The 6 travel styles explained: which traveler are you?
Planner, wanderer, beach lounger, food hunter, culture seeker or thrill chaser? A guide to all six travel styles in our quiz — plus how to travel together happily.
Published: 3 min read
Two people can visit the same city and come home with completely different trips. One remembers the museums, another the street food, another the sunset from a hammock. Our travel style quiz sorts those differences into six types. Here’s what each one is like on the road — and how to plan a trip when your group mixes several of them.
The Itinerary Pro
The planner. Tickets are booked early, queues are avoided and there’s a spreadsheet (or at least a very organised notes app). Itinerary Pros make trips smooth for everyone. Tip: leave one afternoon unplanned — some of the best moments happen in the gaps. Best travel buddy: the Wanderer. See the result
The Wanderer
No fixed plan, one backpack and lots of curiosity. Wanderers follow tips from strangers and interesting side streets, and they collect stories rather than checklists. Tip: keep an offline map and your accommodation address handy, then roam freely. Best travel buddy: the Itinerary Pro, who quietly makes sure there’s a bed at the end of the day. See the result
The Beach Lounger
For Beach Loungers, a holiday means switching off: sun, sand, a good book and no alarms. They come home properly rested, which is exactly the point. Tip: add one small adventure between naps — a boat trip or a short snorkel. Best travel buddy: the Thrill Chaser, a fun opposite. See the result
The Food Hunter
Food Hunters discover a place through its kitchen: night markets, family-run stalls and the bakery a local recommended. They’ll cross a city for the perfect bowl of noodles. Tip: walk between meals — the next street might hide a new favourite. Best travel buddy: the Culture Seeker, because food and history go hand in hand. See the result
The Culture Seeker
Culture Seekers travel to understand — museums, old buildings, festivals and small bookshops. They come home with stories about how people live and why places look the way they do. Tip: share what you learn; you make places come alive for others. Best travel buddy: the Food Hunter. See the result
The Thrill Chaser
Sunrise hikes, diving, ziplines — Thrill Chasers travel to feel alive. The harder the climb, the better the view. Tip: plan rest days so your energy (and your friends’) lasts the whole trip. Best travel buddy: the Beach Lounger, who reminds you that doing nothing is also a skill. See the result
At a glance
| Style | Packs… | Perfect day |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary Pro | Labelled pouches and a checklist | Every top sight, no queues |
| Wanderer | One backpack | Getting lost on purpose |
| Beach Lounger | Swimsuit and a novel | Hammock, sea, repeat |
| Food Hunter | Stretchy trousers | Market breakfast to night-market dinner |
| Culture Seeker | Room for books | Museum, old town, local festival |
| Thrill Chaser | Hiking boots and a headlamp | Summit at sunrise |
Travelling with mixed styles
Most groups contain more than one type. A few simple rules keep everyone happy:
- Share your styles before the trip. Knowing that one person needs a beach day and another needs a hike avoids surprises.
- Plan anchors, not every hour. Agree on one or two fixed activities per day and leave the rest open.
- Split up for a few hours. It’s fine for the Culture Seeker to visit a museum while the Food Hunter explores a market. Meet again for dinner.
- Rotate who chooses. Each person picks one activity during the trip.
Want to know your own style before your next trip? Take the travel style quiz, then send it to the people you travel with.