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Quiz: What's Your Travel Personality?
The scientific study of the relationship between personality and travel started more than 30 years ago, when 16 companies-including TWA and Reader's Digest-commissioned social scientist Stanley C. Plog to find out why nearly 75 percent of the population had never flown. The airlines had just ordered jets, and their capacity was about to increase by twenty percent," says Plog. "They were wondering how they were going to fill these things."
What's really impressive is that they take a stab at outlining your media, shopping and sports preferences as well as listing suggested domestic and international trips for your particular travel personality type. I was pegged for a "Centric Venturer" which I totally agree with but they were off on nearly everything else in terms of habits. Take a guess at which one they'll peg you for then take the quiz and let us know if you agree-(2).jpg)
If you're anything like me, you love a good quiz. Conde Nast has a fantastic article in this month's issue on page 61 that explores the various types of "Travel Personalities." Christian Wright's "Head Trips" (also available online) is so good that even if you disagree with their assessment of your travel preferences, you'll still be likely to forward this one around to your friends and co-workers. He describes the birth of the study of travel habits:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Blindian Jan 17th 2007 7:50AM
Centric Authentic Traveler, that's me according to them. I'm not sure I agree with all but some was right on the money!
Laurie Jan 17th 2007 9:48AM
My profile was pretty accurate. They made me a little more "outdoorsy" than I really am, but the rest was on target.
Mary Jan 17th 2007 3:20PM
Wow, I'm impressed. I took the quiz and they pretty much nailed my style. I have already done many of their "recommended" tours and trips and have several of their other recommendations on my "wish list" too.
Casey Jan 21st 2007 2:17PM
Scarily on target! They pegged me as a mid-venture traveler, who likes to schedule tightly and stick to the itiniary. Once, on a trip to England, my family rebelled at being scheduled at 30 minute intervals and tore up the itiniary, refused any more historical tours and ended up drinking at the Hard Rock Cafe! Now, I travel with like-minded friends. We have Hard Rock Cafes here in Florida.
Christina Jan 21st 2007 2:43PM
I cannot believe a few simple questions knew me so well. I have a trip booked with a group to Mexico this spring. And the travel agent is going with us, I like to know that I will see and do everything. Take this quiz and you too will be amazed!
Leah Jan 21st 2007 2:53PM
WOW! I went in very sceptical, but after taking the quiz where they pegged me as a Venturer Traveler I think that they are right on the mark. Can't wait to try a few of the new ideas that were listed.
Martha Horton Jan 21st 2007 3:00PM
Unusual that so few questions can lead to so accurate a result!
Thomas Jan 21st 2007 3:15PM
Some of the insights were very accurate as to my personality and many of the recommended trips I have already taken, but would do again. However some of the areas were way off! Travelling on a tour bus is o.k., but only if I know a lot of the people. Media Habits....way off. I rarely watch sitcoms and I love reading the paper and magazines. Shopping....buying trinkets to take home? No way. Too much clutter. I rarely even take pictures of the trip, preferring to just leave the memories in my head. Sports.....Baseball? Give me a basketball or football game any day. I like the action.
Overall it was an interesting quiz. But it was almost so general that it could fit anyone partially....sort of like a horoscope. :-)
Mary Vedder Jan 21st 2007 3:18PM
I was pegged as an Authentic Traveler, which I thought was pretty accurate. My shopping habits were accurate. However, media habits were not on the mark. And most glaringly NOT me: I indicated strong disagreement with all the quiz statements about preferring to be around people, going out socially, and having friends over, and strong agreeement with the preference to travel independently, but my profile stated that when given a choice I prefer to travel in a group, and that crowds at destinations don't bother me!!
bthornburg Jan 21st 2007 3:35PM
Could not have been further from the truth, do not like sitcoms, have traveled with a partner to Asia, climbed the Great Wall of China just to mention one trip of many. I was placed in authentic traveler. Went to Beijing in December to AVOID crowds, never been on a tour and I have been around the world several times.
jen Jan 21st 2007 4:17PM
not 1 thing was right about my results.
geoff Jan 21st 2007 4:21PM
This was the worst persoality test i've ever taken, not one thing was correct. For example, the test said I love TV and that I dislike activity. The problem with this is one, I dont have a TV, and two, I love any kind of activity and will take on any adventure possible. This test was simply horrible.
R. Love Jan 21st 2007 4:27PM
You are a "Venturer Traveler". Not even close, some of the things had me on ice and trips to cold places and sleeping in sleeping bags.... no way, I hate to be cold and never like to sleep anywhere except in a bed.
GB Jan 21st 2007 4:32PM
Wrong. I don't own a camper, I HATE "Reality" based television. Utter and complete rubbish.
Jean Jan 21st 2007 5:29PM
Way off! Friendly, outgoing personality? Luxury? Jet set??? My ideal vacation is camping alone!
eleanore avery Jan 21st 2007 5:35PM
I was pegged a Mid-Venturer....which is quite accurate, but their suggestions for where to go missed the mark a bunch. I have already been to 62 countries, but always looking for new places.However, as a senior citizen, I will pass on all that trekking and rafting! I'm off to Patagonia next week and will be visiting the Gorillas this summer.......
Kay Jan 21st 2007 5:44PM
There was so very little of this that related to me that it's astounding. As an "authentic", I prefer group tours to very well-known places, supposedly. Actually, I prefer solo travel to the unknown, where I can meet the locals and experience their reality as much as possible, and I prefer camping to hotel stays. This also did not match my personality very well, and I LOVE to read, and can't stand baseball.
sue Jan 21st 2007 6:03PM
Oh my goodness, they had me pegged quite accurately. I was really amazed. A few things were somewhat off, but they were not of great importance. I thought the questions were not going to lead to any "reality" concerning my travel preferences, but they sure did!
Nikki Jan 21st 2007 6:33PM
Wow! Really right on the mark. I was pegged as a "Mid-Venturer Traveler". Examples of the accuracy of results:
"Others look to you for guidance and direction on what to buy, choices to make in their lives.." True, lots of people ask me for opinions on things such as these.
"...set an itinerary of places you want to visit and schedules when you will be there" True, I'm lost without my itinerary.
"You like technology but typically you will not be the first to try out new hi-tech products." True, examples are the DVD player and the IPOD... at first, I refused to even try them and now I am hooked.
I am seriously considering taking the suggested trips, a few of which (like Monaco), were already on my 'To Do' list.
Rhonda Jan 21st 2007 6:34PM
well it was pretty right on with what it said about me.. even down to the places I would like to visit..so I am pretty impressed and might even take their advice and travel to some of those places.. !!!