(© AngloItalian, Follow Us! / Franca and Dale)

Luxury resort or adventure camp?
Adventure Camp – I’ve got old age to stay still & treat myself, best to enjoy myself whilst the body can take it.

White beaches or white mountains?
White Mountains – Versus staying still on white sands I’d much rather challenge myself to a trek & receive great views as a prize.

Backpack or suitcase?
Backpack – I’d be lost without my mobile home & office.

Flip-Flops or hiking boots?
Neither – Best decision I’ve made to date was packing running shoes- I can walk in comfort & run to keep fit without the weight of carrying three pairs of shoes.

(© AngloItalian, Follow Us! / Rome, Italy)

Fondest travel memory?
Walking through Cinque Terre, Italy – With Franca being terrified of heights, walking along the steep-steep hills with no guide rails & paths barely wide enough for one was a major challenge, but the feeling of accomplishment & success one reaching the end was unforgettable.

These items are always in my luggage:
Unlocked Phone – In case of emergencies or to check in with a couchsurfing host, digging out my old-old Nokia was one of my wisest decisions. Cheap to run, changeable batteries & weighs nothing at all. Notepad & pen – Keeping tabs on where we’ve been, where we’re going & writing something to remember for the blog, is essential. Books. Lots of books – Long flights, trains & bus journeys fly by with a book to hand. Always best to keep a few in the bag for when you plough through them. Tip – Exchange them with people in hostels.

On the blog AngloItalian, Follow Us! you can follow the Round The World travel exploits of British male ANGLO/Dale & the ex-pat Italian female, ITALIAN/Franca.

(© That Backpacker / Audrey in Korea) 

Luxury resort or adventure camp?
If money were no obstacle, I’d say luxury resort! Who wouldn’t want to enjoy the luxury of 5 star hotels? For now it’s hostels and guesthouses for me, but these do have their charm.

White beaches or white mountains?
White beaches! There is nothing more relaxing, in my opinion, than enjoying crystalline waters from a sandy white shore. Put me near water and I become a beach-bum.

Backpack or suitcase?
Backpack. I once tried rolling a suitcase down cobbled streets and the wheels were literally shaved off; that meant I could no longer roll my suitcase by the end of the trip!

(© That Backpacker) 

Flip-Flops, hiking boots or pumps?
Flip-flops! I’ve walked through cities and hiked through jungles wearing these! Perhaps not the safest bet for the latter, but they are definitely comfortable.

Fondest travel memory?
Dancing samba in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas with new Brazilian friends. The music was loud, alive, and flowed from the soul. It was one of the highlights of my time in the city.

These items are always in my luggage:
Fresh underwear, deodorant and toothbrush! After not having my luggage arrive on more than one occasion, I have learned to carry a few essentials in my carry on luggage.

Audrey is the girl behind That Backpacker. She was born in Canada, raised in Argentina, and now finds herself teaching English to a mischievous bunch in Korea. When she’s not on the hunt for authentic Indian curries, she can be found exploring her current home base, and plotting her upcoming travels around the globe. 

(©  The Traveltester / Nienke in Kings Canyon, NT, Australia)

Luxury resort or adventure camp?
I’d definitely go for an adventure holiday, as I think you get to see and understand a country and its people much more when you throw yourself into it and go exploring. But If I got offered a luxury holiday, I wouldn’t say no!

White beaches or white mountains?
I love a good beach walk and collecting sand and shells, but I’m not really a sunbather-type. So I pick the mountains. Hiking in Nepal was one of my most memorable travel experiences. I like to get active on a trip.

Backpack or suitcase?
Still a backpack, even though I always curse it (usually at the end of a trip after collecting too many souvenirs). I always seem to break suitcase wheels for that same reason, so I stick with carrying my own luggage and deal with the consequences of buying everything I like on the road, haha.

(©  The Traveltester / Nienke in Annapurna Region, Nepal)

Flip-Flops, hiking boots or pumps?
I will probably never get used to heels, even after having lived in Sydney where everyone seems to always wear them. Flip-flops always travel with me, they’re so practical! But hiking boots usually taken me to the most interesting places, so I’d have to pick them.

Fondest travel memory?
My first solo trip was to Japan. It was an unforgettable experience. I had total freedom and all my senses opened up to new sounds, smells, people, language, religion, culture and lots of amazing food. I would recommend everyone to take the step to go on a solo trip. There is nothing quite like it.

These items are always in my luggage:
A pair of leggings (quick cover up, good for layering and makes beach dresses wearable at night), a hand scale (as I mentioned, I always over pack) and my camera (obvious, to record all travel memories and make everyone at home jealous).

Amsterdam born Nienke [‘neen-kuh’] Krook [‘krow-k’] camped all over Europe with her family as a child. Her early adopted passion for travel continued into a couple solo backpacking trips to Asia and Oceania and even life as an expat in Sydney. On her blog, Nienke focuses on the many ways of capturing the experiences we have when exploring the world, so that we never have to stop travelling, even when we’re at home.

(© Lebenslustiger)

Luxury resort or adventure camp?
Right in the middle of it. I love a nice, clean room and shower but it does not need to be fancy since I only need it for sleeping.

White beaches or white mountains?
Definitely both! I am a total beach person and usually one of the last people who leave the beach at dinner time. I never tire to watch the ocean and bathe in the sun. I also love downhill skiing with the whole family during christmas break. And its the same pattern here: We ski from late morning until it gets dark at 4.30 in the afternoon. That’s all we do during ski vacation: ski, eat, sleep…and again.

Backpack or suitcase?
Doesn’t matter – I’m always trying to pack as light as possible.

(© Lebenslustiger)

Flip-Flops, hiking boots or pumps?
I don’t own a single pair of pumps and believe it or not: I NEVER have! Of course flip-flops are a must and I love hiking. Unfortunately no one else of my family does…

Fondest travel memory? 
Hawaiian Islands because I never feel more connected to the earthen powers and to myself than on these islands. Plus we often spent our vacations there while our children were little and that’s always such a sweet and fond memory…

These items are always in my luggage:
Seriously – I vow to all these organized travelers who come up with lists of useful and handy items to keep on hands for all possible disasters which might happen during a trip. Or the beauties who never travel without their favorite lipsticks. I’m just not that kind of person – I pack last-minute and that’s it. A scarf – I always have a big scarf with me!

On her blog lebenslustiger.com, Anette from Germany shares her ideas and inspirations. Besides being a traveller, mother and blogger, she also handcrafts wonderful jewelry, have a look at her etsy-shop.

(© Currystrumpet/ Deepa in Boracay, Philippines)

Luxury resort oder adventure camp?
Luxury resort. I’m not the most active or athletic person, so I like to take it easy when I travel. I would love to go on an adventurous trip like a safari, but where I stay should have some options for laziness and inactivity.

White beaches or white mountains?
White beaches! I grew up in the Philippines, which has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world, and I’m afraid that’s spoiled me for life. Ironically, I hated the beach when I was a little girl, so now I’m making up for lost time.

Backpack or suitcase?
Suitcase. I pack a few outfits more than I really need so I have the luxury of changing my mind. Plus, I love to shop and bring home souvenirs, so extra space always comes in handy.

(© Currystrumpet / Jaswant crematorium in Jodhpur, India)

Flip-Flops, hiking boots or pumps?
Flip-flops, because I love the beach and because they are practically the national footwear of the Philippines. Do sandals count? I love wearing them because to me, open toes mean I’m someplace warm, carefree and fun. Now that I live in Amsterdam I don’t wear them as much as I’d like to.

Fondest travel memory?
My honeymoon in Rajasthan, India, was magical. We took an overnight train from Delhi to Udaipur, drove to Rohet, Jaipur and Jodhpur, spent a night in the Thar desert between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, and ended with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Our travel agent put together an itinerary where everything—the hotels, guides, shopping, even our car and driver—was perfect. India is simply stunning and her people are amazing.

These items are always in my luggage:
A handful of necklaces… because I can pack light if needed, but can never resist accessorizing. A brightly colored handbag… because I don’t do backpacks, and a punch of color looks so much better in photos. Flip-flops… because I find the thought of stepping barefoot on strange bathroom floors gross.

Deepa Paul is a Manila girl working as a freelance writer in Amsterdam. Check out her blog: currystrumpet.com.