A Staycation, Why Not?

Benefits of Travelling in Your Own Country

SAVE TOURISM

It always seems that the grass is greener on the other side. The tourist attractions are more alluring, the landscape is more beautiful, and that there are more interesting things to see and do. But, if you decide to travel locally, you may be pleasantly surprised. Domestic travel can help you discover your country, different areas, meet new people, see beyond the surface and popular places.

1. You can discover different areas, going beyond the popular ones. It’s not just about going to the mountains as well as to the beach, it’s about getting to know new places. Going to smaller towns and regions that you have never seen.

2. Meeting people, learning more about your country. It’s always great to talk to the locals, to learn more about a given area, and it’s specific customs. As you are a “local”, it’s easier to better understand the context and background of all these new places.

3. Learning more about history and culture. It’s a great way for children especially to better understand the history and geography of their homeland.

4. Supporting the local economy. It may not be much, but it matters, there are many local businesses that could use the support by buying traditional products, staying at local villas or hotels, etc.

5. Fewer documents. It is always good when there are fewer documents to take care of. Travelling locally means no passport or visa’s required – which is always a good thing. When travelling with a child or with a pet, there are also fewer documents needed.

6. Cheaper. It is often much cheaper to take a holiday in Portugal than in most countries in Europe. In fact, it’s almost always cheaper to travel locally.

You can also decide to take a road trip and, to save even more money, you can use a campervan/caravan. This means that you’ll save money on accommodation so you will be able to travel more while spending less.

7. Less money spent on insurance. You most likely have your health insurance as you are a local, so that part of the travel budget can be counted as saved money, so that can be spent on something else like tickets to various attractions or more days of travelling.

8. Indulge your hobbies – if you like, you can go fishing on your trip, or scuba diving, or hiking. Whatever it is that you like, you can do on your trips, go prepared.

9. Pack all the things you want – you don’t need to pack light anymore. You can take whatever you think you’ll need with you, without worrying about weight. If there’s room in the trunk, then it’s alright! And trust me, that comes in handy. I admit, while I don’t want to take my entire wardrobe with me, I like to be prepared, this means that I am prepared for rainy days, for cold evenings/days, so a few extra outfits mean I don’t need to wash clothes every other day.

10. Greener. Opting to chose to stay in your own country is greener because you are not travelling by aeroplane which will contribute to the air emissions that’s more than 4 months of driving just in one flight

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to take a holiday in your own country. Or more holidays! Make sure you plan your next trip carefully and, no matter where you go, enjoy your travels!