Am I the only one who answers a quiz on Buzzfeed and wants to read all the answers to see if it’s accurate? Just me?
IF YOU ARE, then this is the blog post for you! *confetti* *streamers* applause*
Listen, I am SO ready to share more travel content with y’all about places I’ve been and where I wanna go, but we’re a work in progress! I have an exciting trip coming up that will launch my travel content, but in the mean time, I think y’all are going to have so much fun with this one. Kinda like tarot/astrology (which is another thing I like ’cause *hand flip – IYKYK*), feel free to take what resonates and go with it. You don’t have to be just one type of traveler — heck, you can be all of them and it depends on the destination! But below are a few types of travelers that I’ve either heard or observed through my own travels, and a fun place I think you should go based on those traits. Since I am a new blogger, I am not affiliated with any of these folks — these are literally recommendations based on things I’ve heard and experienced, so feel free to let me know your own experience in the comments!
LET’S GOOOO!
THE LUXURY TRAVELER
Honestly y’all, sometimes I am the luxury traveler. I was very privileged to grow up with a family that could afford the occasional splurge at a nice hotel, and I work very hard (very hard) to treat myself once in a while. Some people splurge on clothes, mani-pedis, their hair, and I love that for them! For me though, UGH — a good hotel, great food, a luxury experience? Sometimes, it’s worth it.
YOU ARE A LUXURY TRAVELER IF: you enjoy staying at four-or-five-star hotels, you score reservations at Michelin star restaurants — AKA, you’re willing to pay the big bucks or earn them traveler’s credit card points to experience paradise. You’re not afraid to treat yourself because you know it’s going to be a good experience, and your definition of a vacation is to forget about life’s woes and completely relax.
YOUR NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION SHOULD BE: Amanpulo, Palawan, Philippines (link)
I’m not going to miss an opportunity to recommend the Motherland, so if you’re looking for a luxury destination for secluded vibes, the ultimate pampering, and even an occasional celebrity spotting, Amanpulo is the place for you. WARNING: I did say luxury, so it is a bit on the steep Papa Bear scale side at approx. $1,400 a night with breakfast included, but from what I’ve heard from friends who have vacationed here, it truly is one of the most beautiful, worth it places to visit if you’re willing to shell out the big bucks.
RUNNER UP DESTINATION: Banyan Tree, Phuket, Thailand (link)
If you want the luxury experience without having to shell out hella money for it, I would pick Phuket as my runner-up. My family visited Phuket pre-tsunami when I was younger, and oh my god, it was gorgeous. The food was spectacular, the pools were top-notch, and there were so many fun things to do for adults and kids alike, whether that’s visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary, going on a ropes course, or visiting the set location of The Beach. Personally, my husband and I have gotten into off-road riding, so an ATV ride will always be in the books for me, and I hear there’s an amazing ride if you go to Phuket. Staying at the Banyan Tree (which gets you a private pool in your suite!) costs $311 per night. For a five-star hotel and a private pool? I’m in!
THE TOURIST
LISTEN. There is no shame in being a tourist because you just value your time enough to research what’s good. There’s a reason why travelers flock to certain destinations, and you don’t wanna miss out on the fun! Besides, there is nothing better than taking some time to do the stuff you love — even if it means going to well-known destinations and experiencing everything that it has to offer, tried and tested by other travelers before you.
YOU ARE A TOURIST IF: you enjoy the timeless, tried and true sights, sounds, and tastes of every destination. You love the hustle and bustle of tourism, and you love sharing these experiences with other people who’ve done it too! Your definition of a vacation is a new, reliable experience.
YOUR NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION SHOULD BE: New York City, New York
It’s called a tourist trap for a reason, and literally, New York can trap me ANY. TIME. I’m probably biased because I’m a theatre kid at heart, but y’all, New York City has something for everybody. Whether you would like a stroll through Central Park when the leaves turn red, or you’re hauling ass to find cheap Broadway tickets, or you’re rolling into your hotel room from a food trip across the five boroughs, there is something for you in New York. If you’re wanting to go to New York on a budget, reserve a pod at Nap York‘s Central Park Sleep Station for a whoppin’ $112 a night via Expedia — these pods look classy as hell. If you’re willing to pay more to be in the middle of the action, Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South cost us less than $200 a night for five adults, AND we got a stunning view of the Empire State Building, we were close to the subway, and there were cute rooftop bars nearby! It wasn’t luxurious by any means, but you’re not spending New York holed up in your hotel — trust me on that.
RUNNER-UP DESTINATION: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California (link)
If there’s one thing you need to know about me now, it’s that I love Disney and I love theatre. If you’re a Disney lover, I mean, I pretty much don’t need to convince you to go to one of the happiest places on earth, but for the skeptic, LISTEN UP — you do you, but you have to admit that seeing Disney at night is probably one of the most magical things you can experience, ever. There is something about the way Disney lights up at dusk that fills you with faith, trust, and pixie dust — and you’re allowed to enjoy the magic once in a while. You don’t have to go multiple days like I do, but if you’re wanting to feel like a child again ’cause adulting sucks, a day at Disney riding all the thrill rides will do the trick.
THE ADVENTURE SEEKER
Cue the Indiana Jones music (TA TA TA TAAAAA, TA TA TAAAAAAA) because the adventure seeker is up next! If you are hungry for the unknown and thirsty for new experiences, then you are no doubt an adventure seeker traveler. These folks love to explore new places, sampling local cuisine, learning about a new culture through authentic experiences, and living one day at a time. While adventuring can be stressful sometimes, these travelers love to learn and live to tell the tale — it’s just part of the trip, y’know? What matters is at the end of the day, it’s always going to be a trip for the books.
YOUR NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION SHOULD BE: Andalusia, Spain
For our first international trip together, my husband and I, along with our couple-best friends, trekked to Malaga, Spain for a week. We scored a deal on Delta Vacations and used their Buy Now, Pay Later option to initially go to Los Cabos, but circumstances led to us taking the plunge and going further east from the Pacific Northwest. Y’all. For 7 days, we probably paid about $1200 each for a hotel AND flights to Malaga from Seattle. IF THAT ISN’T A DEAL, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS. We got amazing free breakfast at the Melia Costa del Sol every morning (churros con chocolate for breakfast dessert, anyone?), explored neighboring cities during the middle of the week, and went on an amazing ATV ride through the rolling hills of Fuengirola (let me know if you need a recommendation for this — our host was AMAZING!).
We visited Sevilla for a day, and trust me, you don’t want to do that — you want to at least go overnight and really see everything. We went to the oldest tapas bar, we went to an Antiquarium that had ruins from single-digit AD eras, we watched a flamenco show, and I rage-rode a scooter because I was on the struggle bus trying to balance on cobblestone. If you want to experience Spanish culture, Sevilla is the place to go.
I’m not even going to provide a runner-up, because you can literally pick any city in Andalusia and just take off from there: Seville, Malaga, Marbella, Cadiz, Cardona, Granada — take your pick! And if you’re feeling braver, take a car down to Gibraltar and look at Africa on the horizon. No regrets. At all.
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Of course, there are so many types of travelers, but these are the first three that come to mind for now. Hopefully, you found something — and more importantly, somewhere — that resonated with you enough to either start saving, or jump in the car/train/plane and take off to your next version of Neverland. HAVE FUUUUUN!
’till next time,
Cass
cass in neverland 