Exploring Various Travel Styles — Find What Works Best for You
I used to think there was a right way to travel — that real travellers did everything independently, backpacked on a budget, and avoided anything that looked remotely organised. I chased that ideal for a long time, until I realised it wasn’t always true for me.
Over time, I’ve learned that the way we travel evolves. It shifts depending on who we are, what we need, and where we are in life. From group trips to Cuba, to solo adventures across the country, to curating deeply personal experiences rooted in culture, each phase has taught me something new. Every style of travel brings its own magic and challenges.
Travel no longer looks the same for everyone. Sometimes we seek security; other times, adventure. Sometimes we want everything planned out, other times we need to get lost without a map. Each trip starts long before we book the ticket — it begins when we ask ourselves, ‘How do I want to travel this time?’
Photography: @travelling_dean
Travelling Independently
For many, this is the ultimate way to travel: freedom, flexibility, full control. You can go wherever you want, stay as long as you like, and follow your own rhythm. It’s empowering, and often deeply rewarding — but also requires a fair amount of energy, research, and decision-making. If you thrive on spontaneity and don’t mind a few bumps along the road, this might be your thing. It’s probably the most flexible and yet demanding form of travel. You organize everything, make the decisions, and improvise as you go. It’s perfect if you know yourself well, enjoy exploring without an agenda, and don’t mind when things don’t always go as planned. For me, it taught me to trust my instincts and embrace the unexpected as part of the journey
Travelling with a Group or an Agency
Joining a group trip or working with an agency can take a lot of the pressure off. Logistics are handled, the itinerary is set, and you’re often travelling with people who share a common interest. But it also means compromising on flexibility and navigating group dynamics. It works beautifully if you’re short on time, crave structure, or simply don’t want to travel alone. I enjoyed this kind of travel the most when I didn’t have the time or energy to plan but still wanted to discover a new place. The best part: meeting like-minded people and having a clear structure. The downside: sometimes everything is so ‘sorted’ that it leaves little room to connect with the unexpected.
Local or Cultural Experiences
Some of the most meaningful travel experiences come from connecting with locals. That could mean a community-led tour, a workshop with a local artisan, or staying in someone’s home. These moments are rich in authenticity, but they also require openness and sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone. The key is to approach them with curiosity and respect. The most powerful and hardest to achieve. When you manage to access spaces, people, or rituals that aren’t designed for tourists, the trip transforms. But it also means knowing how to observe, stay quiet, and respect. In my case, it was through personal connections and opening myself to different ways of understanding a place.
Chouara Tannery: @soulnomade_
So... What’s Right for You?
The truth is, there’s no single way to do it right. What works for someone else might not work for you. And what worked for you five years ago might not feel aligned anymore. It all comes down to knowing yourself:
Do you crave connection, or solitude?
It’s not about the ‘how,’ but about the ‘why.’ Every travel style has its moment. What works today might not serve you in a year, and what seemed unthinkable before might be exactly what you need now. That’s why, beyond travel styles, the important thing is to ask yourself a few questions: → What do I want from this trip? → What do I want to feel, discover, or avoid? → Do I need more control, or more surprise?
Knowing yourself is also a way to fine-tune your compass.
Are you energised by adventure, or comforted by familiarity?
Are you looking to tick off sights, or to feel a place deeply?
There are no wrong answers — just different seasons, different needs, and different versions of you along the way.
Royal Gaitor, Jaipur: @travelwithcg
Final Thoughts
Travelling isn’t a competition or a test of authenticity. It’s a deeply personal experience, and it changes over time. You might begin in a group and end up on your own. You might travel solo now and long for community later. The important thing is to stay honest with yourself about what you want out of the experience — and allow that to evolve.
Sometimes, we feel pressured by external ideas: that if you’re a ‘real’ traveller, you should go solo, avoid certain places, or steer clear of anything touristy. But travel is as personal an experience as reading, loving, or creating. There are as many ways to travel as there are people. And none is more valid than the other.
The beauty lies in understanding where you are right now. What kind of trip do you need at this moment? And allowing yourself to change.
This post is the beginning of a little series about how my own relationship with travel has shifted over the years. In the next one, I’ll tell you about my first trip to Cuba — and what happened when I decided to go with a group of strangers from an online forum (!)
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Stay curious. Stay kind. Keep exploring.