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.

How about Fodor's creating a page where each poster could create a profile the way TA does it? They could design the questions to illuminate each type of traveller and people could view the profiles if they choose.

2 and 1

In a few days I am off on my winter train traveling in England. Retired as I am I tend to go the cheaper route when going solo, however, when with my wife we go much higher for rooms and meals.

As you want a survey, somehow, I don't think your choice of categories is, well, correct.

I'm a category 2 for lodging but then I enjoy a few spurges in great restaurants but I also enjoy more "street food". A picnic can become really expensive, but if the day is fine and one has a lovely location...worth every penny. IMHO.

I don't need concierge services for lodgings ... just clean and reasonably well located. By now, in Paris (for example) I'm stretching out my "venues" outside of the tourist districts just for my walk-arounds and learning. How do Parisians live? I want to get to know the neighborhoods. OK, I'm not writing clearly. But in my town, there is an Italian neighborhood, Latino neighborhood, Asian, Polish, etc. I want to know about these as well...you know? What restaurants? What products in their shops? What community activities do they sponsor? (Street fairs? Church bazaars, etc.)

Category 2

Sorry, but I refuse to categorize myself like that.

When I do my trip reports, I provide prices of hotels and meals. When I recommend hotels or restaurants, I try to give a web link so the person can check it out for themselves.

What I try to find when traveling, is value for money, whether it's a 2*, 3* or 4* hotel. We have stayed in hotels that cost as little as 50E and some that cost 150E. We have paid $200++ to stay at the Rubens, a 4* hotel in London, and at the Des Balances, a 4* hotel in Lucerne.

Because of physical limitations, we want hotels in the center of things and with an elevator, if possible.

We are not "foodies" so we look for good simple food at a reasonable price.

In regards to hotels I'm a 3.

In regards to food, I'm a mix between 1,2 and 3. Most trips I live off of bread/cheese/fruit but always throw in a couple nicer restaurants or cafes as well.

The category 3, in particular, is a bit problematic, as it includes subjective words like "nice," and "good."

That being said, we're primarily 3* hotel travelers, thought on recent trips we've stayed at chambres d'hote (France) and B&B (Italy, though it came without the breakfast), and we'll be doing more of that. Those don't fit on your scale (though quality-wise, those that we stayed at are the equivalent of a 3* hotels except for things like having an elevator and 24-hour staff).

And food/dining/restaurants needs to be surveyed separately. We definitely spend our money on food over hotels. We'll eat at very expensive places, but also moderate places - we're looking for distinctive local cuisine, wherever it falls on the price scale. So we'd possibly be 4 or 5* on your survey for restaurants (though, again, that's not totally accurate because only some of our meals would be 5*).

3 and 3.

julies, thanks for the considerable amount of work this must have taken.

I'm mostly a 2 with splurges here and there. My motivation isn't only money. In Spain I've found that the less hotel-ish places can also have more character and more opportunity for interesting conversations. Ditto the food joints, especially when choosing a tapa bar over a sit-down restaurant. Interesting conversation...

I'm somewhere between 2 and 3 but closer to 2.

julies~
Well honestly you lost me at...thinking about the guidebooks I usually choose. Since I never even use guidebooks to plan, we're off to a bad start here with your survey!!

Secondly, it's a huge mistake imo tying price of hotel accommodation with price of food. Just because I'm cheap/expensive on one, doesn't mean I'll be cheap/expensive on the other.

Another 'problem' you are trying to solve has a MUCH easier solution. People need to be precise in wording their questions, for example, instead of using the word "affordable" they should simply state "under 80 euro" or whatever.

You're trying to get this forum all organized and neat & tidy lined up by categories(!) but it doesn't work that way. The chaos is part of the beauty of this place. Speaking for myself, I don't NEED help in clearing up confusion or clarifying why different people have such different perspectives. Not a real issue for me. Kindly, Suze

I'm a combination of all your categories. I've been known to eat nothing but thin crust pizza for a week, but I'll also occasionally splurge on an expensive meal for an important occasion. I hate pretentious food and the prices that go with it. I can be easily wowed by excellent bread, a perfectly roasted chicken and a simple fruit tart.

With hotels, I mostly shoot for 3-4 star hotels, but have also stayed in more modest places and B&B.s.

I research the hotels I'm going to very carefully, culling reviews from friends,work colleagues, Fodors, tripadvisor, and slowtravel. I hate to spend money on places that just aren't worth it, and those are becoming more numerous even in the 4 and 5-star category.

I'll play, though as others said, this is too simplistic of a way to categorize.


I sit between a 2-4. Here are the caveats:

I'd never pay a grand of my own money for a hotel room. If I am going to stay in a hotel, it need t be of the boutique variety which tends to cost $300/night. I'd rather not pay that much and will do all I can to cheapen it including throwing out the husband's employer name to get a discount or upgrade, which usually works. I'd also rather stay in an apartment, but, if not possible will more than likely *not* stay in cheap-but clean hotel because design and aesthetic are important to me.I also won't stay in a Ritz-Carlton as I find don't it aesthetically pleasing.

I like to eat decent food and will pay $800 for a meal for two. I will also eat from a food cart, market, or small hole in the wall. I also am less likely to pay $800 or even $300 for a meal for 2 anymore as I find it a waste and am usually disappointed. I have high-end dining options where I live and prefer to spend the money where I *know* I am going to get what I paid for. To me, that is being frugal, though probably narrow-minded and missing out. I also would never eat a series of high end meals in a row--it is a waste.

My general categories for dining are:
>$50 for 2 with liquor= cheap/inexpensive (yes, this includes a wide range of food from fast to sit down)
$60-120 for 2 = average.
$120-200 = mid-range-expensive
$200+ = expensive

Not sure if this will really help come to any conclusion on the survey other than figuring out that some people don't mind paying more, some people do. some people travel to eat, some people eat to sustain. Some people care about their sleeping quarters, some people consider lodging a place to sleep.

Everyone travels different, spends money different, prioritizes different and more importantly, comes from a different place with different cost averages. Expensive to one, may be inexpensive to another depending on where one lives and what one is used to paying.

I am with Willit and Ellenem: there should be a category for whom accomodation can be pretty basic: personally AC, views, room service and change of linens EVERY day are not a priority.

BUT, food is a VERY different kettle of fish! And we will pay to experience the best of what a country has to offer.

Hmm, am I alone here in being more interested in the actual travel than in where I stay or what I eat? I'm definitely a trains and boats and planes person (in that order with buses somewhere in there near the planes) and enjoy the journey as much, sometimes more than the arrival. In your categories I would be a 2. My husband is a definite 4 so we don't often travel together ;;)

Catergory 3

I agree with the "this is too simplistic" posters. I tend to sleep cheap so I can eat well, but how cheaply I sleep depends on where I am and how I'm feeling. Even in the same town, never mind trip, it can vary - I spent one night in a $100/night hotel in Chengdu, and then six nights a $15/night guest house. Some nights I splurge for dinner, some nights I don't. And the guide book thing doesn't work well - I typically use Lonely Planet, but the listings include everything from hostels to luxury hotels. Besides, this thread is going to sink eventually - much more useful for people to clarify in individual threads where necessary.

Lots of good points here, but why not just play along, pick a category that is MOST (as emphasized by julies) like you, and see where she takes the data? I don't think this will show up in your credit report or eternally lock you into your chosen category. :-)

Julies conclusion/recommendations may or may not interest you, but why not wait and see? Could be fun/interesting. JMHO.

It is not that evident to fit in your scheme. For my holidays, I mostly am looking for regional authenticity in lodging and dining and contact with the local people, which are, for me, important elements of travelling... . This has nothing to do with $, $$, $$$ or $$$$. You can find authentic excellent dining at $-places, often easier than in $$$$-places. You can find charming places to sleep at $$-level.

My travel experience has to be in adequacy with my interests, not with my financial means.
In fact, while planning, I don't think in terms of your categories. I think in terms of what I want to see and what I want to do, of what I think I need to have pleasure during this particular trip. Money is only a means of obtaining this.