Travelling can both be a joy (it most often is) and a pain (yes, it can, especially when travelling with the wrong people). The purpose of our travels and what we seek to get out of our overseas forays can be as varied as the stars in the night sky. 

We all love to travel, but like many things in this world, travelling and the experiences we get from it are largely subjective. Are you looking for a heart-racing, exhilarating ride or is kicking back on the beach with a mojito what floats your boat? Perhaps it’s meandering through alleys and unearthing the cultural and historical aspects of a city or maybe tasting the best food the country has to offer. 

The important question is: what type of traveller are you?

1. The Family Traveller

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Once you have your own family, holidays become a little bit trickier; it’s no longer a simple matter between you and your spouse. Family-friendly accommodations, attractions, and the like all have to be taken into account. More often than not, your child will be the one calling the shots, and that’s all fine with you, especially if the little ones are having fun. 

Alternatively, a trip to the countryside and villages may be in store to widen the horizons of the kids, who are accustomed to iPhones and metropolitan skyscrapers. 

If you are the kid — Disneyland, ‘nuff said. 

Recommended destinations: Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Australia

2. The Thrill Seeker

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Start off with a simple flying fox, dip into water with some cliff diving, and end the day off with a bungee jump. For some people, that’s not a holiday, it’s hell. For the thrill seekers though, it’s practically the perfect getaway, they might even have time to squeeze in that one roller coaster ride. 

Places like Phuket and Bali are fast becoming a popular travel hotspot for those looking to live life a little more on the edge, while New Zealand still ranks as a top destination for bungee jumping and skydiving. 

Recommended Destinations: Thailand, Bali, New Zealand

3. The Luxurious Traveller

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You’ve been saving up for practically the entire year (both your leaves and money), and it’s high time you splurge on yourself. There’s always the five-star hotels, infinity pools, and never-ending boutique shopping to satisfy you and your wallet. If you want a new travelling experience however…

There has been a rising trend of luxury train rides as an alternative way of travel and boy do they give a new definition to train rides. Think Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” but without the murder part. 

Okay, think fine dining, plush cushions, velvet fabrics, and a classy service — it’s a five-star hotel on tracks. 

Recommended Destinations: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Seven Stars in Kyushu, Eastern Oriental Express

4. The Cultural/History Buff

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If you could, you would do away the modern skyscrapers and bring in the ancient architecture. Forget the lavish shopping streets and walk through the historical neighbourhoods with old and traditional facades. Uncovering little nuggets of the past is what inspires you to travel. 

The rich and deep history of the Continental world makes Europe a can’t-miss for any cultural or history buff, but cities in the Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia also boast a cultural blend of architectures that will leave you exploring for days on end. 

Recommended Destinations: Europe, Japan, Korea, Vietnam

5. The Adventurer

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You strap on your boots and your gear, ready to take on the world. You dream to catch every sunrise and chase every sunset. The world is at your fingertips and every part of the natural world is yours to discover.

From the wintry mountains of Norway, and deepest gorges of New Zealand to the ancient city of Bagan, the world is truly filled with marvelous natural wonders, and you wouldn’t want to miss a second of it. 

Recommended Destinations: Norway, New Zealand, Vietnam 

6. The Budget Traveller

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Everything comes at a price, and if that price is the lowest it can get, all the better. The budget traveller speaks to people who want the best bang for your buck and seek to prove that the best travel experiences don’t have to mean spending lavish amounts of money.

Hostels are your best friends when it comes to accommodations and often times can quite honestly offer the most enriching travel experiences as you mingle with people from all over the world. 

Recommended Destinations: Southeast Asia 

7. The Instagrammer

Image by chopsticksontheloose via Instagram

Ahh, for the ‘gram. It seems everything in today’s world is for Instagram. Good or bad, Instagram is undeniably driving travel nowadays. Beautiful and fantastical landscape shots are getting the trendy hashtags and travel feeds are fast becoming the go-to for people seeking travel inspiration. 

Getting picture-perfect shots (whether of yourself or the scenery) is a must on any trip. which will be accompanied by a customised hashtag (but of course). If this sounds like you, well embrace the fact that  you my friend, travel for the ‘gram. 

Recommended Destinations: Trendy destinations (The Golden Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam and Siargao Island, Philippines)

8. The Foodie

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When your travel itinerary is planned around various eating places, you know you are a foodie. Searching for the best and signature food of whatever the country has to offer is the number 1 priority where any trip is determined by one thing and one thing only — your taste buds.

Taiwan’s foodscape has left an indelible impact on taste buds globally with her down-to-earth cuisine… and bubble tea establishments popping up by the dozens everywhere is just the beginning!

Similarly, part of Singapore’s (and for that matter, Asia) draw is undoubtedly the abundance of heritage food as a result of influences from all over Asia as well as past colonial interactions.

But that’s not to say you can’t find great food in the West. Australia consistently produces some of the most exciting food trends, while the UK is a traditional stronghold of world-renowned chefs. 

Recommended Destinations: Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, UK

9. The Introspective Soul Searcher

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The trip to “find yourself” as they say. Often the solo traveller, travel escapades are a time for you to look within and consider one’s purposes and directions in life. From a solitary hike to cooking classes, you’re up for anything and everything that makes you grow as a person. 

You see travel experiences as instrumental in shaping who you are and getting lost in your own thoughts in nature is well, second nature. 

Recommended Destinations: India, Bali

10. The Influencer

Image by amebeverly via Instagram

Perhaps you’re the true travel inspiration for many people out there. Your fans are ardently scrolling through your feed, living vicariously through the social media posts you share. Every once in a while it inspires them to pack their luggage and explore the magical places you’ve shared.

You have the power to influence not only where to travel, but how to travel and travel right. It’s an immense responsibility, one where done well, can impact the world. 

Recommended Destinations: Up and coming destinations (Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan)