Top 8 traveller stereotypes: What kind of traveller are you?

Australians love to travel. In fact, we’ll go virtually anywhere and everywhere in the pursuit of adventure. It’s a testament to our diverse mixture of cultures and varying ways of life. 

That being said, many of us share similarities that place us into certain categories. Stereotypes, if you will. And the same goes for when we’re travelling. 

While this is all a bit of harmless fun, we reckon you might even get something out of it. 

Due to the fact that there are so many different travel insurance policies out there, this guide could prove handy when thinking about what sort of policy you’ll need for your next trip. After all, we all want something different out of our experience. 

With that, we present you with some of our favourite travel stereotypes. Which kind of traveller are you?

First off the rank is one that we’re all familiar with. The Insta-blogger always has their phone out, ready to snap a pic of their food, the views, or their 9,000th selfie of the day. They’re veritable social media addicts.

You can always trust these types of travellers to document the trip, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting any memories you make while you’re travelling with them.

But the Insta-blogger’s nightmare of losing, damaging, or having their phone stolen while travelling is a very real possibility. That’s why having travel insurance for your smartphone is important to consider.

While your phone might be covered under most travel insurance policies already (as a personal effect, along with your laptop, tablet, etc.), you’ll want to consider how much you’re actually covered for.

The Insta-blogger usually has the most up-to-date smartphone, which almost always comes with a hefty price tag. So, make sure your travel insurance policy’s sub-limits cover as much of the replacement cost as you’re willing to afford.

Some travel insurance providers will offer you an increase on your cover limit for certain items, which usually comes at an extra premium.

Zooming off around the globe, the stamp-collector aims to fill their passport pages with stamps from as many countries as humanly possible. They’re true travel-nuts and will probably brag about how they’ve been to more countries than you. 

If you can move past the incessant bragging, stamp-collectors make for a great travel companion, as they know the ropes when it comes to navigating airports and finding their way around new places. 

The stamp-collector jets from place to place and travels at least a couple of times per year. If you’re a stamp-collector, you might benefit from a multi-trip travel insurance policy.

As opposed to a single-trip policy, multi-trip (as the name suggests) covers you for multiple trips per year. This means that you won’t have to go through the hassle of finding a new policy each trip you go on, and might even save you money. 

The backpacker knows how to stretch a budget and their thirst for adventure keeps them moving. They’re the bare-essential traveller, usually carrying only what they need on their back (hence the name). 

You’ll find them in the hostel, identifiable mainly by their cargo shorts and hiking boots, chatting away to fellow backpackers, or actually on a hiking trail, still chatting away to the very same backpackers thay met at the hostel. The backpacker reviles being called stingy, preferring the term economical. 

If you’re a backpacker, you prefer spending money on experiences, like seeing tourist attractions, delving into the local culture, or partying in the hostel common areas. So, saving where you can means that you’ll have more to spend on opportunities for last-minute adventures with the Swedish bloke you became best friends with last night. 

While travel insurance can be pricey, there are ways to make it backpacker budget-friendly. Generally, a backpacker travel insurance policy will cover the basics like medical, luggage, and personal belongings.

If you’ve ever spoken to someone and been confused by what the word ‘gnarburger’ means, then you probably don’t fit into the thrill-seeker category. 

These guys travel for the thrill, seeking out adventures and adrenaline rushes wherever they’re found. Whether they’re bungee-jumping, trekking, or even skiing and snowboarding, they’re always up for a hair-raising time. 

If you’re a thrill-seeker, you’ll want to make sure your travel insurance policy covers adventure activities, like skydiving, bungee-jumping, rock-climbing and diving. While some policies automatically cover activities like these, it’s always worth making sure that it’s listed in the product disclosure statement (PDS). 

Some thrill-seekers also moonlight as snow sports enthusiasts, searching for fresh powder (no, not that powder) to shred. If you’re hitting the ski fields, you’ll want to make sure your equipment and all your lift passes are covered by your travel insurance policy. 

The best way to do that is by purchasing snow sports insurance, which most providers offer as an optional extra to your standard travel insurance policy. While it will come at an extra premium, it’ll be worth it in the case that your equipment goes missing, there’s a piste closure, or you injure yourself on the snow. 

These two just want a room somewhere. Compare travel insurance policies by providers that offer ‘duo’ travel insurance. 

If you’re a foodie, then you already know where you’ll be eating for much of the trip. Whether you’ve been browsing Yelp reviews for your destination, or scouring forums for the best local street food, the foodie is everyone’s go-to when asking the question, ‘What’s for dinner?’.

Although you’re super keen to sample the local flavours, there’s always a chance you might eat something from a food-truck that doesn’t agree with you. That’s why making sure you’ve got emergency medical cover (especially if you’re travelling overseas) is important.

If you’re a planner, you’ve likely already thought about travel insurance. Your innate desire to stay ahead of the game means you’ve probably already laid out the itinerary for much of the trip, leaving clear spaces in the schedule for ‘spontaneity hour’ or just power-napping on the hotel couch before you next head out. 

Planners, while they might seem ‘square’ to the thrill-seekers, or ‘not living in the moment’ enough for the backpackers, are of great value on a trip. Not only do they have the best idea of what’s on in town, but they might even give you a few travel insurance tips if you don’t rib them too hard (which they may or may not have picked up from us). 

If you’ve really planned ahead, then you might even have some pre-booked accommodation and activities already on your calendar. In that case, look for a policy that covers cancellations and travel delays, as well as one which may include the default of tour or hotel operator bankruptcy. 

The planner knows that sometimes situations change, so preparing for that with your travel insurance policy is a leg-up on the unexpected.   

Like the backpackers, the working-holiday travellers often like to roam cost-effectively. They’re interested in supplementing their holiday budget with a little extra cash while overseas, and are professionals when it comes to applying for working visas.

Whether you’re doing general farm work, teaching English, or working as a tour guide, having travel insurance for your working-holiday is pretty important. Most travel insurance policies won’t cover any claims that arise from your participation in work while overseas—even if it’s unpaid or volunteer. 

So if you’re the type of traveller who wants to make a little extra cash to pad out the budget while you’re on holiday, shop around for a policy that includes working-holiday cover. It may come as an optional-extra, which means an extra premium, but it could be well worth it in the event that you get hurt or fall ill on the job.