5 Types of Travelers -- Which Group Are You In?

Not exactly sure where you want to go for your next vacation? Or are you the type who plans vacations years in advance? Do you like resting on the beach, jumping into the local culture or exploring the great outdoors?

To find out what type of traveler you are, check out our profiles of the six types of travelers. If you’re pretty sure you know your type, see if we describe you perfectly or if you feel we’ve missed the mark. Dive in to see the different ways you and your friends and loved ones experience Fareboom’s favorite word ━ travel!

The Beach Relaxer

The Beach Relaxer, aka beach bunny or beach bum, goes on vacation for one purpose ━ to unwind! They work hard all year for these one or two weeks of dripping sunshine, coconut libations and the toes between their sand. The Beach Relaxer may do a few activities to check out the local culture (particularly shopping) and may even do a water sport one afternoon. Don’t let this activity fool you: they are here to veg.

Beach Relaxers are known to take pictures of their feet on a lounge chair with the ocean and glowing sunset in the background. If you’re a more active type traveling with a Beach Relaxer, don’t get offended if they don’t want to go out and explore. Their true bliss is trading in the sound of cell phone beeps for ocean waves. Feed them, water them and leave them alone to bask in their hard-earned vacation.

The Checklist Follower

The Checklist Follower is the type who loves to plan parties, organize closets and is or was an academic rockstar. When they hit the tarmac post-flight, they’re hopped up and ready to explore. Wondering where you can find the best tapas? Ask a Checklist Follower. He or she can probably tell you the top 3 in the area.

Checklist Followers plan for months or years before going on vacation so that they can be sure to see all of the amazing things on their itinerary. Often fond of cities, Checklist Followers are also known to embrace the day trip and multi-city vacations. If you’re not a Checklist Follower and your loved ones are, sit back and enjoy not having to worry about a single detail. If you get too overwhelmed from their jam-packed schedule, don’t be afraid to sit out an afternoon or two.

While some Checklist Followers will have dozens of photos of the most famous monuments and museums in the world, don’t count them out on off-the-trail adventure. Because they’ve been researching for ages, they’ve found the cool stuff that lots of other travelers would never know was there. They’re at their happiest after a long day of sightseeing, which to them is exhilarating and fills their soul.

The Party Seeker

The Party Seeker may do no research at all before planting themselves in one of the party capitals of the world, or they may figure out the best and brightest star restaurants and clubs in the city. The Party Seeker will conserve morning and sometimes mid-day energy for primetime, from dinner through the wee hours of the morning. If you want to know the hottest shows, martini bars or late night rave locations, your Party Seeker will know. They have a nose for this thing.

Party Seekers can pair well with a Beach Relaxer as that he or she is pretty chill in the daytime. Wake them up before noon and you’ll be sorry. The Party Seeker makes new friends wherever he or she goes. You’ll find this type comes back with 10 new Facebook friends, and if they’re single, several phone numbers every night. Spring breakers might get a bad rap, but adult Party Seekers are like gorgeous, glittering diplomats. They feel the culture through the food, music and personal company of the locals.

The Athlete in Action

The Athlete in Action can’t imagine life without extreme sports, from the depths of the ocean to the highest heights. We all have a friend like this who tells amazing stories of that time they skydove over the Alps or kayaked and hiked deep into the Amazon. The Athlete in Action certainly does their research ahead of time because each day is packed with at least one new adventure.

They are making memories, and it’s not by spending hours in The Louvre. Like the Checklist Follower, they’ve probably unearthed some amazing activities that are totally unique to the area. They’ll find deep sea diving expeditions that accept tourists only in writing six months in advance. They’ll be sure to schedule a ziplining tour or a cross-country biking adventure so that they don’t interfere with other cultural favorites. If you’re with an Athlete In Action, you should go along when you feel safe, but skip the stuff that makes you freak.

You’ll have amazing memories as an athlete in action, and likely the photos or video proof that goes along with it. The Athlete In Action’s happy place is in the adrenaline-pumping Running of the Bulls in Pamploma, Spain or Ice Wall Climbing in Interlaken, Switzerland.

The Culture Finder

The Culture Finder seeks to uncover the best of the local culture they are exploring. While some will visit major monuments, churches and museums, others will bypass them entirely in exchange for what they believe to be a super-authentic experience. The Culture Finders will sniff out restaurants, apartment rentals and underground specialties where they won’t be bothered by other tourists all the time.

Friendly and laid-back, the Culture Finder connects with the city or town where they are staying and may brush up on the language before they leave. A The Culture Finder would be squirming to get off of an all-inclusive property. You may also find The Culture Finders doing voluntourism to step outside their comfort zone.

The Culture Finders want to see not only the best and most valuable that their destination has to offer, but also wants to leave feeling like they really know the place. They’re highly likely to come away with individuals or whole families that have become dear friends during their stay.

The Nature Lover

Sometimes the Nature Lover and the Athlete in Action share some favorite pastimes like skiing or swimming. However, the Nature Lover experiences the world in reverence to nature, not in an attempt to get an adrenaline rush. Nature lovers often find solace and happiness in camping, RVing and exploring national parks. They may be climbers or hikers or photographers.

While not exactly the textbook picture of a crunchy granola head, nature lovers do often enjoy eating locally grown food, spending time wandering through local markets and simply experience the nature around them. They’re also likely to be real animal lovers and interested in seeing local animals in the wild or bringing their pets on vacation.

The Nature Lover’s dream vacation is somewhere beautiful, remote and inviting, where they can melt into the environment. Nature lovers are great cultural ambassadors and take the time to get to know the locals. You won’t see major tourist attractions on their itinerary.

So what kind of traveler are you?

We know that not all travelers fit neatly into these few categories. Most of us have a strong first place winner and one or two supporting styles running through our veins.

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