Okay. Throw in two more categories.

Category 5-- I sleep cheap so I can eat well.

Category 6 -- I eat cheap so I can sleep well.

Interesting question - I'd be a 3 though not firmly a 3 in that I would not go as far as to say "I would not be comfortable in anything less".

I'd usually even things out during the same holiday by combining categories. On my last trip to Portugal for example we stayed one week in a simple clean pension and one week in a luxury hotel (making sure the luxury hotel came second so there was no huge let down!) In fact I'd probably be more likely to return to the simple clean but charming pension...

On food I'm firmly in your 3 category.

We travel to Europe about 3 times a year, usually with category 2 standards. We occasionally spend more for excellent meals.

Hi

I think I fit into Category 3 :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Between Category 2 and 3 depending on the destination, but usually closer to Category 2.

Hi,
Most likely Category 2.0, maybe 2.2, at least until a newer version comes out.

Paul

In Europe we mostly go self catering, renting a house somewhere, and eating out or in depending on how we feel.
In the US, because I am touring an area I'm a 2 or 3 person, mostly I see a hotel as a place to sleep not an end in itself. We normally do 2 nights at category 2 and then 1 or 2 nights at 3, then back to a cheaper place, but like food depends on where we are and what is available.
In Africa I'm a 3-4.
Sorry julies, I don't seem to have helped your survey much do I?

Interesting thread. I'm with MNP -- a 3 for hotels and anywhere from 1 to 3 on meals. My husband and I love to find great take-out food, and bring it back to our comfy room in the evenings to picnic with.

I am between 2-3. The location of the hotel is more important. And some of the 2* hotels I stay in are more expensive than the 3*. As for as food goes, I don't like *good* food. I eat junk. I love eclairs, gelato, and French bread. When it comes to those things, I don't look at the price.

PS did everyone notice the astrisks...don't want to start that war again. Usually I do use CAPS for emphasis.

NoleNomad wrote: "... why not just play along, pick a category that is MOST (as emphasized by julies) like you, and see where she takes the data?"

Because bad data lead to bad conclusions.

Well - I'm a 4, kind of..... I travel extensively on business, and all my hotels need internet connections and business facilities, so they're going to be the nicer hotels. I don't necessarily eat expensively, but I don't eat from any street vendor anywhere (don't even do that in the US), and do try to eat at nice (not always expensive) restaurants. If I'm on vacation, then I definitely go for luxury because I'm at the point where I hate traveling so much, that I need pampering if I'm going to drag myself on a plane for vacation...

I'm willing to make a contribution to something that will give posters some "fun data"

I am a #3 traveler right now but expect I'll become a #2 traveler after my husband and I draw up our "4 times to Europe each year" retirement agreement in July ;;)

Looking forward to the results, Julie

Deborah

I'm a 2 but a 4-wannabe.

4 is my philosophy; 2 is my reality. (Was a 3 before 2001 and the tanking of the dollar.)

number 3

Category 2 would be the closest, though we do occasionally splurge. By the way, some of the best meals I've ever had have been in inexpensive local places or even from street vendors.

Padraig,

You may be correct. But, until we see a conclusion, how do you know it will be a bad one?

Also, since you fit into none of julies categories -- and she seems willing to add others -- perhaps you could suggest a new one.

Finally, it's not like this topic is rocket science, or intended to cure cancer or world hunger, etc. I personally don't take it that seriously. But, to each his own.

1 & 2 for lodging
-I look for inexpensive hotels with character (could be 2 or 3 star) but do not go for B&B or pensione situations where there is too much interaction with hosts and other guests.

2 & 3 for food
-I don't make my decision by price but I can't say I don't take it into consideration. I definitely like a hot meal now & then(!) and would not spend my vacation eating cheese and bread only.

Like most surveys, this one just isn't applicable to me. It's way too narrow.

Just for starters, the type of accommodation I prefer has nothing to do with my eating habits.

I don't think this is particularly useful.

We're definitely Category 4.

Not that we like to throw money around,. We always look for bargains - but to us that means a 4* hotel at a 3* price. And we do one special dinner in each city, as well as a real restaurant dinner every night. But - for lunch we just drop into whatever cafe or trattoria or sandwich shop is handy and looks good (we don't do Michelin 3* for every meal).

A lot of this is due to the fact that our vacation time is limited and our real life is super busy and high pressure. So, on vacation, we want relaxation and comfort (hotels with nice large rooms and comfy sofas/chairs for relaxing, as well as full room service - and breakfast in bed if we want it). But we don;t do the Crillon with our own money (except for a very rare anniversary trip) - although that is how we travel on business.

We would never do an apartment (since I don;t cook at home and would never think of it on vacation) and do want the services of bellmen and concierges. We did try to rent a villa on the Riviera one year but some family backed out and it didn't work out. But - we still would only have done breakfast and drinks/snacks there - since cooking and/or keeping house doesn't count as a vacation for ANYone.

Hi,
I will put in my 2-cents. We usually get to Europe every 2 years and when we travel (more my husband's insistence) we travel well, staying in very memorable hotels and eating well. I look for warmth and charm in a place although the amenities should be very nice. We can have a light lunch to have an excellent dinner. When I look up reviews and suggestions of "fabulous" places to stay, we always have to notice the age and persons who are staying there. Our kidsd would definitely rave about places that we wouldn't want to stay in and not to be snobby, just that we are in our 60s and can afford to stay in nice places. I suppose that if we were fortunate to take these trips 3 or 4 times a year, we might think differently. I take suggestions and then look at the hotels and judge from there. Sometimes a chateau is too cold and way too much money and a less expensive B&B can be charming and a wonderful experience!
There is my feelings.
jjashworth

I am on the 2 category most of the time. I mean, I have never gone to guesthouses or pensions but I don't mind to go to a 2star hotel if it has the level of comfort my poor health needs(lift,ensuite bathroom,ac in summer). Anyway, usually this amenities are only in 3 stars or above, I'm always searching for deals !!

Sorry, I meant "these amenities" !!
My english is getting worse....

2 to 3, so a 2.5. I prefer apartments and will do a picnic of street food for one meal a day and a nice meal with all the extras for the other meal.

I would say I'm a 3, normally, but for my honeymoon last year I was a 4. That was a once in a lifetime trip though.

I would be inclined to say we are a 3 regarding lodging, but only a 2 regarding food for most of any given trip. That's an over-generalization, but the best I can do given the categories.

I use recommendations on this site for our trips, and I am rarely disappointed. We went to Germany and Austria last fall, and I was more than pleased with every place we stayed. Those accommodations ranged from about 100 to as much as 250 euros for our splurge nights. A major variable in lodging for me has to do with whether or not we are in an area where we will likely not be in the room all day or if we are in the mountains or other picturesque areas. I am much more likely to spend more money if we will be in and out of the room a lot.

We don't spend as much for food as many Fodorites do, but the times we chose to eat at nice restaurants, again, I used recommendations from this site with great success. Thanks to all of you for all the years of good advice. PJK

I know that this is for fun; here is a part of the fun that I'm having:

2 posters that I don't personally know, but whose travel styles seem a bit obvious from postings, comments and reports, both consider themselves a 3. I would have thought that one of them would have been a 1 or 2, at the most, and that the other was a pretty solid 4. So there you go.

I'm with soccr: before the US dollar tanked I was a solid 3 with 4ish aspirations (soccr: I know you didn't add that last part). Nowadays I think I am a 2, but I slide up into 3 territory all the time. BUT that is all for accomodations. And let me add that I will look at every 2 under the sun before I find the one that I think is nicest for the money.

On eating, I guess I'm still a 3. I will eat a cheap meal every day, consisting of street food or take away, or a sandwich. But I also require a hot meal, and to be seated.

So how confusing was that?

Roughly 1.85. More if I'm with my husband and family, less if by myself.

I guess I am closest to a 4 when it comes to lodging, guides and wine, but more like a 3 when it comes to food, especially when we travel with our children (which we usually do). I consider myself something of a foodie, but I don't enjoy fussy food or super fancy restaurants, at least not enough to pay for them myself.

My husband battles to keep us more in the 3 category for everything, but like another NY traveler said, I have a very busy and stressful city life. So I tend to treat myself on vacations. Also, I try not to take vacations where I'm going to be irritated by how much things cost (or where my husband's mood is going to sour because it's so expensive). Given where the dollar has been lately, this means that we do not stay at the ultra-luxe hotels in Europe (like the George V or the Hassler), unless someone else is paying!

I'm a 2.

Julies..interesting thread. Worthy of a good conversation.

I'd say I'm a 2-3; 3 if I had to pick a single one. Great dining is of primary importance for me (more so than the hotel); but those meals don't necessarily need to be exactly fine dining experiences.

I'll also some folks here.. I think generally speaking-- the longer the trip, the more likely I'll be in the one category. The shorter trips are the ones where you're more likely to see me on the other end of the range.

I'm sure traveling with kids for many travelers here might also determine where their priorities fall on a certain trip.

On a side note, profiles, which include fun travel factoids/interests/styles are in the pipeline. I'll be sure to let you know more as it comes closer to fruition. We definitely want it to be easier for members to get a better sense of where other members are coming from.

I'm a "4" traveler on a "2" budget.

I'll vote with travelnut; have a #1 or #2 budget and I do the best with it I can

I'm a 2.5

All of the above.

Depends on the city (and therefore currency).

Depends on the time of year.

Depends on my salary bonus.

Depends on the stock market.

Depends on my travelling companion (husband v. BFF v. mom).

Depends on the definitions of "minimal costs," "affordable," "inexpensive, "nice," "good" and what is included in "services" and "amenities."

My husband and I are the category 2 types. We just need clean, basic ammenities in a good location (between 100 to 150 dollars per night). I would prefer more expensive food but he doesn't so we meet in the middle for that. So type 2 with a bit of 3 thrown in.

I fall between Category 2 and 3

5 years ago when I went on my last backpacking trip after finishing grad school, I was all about hostels and supermarket meals. So I guess I was a Category 1 at that point in my life.

Several years, promotions, and raises later, I feel that DH and I have likely settled into the type of travellers we will remain for the forseeable future - Categories 2 and 3. In many countries such as Germany and Austria, we are utterly content to be a Category 2 traveller. In other countries such as Italy and Greece, we prefer nicer hotels with more services and ammenities. We avoid chain hotels however, no matter how nice. I don't like them here in the States and I haven't liked the ones I've stayed at in other parts of the world.

Neither of us are foodies although I greatly admire those with more discerning palates than I possess. We do like eating establishments with ambience, good service, and charm. We are happy to pay more for this style of place as opposed to a take-out, chain, fast food, or cafeteria style eatery. We are not extremely concerned about budgeting on our trips as we won't take them unless we've maxed out retirement savings for the year and met or exceeded our other investment goals. I wouldn't say we don't care about costs, but I would say that we don't care nearly as much as we did when money was tighter when we were both establishing our careers.

I can't do it either.

I tend to be a "best value" traveler, but that too varies by destination.

I've stayed at the Peninsula in Bangkok and a $20 guesthouse in the same trip.

I've eaten at a 3 star Michelin restaurant and done picnics in the park in the same trip.

Sometimes I rent an apartment, sometimes I stay in hotels.

I love to eat on the street in South East Asia spending no more than $2 on dinner, but then again, sometimes I just have lunch in the hotel because it's easier, though not cheaper.

My upcoming week in Rome will probably cost me 3x what my week in Thailand and Cambodia did in December, so where do I fit in?

Is there anyone who does not want a "clean" hotel room?

suze,
LOL!!
I agree... I can't imagine anyone wanting a dirty accomodation!

Well it *always* makes me laugh when people include that in what they want in a hotel room... sometimes even in caps (i.e., comfortable and CLEAN).

It tempts me to post back for the right price heck who cares about the housekeeping.
;-)