I came across a quote recently which read “be a traveller, not a tourist”. So here I am, sharing with you the main differences between a tourist vs a traveller.
Most of you reading this post have at some point been on holiday, whether abroad or in your own continent. But the question remains, are you a tourist or a traveller while on holiday? Let’s find out!
A TOURIST EATS IN FANCY RESTAURANTS – A TRAVELLER EATS WHERE LOCALS DO
Tourists tend to stick to food they know and won’t normally go out of their comfort zone. They also eat at restaurants with high quality reviews left by fellow diners.
On the other hand, travellers are ready to go out of their comfort zone and try the local cuisine. Rather than online reviews, travellers ask around for the best local restaurants.
A TOURIST STAYS IN NICE HOTELS – A TRAVELLER STAYS IN HOSTELS OR GUESTHOUSES
Tourists choose to stay in centrally located 3* or 4* hotels offering added comfort and amenities. They like to be close to the main attractions, and more so to nightlife, bars and restaurants.
Travellers prefer hostels, guesthouses or Airbnb‘s over hotels, especially those travelling alone or on a budget. They are not afraid of blending in with other tourist and making new friends along the way.
A TOURIST OVER PACKS – A TRAVELLER TRAVELS LIGHT
A tourist over packs, resulting in them travelling with at least one large suitcase, and carrying items which may not even be used during the trip.
A traveller only carries what is necessary for their journey, normally travelling with just a backpack or a carry-on, depending on the length of the trip.
A TOURIST SIGHT SEES – A TRAVELLER GOES OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Tourists travel for leisure. Their day normally evolves around seeing the city’s main attractions and most popular spots.
A traveller looks out for hidden gems even if that means travelling farther out from the city. Travellers don’t mind breaking a sweat and going off the beaten track to discover more than just the main attractions.
A TOURIST TRAVELS WITH A GROUP – A TRAVELLER IS HIS OWN GUIDE
Travelling with a group gives tourists peace of mind when travelling. They won’t need to worry about planning out their days, what to visit next or how to get around.
Travellers prefer travelling on their own as it gives them more flexibility and allows them to visit places outside of the main attractions.
A TOURIST TRAVELS WITH AN ORGANISED ITINERARY – A TRAVELLER MAKES ROUGH PLANS
Even if travelling on their own, tourists normally have their whole trip planned out before they depart on their journey.
Travellers are OK with having a rough plan of where they will be going and the places they will visit, if they have a plan at all! They normally have the first day organised, with the remaining days planned out day after day.
A TOURIST LASHES OUT – A TRAVELLER TRAVELS ON A BUDGET
Every holiday for a tourist feels like their first or last. They normally spend up to their last penny if not more and do not care if they go over board.
A traveller is more cautious with how he spends his money, giving him the chance to explore even more. This goes hand in hand with the choice of accommodation and where he chooses to eat for example.
The traveller list ticks all of our boxes; eating local food is a must, as well as visiting places outside of the hectic cities. We always travel on our own and staying in hotels is not a must. In fact, we normally go for Airbnb or aparthotel, skipping the ‘sit-down’ breakfast and starting the day early. What about you, have you made up your mind about which category you fall into?
