Every Type of Person You Will Meet While Backpacking
When travelling the world, you are destined to meet people from a variety of different backgrounds. Some you will click with instantly; some you may dislike, and who knows, some may even become lifelong friends. So I’ve decided to round up a list of every type of person you will meet while backpacking across the globe! Do you recognise any of these people from your own adventures? Let me know if there are any more that I may have missed!
The planner
They know exactly what they want to do and where to eat in every city. Planners are helpful to have around, given that most of us are clueless!
They have probably read every Lonely Planet guidebook from cover to cover in preparation for their trip.
The party animal
Always seen with a drink in hand, though never seen before noon (unless they still haven’t gone to bed from the night before).
Immune from hangovers, the party animal can muster the energy every single night. Good fun to have around, but not so great if you want an early night!
The one on a shoestring
Their bank balance has been sitting pretty on £10 for the last week or so. You’re impressed, but you’re not quite sure exactly how they’re surviving.
Sometimes it’s best not to ask questions.
The one with the big budget
The opposite of the shoestring traveller, the big-budget traveller is usually visiting on a holiday rather than a backpacking trip. These people want to do as much as they can in a short space of time before their flight home.
Your time with them will be fun and action-packed (even if they make you spend more than you initially planned). But soon enough they’ll disappear home again to be remembered in photographs as the guy who was only there for a minute.
The liability
Always getting themselves into some sort of trouble, the liability never ceases to amaze you with the situations they get themselves into… Whether it’s getting lost on a night out, falling off motorbikes or losing their passport, it’s never a dull moment.
The liability is one of those people that you can always rely on for a funny story. However, that’s probably about the only thing you can rely on them for!
The know-it-all
These people have visited many countries and want to make sure that you know about them.
They can often be heard saying things like: “ugh the accommodation here is nowhere near as good as where I stayed in Fiji…” or “the people aren’t as friendly here as when I was in the Philippines.”
Don’t be that obnoxious bragger who turns their nose up at everything. Just accept that we’re all travelling and doing something that we love and that it’s not a competition to see who’s been to the most places!
The storyteller
There is a thin line between the storyteller and the know-it-all.
While the know-it-alls don’t give you a chance. The storyteller’s natural ability of conversation brings with it interesting facts and tales of past travels. They inspire you to travel more and visit new places, without forcing it on you.
The chill one
Down for anything, this easygoing traveller is a good person to have around. Easy to chat with and goes with the flow. A classic backpacker.
NOTE: I like to think this is the type of traveller I am, but I’ll let others make that decision!
The “do it for the gram”
These people are not difficult to spot. They will either approach you, phone in hand asking you to take photos. Half an hour and 500 photos later, you manage to escape.
Or they will simply ask you to move out of the way of their photos…
These people have pretty dope Instagram feeds, but please try not to ruin it for the rest of us.
The follower
You’re feeling friendly so you invite a fellow traveller to join you for the day.
Cue immediate regret…
You realise it doesn’t click. They’re not for you. But the damage is already done!
Next thing you know, they’ve followed you to every city. No matter how hard you try to distance yourselves, somehow they’ll be there in the lobby of your next hostel waving at you…
(These guys must have superhuman hearing or something… How do they know?)
The lone wolf
Lone wolves can be seen on their own, watching the world go by from a distance. They have mastered the art of avoidance, disappearing as soon as anyone approaches to start a conversation.
These people take “solo travel” seriously.
The fake solo-traveller
They left their homeland in search of new experiences and new people. They didn’t need anyone else!
…Until touchdown when they joined up with the first people they met.
The fake solo traveller doesn’t know how to travel on their own.
The guitar guy
We get it, you can play the guitar or the ukelele. However, what everyone is thinking is that you’ve carried this halfway across the globe so you can be the centre of attention for five minutes around a campfire.
Maybe I’m just saying this though because I secretly wish I could play the guitar…
The Couple (Good)
Travelling as a couple, but are keen to make friends of their own. They don’t rely on each other and bring energy within a group. Good apart, great together – we like this type of couple.
The Couple (Bad)
You’re part of a group tour, however, the group might as well be two people fewer. This pair withdraws themselves from any activity to focus on each other.
They leave you feeling single but in a very good way. This often brings the remainder of the group closer together!
Anyway, these couples leave me wondering if they take in the travel experiences when they’re not looking into each other’s eyes. Or if their reason for travelling is because everyone in their hometown is fed up with their public displays of affection.
The old pretender
Going to a youth hostel but secretly they’re almost 40.
Everyone knows but doesn’t want to say anything.
To give them credit, some of these travellers can be lovely and are often full of unique stories.
The creep
The worst kind of person. They’re on holiday abroad so they think they’re entitled to do whatever they want… Then get offended when they’re rejected and won’t take no for an answer.
If you are one of these people, kindly spend some time self-reflection at home before going on holiday and being a d**k.
The hippie
Started their trip in search of new experiences. The hippie is now so far into that journey that they’ve forgotten their life before travel. At least they’re finding themselves though!
Wants to go home
Travelling the world was not quite as glamorous as they expected. They miss their home comforts, family and cat. Homesickness is kicking in and there’s only one solution.
The “why are you travelling”
These travellers are rare because they tend to avoid doing “travel” things. This makes them harder to spot, but I promise they do exist.
Now people travel for many reasons, but I have met some so-called “travellers” that either sleep ALL day, only play video games in their hostel rooms or simply take a dislike to everything.
And it simply begs the question, why are you here?
Lads on tour/Girls on tour
You typically hear them before you see them. The lads/girls on tour have all travelled out as a big group with one intention – to create as much raucous as humanly possible.
I’ve grouped these two rowdy groups together despite their differences because what they do have in common is that it is best to steer clear unless you want to join the crew for the night!
The one with the accent
So when you’re abroad, obviously you expect everyone to have their own accent. But often, depending on the group of people you are with, one person in the group will have an accent that everyone else latches onto. A lot of fun can be had with these people.
So there you have it – the complete list of every type of person you will meet while backpacking.
And that is the brilliance of travel. There are so many types of people that you will meet while backpacking and it is that diversity that brings joy and interest.
Remember these are from my own experiences, so please take them with a pinch of salt! If you have any more suggestions that I’ve missed, please let me know in the comments!
Before you go
Thank you for reading my post on every type of person you will meet while backpacking. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy travelling!
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