What types of travelers post on this forum? Here is a survey to find out
 

There are many different people with many different travel styles on this forum. We are all different in our tastes, budgets, interests, travel goals. I think if people could get a sense of where they fit into the spectrum of travel styles represented here, it might clear up some confusion and clarify why different people have such different perspectives.

I’d like to propose a survey that looks only at the type of hotels and eating establishments one typically chooses. This would help others to judge how certain postings and comments pertain to their own individual travel style. For example, there is that ubiquitous question, “I need help finding an affordable hotel in…..” For one person E60 is reasonable and another E250 is reasonable.

I know that different people have very different styles and expectations when travelling. Sometimes these are based on their financial situation and sometimes they aren’t. When I say this I am thinking of examples of friends of ours who are both certainly in the “comfortable enough to travel internationally whenever they want” category. On the one hand, there is the friend who when planning a trip needed to be asked if she would be okay with a hotel that is ONLY 3 stars rather than the 4 or 5 she is usually accustomed to. Then, there is the friend who has been doing a lot of travelling since his wife died. He can certainly afford to stay in the same places as the first friend, and, yet, he has often chosen to stay in private rooms in hostels because he says he cannot justify putting all that money into a place to sleep.

Here goes. Before placing yourself in a category, think about the guidebooks you usually choose….Let’s Go vs. Small Luxury Hotels of Europe. You get the idea. When reading a more general guidebook and you start a hotel search, which room category generally gets your attention—deluxe, upscale, moderate, budget, cheap? Think the same way about eating while on vacation. If you are using one of those guidebooks with dollar signs indicating type of establishment, do you tend to visit the ones with the $$$$ signs or the ones with the $?

Think about your own travel philosophy. Are you looking for pampering because you are on vacation? Do you feel if you budget and contain costs on a trip it will allow you to do more travelling? Do you typically look at menu prices before deciding on where to eat? Do you need amenities like a concierge service? Do you prefer places to stay where you know you will be well taken care of? Is all you care about a clean bed in a clean room? All of these things come into play when placing yourself in a category.

To participate, please indicate which category is typically MOST like you. This means that while you might occasionally stay in or eat in places that would put you in the next higher or lower category, for the most part this is the category you would place yourself in. I am trying to make this a forced choice, but if you absolutely can’t figure out which category you belong in, then indicate that you are between two categories. The descriptors I am using to describe lodging are those most typically used in guidebooks and hotel rankings. Also, note that as far as lodging, we are using hotel type as a delineator. Thus, even though I personally typically prefer to rent apartments, I will rank myself based on which type of hotel accommodation I would choose.

As far as lodging, the basic assumption here is that you are thinking about a place to stay in areas that most tourists would stay in. This does not necessarily mean staying in the heart of the tourist district, but it also means that this is an area that most guidebooks would refer to as being a location tourists could consider. Once again, remember that the category you place yourself in is not necessarily a reflection of your personal finances; it is a reflection of your travel philosophy. And, the assumption here is that you are travelling for leisure not business, so you are footing the cost of the trip yourself.

Please indicate which category is MOST typically like you.

Category 1 -- I want to travel and keep my costs minimal. I will stay anywhere clean and safe. As far as eating, if need be, I could spend my entire trip eating bread and cheese and apples with an occasional slice of pizza thrown in.

Category 2 – I am typically interested in affordable accommodations such as pensions, 2* hotels, gasthauses. While I want something “nice” and clean, I don’t need amenities or services. I watch my food costs choosing to alternate between picnicking, cafes and inexpensive restaurants. Price of a meal is a part of the decision when picking a place to dine.

Category 3 – I am not comfortable in anything less than a 3* hotel because I feel I need this as a minimal level of services and amenities in my lodging. A nice room to come back to is important to me, and I am willing to pay for one. When dining out I want a good meal, and cost is not my primary concern. I like the experience of having good meals when traveling, and it adds to my overall trip experience.

Category 4 – I feel that for me to be most comfortable, I want a 4* or 5* hotel when I travel. I am a high end diner too. Costs do not really concern me much at all when I travel.

We’ll see if anyone responds to this. If so, I will try to let the thread run its course for 4 or 5 days and then tally responses. (This assumes that I am no longer having connection trouble like I have been recently with my new ISP.) I’ll also add in my own vote late on today.

I am not a professional survey writer and may not have included everything you think relevant, so if you choose to participate please bear with me and respond based on the categories I’ve set up. If you think my categories are way off base or this survey idea is stupid or you could do a lot better designing one, then please start a separate thread. It would be nice to keep this thread open to only directly relevant responses so results can be tallied.

I don't fit (even approximately) into any of the categories.

Why?

I tend to be number 3.

Any time it is possible, we rent apartments.

I also am mostly 3

I'll contribute to this discussion: Category 3

I feel your categories are too limited. They all assume that for X budget you will spread it evenly - if you stay in an average hotel you will eat average meals.

I tend to rent basic or reasonable apartments, but will eat out in good restaurants most evenings. The food , wine and sightseeing are the important parts of a holiday to me. As long as a place to stay is clean and comfortable I am happy.

If you are really still concerned about the validity of advice we give, why not when you ask for hotel or restaurant suggestions, just say what your budget is, so people will give you relevant responses?

I think all travel styles are represented here and it only gets confusing when people aren't specific about their limitations (or lack thereof) when requesting help.

More a category 2 person.

=====

But with 30 days of paid vacation and 10 public holidays you gotta watch your budget somehow ;-)

I'm afraid I don't fit into any of the categories.

Sometimes I like to splurge on accommodation, sometimes I save on the hotel and splurge on meals, sometimes I do the whole thing on the cheap. Sometimes I'll stay in a posh hotel and a cheap guesthouse, eat in cheap takeaways and smart restaurants, all on the same trip.

Category 3.

On virtually every trip of more than 3 or 4 days, I intentionally try to mix it up with a mix of 1 through 5 on both lodging and dining choices, though as others have said - - you don't really list self-catering accommodations (and they come in all price ranges) - - and over half of my trips to Europe have revolved around a villa or apartment stay as the cornerstone.

Moreover, many Fodorites have indicated a strong preference for high end dining, combined with low-end lodging to balance the costs - - and a few are the exact opposite.

Best wishes,

Rex

I really feel like you need another category between the current 3 and 4, as willit suggested--something along the line of . . .

I have particular interests when traveling and will spend more to satisfy them. This might mean I'm the type of person who stays at a budget hotel, but dines at all the trendiest restaurants. Or it might mean I don't care what I eat but want a hotel with a spa. Or it might mean I pay little for food and lodging, but spend a large portion of my travel budget on the best private tour guides.


To play along, I'll say I'm mostly a 3 . . . although "3* hotel" does not mean the same thing everywhere you go.

Somewhere..PERHAPS..between 3 and 4

Interesting thread and here is my feedback (and NOT to be contrarian since I'm sure this took a lot of thought and effort and thanks for that) BUT (there's always one isn't there???)

Cat 3 "a nice room to come back to"...THAT could describe ANY of these categories...implies that the #1's and 2's aren't "nice" whatever that term really means; same thing with the meals...

Cat 4 there are further considerations besides "comfort" such as location, access to transportation, etc.

Personally, I think the "confusion" you are trying to clear up may come from people's descriptions and word useage, e.g., "it was charming..." it was "small" "large" "close" "far" staff were "rude"


I would much rather hear..."it was charming and here is WHY I THOUGHT SO...

This is diffucult, I am firmly between a 2 and a 3. I have stayed 4 star,and 2 star, I have flown first class( and not on airmiles or upgrades) and I have flown budget airlines.
I eat food from street vendors, and enjoy picnics, both to save money, but , they I'll splurge somewhere else.

Lets say I am capable of travelling at a level 3-4, but choose to save money sometimes and travel as a level 2, as I am not a fussy sort who needs a hotel with a bell boy to carry my bags and the free shmapoo and amenties in the washroom bore me.

I am too old to be level 1 , I did that sort of travel 25 yrs ago, I do insist on some comforts now.
I am too cheap to be level 4 as I think anyone who spends 1000 dollars a night for a bed had better be on their honeymoon or deathbed. LOL

Category 2

I'll put myself as a 3 while noting that I have spent $100 for a room for 2 and $400 for another room on the same trip. In other words, yes, my accomodations DO matter so that I almost always take either a small hotel or B&B. But sometimes small local (boutique) hotels are much more expensive than large chain hotels.

Same for food - I want a GREAT food experience and this is often inexpensive local food but I would not cross a restaurant off my list because of price.

I'm both category 1 and 2.

Different trips call for different styles. I have stayed in and enjoyed accommodations of many types and at many price points. Ditto with food. I have been pampered and not, and I tend to prefer not. I loved the gyros on the street corner in Athens and the foie gras in the restaurant in Paris. Sometimes I mix it up on the same trip. Loved the atmospheric bed and breakfast in the farmhouse near the beach in Denmark and the big American hotel on the waterfront in Copenhagen. The small inn on the hilltop in Portugal and the great, very urban boutique hotel in Madrid.

I was going to say I frequently fall between your categories two and three, but neither really applies to me. Price is definitely a consideration in picking a restaurant, but I do want a good meal. I can be very comfortable in a hotel with less than three stars, but I do like a nice room, and accommodations are important to me.