WHAT TYPES OF TRAVEL ARE RIGHT FOR YOU?
There are lots of types of travel out there. Here they are with their pros and cons so you can see what’s right for you.
So you’re thinking of taking a trip, doing something out of your normal routine, exploring a bit more of our planet. One of the first things you’ll want to do is decide what types of travel you plan on doing. Let it be noted though that these are not set in stone, and while out exploring you can mix and match as suits you. That being said, here are the broad categories, and a few pros and cons to help you figure out which works best for you.
Vacation or Luxury
Seeing the sights can be pricey, but they’re popular for a reason.
This one is probably one of the most common types of travel, though the categorization is a bit misleading. This one covers everything from a family trip to visit family in the next town, to an all-inclusive resort, to tacking on some extra time to a business trip, to a weekend getaway to Paris.
Generally, this type of travel sees you staying within cities and more touristy areas, in nicer hotels, and indulging in all the local delicacies. You’ll probably hit up all the sights and eat and drink at some great spots.
Pros
The relaxation factor is high on this one.
Great for shorter timeframes, this style skews more from the weekend getaway to the two-week vacation crowd.
Family fun to be had by everyone (if you take your family along with you that is).
Staying in beautiful places, eating delicious things, seeing amazing sights.
Cons
It can get real pricey real fast. Hence the shorter timeframe, because, sadly, for most of us this type of travel isn’t sustainable over the long run.
You don’t get to interact with the local people and culture as much or in-depth as some of the other categories.
If you go during peak tourist season you’ll be fighting for space in the crowds.
Pre-Organized
Tours can take you to places you wouldn’t think to go on your own.
This one I don’t mean that you’ve done your research ahead and have organized your own itinerary. I mean you’re heading on something like a cruise, joining a tour group, or have had a travel agent or third party sort everything and organize it for you before you’ve even stepped out your door.
Pros
The relaxation factor on this one is also pretty high.
If something goes wrong, someone else will sort it out for you.
There’s a huge subsection of tour types; everything from singles themed cruises to adventure travel for seniors. With a little research, you can find the perfect organized trip for you.
They can work with pretty much any timeframe, just find the one that suits your needs.
Cons
There isn’t a whole lot of room for flexibility and independent exploration.
You’re with the same group of people the entire time, and you may not know or get along with all of them.
Packaged vacations can be pretty expensive. It’s a good idea to double-check what’s included in the cost. You don’t want to book it thinking everything will be included only to find out none of your meals will be.
Backpacker or Budget
This swing is free to visit and enjoy. Gems can be found on any budget.
This group tends to be a younger-ish crowd, though I have definitely met my fair share of backpacking retirees. These are the travelers who take buses, stay in hostels (or cheap hotels), and carry everything they own in two bags – the backpack and the frontpack. They can be anything from a partier drinking their way through countries, a student on a gap year, a couple on their honeymoon, or parents using their newfound freedom to explore the world once they’ve sent their kids off to college, but their common thread is that they’re all on a bit of a tighter budget.
This type of travel is definitely well within my realm of expertise, from ultra-low budget to semi-respectable presentable human being budget, I’ve done it all. If you want more information, here are some posts to check out.
Pros
Fantastic for slightly longer timeframes. Usually anywhere from two-weeks on the shorter end to months or years on the longer end.
As the name implies, it can be done on a fairly small budget.
A huge amount of flexibility for changing plans and adapting as things come your way.
A great way to meet other travelers, make friends, and find travel buddies.
It’s a bit easier to explore local foods, people, and cultures because you’re moving a bit more slowly and doing things a bit more locally.
Cons
It can be stressful or exhausting at times. Buses run late, hostels can be full, unexpected things happen and it’s on you to sort it out. On the relaxation scale, I’d say it hits around the medium mark.
Hostels. Don’t get me wrong, hostels can be really really great. But not having your own space and the variability of hostels can get pretty old pretty fast.
It’s pretty difficult to get off the tourist trail if you rely only on public transport.
These types of travel can be uncomfortable at times. Long bus rides, hostel beds, and mystery street food aren’t always glamorous.
Adventure or Active
Sometimes plans change mid-hike. Go with it. That’s the joy of adventure.
Adventure or active travel is a massively broad category, encompassing trips that focus around a usually physical activity like camping, hiking, hitchhiking, overlanding (things like driving across the outback in Australia), cycling, motorbike, sailing, canoeing, climbing, and anything else you can dream of. It can be anything from a weekend camping trip to a first ascent of a mountain. It’s usually not particularly easy and definitely offers either a mental or physical challenge, or both. This is definitely type two fun; not fun in the moment, but fun when you have a chance to reflect on the experience.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: if I can be an adventurer, so can you.
Pros
If you’re looking for off the beaten path and authentic experiences, this is a great option. You’ll interact with communities and vistas that don’t often see tourists, and experience the extreme kindness the world has to offer.
It can accommodate pretty much any time frame. Seriously. Check out Alastair Humphreys’ idea of microadventures. Genius.
Whatever your budget or skill level, there’s a way to have an adventure on it. It all depends on you.
You have all the control and independence. No more traveling based on a train schedule for you.
Cons
On the relaxation scale, this ranks super low. You’ll probably need a vacation or a weeks’ rest after this one.
Things can get pretty difficult or even dangerous and it’s all on you. Don’t be afraid though, just be aware. Check out 5 Tiny Lifesaving Items Never To Leave At Home and be prepared for anything.
It’s hard to go back to real life after an epic adventure. Ask any adventurer, settling back in is sometimes harder leaving.
Long-term or Slow
Living in one place for a while means making friends with locals who show you the village.
These types of travel are usually populated by your nomads in the most literal sense of the word. They often spend years moving from place to place with no permanent address. They may stay in one spot for a few months at a time, but eventually, they move on.
Pros
If you want to really get to know a community, place, and culture, this is the way. Long-term travelers live, eat, shop, and sometimes even work within communities long enough to get to know it below the surface.
On the relaxation scale, this one technically ranks somewhat low, but only because this type of travel is just living life and all the stress that comes with it. It’s not really a pro or a con. It just is.
Because of the slow nature of the travel, and the potential to work a bit, this is a pretty budget-friendly way to experience the world.
Cons
Living on the go means you might miss out on a lot of things back home, namely friends and family. Flying back and forth isn’t always feasible, so sometimes weddings, births, parties, and reunions go unattended.
Saying goodbye sucks. You never get used to it.
Long-term travel means making deep and long-lasting friendships and relationships is difficult, but not impossible.
Volunteer or Ecological
Volunteering opens you up to new experiences you’d never otherwise encounter. Turns out monkeys love me.
This is the final category I’ve got for you, and these types of travel are also the newest. This is the idea of traveling with a purpose, either to volunteer somewhere or to learn more about a relatively undisturbed natural area. Ecotourism is intended as a low-impact small-scale alternative to the mass tourism of today. Voluntourism is a way to see a place, interact with a community, and leave a place better off than you found it.
Pros
Travel with a purpose can have a positive impact on both your trip and the place you visit.
Depending on the trip it can be a great budget-friendly option to extend your travels.
It can be pretty flexible for your timeframe. Look around and find the right option for you.
A great way to learn something new. You can volunteer with animals, kids, in the city, on a farm, with nature conservation. The possibilities are staggering.
Cons
You need to do your research before you head out. Make sure that your volunteering or eco-travel will truly have a positive effect. There are some options out there that knowingly or unknowingly are not doing what’s best for the people or for the land.
It might not be what you hoped for. Volunteering is sometimes hard work, and if you weren’t expecting that, it could sour your experience.
Not very much flexibility or time for independent exploration.
So there you have it, and hopefully that has helped you narrow down what types of travel are best suited to you. I’ve found that the more I travel, the more I’m able to narrow down what combination of these works for me. Just remember that however and wherever you travel, it’s all wonderful and all a journey. Happy travels!
