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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Megan Thee Stallion Shares Her Transformative Approach To Health And Wellness
Megan Thee Stallion is back and better than ever — both physically and mentally.
ForWomen’s Health May/June 2024 cover, the 29-year-old rapper bared all, opening up about her healing journey following the aftermath of the July 2020 shooting incident by rapper Tory Lanez.
“A lot of people didn’t treat me like I was human for a long time,” she told the publication. “I feel like everybody was always used to me being the fun and happy party girl. I watched people build me up, tear me down, and be confused about their expectations of me.”
She continued, “As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings, and handle it with grace. But I’m human.”
While the “Savage” artist exudes confidence through her stage presence and boisterous lyrics, behind the scenes, Megan was experiencing a silent battle with her mental health. “Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans,” she says.
With pressures from the outside world piling up, Megan experienced “dark times,” that caused her to isolate from the public eye.
“I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers,” she recalls. “I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”
The “Wanna Be” rapper also details her current workout slip and diet that work hand in hand, giving her the mental clarity and stamina to perform at her highest level. For four to five days a week, Megan is locked in with one of her two trainers, Emory “Joc” Bernard and Tim Boutte, doing a variety of workouts like Pilates, running up and down sand hills at the beach, or hitting the StairMaster or elliptical for upwards of 40 minutes.
Best known for her “Megan knees,” leg day is a must — with hip thrusts, goblet squats, leg extensions, and “stallion kicks,” being included in her circuits.
With a combination of therapy, stepping away from imbalanced relationships, and daily movement, the Houston Hottie has since been able to reconnect with herself on a deeper level; putting her happiness before the opinions of others. “Working on myself made me get into working out because I needed to focus my energy somewhere else,” she shares. “I used working out to escape and to get happy.”
“I’m in a space where I feel good mentally, so I want to look as good as I feel.”
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