Find out your travel personality type!

Travelling with others can be exciting – until it becomes challenging, with all the decisions that have to be made regarding the itinerary.

While some prefer spontaneity, adventure and shopping till you drop, others prefer well-planned itineraries, relaxing bubble baths and sunbathing at the beach. 

Understanding the different travel personality types in a group can make a trip more enjoyable for everyone.

For one thing, the information can go towards the planning of a flexible itinerary that makes everyone feel included, said Mr Dirgantara Fasa, founder of travel blog and website Singapore for Everyone.

He added: “Understanding each person’s personality means you’re one step ahead in managing expectations.”

The Foodie and Shopaholic

If you like to make frequent stops to shop or try all kinds of foods during your trip, you likely fall under this category and plan your itinerary around malls, cafes or restaurants.

Nanyang Polytechnic student Rebekkah Wi, 19, said that food is one of the things she looks forward to most on her trips.

“I usually plan around eating. If I want to try street food, I will plan dinner at a particular market, or if it’s a specific dish, I will go to a restaurant most highly recommended for that dish,” she said.

Travellers of this type also take advantage of good deals due to favourable currency exchange rates. For example, sneakerheads can find the famous Panda Nike Dunks for only $133 at ABC Mart in South Korea, as advertised on its website, while it is typically priced at about $165 in Singapore. 

The downside to being this kind of traveller is the hole in the pocket you would burn from splurging. 

Also, after getting spoiled by authentic pasta in Italy or fresh sushi in Japan, it might just be a struggle for you to go back to less authentic versions locally. 

The Yolo-ist

This traveller type wants no limits, only possibilities. You will probably want to scream “Yolo!” before backflipping into a 5m-deep pool, or driving along a coast with no destination in mind. The thrill of the impromptu brings you joy, and you could find yourself trying to convince others to go ad hoc, too.

Not being restricted to a fixed schedule makes you feel free. Besides, you might just come across places or experiences you did not consider while thinking about the trip.

But in trying to live life to the fullest, you could put yourself in precarious situations – you might get lost, lose track of time or overspend on expenses. Worse, the activity could turn out to be a waste of time.

Nanyang Polytechnic student Joshua Choo, 21, shared the most memorable moment he got out of his spontaneous travel habits:

“In Japan, my best friend and I walked to a quiet park, only known to the locals during sakura season, and we spotted Ted Kravitz, an F1 pit lane reporter, who was in the area for the Japanese Grand Prix.” 

During the same trip in Japan, he also rented a car, drove around, and ended up spending a lot of time at an amusement park in a small town. 

Said Mr Choo: “The best experiences I got out of my trip were from roaming around freely, without being too restricted to a set guide.”

The Leader

Every chaotic group trip needs a captain. 

They call you the walking Google Maps, with your head always buried in your phone, searching up for directions and constantly checking the time, to ensure the group stays on track and on schedule.

You are typically responsible for the research and plans. You are also likely to end up leading the group throughout the trip. 

“I like to make sure the vacation time is maxed and have a fixed game plan rather than fumble the trip,” said Mr Alexander Pang, 23, a Nanyang Polytechnic student. “But it can be a tedious job and I get stressed when things don’t go according to plan.” 

Being the brains of the group is not always easy. You may miss out on your own fun because you are too busy figuring out the next destination, or you may find yourself having to mediate disagreements. 

The Follower

Followers are great to have in every group. 

You go along with everyone else’s views. You do not have strong opinions about where to go or what to do.

The best thing about being this personality type is that you do not need to think too much, if at all, since the trip has been planned out for you. 

Mr Justin Phua, a 19-year-old Republic Polytechnic student, said: “I prefer to leave the planning to others on my trips, because I get to experience things I personally would not have thought of, especially in a foreign and new country.”

On the flip side, the activities planned may not align with your preferences, and you might miss out on things that you would have found more enjoyable on your trip. 

The Influencer wannabe

You vlog everything you see, whether for socials or simply for the memories.

You are the group’s personal photographer, capturing candid shots of everyone. With each trip overseas, you will have tons of memories to relive many years from now.

You could also be a valuable travel resource for others.

Avid vlogger Candice Chin, a 19-year-old student from Nanyang Polytechnic, said: “Recently, I wanted to recommend to a friend a particular restaurant in Kyoto, Japan, that I went to, and I was able to look back at my vlogs to get the exact name of the place.”

However, she admits she can so focused on getting the perfect images that she might overlook what is actually happening around her, and forget to live in the moment.

“For instance, when talking to the camera, I might accidentally neglect the people I’m travelling with,” said Ms Chin. 

Travelling with different types: Yay or nay?

Mr Dirgantara said there are pros and cons to taking a trip with those of similar and different travel personalities.

He said: “Travelling with like-minded people can mean easier and quicker planning since there’s less negotiating over itinerary and pace. But travelling with people of different travel personalities pushes you to try new things – maybe it’s an offbeat adventure or a food you’d never thought to try.

“Either way, the secret ingredient to a fantastic trip is embracing the unique qualities and preferences of each traveller’s style.”

Mr Dirgantara further advises travellers to plan a flexible itinerary, which allows for “split-off times” – this would make for a balanced trip. 

He said: “If some prefer a quiet beach day and others want to hit a scenic trek, schedule them on the same day, so everyone can regroup afterwards.”

Planning some group activities that bring everyone together is also essential, he added.