Why Personality-Driven Travel is the Secret to Loving Every Trip You Take

Traveling can be fun and restorative – or a total disaster. The difference rarely comes down to the destination, or even the company. Mostly, it comes down to how well your trip matches your personality and what you want, perhaps even need, to get out of the experience. 

Looking back at your summer vacation, was it everything you hoped it would be? Or was it too rushed, too relaxed, not enough adventure, or too much of it? When a trip misses the mark, it’s a signal to step back and apply some personality science to make your next vacation fit better.

We’re using the Big Five framework in this analysis because it’s the gold standard for understanding the practical application of personality traits. 

The Big Five comprises the five supertraits of Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. We all have our own combination of these traits, and together they shape how we see the world, what’s important to us, what kind of planning and organization we need to feel comfortable, how we like to spend our time. Basically, everything that can make or break a vacation!

Agreeableness – Easygoing Travelers, But Can Miss Their Own Must-Sees

High Agreeableness in the Big Five means you’re pretty much everyone’s favorite travel buddy. You don’t need everything to go your way because you can compromise. You like collaborating with your travel companions because that just feels like being part of the team. You’re also cool with sharing hotel rooms, staying in hostels, or even letting someone else plan the entire itinerary as long as the vibe is good and everyone is enjoying themselves.

However, your easygoing-ness can sometimes mean you end up doing only what everyone else wants, sidelining your own preferences for the sake of their happiness. To avoid that, plan trips where there’s space for both group time and your own choices. For example, you could split up for certain activities, or make sure each person gets to pick at least one “non-negotiable” thing to do so you don’t miss out on the experiences that matter most to you.

If you’re low in Agreeableness, it’s better to go for travel experiences where you have room to call the shots rather than compromise. This doesn't mean you have to travel solo, but perhaps don't take another low-A friend with you unless they want to do exactly what you want. Otherwise, you could find yourselves butting heads over every decision. Choose someone chill and happy to go with the flow.

Best trip types for Agreeableness:

• High‑A best picks: Group tours with flexible schedules, multi‑family villa holidays, road trips with shared driving.
• Low‑A best picks: Solo adventures, small‑group trips where you can set the pace, family travel where you make the decisions (and compromises) up front, travel with an easygoing friend.

Neuroticism – Travelers Who Need Calm, Not Chaos

Travel can feel overwhelming if you’re high in Neuroticism, which defeats the whole point of it. Small setbacks can quickly become stressful, so do yourself a favor and make sure to plan for every contingency before you depart. You probably cannot account for absolutely everything, but locking in the big pieces – accommodation, transport, activities, food options, opening times – will give you the structure you need to relax and enjoy the trip without worrying.

Generally, try to avoid things where there’s potential for something to go wrong, like sketchy Airbnb listings with no reviews, multi-leg flights with tight layovers, or complex public transport in foreign cities. You're going on vacation to relax, not to stress-spiral!

Also, consider trips and destinations that provide respite from the stresses of everyday life. Maybe a yoga retreat, a peaceful sanatorium with plenty of wellness activities like spa and massages, or even a silent meditation residency somewhere in Asia. 

If you're low in Neuroticism, you're the kind of traveler who can roll with the punches, so lean into this freedom! You have the personality to backpack on a whim, hop on a train between countries or even couch surf if you have to. You may find happiness in a looser plan, because you’re well-equipped to handle the inevitable hiccups that come with these adventures.

Best trip types for Neuroticism:

• High‑N best picks: All‑inclusive packages, organized group tours, wellness retreats, cruises, city breaks with pre‑booked hotels and activities.
• Low‑N best picks: Backpacking, international travel with flexible itineraries, spontaneous weekend getaways, adventure travel with unpredictable elements.

Extraversion – The Right Company Makes the Trip

For Extraverts, travel is more about connecting with a place than simply seeing it, and that includes other humans. So, go for trips that include shared experiences: group tours, pub crawls, festivals, beach volleyball, salsa dancing, you name it!

If you are really Extraverted, you might even feel depressed or restless if you spend too much time on your own, so it helps to plan trips where social interaction comes naturally without you having to constantly hunt down events or force connections. This might mean traveling with larger friend groups, staying in hostels, or booking trips where socializing is part of the experience (e.g. fitness retreats or adventure tours with built-in group activities like hiking and cycling).

Introverted people do not have to settle for the opposite of this, and you can make group trips work for your introversion if you plan your trip in a way that allows for some social downtime. For example, you might book separate hotel rooms or visit a museum on your own to recharge your social batteries. You’ll likely enjoy traveling with a romantic partner or just one or two close friends to get the quality time you prefer. 

Best trip types for Extraversion:

• High‑E best picks: Group tours, festivals, adventure trips with team activities, party cruises, volunteer programs, city trips packed with social events.
• Low‑E best picks: Solo travel, quiet escapes, one-on-one trips with a partner or close friend, nature hikes, self-guided exploration.

Conscientiousness – Every Detail Covered, But Overplanning Can Ruin the Fun

Conscientiousness is the “organizing” trait in the Big Five system, and those high in it will prefer to navigate their trip through a thoughtfully planned to-do list rather than just showing up and figuring things out. Defined goals and scheduled times for each activity give high-C travels a sense of structure and control over their day. If you wing it and things don’t turn out, you’ll get frustrated that you didn’t make the most of every moment. 

For example, you might enjoy jam-packed city breaks with a detailed daily schedule for where you’re going, when and where you’re stopping to eat, and how long each museum visit will take. Or you might like a multi-stop road trip with every route, rest stop and hotel booked in advance. You don’t even need to pay extra for a pre-made tour package because planning the trip is part of the fun for you! 

On the flip side, for those low in Conscientiousness, too much structure can feel like a trap. You’re more likely to book a one-way ticket and figure out the rest as you go, letting the trip unfold naturally.

Apart from that, who you’re traveling with matters just as much as how you plan. If you’re high in Conscientiousness but your travel companion is low, there’s a risk they’ll veer off your carefully crafted itinerary because something “cooler” caught their eye. If you’re low but they are high, you might feel pressured or restricted by their need to stick to a schedule. 

All in all, when it comes to travel, syncing up on Conscientiousness might be even more important than how close you are with your companions. If you’re not on the same page, the trip can go sideways, even if you’re best friends.

Best trip types for Conscientiousness:

• High‑C best picks: Anything as long as it’s planned with lots of detail.
• Low‑C best picks: Open-ended backpacking, spontaneous road trips, adventure travel with flexible plans, beach holidays with slow, unstructured days. 

Openness to Experience – Curious Travellers Who Thrive on the New and Unexpected

Highly Open people are curious travelers. You are tempted by places off the beaten track,  and you want to feel and learn from your travel experiences, and maybe even let them change the way you see the world. You enjoy trips that are rich in culture, art and history, like exploring ancient ruins, wandering through art museums or joining workshops where you can learn a traditional craft or cooking style.

If you’re very high in Openness, travel experiences that offer a sharp contrast to your day-to-day life will be right up your alley. So think about going somewhere totally different from where you live. If you're from the West, China or Japan might be your sweet spot. You’ll also enjoy immersive experiences that let you really dive into a different world, like language immersion programs or even staying with locals through homestays or work exchanges. 

If you’re low in Openness, you enjoy knowing what to expect and getting the most out of what you already love. You might prefer relaxing beach resorts you’ve been to before, classic tourist-friendly cities, or returning to the same destination every year. 

Finally, whether you're high or low in Openness, try to pick travel companions who more or less match your level, so it doesn’t feel like you’re on two completely different trips!

Best trip types for Openness:

• High‑O best picks: Multicultural city breaks, immersive art and food tours, adventure travel to unfamiliar regions, homestays, work exchanges, unique cultural festivals.
• Low‑O best picks: Beach resorts, cruises, guided tours in familiar cities, returning to favorite destinations, trips focused on specific interests already known and loved.

So… What Kind of Traveler Are You?

The best way to find out is to see where you land on each of the Big Five traits. Take our Big Five Personality Test and discover how your unique combination shapes the way you plan, enjoy and remember your trips. It only takes a few minutes, and the results could be the secret to planning your best trip yet!