Traveling the world is so blissfully fun you forget that it can be a very rewarding source of education. One gets to realize this when there are constraints and you are forced to be resourceful. If budget or your time gets limited, it is one good time to consider a “staycation” than a long holiday overseas.
Staycation gives you the opportunity to check out places/destinations close to home. It is an attractive opportunity when you can’t stay away from home and work for long. It is also a good way to enjoy your holiday if budget is limited. Aside from being able to pursue travel without going big on cost, there are other benefits when you travel domestically. It is definitely less stressful, lets you contribute to the growth of the local economy and it is a good chance to learn more about your home or own country.
If you are a city dweller, you are most likely missing a lot of things that people enjoy in small towns and places off the beaten track. Depending on your interest, choose your place of staycation. Soak up the experience without going too far. If you have kids, your local travel can help them appreciate your country’s history, architecture, arts and culture better. Take them to domestic destinations that will titillate their senses with delicious and beautiful experiences.
You can better appreciate staycation in the article “When a Holiday Becomes an Educational Journey” by Andy Lynes for The Telegraph – NewsSection. It speaks about the values of experiential travel without spending much money or time in some distant locations.
As the popularity of domestic holidays increases, tourists are finding themselves able to spend more on enjoyable and educational activities rather than on travel
Increasingly, travellers are valuing the depth of experience during their holidays as much as the destination. Rather than simply sun-seeking, tourists want to go on artistic, intellectual, spiritual and emotional journeys and come away with a new skill.
It is predicted that more people will be engaging in staycation during the holidays of 2015; the trend can be read in the Beyond Staycation Report (2014) published in VisitEngland.
With reduced travel costs, staycation is made more feasible for holidaymakers. There are numerous ways to enjoy local options – local museums for history buffs, active to extreme sports such as water sports, snow sports, mountain climbing, trekking/ hiking, etc. You can also engage in sedate, gastronomic or spiritual holidays.
Experiential holidays in the coming year are also linking into gastronomic trends and destinations – artisan, gourmet and even street food. While architecture and literature will let you take a peek at a country’s history, and its arts and music will let you understand it self-image, you understand the character of a place or race buy its food.
To true aficionados, gastronomic tourism, whether in a domestic or international destination, goes beyond being palpable and visual. It can also be emotional and scholarly. These make agritourism and visits to far-flung vineyards and farms, as well as actual cooking demos and dining more experientially appealing.
The Bottom Line
Vacations are a valuable commodity regardless of where you send it. Similarly, satisfaction may just as well be achieved wherever you may choose to spend your holiday. If you are low on cash or time, staycation is your best option. Just as you plan and choose your destinations and activities well on an international travel, do the same when traveling locally and you’ll see it is just as fun and experiential.
So this 2015, if you want to spend quality time with your loved ones, get in touch with the educational rewards of travel, or give yourself some rest from the tediousness of your work or studies, choosing a vacation close to home. It is a powerful and smart technique to spend your priceless time and budget with as little stress and risks, while learning much about your own locale.
