Four Motives Behind Every Great Adventure: Take the Travel Quiz to Find Yours
The Psychology Behind Your Travel Choices (And How to Use It)
Ever wonder why the idea of some trips sparks a sense of excitement and energy while others feel underwhelming, even skippable? The secret lies in the travel motives or deeper reasons that drive how and why you explore the world.
I became curious about my unquenchable urge to explore the world, and have now dedicated almost 4 years to reading emerging travel research, re-reading my old travel journals, and active experimentation to better understand my travel motives. It’s been surprisingly helpful in understanding what makes travel feel meaningful and memorable to me. I hope this framework proves just as useful for you in designing trips that truly resonate with what you need right now.
This self-reflection explores why you like to travel and is for when you are planning a big trip or simply trying to bring a little more wonder, awe and intentionality into your daily routine.
These motives aren't random. They're forged by two powerful forces: "nature" (your personality, natural preferences, and innate tendencies) and "nurture" (your life experiences, cultural influences, and personal values). The combination creates something remarkable – sort of like your unique travel prescription.
These motives shape everything: what makes your heart race during trip planning, how you navigate unexpected moments on the road, and which memories burn brightest long after you've unpacked your bags.
I identified four basic motives. We all have a mix of them, but the balance and intensity shift over time, especially as we mature, gain life experience, and evolve as travellers.
Want to know which motives are (or should be) currently guiding your adventures? Take the short quiz below and get a glimpse into the travel forces that move you. No right or wrong answers – just fun reflection and maybe a few lightbulb moments.
Travel Quiz Instructions:
For each of the following statements, reflect on what lights you up when you're planning or remembering a trip. Choose the answer that feels most like you (even if more than one fits)! Make a note of whether you choose A, B, C, or D for each question.
You may be torn between two answers - that’s ok. Pick one. You’ll see that you may carry a little of all the motives.
1. When planning a trip, I get most excited about…
a) Learning something new - whether it’s a skill, a tradition, or a perspective shift.
b) Making connections with locals and fellow travellers.
c) Seeing or doing something I’ve never experienced before.
d) Finally having nothing to do: no laundry, no dishes, no schedule, just rest and freedom.
2. On past trips, my favourite memories usually involve…
a) Rising to a challenge or doing something that surprised even me.
b) Deep conversations or unexpected friendships on the road.
c) Stumbling into the unexpected, e.g. a hidden cafe or an impromptu festival.
d) Long naps, lazy mornings, and sunsets with no to-do list in sight.
3. The perfect souvenir would be…
a) Something I made, learned about, or that represents the experience.
b) A keepsake that reminds me of someone I met or a shared experience.
c) Something unique that I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else in the world.
d) A cozy reminder of how relaxed and restored I felt.
4. My dream travel day must include…
a) A personal win, such as navigating a foreign metro system solo.
b) Chatting with a stranger who feels like an old friend by the end of the day.
c) A spontaneous adventure I didn’t see coming.
d) A beach chair, a good book, and zero responsibilities.
5. The kinds of travel stories that emotionally move me are about…
a) Transformation: someone becoming braver or more of themselves.
b) Unexpected friendships and shared humanity.
c) Wild, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
d) Letting go of stress and remembering what joy feels like.
6. My ideal travel companion is someone who…
a) Inspires me and cheers me on.
b) Loves connecting with new people and cultures.
c) Is curious, spontaneous, and says “yes” to adventure.
d) Knows how to truly chill (and maybe bring snacks).
7. When I reflect on why I want to travel, I realize it’s to…
a) Grow into a better version of myself.
b) Feel more connected to people and places.
c) Wake up my sense of wonder.
d) Unplug, unwind, and come back to life.
8. Pick a quote that speaks to your travel soul:
a) “I read, I travel, I become.” Derek Walcott
b) “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” Tim Cahill
c) “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Saint Augustine
d) “I like vacations where I have nothing to do and all day to do it in.” Robert Orben
Scoring Guide
Count your (a)’s. This represents today’s inclination towards Growth.
Count your (b)’s. This represents today’s inclination towards Connection.
Count your (c)’s. This represents today’s inclination towards Novelty.
Count your (d)’s. This represents today’s inclination towards Escape.
If you're a visual thinker, use a circle chart to get a quick snapshot of your strongest travel motive—and how the others show up, too. Remember, we’re rarely just one thing!
I’ve included my own current results as an example to help you see how the balance can look in real life.
Designing Your Next Trip Around Your Motive Results
Now that you know your dominant travel motive, let's put that insight to work. Here's an approach to designing a trip that feeds your soul.
If You're Driven by Growth
You travel to challenge yourself, stretch your comfort zone, and come home changed. This doesn't mean suffering through discomfort; it means stepping just outside your comfort zone in areas that matter to you.
Planning strategies:
Choose destinations where you can learn something new (a cooking class in Thailand, language immersion in Guatemala, or art workshops in Tuscany)
Build in "stretch" activities that feel challenging but achievable
Leave room for spontaneous learning opportunities, so don't overschedule yourself
Consider solo travel or small group tours that encourage personal reflection
Pack a journal to capture insights and breakthroughs along the way
Red flag: If you're booking the same type of trip you always do, just in a different location, you might be playing it too safe.
If You're Driven by Connection
For you, travel is about people. You love real conversations, shared meals, and cultural immersion. Whether it’s chatting with a local artisan or bonding with a fellow traveller, you leave every trip with new stories and new friends.
Your trips should create opportunities for genuine human interaction and shared experiences. The magic happens in the moments between people.
Planning strategies:
Choose accommodations that encourage mingling (hostels, B&Bs, or locally-owned guesthouses)
Prioritize experiences over sights; cooking with locals, community volunteering, or staying with host families
Research local festivals, markets, or opportunities where you can naturally meet people
Consider group travel, but choose trips with like-minded people or built-in bonding activities
Learn basic phrases in the local language to open doors to conversations
Red flag: If your itinerary is packed with back-to-back tourist attractions with no time for organic interactions, you might end up feeling lonely despite being surrounded by people.
If You're Driven by Novelty
You're fueled by curiosity and the thrill of the unexpected. You seek out beauty, excitement, and “wow” moments. Your trips should expose you to experiences, places, or perspectives you've never encountered before. Familiarity is the enemy of excitement for you.
Planning strategies:
Choose destinations that feel completely different from your daily life
Mix up your travel style, e.g. if you usually stay in hotels, try camping; if you always fly, take a train
Seek out unique experiences that you literally can't do anywhere else
Be open to changing plans based on unexpected discoveries
Consider "mystery" or surprise elements in your trip planning
Red flag: If you find yourself comparing everything to places you've been before or feeling bored by day three, you might need to push further outside your usual travel patterns.
If You're Driven by Escape
Let’s be honest, you deserve a break! You travel to rest, recharge, and return to yourself. Whether it's a hammock, spa, or just a slow-paced town, your best trips offer freedom from routines and a return to what matters most.
Your trips should provide genuine relief from whatever is weighing you down. This might mean complete disconnection, or it might mean immersing yourself in something absorbing.
Planning strategies:
Choose destinations that naturally encourage the type of escape you need (beach for relaxation, mountains for clarity, cities for distraction)
Consider your relationship with technology; do you need to be completely offline, or would staying connected reduce your stress?
Plan for the transition back to reality; don't book a flight that lands the night before you're back to work
Permit yourself to do "nothing" without guilt
Choose accommodations and activities that minimize decisions and stress
Red flag: If you're planning a trip that requires a lot of logistics, decision-making, or high energy, it might interfere with your need for simplicity and rest.
The Motive Mismatch Problem
Ever come home from a trip and wonder, Why didn’t that feel as good as I hoped? You had the time, the destination looked great on paper, and you even got some good photos—but something just didn’t land right.
I’ve been there. My biggest vacation motive mismatch was when 7 family members travelled together and everyone had different interests, and no one communicated about what they expected. I think, in this case, we had too many conflicting motives!! But it happens less as I have become super focused on travel with intention.
Sometimes, we plan a trip based on what we think we should want—relaxation, adventure, culture, or a return to somewhere we once loved. But if that plan doesn’t match our deeper travel motive—what we actually want and need—it can leave us feeling disconnected, disappointed, or even more drained than before we left.
Here are a few examples of what it looks like when travel motives and trip choices don’t quite line up. Maybe you’ll see yourself in one of them:
The Growth-seeker who booked a beach resort: You thought you wanted to relax, but you quickly became restless and bored. The pool gets old, the food is repetitive, and you find yourself scrolling your phone more than you do at home.
The Connection-seeker who planned a packed solo itinerary: You're racing from museum to monument, checking things off your list, but you feel lonelier than ever. You're surrounded by incredible art and history, but you feel an emptiness from having no one to share the experience with.
The Novelty-seeker who returned to a familiar destination: You loved Paris the first time, so you figured you'd love it again. You repeat the activities that were magic before, but this time, everything feels predictable. The magic is gone, replaced by a vague sense of "been there, done that."
The Escape-seeker who planned an adventure trip: You needed to decompress from work stress, but instead, you signed up for a physically demanding hiking trip with early wake-up calls and shared dormitories. You come home more exhausted than when you left.
Why Mismatch Happens
Motive mismatch usually occurs for one of these reasons:
You planned based on who you used to be, not who you are right now. Maybe you've always been an adventure traveller, but you're going through a stressful life transition and actually need restoration more than stimulation.
You planned based on what looks good on Instagram, not what feels good to you. Social media can make us think we want experiences that don't actually align with our deeper needs.
You planned based on what other people said you'd love. Your best friend's perfect trip might be your personal nightmare if you have different motives.
You're fighting against your true motive because you think you "should" want something else. Maybe you feel guilty about wanting to escape, so you plan a "productive" trip instead.
You are caught up in making other people happy. Travelling companions may very well have different motives than you, and your default is to abandon your needs for others.
How to Avoid the Mismatch
Before you book anything, ask yourself:
What do I need right now in my life?
What would make me feel most fulfilled when I return home?
Am I planning this trip for my current self, or for who I think I should be?
What would I do if no one else would ever see the photos or hear about this trip?
Remember: There's no such thing as a "wrong" motive. The only mistake is not honouring the motive that is driving you right now.
Concluding thoughts
Your travel motives aren't just nice-to-know personality insights - they're practical tools for making better decisions about where you go and how you spend your time there. Understanding what drives you means you can stop planning trips that look good on paper but leave you feeling flat.
The real value isn't in fitting perfectly into one category, but in being honest about what you truly want from your next journey instead of what you think you should want. When your travel choices align with your current motives, you come home with exactly what you were looking for.
Stop planning adventures for the traveller you used to be or think you should be. Plan for who you are right now.
If you're feeling lost in the planning process, constantly disappointed by your trips, or curious about taking your travel experiences to the next level, connect with me! Sometimes, an outside perspective is exactly what you need to unlock the kind of travel that truly lights you up inside.
I hope this article helps you to plan your next adventure! Looking for more guidance?
Are you struggling with deciding on where to next?
Check out Ignite Your Inner Explorer, a coaching package to transform your travel whims an wishes into extraordinary journey ideas tailored just for you.