What kind of traveller are you?

We just like a good hotel and to do things at our own pace. We usually do All Inclusive. I wouldn’t consider doing self catering, did all that when the kids were small and we had little money. Too much like hard work!

We do like to catch buses rather than hiring cars and we do like sightseeing as the mood takes us. I have a friend who I guess must have visited every country in the world but she never leaves the hotels and says the most exercise she gets is raising her hand for a waiter to put a drink in it!

I also have friends who go to various countries and drive around and stay in different hotels. That wouldn’t suit me either packing and unpacking. I like a base. Sounds exhausting to me.

We have ventured from camping with children, to doing a hot winter holiday plus a road trip of visiting friends and family throughout the province.

Our hot winter holidays are definitely lounging by the ocean with a fancy drink and book. We have done the odd excursion to local museums or rented a car to tour the area, but mostly they are to relax.

Unfortunately Europe is very a very far and expensive trip, as is OZ and NZ. Lots of ideas on the bucket list though.

CanadianGran

We have ventured from camping with children, to doing a hot winter holiday plus a road trip of visiting friends and family throughout the province.

Our hot winter holidays are definitely lounging by the ocean with a fancy drink and book. We have done the odd excursion to local museums or rented a car to tour the area, but mostly they are to relax.

Unfortunately Europe is very a very far and expensive trip, as is OZ and NZ. Lots of ideas on the bucket list though.

Having recently watched Race Across the World set in Canada I'd say you are very lucky.. What an amazingly diverse and beautiful country you have.. I'd love to see bears and moose..

biglouis

I lived and worked in the USA for a year based in uni of Nevada (Las Vegas). It was not a holiday but gave me an opportunity to see a lot of the USA and the many cultures there. Fortunately I am not a gambler otherwise I might have returned penniless. The remark that we are "two nations divided by a common language" is very true. It was a very interesting experience and I made friends that I still correspond with.

I lived in New Mexico for a year in the early 80s. Wonderful place. Truly the land of enchantment. Living in the middle of a desert, surrounded by mountains. 100 miles from the the next town. Volcanic landscapes. Easy to travel over the boarder to Mexico.

Breaking Bad territory!

We’ve done and continue to do the lot, depending how we feel at the time of booking. We have cruised, camped, gone on tours with friends, packages to China, Japan etc. and hired houses/villas in Asia and the Pacific regions. Next week we are going on a small organised tour of the Kimberleys- you certainly wouldn’t do it alone, too dangerous and vast. I have to admit I hate flying but it is worth the anguish to actually reach these lovely places, no choice really if you live here and want to see the world.

Thanks all, keep them coming. So interesting to read.

Because of Insurance issues, we won't be able to travel outside Europe any longer. I was really disappointed at first- but now, I am quite please actually. We have so many plans to go touring around so many areas. We pick one area of each country, and go back and forth, up and over, left and right - and get a real feel for it- and yes, the odd day here and there to read in the sunshine, swim, etc.

I love the lazy days too- but couldn't spend a whole week or two doing very little. That is for us personally, and anything else goes. We will be showing around 'our' part of Tuscany to the GCs for half-term- the SE, Pienza, Montepulciano, and all the small hill towns. Never been so early in the year, so can't wait for the flowers.

And Northern Portugal late September, Porto and Lisbon region, but will criss cross the whole area, by train and boats (we will fly EJ to Porto and return from Lisbon).

I enjoy coach holidays , nice and relaxing

When I go on holiday I like to walk around the area, learning about the history and culture. I will also catch a train to a place of interest in the same area. I can not comprehend going on a beach holiday and just doing nothing but sun bathe and reading a book - why pay for a holiday and do nothing. Occasionally I will take a few days holiday from work and stay at home, reading a book and eat out or have a ready meal.

Agreed SquirrelSue. Each to our own- but yes, I don't get it.
People say they have been to such and such a country, but talking to them they saw nothing apart the Hôtel complex and perhaps the local town or village or beach. Seems a huge shame to me, but hey ho- as said, each to their own.

I like to visit places as an independent traveller staying in small hotels/B&Bs and putting some money back into the local economy, rather than major tourist companies. I like places that are very different to home where just wondering around the back streets is an education.

I know this type of holiday would be hell to many, as would a cruise or “all in” package holiday would be for me. Good job we are all different.

One of the best places I’ve visited was Syria, but sadly no longer possible. I love exploring European cities too.

We like to use gîtes or villas as a base for exploring the region we are visiting. On the other hand we also loved doing a river cruise. So restful, lovely food lots of socialising and a choice of what we wanted to do. We saw an amazing Van Gogh sound and light display in a cavern last time.

Fleurpepper

Agreed SquirrelSue. Each to our own- but yes, I don't get it.
People say they have been to such and such a country, but talking to them they saw nothing apart the Hôtel complex and perhaps the local town or village or beach. Seems a huge shame to me, but hey ho- as said, each to their own.

Some people, some experiences.
We are all different and some of us genuinely love immersing ourselves in the culture and life of the country we are visiting. Going back year after year to a particular holiday home or rented gîte or apartment.
You say,
People say… well I think it entirely depends who you talk to.
But I think you mean “holidaymaker” rather than “traveller” anyway - a holidaymaker may be looking for relaxation, or a stimulating experience , beach or abseiling - they are perfectly entitled to choose a particular destination which suits their tastes.
A “traveller” is, I think something different.

These days it's just self catering UK holidays for me, but having worked as a holiday rep I have seen most types of traveller/holidaymaker. And been to lots of places. I always thought it a bit sad when people arrived on holiday and did nothing but sit by the pool or on the beach all day, eating in the hotel and not experincing the local culture, But I suppose whatever takes your fancy does you good.

I have never been on a cruise, when they advertise those huge ships that look like floating towns they make me shudder, I couldn't bear not being able to get away from it all.

We went on a West Med cruise once and visited several ports. However, in my husband's words "there's hardly enough time to have a pee" whilst you're on shore. I much prefer a leisurely wander around away from the main drag, enjoying quieter streets.

I am more interested in the people than the buildings etc in the countries that I visit, so I like to be in the one place...away from the tourist areas. Preferably a quiet leafy spot where I can see how people live and go about their daily lives and hopefully get to know them a bit.

I know people who have a huge itinerary of 'sight seeing' and rush all over the place, often in buses with lots of other people... for me that would be exhausting and actually not a great quality of experience. I've never been on an organised holiday and it doesn't appeal to me at all but I know some people love that.

I value one day in the home of someone from a different culture rather than all the 'sights' and rushing. I have been invited into different homes in other counties and always feel that is a huge privilege.

Each to their own... we are all different.

We book the flight to the country we want to visit and a flight back a couple of months later and also a few nights accomadation, We then just make it up as we go along. Meet people on our travels who suggest places to visit. Have had great times visiting places we have never heard of.

I’ve had to rethink my holiday plans in recent years …..I’m in my 80’s and fortunately active and healthy and my husband is too and I still want to travel but he doesn’t. So now I go on singles holidays all over Europe specifically for like minded mature travellers ….to places I’ve never visited before. I enjoy being in the company of others without the worry of sorting out my own itinerary. Safety and security is a big issue now at my age and I never have any worries on these types of trips. Many of my friends would still like to travel but admit they don’t have the courage to ‘go solo’ …… it’s a great option …..I’ve recently returned from Sorrento and heading to Puglia in the Fall.

I love visiting other countries. In 3 years time we are hoping to rent out the house and spend a gap year in Spain. However Brexit has dashed these hopes unless we can be illegal immigrants in Spain and Italy. Anyway I have started decluttering the house and have enough time to do that..3 years

We enjoy most types of holidays from visiting different areas in the UK, exploring the towns and countryside to holidaying abroad. I enjoy the sun but can get bored with just sunbathing even though I catch up on my reading, so read up on places to visit and then book visits to the places that I would like to see. We have been on cruises and they are ideal for seeing places that we would like to stay on the next holiday. The only thing that I am not interested in is skiing, I loathe snow having experienced horrendous snow-drifts of 6 foot + when having to walk four miles to school and home, back in 1963/4.

(We are in Belgium.) We like to drive to a country of our choice ( next month it'll be Germany but often it's the UK, France, Norway, Denmark etc.), book several hotels each for a few days depending on what's interesting in that region. What we do all day is walking, looking around (so literally sight-seeing), making pictures, visiting musea, castles, art galeries, walking in cities/towns and browsing bookshops etc., sitting down with a nice glass of wine, going to nice places for dinner. We sometimes walk nature trails but not often. I love to be near the sea or big rivers so walking on the beach or along the river is always a must!

We alternate days or half days - something active/interesting, some basking/reading. Like to find out about the area (research beforehand too) and don't want to come home so worn out we need a holiday!

Dcba

I’ve had to rethink my holiday plans in recent years …..I’m in my 80’s and fortunately active and healthy and my husband is too and I still want to travel but he doesn’t. So now I go on singles holidays all over Europe specifically for like minded mature travellers ….to places I’ve never visited before. I enjoy being in the company of others without the worry of sorting out my own itinerary. Safety and security is a big issue now at my age and I never have any worries on these types of trips. Many of my friends would still like to travel but admit they don’t have the courage to ‘go solo’ …… it’s a great option …..I’ve recently returned from Sorrento and heading to Puglia in the Fall.

which travel company would you recommend?

Dcba, love to know which company you use please.

We mix and match. Have a house in Greece so have spent lots of winters there but now we have decided to sell and do all our long haul before we run out of energy!
My favourite way to travel is to load our Campervan up and just go with no return date. We plan to go to Northern Spain in September and eat and drink our way along the coast and then walk it off in the picos de europa. We stop when we find a nice place and then eat in or out. It’s just like taking your home comforts with you, a huge suitcase on wheels.
Never been on a cruise but worry I would get bored and hate being with lots of people around, never say never though!

My (ex)husband and I went to Hawaii on three separate trips (we got married on Maui). Each trip involved going to different islands, doing car excursions, resorts - I’d say we covered that state.

Yes, there are definitely two kinds of travelers - those that plunk down and stay put, OR as I call “working” vacations where they only want to Hike, Bike, Climb and attack those vistas… whew!

I don’t know - I’ve always needed to step away from my strenuous job to Relax! Those hikers/bikers do this at home and can’t stop doing it wherever they go. Even coming home with broken collarbones, severe knee injuries.
You do what you want to do!
Enjoy!
USA Gundy