Let me guess: one of your New Year’s resolutions is to travel more. If so, I applaud you.
After all, there’s nothing on this earth quite like getting yourself out there, flying to countries you’ve never been to before, having new experiences and immersing yourself in various cultures.
In fact, being able to travel near and far is one of life’s many gifts – and we should embrace it with open arms.
But, did you know that there are so many types of travel trips you can take? From a global group tour to flashpacking, it’s safe to say that you don’t have to stick with your usual UK-based weekends away in 2021.
Instead, you can expand your horizons and go on these 10 various types of travel trips.
And take it from someone who’s almost done them all, every one of them will take your breath away for a different reason.
Types of travel 101: backpacking around one country or multiple countries for a set period of time.
It may be for one month or it may be for one year, but one thing’s for sure: this style of trip allows you to leave home as one person and return as someone else entirely.
Backpacking involves going back to basics and adapting to a “less is more” lifestyle, thus changing your entire outlook on life in the process. It gets you out of your comfort zone, makes you appreciate your home comforts more than ever before and shapes you into a more well-rounded individual.
Much like backpacking, flashpacking consists of visiting one or several countries in one trip.
However, your budget as a flashpacker won’t be as strict as if you were backpacking. You might stay in hotels and Airbnb’s as opposed to hostels, for example. You might also splash out on a range of activities and eat at more upmarket restaurants.
Even so, you get to see a lot of the world (and do a lot) as a flashpacker, which opens your eyes in more ways than one.
One of my favourite types of travel is the around-the-world all-inclusive trip that you can build with agencies like Round the World Experts and STA Travel.
Don’t want to have to spend all your spare time booking accommodation, flights and activities (even if you use a travel planner like myself)? These companies will take this hassle off your hands and do it all for you as part of a hefty package deal.
Pro tip: I’ve used both RTWE and STA for my backpacking trips and they’re a great resource whether you have specific requirements OR you’re pretty open to suggestions.
Let’s take it back to basics for a second. Sometimes a weekend away in your own country or a country nearby is just what the doctor ordered.
Every now and then, it’s necessary to hit the reset button on life in order to determine what is truly important to us, give us perspective on our current situation and help us to define our long-term goals.
After all, life’s not going to be fun if it’s all work and no play – am I right?
Speaking of the standard types of travel, I have to throw the one-destination holiday into the mix – because everybody needs a holiday for the reasons I just mentioned.
Whether you just want to head to your usual vacation spot in Tenerife or go somewhere more adventurous like Tokyo, taking at least two consecutive weeks off from your job at least once a year is imperative for your overall mental health and wellbeing.
Sometimes a one-destination holiday will be in a decent hotel, Airbnb or self-catered apartments. But other times, it will be in a luxury all-inclusive resort (if you really want to treat yourself).
Even though I haven’t personally booked this type of holiday yet, I love the idea of it. What, you’re saying that I can pay for everything upfront and choose a hotel on the beach where I can just chill for a few days without having to leave the complex for anything?
I mean, it sounds perfect, especially if you’re in need of some serious R&R.
One of the best types of travel for extroverts is the group tour.
You may opt to join several like-minded travellers for a certain activity (like climbing Machu Picchu). Alternatively, you might want to spend a few days on the same bus touring a specific country (like my Stray trip around New Zealand).
Either way, a group tour is an ideal way to make friends while seeing and doing some amazing things across the pond. True story.
If a group road trip sounds like fun to you but you like the idea of a smaller group and/or love camping, why not consider renting a campervan or RV for your travels?
I plan to try out this type of travel for the first time in the coming months and I’m super excited! After all, you can see so much of what a country has to offer just by taking roads instead of flights.
And you can also get back to nature, which I’ve grown to love since I’ve been working and living in Aotearoa.
Struggling to find the time to take off work? Or can’t afford to travel for too long? Not to worry – I have a solution for you.
Event travel is where – you guessed it – you solely take a trip for a specific event (like a music festival or business conference).
It might only be for a couple of days or it might be for a week. That said, either way, it gives you the opportunity to travel somewhere that you’ve never been before – and have an incredible time in the process!
Finally, one of my favourite types of travel is the working holiday where you live and work in a different country for a designated amount of time.
As I mentioned previously, I’m currently doing this in the Land of the Long White Cloud and absolutely loving it.
Some countries that have a one or two-year working holiday program available include:
If you’re a British citizen, you can also start working in any country that’s part of the European Union without needing to apply for a working holiday visa or special permit. (This may soon change because of Brexit though – sigh!)
Regardless, moving abroad and making money while you’re there is a once-in-lifetime experience that encourages personal and professional growth. Even though it’s not without its challenges, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone.
Spoiler alert: you’ve got to try out different types of travel in your lifetime to find out which ones you prefer.
Yes, I realise that not everybody has an endless pot of money just for travel (or extensive amounts of time), but don’t be one of those people who constantly makes excuses for not following their dreams.
Your destiny isn’t made. You create it. And it starts today.
Have you taken all or any of these types of travel trips? Which ones do you want to take in 2021? Let me know in the comments!
Katie Davies is the Yorkshire-based freelance writer who founded The Trendy Tourist. In the last three years, she has written for over 100 companies on a range of subjects, from fashion to marketing. When she’s not producing content, you can find her shopping, exploring a new place or sitting somewhere having a cup of builder’s tea.