Which One Of These Is Your Travel Style?
Has your travel style affected your relationships while on vacation? The more I travel, the more I'm learning that you never truly know a person until you leave town with them. That's why it's important to have conversations about the kind(s) of experiences your companions plan to have before getting on the plane. This can prevent a lot of disagreements. We all work hard and shouldn't be caught off guard by another person's expectations of the trip, or made to feel guilty for ours.
While we're not doing a whole helluva lot of traveling at the moment, I'd like to break down some of the most common travel styles to help you to start a dialogue with your travel buddies of the past and future and come to a common ground that works.
The Adventurer
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This traveler is interested in all adventurous activities, from a simple hike in the woods to more extreme sports like BASE jumping and waterfall rappelling. They live by the seat of their pants most likely and probably won't do well with a vacation itinerary. The term "Y.O.L.O." comes to mind with these kinds of people. If you're more laid back or even a little fearful, the adventurous traveler is probably not your speed. They'll have you trapped in a haunted house screaming for help while they're having the time of their lives!
The Group Trip Traveler
This traveler is either gregarious and thrives off of meeting new people or just has a huge travel crew that they know and trust. They're the type that is always down for a party and loves to be around lots of people. This is usually an introvert's worst nightmare. So before venturing out with this kind of person, you might want to ask "who all gone be there" in an effort to prevent multiple personality clashes during the trip. If you prefer more intimate getaways, this isn't the person you want to vacation with.
The Luxury Traveler
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Money is no object for this traveler, but you can run into an issue if they expect you to "ball out" as well. They travel first class, take shopping sprees, stay at the best 5-star accommodations, and eat at the most expensive restaurants. If you're a person who likes to vacation on a budgetor you're just downright cheap, pick someone else to roll with. You'll only be cramping their style. Your Capital One card with the $1500 limit will never measure up to their Black Card.
The Solo Traveler
This is the kind of person who is totally and completely comfortable with being by themselves—no bells and whistles, no extras. Many times, they prefer to travel solo because not only do they get to be alone with their thoughts, but they can march to the beat of their own drum and come and go as they please without having to check in with anyone or compromise on plans. I recommend that we ALL take a crack at this particular travel style at least once. There's nothing more freeing than exploring the world solo.
The Partier
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The motto is "team no sleep" for this traveler. The moment they get off the plane, they're making a b-line to the shower (hopefully) so that they can head straight to the club and party till they drop! Expect lots of booze and blackouts with this travel type. They know how to have a good time wherever they go, but sometimes they can take things too far due to their excessive liquor consumption (which makes for interesting post-vacation stories). You're lucky if you get back to the room before sunrise! But if you love the nightlife and your liver is up for a wild ride, they could make for a memorable travel buddy.
The Family Traveler
This traveler has loaded up all of the "essentials", booked a kid-friendly hotel and prepared an itinerary full of activities to keep the whole family (especially the little ones) engaged. There won't be any visits to the strip club or wild drunken nights with this traveler. Expect a lot of good, "clean" fun and possibly a set bedtime. If you're someone who loves running around with children (even if you don't have any of your own), you may not mind tagging along with the family traveler. Keep in mind that a lot of patience and flexibility is needed.
Who did I miss?! What kind of travel style do you have? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image by Shutterstock
Tiffany D. Smith is a TV journalist by day and food and travel influencer by night from Chicago, IL. Since being bitten by the travel bug a few years ago, she uses her blog TheLoveofFoodandTravel.com to encourage people to release their fears, step out of their comfort zones, and explore new places and great food. When Tiffany isn't working in live TV or blogging, she enjoys kickboxing, watching 70's shows, and spending time with friends and family. Keep up with her @loveoffoodandtravel on IG.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
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