What's Your Travel Style?
 

When you travel would you say your style is more like:

1) Samantha Brown

2) Rick Steves

3) Anthony Bourdain

4) Andrew Zimmern

Who are these people? Rick Steves is the only name I recognize (I've seen his effigy burned in several places).

Not a lot of options, but somewhere between Samantha Brown and Rick Steves.

They are Travel Channel hosts who have their own shows and distinctive styles of travel. Rick Steves does his show on PBS.

Oh. No wonder. I don't see American TV.

What's the difference in their travel styles?

Definitely Anthony Bourdain.

There is a pretty big gap between Samantha Brown and Rick Steves, but I'm somewhere in between. With a splash of Bourdain and his hunt for the offbeat.

Samantha only stays in the most deluxe 5* hotels (and loves to discuss the bathrooms). Rick Steves is Cheapy McCheaperson.

But I know for sure I don't travel like Andrew Zimmern. No thank you! Ugh. He can keep his pig testicles and other "Bizarre foods."

I eat like Zimmern and Bourdain, and stay in Samantha Brown-type places.

<i>He can keep his pig testicles and other &quot;Bizarre foods.&quot;</i>

Don't knock it until you try it.

Samantha Brown. I'm a diva when travelling. When I go on vacation I want luxury!

For those of you that do not know of these folks here is a quick portrait;

1) Samantha Brown- in her 30’s she likes to travel the world in style. She has her show on the Travel Channel. Stays in nice 4/5 star places, is somewhat adventurous. Appreciates the finer things in travel, good food but nothing bizarre. Will visit museums and other sights but would not spend 7 solid days walking thru Angkor Wat. Appreciates a modern bathroom with all the amenities.

2) Rick Steves- in his 40’s and only does Europe. Likes pensions and small boutique hotels run by locals. Packs only one bag- a small one at that (this would explain why the wife never travels with him- imagine telling your wife that she can only pack one bag that she carries on her back!). He does provide some good info about the countries he visits and he likes a good glass of beer or wine. Eats with the locals but nothing too bizarre.
Will not venture beyond Europe so his shows tend to be somewhat repetitive over time.

3) Anthony Bourdain- in his 50’s? His show is “No Reservations” on the Travel Channel.
He is a maverick- he drinks, he smokes and tells it like it is – no holding back. Likes to eat a lot of different foods (he is a chef) but not quite as bad as Andrew Zimmern. He likes to mix with the locals and really get close to the culture. You won’t find him in 5 star hotels but he is comfortable on a mat with mosquito netting around him! He does not spend a lot on his wardrobe and it shows.

40 Andrew Zimmern- 40’s guy whose show on the travel Channel is “Bizarre Foods” and they are not kidding. This guy goes all over the world looking for the strangest things you never think of eating. He also does not spend much on his wardrobe. There are not many things that he cannot eat- but one that I remember that he could not stomach – the Durian! He met his match with that fruit. Funny and entertaining.

Half way between Samantha Brown and Anthony Bourdain. Interesting question!

Ditto luvtotravel - somewhere in between Samantha Brown and Rick Steves. Definitely not eating bizarre foods, and while I like &quot;local finds&quot;, I prefer the kind of &quot;local finds&quot; Samantha Brown and Rick Steves do - not necessarily &quot;off-beat&quot;, just local instead of touristy. Anthony Bourdain drives me nuts, so I don't watch his show.

BillT, last time we were in Europe for 2 weeks, I had one carry-on. I didn't find it all that difficult actually. I will say, though, that we are very casual dressers - if you have to dress up for it (when traveling), we don't do it! On this trip (Aug. 15th), I'll need more, but only because we're going someplace super-hot, so I expect a lot of sweat and dust LOL!

<i>(this would explain why the wife never travels with him- imagine telling your wife that she can only pack one bag that she carries on her back!)</i>

His wife does travel with him sometimes but she's not on the show.

He says on his website that his wife and daughter prefer to use a rollaboard bag rather than the backpack style, but they still use one bag. (I can't imagine traveling with more than one bag plus a purse/tote, so I don't see that as unusual. I can't carry two suitcases by myself.)

Thats why god made husbands- to carry all the extra bags and stuff!

BillT, my husband believes that if I can't carry it/roll it, etc. myself, I shouldn't be bringing it (and actually, I don't disagree...)

I agree -- if you can't carry it yourself, don't bring it. I can do Europe for two weeks with one bag plus my purse. No problem.

By the way, Rick's wife has been on his program, as well as his children.

Well when we do Europe its 3 checked bags plus carry ons and when we do Asia it 4 checked bags plus carryons- we shop!

Hmmmm...in a way it would be sort of like Rick Steves as we much prefer small pensions to 5* hotels. We also pack smartly - one bag each. I cannot imagine having to struggle with luggage! We have little daypacks for water and a bit of shopping (normally unusual ingredients).

However, I suppose we are like Anthony in the way that we are adventurous - not just in food but in accommodations. (He drives me crazy, too, dmlove.)

While we do take advantage of B&amp;Bs (often great breakfasts that last in our tummies for ages) and have picnics with fresh produce we do enjoy splurging on great local dinners. A few years ago I started a list of 100 foods to try before I die and literally cross them off. :)

In my head and heart, I am still Ian Wright (Lonely Planet). But I am afraid that to an outside observer, it would look more like some slightly less bottom line obsessed version of Rick Steeves...sigh...

Between RS and Bourdain - I love to eat, and I can't afford Samantha's hotels! Actually, in general I prefer B&amp;Bs and pensions to international style hotels. I don't need room service or a concierge or an elevator or a lot of glass and marble, so why pay for them.

And I (female) have traveled for as long as 10 months with one backpack and one day pack - I won't travel with more than I can carry, and I can't carry much!

1) Samantha - I hope I have her enthusiasm and love of discoveries

2) Rick - yeah, I am a cheapskate too, but don't invade buffet tables

3) probably not

4) definitely not!

Wow, looks like I am a cheap version of Samantha, or Rick on steroids :)

Here is a related question:

Two of the four mentioned above attended Vassar College. Guess which ones.

In between Rick Steves and Samantha Brown. We have a rule (usually 4 ladies 50 to 78 years old traveling together). If you can't carry it or pack it, don't bring or buy it. Also, a good friend told me 30+ years ago, if you forget something and can't afford to buy it, you shouldn't be on vacation.

I'll guess Samantha and Bourdain- am I right?

Samantha Brown, I like nice things and I work hard. Work hard, play hard.

My style is much more like Bob the Navigator---an acquired taste.

Bill: One right (but did not graduate) and one wrong.

Replace Bourdain with Steves.

Correction Andrew Zimmern graduated from Vasser and I'm thinking Samantha attended.

Final - its Bourdain attending and Zimmern graduated! Thats my final answer and i did not phone a friend.

I dunno. I'm not as bohemian as Rick Steves. I would never stay in the places he recommends. I don't have Samantha's financial backing. I love Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern bother's me.

I guess I would have to say a little of Rick Steves and a moderate amount of Anthony Bourdain.

Bill: The first prize..with those two not sure what kind of odd food it should be..will be shipped asap! Congratulations!

Is this even halfway serious?

&quot;Samantha Brown... she likes to travel the world in style. Would not spend 7 solid days walking thru Angkor Wat.&quot;

She can't have style. Anyone who'd rather sit in a Four Seasons than go round Angkor is just a chav. Why not ask Victoria Beckam for her advice?

&quot;Rick Steves- in his 40’s and eats with the locals but nothing too bizarre.&quot;

You mean he won't eat black pudding, iskembe corbasi or elvers? Who'd eat with a philistine tourist like that?

&quot;Anthony Bourdain He does not spend a lot on his wardrobe and it shows.&quot;

Clearly a man of taste

&quot;Andrew Zimmern. This guy goes all over the world looking for the strangest things you never think of eating. He...could not stomach – the Durian&quot;

If you can't eat a durian, you're a squeamish wimp, and you've NO right to pontificate about food

Three out of four of these sound like milly molly mandy tourists who'd be happier on a Saga coach tour. No place whatever on a serious travel site.

<i>If you can't eat a durian, you're a squeamish wimp, and you've NO right to pontificate about food</i>

I wouldn't be so harsh. Durian smells something awful. That being said, once you get past that, the taste is quite nice. The texture remains tough.

But Zimmern ain't afraid of anything. He has eaten some nasty s**t, so lay off the guy. Insects, bird fetus, etc. The guy eats anything.

<i>Who'd eat with a philistine tourist like that?</i>

Not me.

<i>Anyone who'd rather sit in a Four Seasons than go round Angkor is just a chav.</i>

You haven't been to Angkor lately, have you? You can't swing a cat without hitting a luxury hotel in Siem Reap. And, frankly, 2 to 3 days is enough; 7 days and you are at the &quot;this mound of dirt was a grand temple&quot; category.

Somewhere between Samantha Brown and Rick Steves.

I am female and take one carry-on suitcase and one carry-on bag to Europe for two weeks (takes practice).

Rick Steves appears to be cheap on his shows. However, his tours are nice. I was pleasantly surprised.

<i>I would never stay in the places he recommends. </i>

We did stay in a Rick Steves recommended place once, in London. Never again LOL. Ten years later, we still say we stayed everywhere on that trip from Class A to Class Z...and guess which was Class Z - let's just say you had to wear your fli-flops in the shower :) the place no longer exists. If it's been fixed up, it would be fabulous (once a fantastic house in Holland Park, London)

Well I wouldn't mind my travel style being going WITH 3) Mr Bourdain!

I don't understand this fascination with eating weird/different food. How many people go on vacation wanting to eat wood worm (Phlippines) or strange meat?

Interesting question.

I would like it to be me on Samantha Brown's show. I wonder if I would be just as annoying.

I like some of Rick's suggestions and he seems to have made friends in different places, something Samantha doesn't do. You can tell all of her contacts are paid to be with her.

I, too, would travel some places with Bourdain. I loved his Jamaican show recently and Mutabaruka and I have mutual friends, so that would have been fun, if they would have been there.

Absolutely would not travel like or with Zimmerman and I do like durian, it tastes like green peas in my opinion.

More like Rick Steves in terms of accommodation type.

And thank you luvtotravel and Nlingenfel
- I have shown my wife your comments :)