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.