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.
;-)