Kacey Bradley of the wonderful The Drifter Collective blog connected with me and offered to write a guest post for The Incidental Tourist. Needless to say that I jumped at the opportunity, given how much I love her writing and website. Chatting somewhat, we decided that ‘Local Travel and the Wonders that Come With It.’ was a wonderful new year focus point. As below.
‘When you think of having an adventurous spirit and the love of travel, you usually think an international trip with new languages, cultures, food and experience. That kind of travel is a luxury not everyone gets to experience. However, travelling locally has great benefits people tend to not think about.
Here are some of the wonders that come from travelling locally.
Support Your Economy
Some people travel for tourism. To see the big sites of their travel destination. Travelling locally can also have lots of sites to see, but there are opportunities to support the local economy as well.
Where you stay, shop, eat and go to is supporting the economy by giving businesses the customers they need in order to remain in business. By staying local and supporting the small businesses rather than chains you help the local economy to bring in revenue.
By travelling locally you become part of a new community. Even if it’s just for a short visit, you can grow to appreciate other communities close to your home. This is how you can support a community in the way you would want visitors to support your own community at home.
Proximity and Time
Time is not something you want to be wasted. International travel takes up long hours full of airports, train rides and bus time. If you go somewhere local, you should be able to travel there within a day’s drive.
If you grow to love the place you visit, because of the local proximity, you can always go back if you need a mini-vacation. Being able to pick up without planning ahead, and travelling to somewhere you love to relax and get away for a little while is a great feeling. You definitely want to have a local getaway place for that reason.
Environmental Friendliness
A “staycation” is the new way to take a vacation. If you travel within a day’s distance of your home, you’re travelling locally and having a staycation. Whether you’re going to a local attraction or a beach that’s only 3 hours away, you’re helping the environment. Instead of taking a cruise or flying to your destination, you’re choosing to emit fewer greenhouse gases through your travel. Did you know that air travel accounts for 10% of all greenhouse gases emitted? Travel can leave behind a huge carbon footprint that people don’t think about.
Going to a local place is like going green. You support your local economy and the environment at the same time.
Make New Friends
News flash. You are not the only person that ever has or will travel to your destination. There are so many people travelling all the time, that you forget the possibility of meeting people and becoming friends when you travel too.
Make friends with the locals. People who live there year round know of all the best places to eat, the hidden gems of the town, the best coffee shops and hangouts. Don’t be afraid to get out of your shell. How cool would it be to find a new friend, and be able to travel to their town or city and have them show you around?You can also make friends with fellow tourists. It’s pretty easy to point out someone who is new in town and has no idea where they’re going.
Save Your Money
The cost of international flights, staying abroad in a hotel, renting a car and eating out all the time can put a huge dent in your wallet. Travelling somewhere close to home can save you those funds. Gas prices are always going up and down based on the supply and demand system, just as much as plane tickets are, but gas is a lot cheaper than a ticket overseas. Going on a road trip to a local destination can save you money.
Another way you can keep your money in the bank is by staying at someone’s rental home rather than getting a hotel. People rent out their homes to travellers all the time, and the rates are much cheaper than a hotel. It’s also more green than staying in a hotel because there aren’t sheets and towels to be washed every day, and you have control over the amount of energy consumed by the home.
Social Media
There’s an app for that. Apps for travelling are easy to download and use. There are even apps that focus on local amenities so if you’re a tourist, you can manoeuvre through your destination like a local. You can use social media apps to make friends too. Instagram is a great way to use social media for local travels. If you’re at a place, tag it in your picture on Instagram. Searching through locations can help you find great places to go while you’re visiting there. Get ready for your staycation. Travel local to your home because of all the benefits it brings. Support your economy and the environment. Make friends in a town close to your home. Local travel can be fun, so pick your next destination near you, and go’.
About the Author
Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.
