In the travel blogging world, there are two main travel styles that are very noticeable – luxury travel and budget travel. I’m neither and if I have to brand my travel style, I’d call it… the in-between travel style? Lol. I don’t have a good word for it so maybe you’d be able to help me find the correct term.
So what’s my travel style?
ACCOMMODATION
Let’s talk about accommodation first because that’s probably the main criteria for you to identify yourself if you’re a luxury or a budget traveler. I don’t seek out luxury accommodations and I definitely steer myself away from luxury hotel chains. On the other hand, I have never set foot in a hostel before not because I’m too fancy for it but mainly because I’m a light sleeper and I just can’t have sleepless nights during my holidays while I share a room with 2 (or more) other people.
If I’m staying for just a night…
I don’t mind staying in small, budget, chain hotels like Ibis and Novotel. I’ve tried and tested these chains – most of them are centrally located, clean and provides your basic needs for a single night. Rooms may be small but who cares when you’re leaving the next day anyway?
If I’m staying for two or more nights…
I like staying in boutique hotels – something unique and comfortable but shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. I just can’t justify paying so much money for a room that I won’t be able to spend time in until the day ends. I also love staying in small, family-run hotels because it makes me feel like I’m helping local people by doing so.
When it comes to staying in destinations where you will have no other way but to stay in the resort, I definitely would want to have a bit of luxury because then, I’ll be able to maximize my time and be able to use all the facilities the resort offers – but I still stay away from big hotel chains.
I have nothing against big hotel chains, I just feel like once you’ve seen or stayed in one, it’s the same everywhere else. There’s no uniqueness nor character. Being a travel agent, I have stayed mostly in luxury chain accommodations on business trips and while I don’t really hate it, I just feel like it’s all the same wherever you go and you somehow lose the local’s touch of the destination you’re in when you stay in these kinds of accommodations.
My favorite hotel stays were Chalet Hotel Le Prieure in Chamonix, France because of its amazing view, Omni Homestead in Virginia, USA because of all the activities it offers, Fosse Farmhouse in Castle Combe, England because of its coziness and it’s also my first bed and breakfast experience, 3 Sixty Hotel in Nafplio, Greece because it’s probably the most beautiful boutique hotel I’ve ever stayed in and lastly, Kinsterna Hotel in Monemvasia, Greece because it’s simply perfect! So as you can tell, it is a combination of luxury, boutique and family-run bed and breakfasts – a mix of everything.
DESTINATION
I am not a big city girl, not a big fan of New York, Hong Kong and not even Dubai where I lived for 7 years. I do love European cities though mainly because of its architecture and history. Having said that, I like visiting places which is rich in history and culture – I’m a sucker for old and Medieval towns or ancient ruins, I also love walking along cobblestone streets with beautiful old style architecture surrounding me.
I love being in nature as well, being surrounded by beautiful and scenic landscapes of rolling hills, high mountains or a beautiful beach. Basically, I would enjoy any destination as long as it’s not all steel, high rise buildings that I’ll see.
ACTIVITIES
I like taking walking tours specially when I visit a historical place. I have a fascination in learning the stories behind a place I’m visiting, it makes it more interesting and in my eyes, history makes a place more beautiful.
I’m not into outdoor activities and I’m also afraid of heights, but I will for sure climb a mountain if there’s a promise of a great view at the top. I have climbed Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka which I think is the most ambitious feat in all of my travels and while I didn’t enjoy it at the time, I do feel proud for being able to do it. I won’t do it again though, not even if you pay me.
FOOD
I believe that food and travel goes together, if you’re going to visit a place but not try their local food then you might as well just stay where you are unless it’s because of health or medical reasons. Food is highly influenced by the location and culture so trying out the local cuisine gives you a complete experience of the place you’re visiting. I never ever go to Mc Donald’s when I’m traveling, unless there’s no other choice or if I’m in the airport (because Mc Donald’s and airports blend well together, at least for me lol).
I went on a business trip to Venice a few years ago and my colleagues wanted to go to Hard Rock Cafe, I mean seriously? There were so many trattorias, osterias and tavernas around where we were staying, why would anyone want to go to Hard Rock Cafe in Venice? I despised the group I was traveling with after that and steered myself away from them for the rest of the trip. I don’t mind eating alone as long as it’s not a Hard Rock Cafe. :p
TRANSPORTATION
The Greek Mister loves to drive and by that I mean, he loves driving so much that he will do it for 6 hours straight without ever complaining. Which is a good thing for me because I hate plane rides. When I first traveled solo in Europe, I preferred taking trains and buses to go from one place to another. Although it’s a longer way to travel, you get to see local scenery along the way and I am easily entertained by it.
LENGTH OF STAY
I used to travel in a rush wanting to see as many cities as possible in one go but now, I tend to stay longer – 3 nights minimum. Maybe it comes with age, I get tired just by thinking of moving around daily or maybe because I have matured. Maybe I realized now that I don’t really get to experience a place if I spend only a night in it. Gone are the days when I just want to go to the main tourist sites of a place I’m visiting to take a selfie with it, I rarely ever take a selfie now and I actually do enjoy exploring a place without rushing.
Having said that, I stopped counting countries I’ve visited because for me, it doesn’t mean anything. You might have visited a country once but how many days did you actually stay there? Were you able to explore it? Were you able to learn anything out of it? Or is it for just a mere 3 days and you’ve already scratched that off your bucket list? I don’t think there’s a point of country or even city counting because I tend to re-visit places I’ve been to before mainly because there’s always a reason to, in fact I never run out of reasons to go back to a place I’ve been to before.
My first Paris visit was a disaster, I hated it but it’s because I had a different Paris in my mind. I thought it would be perfect as how it’s portrayed in movies and tv shows. I didn’t realize that Paris is just like any other cities in the world, it’s beautiful but not perfect. So I told myself that I won’t let that first trip ruin my Parisian experience for me, I went back 3 years after my first visit and stayed for a week. I loved it the second time around because I embraced its imperfections so I was able to like it more. And to be honest, I’d go back there in a heartbeat as it has easily become one of my favorite cities in the world.
We all have different travel styles, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it. It all depends on what you want and what you enjoy, you’re paying for it after all so might as well do it your way. What would you call your travel style then? I think I’d call mine simply as, MY style. :p
my travel style has changed slightly since my youth, I no longer stay at hostels or travel 30h on the train:) but I still prefer to spend more money on the location e.g museum tickets, food, souvenirs than to pay for a hotel room:) so I stay mostly at budget hotels but I’ve also stayed at 4 stars hotels too, when there was a special price or something:)) I haven’t asked to stay for free just because I write a blog, I’d be too ashamed to try that:) I know a lot of people do that and actually get free rooms…but hey..to each its own:)
I still do prefer to spend more money on the experiences rather than the hotel room so we only ever splurge if we know that we’re going to spend a lot of time in the hotel during our holiday. I used to always ask for complimentary stays in exchange of social media promotion and blog posts but I stopped it now as well. It’s just too time consuming for me now and I’d love to have a proper holiday. 🙂
It comes with age, hahaha! In the first 2 years of travelling, I hop from one city to the other. I even had a policy that “life is too short to visit one city twice”. I’m a slow traveller, I like luxury every once in a while and most often than not, I seek out places where I can ran a marathon without too much crowd. I’ve come to dislike crowds more and more. Throw me to one of those islands in the Northern Atlantic Ocean and I am very happy, even if I’ll be staying in a tent.
Marathon! Wow! I don’t think I will ever travel for a marathon but I think I should. Lol. I also am not a big fan of crowds which is why I do love traveling during the off season. :p
Great post! I don’t consider myself as well who likes to stay at luxury hotels, not that it’s wrong checking-in at such hotels, it’s just that I was never really fond of it. Anyways, I’ve been to Asia countries a lot but definitely, Europe is on my bucket list hoping that this year I can visit it.
Wooo! Europe! All the best and I sure hope you make it this year! 🙂
I am a budget traveler, but not on a backpacker’s budget. And I only travel when there’s a good deal. We hate, especially the mister, to pay full price on anything 🙂
HAHAHAHA! We always end up paying for the full price recently, we’ve planned our latest holidays quite late. 🙁
Forgot to mention Paris or “Gay Paree”.
The first visit was on a Trafalgar tour, the last port of call before returning to England.
The further the tour went the standard of care deteriorated – the tour guide that it, certainly no “Gus”.
Arrived in Paris from the south at 3pm. “Dumped” by the guide, left to our own devices thirty tourists from Australia, New Zealand and Canada jumped at the chance to do ‘our own thing’. boarding THE SUBWAY – A REAL MENACE FOR PICK POCKETS; WE ENTERED THE CITY CENTRE ALONGSIDE THE Notre Dame CATHEDRAL. For four-six hours a group of ten aged ranging from 22-60 walked, ran, frolicked in the streets and the river transport.
Back to the hotel no one could establish where was the tour guide. It was disheartening as no plans could be made.
In the morning, the Guide arrived minutes before the local guid a mature woman who was taking us around the City sights.
We were scheduled to meet this male guide at the Ritz plaza at 1230pm. He did not appear. Plans to visit Versailles or other places in the afternoon were thrown out. But we ANZACS , Aus – New Zeal and Can people toured the Louvre, Shopped, visited museums, Climbed to the top the TOP of the EIFFEL Tower. and returned to the Hotel at 530pm.
The Guide had disappeared. He let no one know what he was doing. Not even the Coach driver Clement.
The woman local guide was persuaded to take us out for the bight to a restaurant in Montmartre. Of course we visited Sacre Couer. which is where your photo was taken and at midnight on returning to our hotel walked down that banked terraced grounds to join the coach and visit briefly the famous Dance Follies venue. The hotel located on the north of the river was quiet and apart from the train passing was worthy.
Things happened that time that make Paris unforgettable. Twice since although different hotels, different experiences, nothing has made the same impact.
Where the hell was the guide????? LOL!!!!
Lovely, thank you. Couldn’t agree more.
I travel “Economy”. if you are staying a weekend then it is a touch more accommodating, but if only overnight, then a basic b&b is sufficient.
Round the world travel – in 63 days, apart from five major hotels ‘chosen’ by the agent, personal choices were online.
My first visit to Venice in 1990 was spent as a Hotel Venezia, near Padua. It was an upgrade of economy without flashiness.
Comfortable clean and on public transport route. Food was plentiful and satisfying. Atmosphere was bright and friendly.
Can not say the same for Rome. It was rude – abrupt, disdaining of tourists, at least the staff on duty at arrival..
Last November traveling to Portugal for the second time in my life, spending two weeks there, bargains were sought but the Hotel Alif in Campo Pequeno a suburb north of the city centre, 10 mins from the airport was my choice. Totally satisfied and satisfying. Four nights spent there, on arrival and the night prior to departure home. Couldn’t be better received. Fatima and Porto visited, for several days, similarly smaller boutique hotels, well treated and economical. Found cafe midday meals more than satisfying splendid; Value and content. Bit like the Italian tour in 2011.
Short but from the heart comment: NICE POST!
Thank you. 🙂