Sponsored by Bupa Travel Insurance
How do you know where to start your travels?
That’s a common question we get asked by soon-to-be adventurers planning to travel.
An endless ocean of choices causes the fear of making the wrong choice, or worse, not making a choice.
Our very simple advice is, “What do you like? What do you want to see and experience?”
This can be difficult to answer if you’ve spent years ignoring who you are and what you want.
Travel is not as easy as it looks.
There are many reasons why you’ll quit prematurely – one of those being if you choose the wrong travel destination or experience. It’s something to carefully consider and not just in relation to your budget or where your mates are going.
Right decision making comes from knowing yourself and creating a life that suits your values, interests and priorities.
It might seem strange, but often you give up control of your own life because you aren’t clear on your personality, or you don’t give yourself permission to express it.
How your travel personality evolves
Don’t hold tight to your travel personality! Don’t hold tight to anything about you!
Life is about evolution and you only thrive through that when you change.
My travel personality is completely different to what it was twenty years ago. My priorities and values are different and my life’s circumstances are.
I now have kids. I’m now 40. There was a time when dancing on the tables all night on Greek Islands was my personality. That would now give me a two-week hangover and distress my children to witness my flailing arms and legs.
I like Zen and unhurried moments. Crowds get to me.
I recently visited Sydney and felt so overwhelmed walking up the stairs as I was engulfed by a crowd of people streaming towards me. My heart rate raised and I wanted to return to the Outback.
When Savannah was 18 months, we visited Thailand for two weeks. Thailand was always my soul home and dream destination. The easy care-free living, the street food, the chaos and absence of rules. I thrived on it.
But, with a toddler I hated it. I had to be hyper alert with her runaway legs in land that has no real structure, space or safety (as compared to Western safety, viewed through the eyes of a mother – it’s totally different trust me!)
Now I hate lazing around on the beach all day with kids – the fun stops after an hour of building sandcastles and riding waves. Soon the kids get hot and bothered, and instead of snatching five minutes reading your book, you’re wiping tears, pulling sand out of sandwiches, and dealing with meltdowns.
My travel personality prefers active exploration
Doing adventurous and engaging activities together so we have fun and get exhausted so we can all collapse into bed early. I don’t want to lie on a beach knowing I can’t really lie on a beach.
I like small cities
Ones that have lots of options for eating out, great coffee, and interesting things to do, but not ones that are over polluted, over populated and have lost their soul to flashing neon lights, chain restaurants and kitsch souvenirs. I want laneways and secret holes in the wall and local flavour.
My travel personality is now only interested in road trips
I don’t want the hassle of public transport travel, especially with the kids. I like to carry more things and more comfort.
I’m not interested in budget backpacking anymore. I like to give the kids a bit of stability and comfort and a car does that. Plus I love the flexibility and the control over my freedom.
It’s why we gave up the trek around South East Asia and opted for Australia again and why our next adventure will be a US road trip.
Once the kids get older and our priorities change, we might venture into more chaotic and adventurous destinations.
Do you understand your travel personality?
Do you sometimes ignore it because you feel you SHOULD travel in the way others say you should?
Perhaps they think it’s cooler if you go off the beaten path or try and get the nearest dog kennel to sleep in just to save $5. That sounds like hell to you, but you don’t want to seem like a snob.
You’re not. You just know who you are and are going with what floats your boat so you don’t drown!
Want to find out more about your travel personality?
If you’re still trying to figure out your travel personality, Bupa Travel Insurance have designed a cool travel quiz to help you match your personality with your perfect travel scene. You can take it here.
There are six simple questions that ask about your interests and likes. It will only take a minute to do.
Or a little longer if you can’t decide whether you should choose reality TV or travel as your favourite TV show style. I went for travel.
I was stoked with my travel scene!
It felt so out of tune with my current life circumstances as I wouldn’t think to choose Vietnam right now with my kids.
But, Vietnam is so suited to my personality – I’m really missing that part of me reading this. I first travelled through Vietnam in 99 with my best friend and then again in 02 with Craig. Its absolutely been one of my favourite destinations and impacted my life in so many positive ways.
I’ve been thinking about Vietnam a lot lately and craving a visit there! Maybe it’s time for a solo cycling tour through the Mekong Valley!
You can also win a holiday!
Once you’ve taken your travel personality quiz, you can enter the competition to win a holiday to experience one of nine travel destinations!
Major prize consists of:
- Two return international economy class air tickets from an Australia international airport of the winners choosing to a destination from the list below, including checked luggage and taxes
- Return airport transfers to accommodation – for 2 people
- 5 nights’ accommodation in a minimum 4* hotel, based on twin share – for 2 people
- 1 Health Inspired experience within the chosen destination from the list below:
Winner may choose one (1) Destination from the list below:
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Nadi, Fiji
- Paris, France
- Barcelona, Spain
- Tokyo, Japan
- Delhi, India
- Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- London, United Kingdom
- Los Angeles, USA
It’s such an awesome prize and a cool travel quiz. Here’s that link again!
I’d love to hear what your travel scene was? Pop back and tell me in the comments and how accurate you thought it was!
Bupa Travel Insurance is distributed by Bupa Australia Pty Ltd ABN 81 000 057 590 an authorised representative of the issuer, CGU Insurance Ltd ABN 29 004 478 371 AFSL 238291. Consider the PDS available at bupa.com.au . This Blog has been sponsored by Bupa.
