Five Types of People You Meet When You Travel

• The Gap Yearer

The youngest. Either travelling immediately before University (aged 18-19) or afterwards (aged 21-23). Often come in pairs and to older/seasoned travellers  – see later –  they always look like children. Everything is terribly exciting to them but, bizarrely, they are often found to be bored and tired, sitting in huddles in hostel foyers , blankly staring at their phones. Never seem to have any money …. which translates to having no money to eat , as beers and trips & excursions are always had. After 6-12 months of travel , they depart a much more rounded  & mature person.

• Party People

Beer Pong . Lots of Beer Pong. ALWAYS found in hostels and usually wearing caps. Backwards. The mere mention of a warm beer will receive a loud excited response not heard since errr the last mention of a warm beer . Obsessed with every happy hour in town, but even they are usually decided to be too expensive so to the local shop it is to buy as much beer as one can carry . They are the loudest people in the hostel and – as a result – are always the first in bed, often after “shots baby”.  Always look depressed in the morning.rnSIDE NOTE:  Usually from the USA.

• The Complainer

Who knew that The Mekong Delta was so hot in February ? Here comes the complainer. Always found in a group, never alone. Every bus is too busy ( and hot , obviously ) , every journey too long and upon arrival at any hostel or $7 a night “hotel” , there are always gasps that it isn’t The Beverly Hills Wilshire. For weeks, the group puts up with them, until someone finally snaps. Everyone wonders why they are travelling at all and they began to question it themselves after one disappointing $1 meal too many.

• The Time-Outers

Couples or singletons who have decided to “ escape the rat race “ back home to do see the world. Can be any age , sometimes they are even couples that have taken early retirement.  Unfortunately some (usually single males ) have bad stories as to why they have chosen this drastic life change , but usually as a whole this is the most interesting type of traveller due to maturity, life stories and not being very loud …. Not as though they stay in Hostels anyway. Low end hotels is the accommodation of choice, although often the temptation to dip into the savings back home and “splash out’ on a very nice hotel is too much. Lucky them.

• The Professional Traveller

They’ve been everywhere. At least twice. And usually it’s true. And usually in Asia. ‘Cos,  you know, it’s so spiritual. Have not worn anything on their feet but sandals in years , even – no, especially – in the rain. Yoga pants a must . Roll-up cigarettes only. Knows how to order a beer in FOUR languages , man. No-one knows , or really cares, how they get their money for this constant lifestyle, but suspicions are always that despite being a left-wing Marxist , they were educated at Charterhouse or Rugby School and their father is a banker in The City of London.

About the Author, Sally Kirchell runs a business called Custom Push Pin Maps specializing in creating personalised maps with pins that can be used to show your travels, all push pin maps Are 100% customizable.