Are you a luxury or budget traveler?

budget.

I'd rather spend the extra money at the destination.
Plus unless I have my own private Jet, what's the point? You still get herded like cattle and forced to semi-strip, and have to basically go through everything but get branded like bovine trash.

I have never had a choice, sardine class all the way baby

littlemissG said

Straight.

No connecting flights.

Not exactly luxary (no first class), but definitely more expensive than I need to. I want to be comfortable when I travel. I'm getting too old for roach motels.

NDRU said:

Oops. When it comes to motel accomodations, I like business class. I dont' care for luxury, cause I'm never in the hotel room, but I do like business class.


Also, when I'm on vacation, I like boutique hotels instead of giant resorts.

Luxury... but on a budget. For example, I usually fly in First Class, but have never paid for it.

I'm a student. So the most budget of all budgety things.

matt said:

Same here.

I prefer PURE HEMP rolling papers

groundchuck said:

its luxury for me in the non children section

I don't understand the question.

Mostly budget. I like nice hotels (I'm dying to stay at the W at Diamond Head, Hawaii), but when I road-tripped to Cali recently I camped and stayed in hostels, and was happy as could be. In fact, one of the hostels just outside of San Francisco was more pleasant than any hotel I've ever stayed at. Had to share a bathroom with one other couple. Big deal. It was cheap, sqeaky clean, and overlooked the ocean, a secluded little beach, and an adorable lighthouse.

I fly coach. Matt upgraded a flight for me once, which was indeed a big improvement over coach, but I'd never pay for it, and I don't fly enough to get upgrades with miles. Plus I don't want to have to whore myself out to certain airlines.

I really like trying nice restaurants when I travel, but I'm also good with stopping at grocery stores for peanut butter and apples.

I guess in general I can easily live the high life and enjoy it. But I don't need it to have a good time.

depends. sometimes budget and sometimes i treat myself. i'm willing to spend when i'm traveling to ensure a safe, comfortable arrival. and, i also like to save money.

I fly budget to spend more on accommodation. Going to spend more time in the Hotel than the plane.

I tend do do things as cheaply as will keep me comfortable. I prefer direct flights, but if it will save me enough, I'll do a short layover. As for accomodations, I've done the crappy hostel thing and I won't anymore. That said, I don't need a fancy place. Clean and quiet are all that matter to me. But if I've got a bit left to spend I'll upgrade to something not so shabby.

I've done both.

When we were kids, it was luxury all the way.

When I was in my early twenties, I went through a period where I Greyhounded it and stayed in hostels (I think I'd read too much Kerouac or somethin').

Then I returned to my natural habitat (e.g. I would stay at the Marmont in L.A.).

Nowadays, I'd rather have my spleen removed through my pee-hole than travel. I can totally relate to Tom Waits when he says:

littlemissG said:

depends upon the trip. The mark up from budget to luxury is disportionate taking into account the distance and time spent traveling. The shorter the time or distance of a trip the higher the value of budget, in contradiction to the longer and more distance traveled, the higher the value of luxury.

The most budgety of the budgetishness. Buses, hostels, train stations, you name it. I think it's fun. It gets you a good strong dose of the locals, to say the least.

I have stayed at nicer establishments, but I find it all very monotonous. You know what's coming, how you'll be treated, exactly what to expect. Nice hotels also have this tacky tendency to be North-Americanized, which is definitely not ideal when I travel overseas. If you're just going to want everything like it is at home, why bother leaving in the first place?

littlemissG said:

Neither...


Just po'

littlemissG said:

Budget ...I'm a backpacker

Budget, with occasional luxury. Since the choice is often between a several week long budget adventure or a few days stay at a great hotel, I usually choose the adventure. It's great to pause for a day in a nice big hotelroom while on a road trip though, for example.

retina said:

Adventure wins me over anytime. Who cares what the room looks like? You're only sleeping there.

I am certainly not alergic to high end accomodations but am equally comfortable in minimal digs surrounded by laughter and joy. I have lived in both and can't say I like one over the other... for me a room is just a room... I am out for the experience. At the end of my days I sincerly doubt either I nor those that knew me days past will give a good hooba gooba what hooty snooty or broke and alive things we knew...

but oh the the love and laughter and truth will be something to hear!

Both for flying, depending on frequent flier miles and upgrades. Overseas, business class is good enough. Hotels, usually depends on the trip and what's available. Prefer reputable hotels such as Hilton in the states. For overseas hotel, depends on what we'll be doing, location and convenience. In Paris, it was nice to stay in a Hilton near the Eiffel Tower so when I ran in the AM I could easily find my way back. In Istanbul we like to stay somewhere along the Bosphorus as Hubby likes to watch the international ships cruise by when we're in our room. Those hotels tend to be more expensive. In Mexico for fishing trips, have rented a cabana at Playa de Cortez in San Carlos near the beach as kids, kids's friends, grandma all go. It costs more than a couple of rooms would but has a kitchen for cooking the fish we catch.
Camping tends to be upscale. We have everything. A two room tent, cots, Butler sleeping bags. Meals are carefully planned and I always bring good wine.

Budget mainly all of the way! Only last week did I sit on a rice sack on a bus from Vietnam to Laos for 19 hours!

matt said:

I so can not wait until you no longer have elite status with NWA in February...the look on your face when you have to fly coach is gonna be priceless

I'm super budget...since grad school & living in NYC, I'm so broke that I only go to places where I can stay with friends...

But prior to now, I was budget: cheapest plane ticket that was direct or one-stop with short layover and boutique hotels. One time I did offer to give up my seat on an overbooked flight and got upgraded to 1st class for the next flight. That was nice but like Imago said, I'd rather spend my money on doing stuff when I arrive at the destination.