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Travelling Personality Types

Footloose: This person gets barefoot as soon as possible aboard public transportation. Feet up on the seat in front of them for all to enjoy. Even better if the feet has all the colors of a Civil War bandage. Extra credit for food odor.

Pajama Boy: Yep, wearing or changing into pajamas or some other bedtime apparel. This is fine for kids. Adults? C'mon. Extra credit if the clothing is revealing. Really, nobody needs to see that.

Mr. Sandwich: Brings on some particularly smelly food like an Italian or tuna fish sub, allowing us to vicariously enjoy at least the smell of it. Extra credit for loud eaters and those who somehow make a big show out of eating.

The Bullhorn: Some people are genetically gifted with voices like a verbal blowtorch. You can hear them laughing or holding forth almost anywhere on the plane, and who doesn't enjoy hearing their pontificating on life?

The Know-It-All: This person may be combined with The Bullhorn. They know everything and want you to know they know everything. They are quick to raise their hands or blurt out trivia questions from the tour guide. Good for you! You may have also experienced this person standing in a movie ticket line. During bus tours they are like annoying assistants to the tour guide, providing their own expert commentary until you want to choke them.

Stinky: Folks, please, is it asking too much to take a shower before boarding public transport, especially in August?

Mr. or Ms. Cologne: What can I say? It's like someone took a bath in perfume or after shave. Extra credit if combined with BO, which is the worst human duo of smells on Earth.

The Leader: The guy or gal who decide on their own to be unofficial tour leaders. This is fine by me as long as they don't mind me ignoring them.

The Heavy Accenter: Probably not a real word, but just go with it. This is a tour guide that often has people looking at each other with the "What did he say?" look. It was probably something very interesting, but at the same time you might feel rude if you ask him to repeat it, and when he does you're still not quite sure what he said. You might ask the person beside you to interpret, and sometimes this works!

The Late Guy: This might be the worst, and is either one person or a clique of people who are always the last ones back on the bus, often late and sometimes very late. I had one tour guide that berated a couple of them and while it was a bit startling, by golly it worked! The guide vowed to leave those who were late from then on and miraculously everyone showed up on time. Funny how that works. (I had a tour guide who told some great stories of leaving people behind, luggage and all, which I wish would happen more often, at least after the first time they're late.)

The Clipper: Someone who decides the plane is the right place to trim fingernails and toenails. Extra credit if they apply nail polish or other grooming chores.

The Talker: It can be a risk striking up a conversation with someone sitting nearby. I'm not anti-social but after a few minutes of discussing where someone is from and where they're going, I'm good. Of course there are exceptions. Unfortunately for some folks this can lead a story that has no end.

Did I miss any?

Posted by
7053 posts

"The Follower" or even "The Reluctant Follower" - the one who does no planning for the trip and just tags along and wants to do "whatever you want to do" (at least that's what I read from this forum about spouses/ relatives/ friends who are pulled into trips, but don't seem to be too excited about them).

Posted by
2965 posts

You forgot yourself.

The "Schubladendenker" ("The pigeonhole-thinker"): a person who likes putting every individual into a box of stereotypes and prejudices to be able to survive in this world. May he / she ever explore openness?

Posted by
4171 posts

The sleeper: as soon as they get on a plane they kick their seat all the way back and are out cold for the rest of the trip, I don't know how they do it, Ambien maybe lol, there's no way to wake em' to get past them to go to the restroom etc. until the plane lands.

Posted by
4590 posts

The angry talker-who wants you to hear all her grievances, including political. Fortunately I haven't encountered many of the others.

Posted by
23601 posts

On international flights we are the sleepers. We plan it that way. As soon as wheels are up, the eye mask is on the, the ear plugs are in, and seat recline to max allowed. We generally have the two seats on the side so no one has to climb over us. We ignore all food services, etc. And, if that brothers you --- live with it.

Posted by
4656 posts

"The one who doesn't play nice with others" the person who wants to go off and do their own thing.
"The teenager" who doesn't want to be there and sulks the whole trip.
"the space hog" the one who takes up more than their fair share of space whether on a bus, boat, train or sharing a room.
"the introvert' - like me, who avoids tours for all the personalities above.

Posted by
1567 posts

The Shaver: the guy who pulls out his electric razor on final approach, shaves and then becomes Mr. Cologne.

Posted by
1664 posts

This is so weird....

Just this morning I was thinking about big Mike and where he could be. Today he shows up with a new thread. 📝

Interesting....🤭

Posted by
1332 posts

The Gospel According to Rick: the type that slavishly follows everything Rick says and always stays at his recommended hotels and eats at his suggested restaurants. Would probably go to confession if they ever checked a bag.

Posted by
1664 posts

lol Dale.

When I go for my longer trips, I check 22 inch, I carry on a little smaller or similar, and take my hobo bag or a tote as my personal item.

I don't pack to the gills. I leave room for stuff I buy, but I do take the comforts of home that I like. It is no big deal to me to check a bag.

I do split up my clothes and toiletries into two bags in case the checked gets delayed. That is how I roll - yep, pun intended 😄

Posted by
3522 posts

Hmmmm, these seem to all be presented as negative types. Can we list some positive personality traveling types??? Please?
How about
Mrs. Flexible-doesn’t care where she is or what she is doing on her trip because she is not at home doing laundry or cooking dinner or cleaning house! Says I’m in___(Greece, Italy) wherever and is happy!

Posted by
1664 posts

Totally agree!

I'm of the free spirit mindset in flight --

I'm going to Italy!
I'm going to Italy!
I'm going to Italy!

When I land at the airport, I say --

I'm in Italy!
I'm in Italy!
I'm in Italy!

Some things I plan, and some things I just go with the day.

Those carefree, happenstance moments are sometimes the best as well as the "snapped" memories of the experience.

Posted by
7756 posts

"The Selfie Seeker": Someone who sees all landmarks, art & food as a background to their own wonderful image. "The Selfie Stalker" takes it to another level with their pointy stick waving through people's heads.

"The Gelato Junkie": "Someone....ahem!" who may select certain towns in Italy to visit based on gelato reviews. Turns up nose at plastic containers, fluffy stuff & unnatural green-colored pistachio gelato. Starts having withdrawals every 10,000 steps. : )

Posted by
4590 posts

I think we can all aspire to be "gelato seekers".

Posted by
9436 posts

Mike, love your list and your humor!
A nice change of pace here.

Posted by
7102 posts

Frank - as long as I can get to the restroom, sweet dreams.
Girasole - and a week after you return, it’s hard to believe you were ever in Italy.
Jean - while in Paris, I mapped out the supposed top 10 chocolate shops, and when we were in a particular part of the city, we patronized them. Mixed sightseeing with chocolate. We made it to all of them.

Posted by
5315 posts

Miss Wonder: (ahem) I love it here! I wonder if I can live here. I wonder if I could move here!! I wonder if I could afford to retire here.

[next city]: I love it here too! I wonder if I can live here. I wonder if I could move here!! I wonder if I could afford to retire here.

Posted by
9436 posts

CWsocial... brilliant. That’s me!!

Posted by
3111 posts

The Lovers: It's great to see young people in love, anyone in love, really, but must we be forced to see an R-rated show in the seats across the aisle? You don't want to look but it's at least in your peripheral vision and you almost feel voyeuristic.

The Partiers: This can actually be a good thing if they have a few too many drinks and pass out for the rest of the flight. If they're belligerent drunks, like we see reported on the news at times, then hey, free entertainment.

CW and Susan, I wonder if we all fantasize a bit about, "Could we live here?" during travels. In my mind I'm wondering how much it would cost, could I get a job that I liked and paid enough, taxes, family, would the wife go along with it (heck, no) and so forth.

Side note: Does anyone know if I can find out the names of the people on the front page? The solid, strong looking guy hiking in the long sleeve green shirt is a dead ringer for my old high school football coach. He was tough as nails and if you complained of being hurt he would say, "Rub some dirt on it and get your - - - back in there!" We loved him.

Posted by
5315 posts

Side note: Does anyone know if I can find out the names of the people on the [Rick Steves website] front page?
I dragged the image to Google Images and only found legit references to Rick Steves pages.

Posted by
1664 posts

Girasole - and a week after you return, it’s hard to believe you were ever in Italy.

Ha ha, right?

I do things to keep the memories and in-the-moment alive until next time ;) I chat with my friends in Rome :)

Besides watching The Roman Guy vids every now and again; the skyline webcams of Lazio, Italy, I also watch this -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azC0iZrYZts -- totally energetic and brings me right back when they pan to places I "was at."

Thrilling to start planning the next trip - my "second home" lol.

Posted by
5697 posts

My favorite (truly!) "The Sherpa" -- DH carries BOTH roll-on bags up and down stairs, on and off trains while I haul the two lighter personal items. His explanation -- easier than having to take me to the emergency room if/when I fall.
Although I am not a big fan of other people who force/expect their travel companion(s) to be sherpas.