14 AWESOME Reasons to travel in your own country in 2024!

You may not realize it, but chances are your home country has a lot to offer. Travel on a budget, sustainably, and comfortably right at home.

Looking for ways to save money on travel without sacrificing the experience? There are plenty of amazing reasons to travel in your own country!

We all love to travel, and with good reason. But we’re all feeling the pinch nowadays, and jet setting can be expensive.

That’s why I started to travel in my own country!

You may think you know your homeland, but trust me, there’s always more to discover. Being a tourist in your own country can bring endless joys – and my wallet, the environment, my cat, my mental health, and my local economy are all better for it. 

1. It’s much cheaper to travel around your own country

One of the biggest barriers to international travel is money. 

Most of us weren’t blessed with private jets and enough money to splurge on fancy hotels in all 4 corners of the earth, so taking budget into account is essential for every trip. 

So why not save money and hassle and explore the country you live in? 

I’ve never met anyone who has actually discovered all that their own country has to offer. True, you may have been to many places around your hometown, but have you seen it all?

Of course not!

If that wasn’t convincing enough, here are all the things you WON’T be paying for if you decide to become a tourist in your own country:

• Flights
• Expensive tourist attractions
• Visas
• Vaccinations
• Insurance
• Currency exchange
• Cell phone roaming charges
• Travel gear
• Childcare
• Pet sitters

You also save a ton of TIME!! Time is money, my friends. Use it wisely!

2. It’s better for the environment

Nowadays, traveling abroad sustainably can be difficult. 

Sure, there are ways to curb your carbon footprint while you’re on your getaway, but there’s no getting away from the cold, hard truth – you’ll reduce your impact far more by staying local. 

Whether you’re an avid fighter for sustainability or not, there are over 8 billion people in the world all struggling for space and resources. Why not take yourself out of the battle and travel around your own country? There are so many amazing places there you probably haven’t seen yet!

3. You’ll see your country through a new lens

You may think you know your country, but think again!

I thought I was an expert in all things England, but as it turns out, I’ve only scratched the surface. Sure, it may not be my favorite country in the world, but there are plenty of stones to be uncovered locally that I never imagined!

Getting to grips with your local culture and seeing it with fresh eyes might seem a bit boring – surely not as exciting as an international adventure – but you never know what you might find.

At the end of the day,  you may just discover things about your homeland that make you appreciate it more. 

So, how do you do this? I recommend going somewhere completely new and taking a tour with a local to learn all about the history of this new place. It’s a great way to get enmeshed with your culture and develop a new sense of appreciation for your homeland!

4. There’s much more flexibility

The fantastic thing about traveling in your own country is the sheer amount of flexibility you have. 

Want to head home a day early? Fancy a detour on your drive to the hotel? Want to change your itinerary to stick around an extra couple of days? You can do all this MUCH easier when you’re not traveling internationally!

Flexibility means your itinerary can be adjusted however you like, and without a language barrier to contend with!

A great example of this is hiring a car. Need a bigger car to accommodate all your friends without worrying about negotiating in a different language or getting ripped off? Get a car from rentalcars, it’s all done online!

5. Your local economy will thank you!

There’s no better feeling than getting your coffee from an independent coffee shop, or buying gifts from artisanal boutiques with handmade crafts. 

Locally-owned stores tend to do much more for the local economy than massive conglomerates. 

They’re more sustainable, they make local towns and cities more personable, and they often have more ethical practices that put places like Starbucks to shame.

I visited the local town of Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, UK not so long ago, and it was such a lovely place! We spent loads of time exploring independent bookstores, charity shops, boutique coffee shops, and one-of-a-kind delis. It was a wonderful experience, and spending money in locally-owned places made it feel even better!

Traveling around your own country gives you the opportunity to give back to your economy by spending your hard-earned cash in places that help to sustain local communities.

6. You’ll learn just as much as you would traveling abroad

Lots of people travel for the experience, but you may not realize you’re actively gaining new knowledge along the way.

That doesn’t just go for international travel – that’s local travel, too!

You’ll be learning more about your own culture, meeting new people from all walks of life, embracing local society and maturing as you go. 

When traveling internationally, you might learn a few local phrases or some new cultural tidbits. But when traveling locally, you’re already familiar with all that, so it opens you up to learning deeper, more connective aspects of your local communities. 

7. It’s easier for those with high levels of anxiety

Anxiety can be a huge barrier to international travel, especially when traveling solo.

It’s not just about fear of flying or hanging out in new places – it’s about anxiety stopping you from appreciating your travel time to the fullest. 

When you’re too focused on finding a place to stay or worrying about how to get from A to B, it can make the travel dream come crashing down. Instead, stay in your home country and just explore new places with beautiful scenery! 

When you can speak the local language and public transport is familiar to you, it allows you to breathe and actually enjoy the experience. 

Want some tips on solo travel for introverts? Read this list of hacks from an introverted jetsetter! 

8. There’s no culture shock or language barrier

Culture shock isn’t quite what you think it is. It can actually be a lot more disconcerting than most people realize! 

Culture shock can cause a range of feelings: 

• Disorientation 
• Loneliness 
• Irritability 
• Anger
• Self-doubt 
• Fatigue

Learning about, experiencing, and immersing oneself in other cultures is an incredible experience, but it can come with a few negative feelings if you’re not in the right mindset. 

The language barrier can also make things a lot harder, especially if you only know a few phrases. 

Traveling around your own country, one that feels like a safe place, it’s highly unlikely you’ll experience any of these negativities, and instead, you may feel much more settled during your journey. 

If you’re looking for a new challenge, why not learn a language so that the next time you’re abroad you can communicate with people better? Mondly has 41 languages to choose from and an incredible learning platform, so I highly recommend it!

9. You can leave at the drop of a hat

Planning a vacation means deciding things in advance. Booking your flight, asking your boss for time off, applying for a visa, getting vaccinations, getting someone to take care of the dog – all these require time.

However, if you’re going somewhere in your own country, you can leave work on a Friday and just head straight to wherever you’re going. 

Being spontaneous like this can be so exhilarating, and even leaving your at-home-vacation slightly unplanned can make you feel more relaxed in the long run. 

Plus, having the freedom to go on a road trip at the drop of a hat means taking the dog with you! 🐶

Looking for unusual places to visit in the UK? Check out my list of the 13 TOP places for your trip!

10. There are fewer inconveniences

How many times have you had to pack and repack your suitcase because your luggage is over the airline limits? 

How many times have you missed a train or had a car break down in the middle of a highway in a new country? 

Spending more of your free time in your homeland means far fewer of these inconveniences. You can pack whatever you like, weight limits be damned! Plus, it’s much easier to get from A to B when you’re familiar with a country’s infrastructure. 

11. You’ll make new connections closer to home

I’ve made so many incredible friends on my travels over the years, and it’s always so painful to say goodbye to them at the end of the trip. 

If you’re traveling closer to home, those new connections can truly become friends, since you live much closer! The trips you make in your home country will feel so much more fulfilling since you’ll be able to bring those friendships home.

So, where can you meet people on your travels in your home country? Here’s a list of places to start:

• Meetup.com 
• Eventbrite.com
• Reddit
• Hostels
• Free walking tours
• Local Facebook groups
• Couchsurfing
• Group tours

Wherever you are, whether in Europe, Australia, USA, Canada, or somewhere else, you’ll be able to make incredible connections not too far from home if you travel closer to home!

12. Planning domestic travel is much easier

In our day-to-day lives, planning is something we’re all used to. Planning a shopping trip, a wedding, your kid’s birthday party, your work meetings, and all manner of other things.

But planning for a vacation can be stressful, especially if you’re going somewhere far away that requires vaccines and visas. 

Planning a trip around your home regions can be far less stressful, not least because you’re more familiar with your surroundings. You know the language, how to pay for things, what the landscape will look like, and generally what to expect. 

13. It’s easier on your pets and kids

Who wants to leave their babies at home?! 

Definitely not me. I’d much rather take my cat with me than leave her in a cattery while I galavant across the world. 

Domestic travel is also much easier for parents, since it’s simpler to travel with the kids in your own car than struggle with fold-ups and crying babies on a cramped flight. 

Plus, super young kids are unlikely to know the difference between being in your home region or abroad. As long as there are plenty of fun things for them to do, they’ll be happy!

Pets can suffer so much when left behind. Being left in a cattery or kennels for long periods can be pretty traumatic depending on their disposition, and although pet sitters are the next best option, they still just want to be with you. Have a heart for your pet – travel local!

When I’m traveling abroad, I always use a calming collar for my cat, Pumpkin. She hates pills and anti-anxiety medication just drugs her into submission – these calming collars are my favorite, and other reviewers agree!

14. No more post-vacation blues!

You’ll feel more settled and relaxed coming back from a vacation in your own region. No more post-vacation blues and back-to-work depression for you!

It’s much easier to settle back into normal life when you haven’t been thrown completely out of your comfort zone. 

Post-vacation blues can have a negative effect on your mood, sleep, motivation, and appetite. Although work-related stress can be eased by a holiday abroad, this is usually temporary since you’ll inevitably come back to reality upon returning home. 

Mitigate these risks by taking a stress-free vacation with your family somewhere closer to home! 

FAQS about reasons to travel in your own country

🧳 Why should I travel in my own country?

You should travel in your own country to save money, live more sustainably, and keep planning stress-free! As a traveler, you’ll be able to enjoy your country’s nature and scenery with fresh eyes. 

🌆 Why should you be a tourist in your own city?

Because it can be so fulfilling to explore hidden places in your own city! Being a tourist in your own city doesn’t mean visiting touristy attractions, it just means finding new gems and exploring your area deeper. 

🧭 Are there any disadvantages of traveling in your own country?

The only disadvantage of traveling in your own country is that you may not experience the same things as you would with international travel. For example, I live in England, and there are no gorgeous beaches there!

🚆 What are the best ways to travel in your own country?

The best ways to travel in your own country include taking the train, road tripping in a rental car with your friends, and staying in hostels in new places to explore past your usual hangouts. 

🛖 How can you rediscover your hometown?

The best way to rediscover your hometown or city is to volunteer at local events or take a free walking tour of hidden gems. You can also recreate experiences you’ve had in other countries like enjoying a drink at a swanky rooftop bar, exploring new neighborhoods, and staying curious!

Conclusion

Now that you have plenty of reasons to travel in your own country, you can start saving money today! 

My advice? Make a list of 4-5 places you’ve never been in your own land and make loose vacation plans – loose enough for spontaneity!

That’s all for today, folks, so just drop me a comment if you want any more tips (I have more, trust me!) and if you’re looking for more travel tips and advice, check out the rest of my posts here 🙂

Travel sustainably amigos!

Lizzie