, it is understandable, that you will travel together.
You can always go with a group of friends. But in that case, we recommend discussing priorities and talking about things like what will be this trip about - partying, sightseeing, or a combination of both?
If you feel comfortable traveling with people you've never seen before, you can either look for your travel companion online on travel forums or join organized tours, which brings us to the next topic.
TRAVELING INDEPENDENTLY VS ORGANIZED TRAVELS
We have only words of praise for traveling independently. But we know that this travel style might be for some frightening and overwhelming, especially if we are talking about the first journey abroad.
Independent travel requires more planning, it is necessary to rely on yourself, it is not that comfortable, there will be many situations you need to solve, and many decisions to make.
But also, independent travel is often cheaper (it also takes longer though), you will enjoy more freedom, learn many new things, and in the end, you will be extremely proud of yourself that you've made it, so you will become much more self-confident person.
Again, it is only you who need to decide whether this travel style would suit you the best.
Traveling independently is for sure challenging. We found the beauty in it, but no one would blame you in case you prefer troubleless holidays.
Of course, there are places in the world where it is compulsory to travel with an organized tour, or where traveling independently is too much hassle or too expensive that it does not make sense, but these situations are exceptions and only one-time things.
Organized traveling can have many faces and definitions, but we see it as a travel style that basically requires buying a tour with a travel agent, and then you just need to pack your suitcase and show up on the right date and right time.
Traveling with an organized group has many pros and cons.
The biggest advantage is, that you do not need to arrange your itinerary or visas, and everything will be taken care of on your behalf. Also, you do not have to worry about transport and accommodation.
On the other hand, you must be prepared to spend your holiday with a group of strangers (unless you book a private tour with your friends or family), and you won't be able to change the itinerary according to your preferences.
If your itinerary says you will be one hour on the shore of Laguna 69, then you will be there an hour, and that's it.
What we nowadays see as the biggest disadvantage of booking an organized tour for the whole length of the trip, is the price.
For us, it is simply too expensive as we know we can travel in most of the destinations for the fraction of the price. But the higher price you pay is the price for your comfort.
One of the misconceptions we hear is, that traveling with organized groups is only for the elderly, and even though people 55+ for sure use this service more often, there are companies, such as Contiki, who organize tours for young people, 18 - 35 years old.
We are sure that you will have an amazing time abroad no matter what is your travel style.
It can happen that when we will get older, we will change our preferences, but for now, we would rather stick to traveling independently.
BACKPACKING VS STAYING IN RESORTS
When you are looking for the ultimate travel style for you, think about what type of person you are.
Do you enjoy traveling every day to a different destination, do you love sightseeing, and you do not mind spending time in transport to see most of your destination? Then you might be a backpacker.
Even though the definition of a backpacker says that it is a person who travels or hikes carrying their belongings in a rucksack, we really think you can be carrying a suitcase, or you can be road-tripping a country in a rental car, and you still will be a backpacker.
It only depends on how narrow or wide is the point of view.
Backpacking has been always seen as a travel style that does not require that much money, and people who ask us how to save money for travel are often backpackers in the true sense of the term.
We actually met quite a many backpackers who knew how to splurge money in luxury restaurants in Lima, or on one of many adventure activities in New Zealand such as skydiving or bungee jumping.
If you see your holiday as a time when you stay put in one place, and you will enjoy relaxing in resorts, surrounded by sea, beaches, and pools, that is also an option.
Of course, when you decide on this way of travel, it does not mean you have to stay in the hotel resort for the whole length of your vacation.
Resorts often offer one-day trips such as in Mexico, where we met many tourists in Tulum Ruins or Chichen Itza with colorful bracelets on their hands, or the resorts are also often located in cities or small villages, that you can explore on your own.
These two travel styles can be combined, as nothing is only black and white.
One of the best destinations where you can enjoy staying in resorts and backpack around the compact island is, for example, Mauritius, but we are sure you will find a place that suits you the best when looking for your next travel destination.
TRAVELING ON A SHOESTRING VS LUXURY TRAVEL
Traveling around the world has never been easier, and when you look online, it seems that everyone is traveling right now.
When you are on the quest to find own personal travel style, you must make several choices. The fact if you will be traveling on a shoestring, or if you will be a luxury traveler, is kind of given, at least at a certain moment.
It depends on how much money you have, or rather how much money you are willing to spend on traveling.
Of course, it also depends on your preferences, some people simply do not want to stay in shabby hostels, but it does not change the fact, that in case you require better services and higher comfort, you will need more money for that.
Who usually travel on a strict budget?
In general, younger people, backpackers, or those who travel long-term.
We are not sure what is our category. We are among people who certainly can afford more comfortable and more expensive ways of travel than, let's say, ten years ago, but in many cases, we do not want to.
We see no point in paying hundreds of dollars for a hotel room, where we will stay only a few of hours after all day out.
Of course, during the years we changed the preferences, so today we do not book the cheapest hostel in the city, we do not want to stay in dormitories any more - they are not even that much cheaper when you travel as a couple - but we look for a cheaper, but a well-rated place which is clean and with good accessibility and location.
Luxury travel, obviously, requires more money.
When you pay more money on the road, it necessarily does not mean that you will get better travel experiences, so set your expectations right.
We believe it is for sure more pleasant and more comfortable staying in wonderful resorts and having your own driver, so when you can afford it, good for you, you will have a magnificent holiday.
It is only still necessary to keep in mind a destination where you travel as the level of services can be different in a less developed countries than at your home.
Luxury travelers usually travel for a shorter period of time, but multiple times a year.
TRAVELING SHORT-TERM VS TRAVELING LONG-TERM
How long you stay on the road depends on many factors, but we think that we can agree that traveling long-term is a lifestyle.
It is for sure not an option for everyone.
Traveling long-term is very specific. It, obviously, requires a lot of time, and many sacrifices.
You need to save money for traveling, quit a job (unless you can take for example unpaid year off), say goodbye to your friends and family, and be flexible to many unpredictable things that can happen.
We traveled both long-term and short-term, and every travel style has its pros and cons. Most of the people, who go to work regularly, and have only a few weeks off per year might think that an idea of traveling for six months, a year, or even longer, is like a dream that is impossible to achieve.
But we know that many people are not, on the other hand, interested in long-term travel at all.
They rather explore more destinations per year, they do not have to live so frugally on their vacation, and then they return to their everyday routine.
What we think is better?
Long-term or short-term traveling?
Well, we think it would be great if every person would have the opportunity to travel for a longer period of time, at least once in a lifetime.
It just broadened our horizons so much. But do we think that traveling indefinitely is the solution? Not at all.
After some time the excitement wears off, and travelers who are on the road too long feel burnt out, ourselves included.
We think it is important to find a balance.
Nowadays, we have a flat in Prague, from where we can plan our trips, and it is always a great feeling that there is a home waiting for us.
What a change from that time when we lived in New Zealand in a car for more than a year.
As we work from home and can be location independent, it is great to know that we can work from any place in the world, and very important to this was the step when we started the travel blog.
If you are interested in combining work and travel, or any other work with being location independent, read our post on how to start a blog.
FOLLOWING GUIDEBOOKS VS FREESTYLE
One of the things we wish we knew before we started traveling was that it is ok to relax from time to time. In the beginning, we were so eager to see everything that we often ran around the city from the morning to the evening.
We followed the guidebooks, and ticked places off the list systematically.
Today there are so many sources that can help you plan your journey - guidebooks, travel blogs, travel apps, and so on, and it is hard not to feel the pressure to see at least as many places in a destination as others.
Even though the following guidebooks is for sure one of the ways to travel, and we know there are travelers out there who are anxious when they do not have a thorough plan for the day, we think it often pays off to take it easy.
Our travel style is today much more laidback, hence the name of our blog site.
Do we think that no planning is the way how to travel the world?
Definitely not. We are not supporters of the absolute freestyle, because this way you will for sure miss many things.
We think traveling requires balance.
If you plan way too much, try to calm down, and leave one day of your holiday for exploring leisurely the city.
You will see, that your legs will take you to the corners you would have never visited when following strictly guidebooks.
On the other hand, if you tend not to plan a thing, why not prepare only a rough structure of your days, with a few highlights you do not want to miss.
REGULAR TOURIST VS TRAVELING OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH
Every country has its top attractions every traveler wants to visit.
You probably do not want to visit Jordan and not to see Petra, or Machu Picchu in Peru, same as the trip to New York, without walking across the Brooklyn Bridge or taking a ferry to Statue of Liberty would not be complete.
Visiting the renowned places in every country is what regular tourists do.
And in many ways, we are regular tourists either.
Of course, we want to see the best every country has to offer. There is nothing wrong with that.
But to see the more authentic face of a country, to escape the crowds, it is often necessary to travel off-the-beaten-path.
Before you start traveling, we would encourage you to mix those two travel styles.
We do not think it a good idea to follow only the well-trodden tourist path, but missing out on the top attractions only to stubbornly follow the path less-traveled is also not a solution.
There is a reason why some places are visited more than others.
Of course, many factors often play a role here, very often it is accessibility, or required level of fitness, but many places are not that popular simply because they are not that attractive (it also depends on individual preferences).
ADVENTURE VS STABILITY
Do you require adventure on the road? Or the idea of canyoning, bungee jumping, or rafting does not entice you?
Your travel style should reflect your preferences, and you should never feel that you need to do something you are not comfortable with.
Some travelers seek adventures, while many others are fine with the regular type of traveling where both their legs are permanently on the ground.
We prefer the stability, but from time to time we like to push our limits, spice our travels up, and get out of our comfort zone.
That's why we decided to climb a volcano in Colombia, do canyoning in Costa Rica, or volcano boarding in Nicaragua.
It is also good to know, that many adventure activities cost a lot of money, that's why we think that this travel style cannot last too long, maybe on a short vacation, but there are definitely places where it is worth it to put your fears aside and pay for the adventure.
We will never forget the helicopter flight over the Canadian Rockies, for instance.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
ACTIVE VS PASSIVE HOLIDAYS
Last but not least, before you definitely figure out what is at the moment your travel style, you need to define whether you prefer to spend your time in a destination actively or passively.
Every destination is different, every year you can feel differently or travel with someone else, therefore it is possible to be active in Patagonia, and then do absolutely nothing on a beach in Brazil.
But we think that naturally active people won't be happy in a resort when doing nothing but sunbathing on a beach.
It is fine for a day or two, but not for two weeks in a row.
That's why it is again necessary to evaluate your personality, know your interests, and plan your holiday according to who you are.
If you love reading a book by the pool, it does not mean that you would not enjoy your time in Nepal, but that's probably not something you would prefer doing every year.
If from the very beginning you feel that a destination you would like to visit is not typical for you, make sure you can do there activities you love, so you will enjoy the time to the fullest.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
