What are the benefits of travelling in your own country?

Although a lot of people may find “local” travelling on the boring side, it can actually have many advantages that longer haul tips wouldn’t allow for. 

It’s easier to avoid flying

Flying is something that we should all look to at least reduce and avoid whenever possible. It’s the least sustainable way to travel and a single flight can produce over 986kg of Co2 per passenger! 

Travelling to nearby destinations, or generally within your own country, often eliminates the need to fly, with train, coach or car journeys being more than manageable. Another benefit that comes from driving or coaches is that they’re often cheaper than flying, especially when comparing it to long-distance trips or with larger groups. Who doesn’t love to save some money when they travel?

It’s often cheaper

As just mentioned, a lack of need for expensive flights is often going to help in reducing costs. Admittedly, sometimes those expensive long-haul trips are more than worth the money – but who’s to say we can’t take some cheaper trips once in a while!

Another way that you’ll probably save money when travelling is by simply knowing what things cost. Sounds obvious, but when you think about it, knowing that you’re paying a reasonable price for groceries, eating out and activities will help you to avoid overpaying for things – which we often do when we’re abroad.

Finally, you’ll also save by not paying for currency exchange. In a lot of cases nowadays you can certainly avoid high costs for this, but spending absolutely nothing is always going to be cheaper!

You know the language

Now this is a bit of a lazy one, but sometimes you just don’t want to learn new phrases or feel lost in a country where you don’t understand what’s going on. Although I fully encourage everyone to learn new languages, or at least some phrases when you’re heading abroad, sometimes we all enjoy that lazy, non-transitional escape.

There are some undeniable benefits of understanding the language fully as it won’t hinder your ability to ask for advice or directions on your trip.

There are still great hidden gems

Surprisingly, you’ll always come across tons of new spots that you never knew about once you start looking properly. I still come across areas that I never knew existed just minutes away from where I’ve lived for years!

Travelling to nearby spots really encourages you to do more research and find out as much as you can about a certain place, which often opens up whole new areas to explore. Carry on reading to find out the best ways to find new sights!

So how can you make the most of it?

There are a few easy ways to make the most of your short-haul trips, so let’s take a look at what they might be.

Google your country’s top nature spots

To begin narrowing down your broad search for destinations, look for the top spots in your country. It’s a super easy way to get some inspiration and find some potential destinations for your trip.

Follow the weather

One of the best ways to make your inland trip really feel like a holiday is to go where the best weather is. If you’re looking for a snowy winter escape, head to the mountains. If you want summer and beaches, find the best coastline with the warmest days. Planning for the weather will be important as it could make or “break” the trip!

Check monthly weather averages and use forums to find out what the weather is usually like during your chosen travel period.

Pick spots within driving distance

Going somewhere near enough to drive will not only save you money on transport costs, but it will allow you to get around easily once you’re there. You won’t need to rely on public transport or care hire – just use your very own vehicle to go wherever you want, whenever you want!

Use TripAdvisor 

TripAdvisor is one of the best ways to find out great spots in your country. They have a ton of activities, things to see and places to go out listed for every location, often with reviews and comments left by people who have previously been. 

Use their extensive search system to find things to do and which are the best for your group to ensure a fun-filled and action-packed trip!

Use local forums

Similar to TripAdvisor, local forums can really help you out in finding great things to do. Simply search for “[destination] travel forums” or “local forums [destination]” and you should be able to find some lively online forums with knowledgeable tips and suggestions for your visit.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, start your own thread! People will almost always get back to you with answers to what you need and handy recommendations that will definitely improve your trip.

By using these tips and by planning effectively, you can still make the most of the travel opportunities that you have closer to home in 2021. Although it won’t quite live up to getting lost in a totally foreign scene, you can still satisfy those travel cravings – of which I’m sure many of us have after almost a full year of Covid-19!

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Casinos, stars, yachts and supercars. Welcome to Monte Carlo with it’s beautiful marinas and luxurious lifestyle. At this point you may be thinking that this all sounds too expensive and hardly an affordable trip. You’d be wrong.

I opted to stay a little further inland, just outside of Nice in a small 2 floor house. Now it didn’t exactly have the class of the lavish Monacoian Villas, however the point here is to get the most out of your trip whilst saving as much money as you can. The peaceful and rural location of the house was perfect for a relaxing trip – no need for big spending!

The house came with a shared pool but with the ‘secret’ location as I like to call it, it remained empty for us throughout. Also provided were a BBQ and table tennis table – everything you need for some perfect summer relaxation! All in all this provided plenty to do if you somehow found yourself bored of the nearby Côte d’Azur.

“But surely you were nowhere near Monte Carlo if you stayed somewhere so much cheaper?”, you may be asking.

The answer is actually no. The house was an effortless half an hour drive from Monte Carlo, providing some stunning views if you were able to follow the coastline. You could see the boats parked out at sea as if to build your excitement for what was to follow.

Then, we arrived. Monte Carlo itself is…well, Monte Carlo. It’s not much like other places, with such class almost everywhere you look. The expensive sports cars parked as if standard and the Marina rammed full with some of the most lavish yachts I have ever seen. Made me rather jealous looking back at it.

Walking down from the iconic Casino to the Marina in the intense sun was great: perfect weather, amazing views and class you couldn’t hope to find at home! Ridiculous boats were on view the entire length of the Marina, allowing for the cheeky stare-in making you wonder how on earth you acquire such a thing. “If only I had the money”. After jealousy levels had risen and all the boats had been passed it was time for a cool down and drink. Several bars along the waterfront provided shade, fans and ice cold cokes. Perfect. What a way to relax and bring an end to the trip before heading back to a BBQ and a continuously empty pool.

There is no doubt that if you enjoy travel, experiencing new lifestyles, living in luxury and the odd Casino visit, then Monte Carlo is definitely somewhere you must visit! And now you know; it doesn’t have to be expensive. Just stay a short drive away and you’ll save enough for a few nights in the Casino…plus you’ll avoid the crowds and be left to relax. What more could you ask for whilst visiting one of the most iconic towns on the French Riviera?

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Beaches, booze and breathtaking views.

Lloret De Mar is THE city of underage drinking comas and wild party nights, but once you sober up a little bit and take a stroll to cure last night’s hangover, you’ll realise how much more this awesome town has to offer.

Everyone loves cheap alcohol and making drunk friends, especially if all the pubs, clubs and food are located centrally on one street. That’s what makes Lloret so great. Everything is so easy to access, so chilled, so much fast food, so much alcohol. It’s really a week to let yourself go from your normal routine (unless you’re a Uni student). And trust me, it’s a lot of fun! Some advice if you’re looking to get sloshed on a regular basis: Take advantage of All Inclusive Hotels and grab as many free cocktails as you can before they kick you out. Also supermarket alcohol was remarkably cheap; we got a bottle of Absolut, a pack of beers plus mixers for 20 Euros! So go and stock up big at the start of the week and you’d be surprised as to how cheap your week can be.

Another great tip to save some ever-needed cash is to hit up the clubs early. I know, I know, they’re always dead at that time but grab yourself a wristband, head back to the pubs and club afterwards until the early hours of the morning without paying those overpriced entry fees. The chances are that if you book with a tour operator or travel agency, your reps will secure you free entry to most clubs anyway. On the note of saving, if you reside in mainland Europe travel by coach. The journeys are long and can become a tad boring, but it’ll save you heaps compared to flying!

Ok so now we’ve talked about the booze, time for the beaches and breathtaking views. Like I was saying before, Lloret de Mar surprisingly has a lot to offer in terms of scenery and places to explore other the floor of your favourite club. Towards the waterfront you’ll find loads of cool shops and markets selling anything from food to cheap clothes to the classic fake Ray Bans that everyone loves so dearly. Is it even a holiday to Southern Europe if you don’t buy a Charles Keeper belt and a “”Gucci”” t-shirt to match? You can spend hours searching for unnecessary clothes, cool souvenirs and awesome beach inflatables that you’ll struggle to bring back home. It’s good fun whilst you’re there though. If you keep walking further you’ll reach the beach and although often packed there’s always a spot free to set up your sleeping station and relax to the max. If you’re the sunbathing type, the Spanish sun will have you covered all day. If you’re the swim in the sea type, be prepared for a chilled but pleasant experience. The water is clear and clean and definitely provides a good opportunity for some snorkelling if you’re not too hungover. Even more scenic though are the footpaths that run alongside the coast up into the hills, providing awesome views and some great shots for those photographers out there.

Any adrenaline junkies out there? You’ll be pleased to hear that there’s a huge range of activities from Paintballing to Watersports. Take a Jetski for a spin, get dragged on a Banana Boat or fly high in the sky when Para-sailing. There are also options to go and visit Barcelona for the day, and if the partying at night wasn’t quite enough then take a Catamaran Tour during the day to keep the vibe going 24/7.

So it seems that a trip to Lloret de Mar has something for everyone. Party hard all night, sleep in the fresh air at the beach for ultimate hangover reduction, be thrilled by intense watersports in the day and repeat the process all over again! It doesn’t matter whats your aaage come oooon with me! (Props to anyone who understands the reference, you’re my favourites)

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‘Türkçe bilmiyorum,’ I offered apologetically to the lady at the dock. I didn’t even know if I’d got it right as I fumbled the words out. What an irony.

She grimaced then, laughing, said, ‘Ingilizce bilmiyorum!’

Enigmatic and unfamiliar words, but the meaning was clear as day: neither of us spoke the other’s language. This was going to be fun.

Mention Turkey and you could be forgiven for conjuring an image of tourist-jammed beaches packed with red-fleshed Brits abroad. A deluge of beer-swilling Brits in tourist hotspots like Marmaris and Bodrum, where shops like Nexst, Azda and Selfridgez slot in among the burger bars, fish and chip restaurants and inevitable Irish pubs – why would you?

Of course, you wouldn’t.

But hold on a minute. In the real Turkey they speak…Turkish. Your faltering French and stuttering Spanish won’t get you a restaurant table. And forget about booking that boat excursion.

Welcome to Akyaka, a hillside town in western Turkey tucked into the crook of the Bay of Gökova. Its two beaches, set at right angles to each other, are lapped by the glassy turquoise waters where the Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet. Above the water brightly coloured canopies loop and soar from morning to dusk, tugging beneath them the kite surfers who throng to Akyaka’s perfect conditions. There’s kayaking too if you fancy exploring craggy coves where clear water rocks gently beneath aromatic pines.

You can manage all this without having to converse too much. In any case a few well-acted gestures ought to get you back on the straight and narrow if you lose your bearings, right?

Well, true. But you’d be missing the real charm of Akyaka and its environs. Back to my willing but hapless conversation with the boat tour lady. I’d made the effort and she didn’t want to ignore me, eventually conveying that there was no loud music on board, that the trip would be peaceful and quiet. And, somehow, that there would be snorkeling.

Sold.

Sure, that was her job. But the few other non-Turkish-speaking foreigners walked on by, unable to comprehend the nature of the tour and unwilling to try. Later we would pass them as they sailed back to the bay, glum-faced on a crowded vessel with throbbing music banging out across the water.

Speaking of sold, some perspective. The equivalent of £40 got the four of us on a day-long excursion and included lunch. Imagine: reclining on cushions on the shaded deck, revelling in the epitome of relaxation as the boat stopped at various isolated swimming spots. Paradise. We cooled off by leaping from the top of the boat into the clear water, diving to underwater caves, watching bright fish flit around us. Another stab of Turkish and our Captain sat next to us and – what do you know – in near-flawless English advised me to steer clear of Cleopatra’s Beach when we docked at the fabled Sedir Island, and instead make for the benevolently shaded and serene amphitheatre. Let the masses fight for a square of sand on the beach.

By now you probably have this impression that I’ve developed Turkish linguistic skills bordering on the semi-fluent. This would be an illusion. I’m talking about no more than ten or twelve sentences plus the usual scattering of greeting words, pleases and thankyous. So little effort, but such rewards. A quick, ‘Good evening, do you have a table for four?’ immediately procured us a window seat, while at least one other Brit family stood queueing for twenty minutes. Waiters took the time to correct my clumsy pronunciations, and such conversations expanded to include more important phrases. And by important, I mean financially beneficial. Because the best rate of exchange is in Turkey itself, and that’s no mean feat in a little place like Akyaka which isn’t exactly replete with bureau des changes. What you need is the local post office, and I mean local with a capital L. For that, you’re going to need some Turkish. My attempt the previous day had not gone well, but after a quick lesson from my waiter I managed, Iki yüz sterlin bozdurmak istiyorum.

And this time I even got a smile with my lira.

I’m not suggesting you need to learn Turkish and then go to Turkey, but if are planning a trip there don’t expect them to throw English at you with all the enthusiasm of an ex-pat eating a fry-up. They won’t. Not in the parts of Turkey worth visiting anyway. But if you make an effort, they’ll reciprocate it. By and large.

Come to think of it though, isn’t that a mantra that applies to all non-English speaking destinations? Make even a scintilla of effort and the locals will embrace you. Oh, just don’t be afraid of being laughed at. Now, where’s my Italian phrasebook…

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I often forget about Southern Europe. It’s so close to home that I kind of think “meh, not so exciting”, but in reality some of the best beach holidays I’ve ever had have been to the south of the Continent. Although I’ve only ever travelled to Italy once, it was an awesome trip with so many cool places to explore!

One thing to note if you’re from the UK, Italians drive very differently to us – lots of thin, narrow and winding roads at high speeds and little to no respect for another driver. I warned you, now be prepared. Cogoleto, located to the North West of Italy is a small coastal town not far from the City centre of Genoa. Now if you’re into beach relaxing, this place is for you. If you’re into clear water perfect for exploring and snorkelling then this place is for you too! What I’m trying to say is that Cogoleto is awesome for everything; beautiful beach bars, brilliant beaches and superb snorkelling. Also, since its located near to Genoa its extremely accessible by plane, so it really is a perfect destination!

My favourite thing about a chilled out beach break is when there are great places to relax in the sun next to the sea. Even better is when you can combine this with alcohol, and there are definitely enough beach bars in Cogoleto to refresh the vibe each and every day! We even found one with jacuzzis, so in case the sea gets too cold for you, go have a relaxing warm-up! How awesome is that?

Now, in my opinion beaches are one of those things that should be free. Being a natural and beautiful place that makes everyone’s day better, I feel that there’s no need to have to pay for access…Italians on the other hand have a different outlook on this, and don’t ask me why but for a lot of the beaches, you have to pay to just be there! I know it’s not right to “break the rules” and whatnot, but we found a way to avoid this.

Many of the beaches in this area in particular were surrounded by rocks and small cliffs, so we thought why not climb down them and avoid paying. I mean who loves saving money and having a great day at the same time? It felt so much better, so why not go for it…worst comes to worst and someone catches you and makes you leave or pay, which you would have done anyway, so I reckon no big deal. And due to most of the beaches being pebbly, it makes for some fantastically clear snorkelling. I don’t know about you but I think it’s so cool exploring underwater worlds of fish and plants.

However, easily the best part of the trip and my time in Italy was when we hired a speed boat for the day. It was only a small one, enough for 5 people which meant that it wasn’t too expensive, and easy to drive which is a major bonus when you have no boat licence! It’s definitely a worthwhile experience as it makes for an awesome day of freedom on the water. It’s also a good scare when you let the most irresponsible group member take it to full throttle.

Once your heart rate has slowed back down, you realise how amazing the views down the coastline are, and how far out to sea you can see. It makes for some great photography and the most peaceful relaxation possible! The other great part to having a boat is that you can access almost any snorkelling spots that you want, providing for the best snorkel adventures of the trip. The fact that the water is so clear makes it so much better just to park up, jump in, take a swim and explore…and still see the bottom which is always comforting.

So as I said at the beginning, and I’ll think you’ll agree now, although I’ve only been to Italy once, it’s a pretty great place to visit and definitely offers some awesome experiences. Whenever I think of travel at first I think of it to be action-packed, always on the move and exploring your surroundings. But there are definitely those moments you need that purely consist of relaxing, enjoying some sun and not having a care in the world, which I believe are fundamental to the travel lifestyle. And places like Cogoleto are prefect for just that! “Feel the sand between your toes, and find your place of relaxation”.

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