One thing that Covid-19 has taught us is to make the most of nearby nature and travelling within our own borders. With such a heavy restriction on travel abroad, everyone is having to rely on their creativity to find great spots closer to home that still satisfy that wanderlust. Let’s take a look at some benefits of travelling in your own country and some tips on how to make the most of it!
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!
