home travel meaning

🤔 What Is Domestic Travel? Explore Your Home Country Like Never Before ✈️

What is domestic travel? Domestic travel is a type of travel within the borders of a country, such as the USA, where you can visit cities like New York, California, or Florida.

It doesn’t require a passport or visa but may require identification like a driver’s license or REAL ID.

Domestic travel can be done by various modes of transportation, such as plane, car, train, bus, or bike. Depending on the distance and the budget, you can choose the best option for your domestic travel.

Some benefits of domestic travel are:

Domestic travel is cheaper and easier than international travel.
Domestic travel allows you to explore the diversity and beauty of your own country.
Domestic travel supports the local economy and culture.
Domestic travel reduces the environmental impact of travel.

Some other popular domestic travel destinations in the USA

Some of the main differences between international and domestic travel are:, 1. choose your mode of transportation wisely, 2. choose your destination carefully, 3. choose your accommodation wisely, 4. choose your activities wisely, what is a domestic passenger, is mexico considered domestic travel, is california to hawaii a domestic flight, do domestic flights require a covid test, q. what is the meaning of domestic travel, q. what is an example of domestic travel, q. what is local travel, q. do you need a passport for domestic flights, q. what is the difference between domestic and international travel, q. what is the purpose of domestic travel, q. what is international travel, q. what is the difference between domestic and regional flights, tell us in the comments as per you which one is the best point for domestic travel., what are some popular domestic travel destinations in the usa.

There are many popular domestic travel destinations in the USA, depending on your preferences and interests. Some of the most highly reviewed destinations by domestic travelers in the USA are:

Sedona, Arizona: A scenic city surrounded by red-rock formations, canyons, and pine forests. Sedona is known for its spiritual and wellness attractions, as well as its outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and jeep tours.
St. Augustine, Florida: The oldest city in the USA, founded by Spanish explorers in 1565. St. Augustine is rich in history and culture, with landmarks such as the Castillo de San Marcos, the Lightner Museum, and the Fountain of Youth. It also has beautiful beaches and a lively downtown area.
Destin, Florida: A coastal city on the Emerald Coast, famous for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Destin is a popular destination for fishing, golfing, boating, and water sports. It also has a variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options.
Alaskan Cruise, Alaska: A scenic and adventurous way to explore the natural beauty and wildlife of Alaska. You can see glaciers, mountains, fjords, whales, bears, and more. You can also enjoy various activities on board, such as dining, entertainment, spa, and fitness.
Orlando, Florida: A family-friendly and fun-filled destination that offers a variety of theme parks, attractions, and entertainment options. You can visit Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Legoland, and more. You can also enjoy the sunny weather, beaches, golf courses, and shopping malls.
Las Vegas, Nevada: A vibrant and exciting destination that offers a variety of entertainment, nightlife, and gambling options. You can visit the famous Strip, where you can see dazzling shows, casinos, hotels, and attractions. You can also enjoy the nearby natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Red Rock Canyon.
Maui, Hawaii: A tropical and relaxing destination that offers a variety of natural beauty, culture, and adventure. You can enjoy the stunning beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, rainforests, and wildlife. You can also enjoy the rich Hawaiian culture, cuisine, music, and dance.
New York City, New York: A cosmopolitan and influential destination that offers a variety of culture, art, fashion, media, and business. You can visit landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, and more. You can also enjoy the diverse neighborhoods, cuisines, museums, galleries, and events.
Hawaii: A tropical paradise with eight main islands, each offering a unique experience. Hawaii is renowned for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and aloha spirit. You can enjoy surfing, snorkeling, hiking, volcanoes, waterfalls, luaus, and more.
California : A state that has something for everyone, from the iconic cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles to the stunning landscapes of Yosemite and Big Sur. California is a hub of innovation, entertainment, and diversity. You can explore Hollywood, Silicon Valley, wine country, Disneyland, and more.
New York City : The most populous and influential city in the USA, known as the Big Apple. New York City is a global center of culture, art, fashion, media, and business. You can visit landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, and more.
Grand Canyon National Park : One of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. Grand Canyon National Park covers 277 miles of awe-inspiring scenery, with viewpoints, trails, rafting trips, and helicopter tours.
Yellowstone National Park: The first national park in the USA and the world’s largest active volcanic area. Yellowstone National Park spans three states and features geysers, hot springs, wildlife, lakes, mountains, and forests. You can see attractions such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, and more.

These are just some of the many amazing places you can visit in the USA. I hope this answer inspires you to plan your next domestic travel adventure. 😊

What is the difference between international and domestic travel?

The difference between international and domestic travel is the type of travel that takes place within or outside the borders of your own country. For example, if you live in the USA and you want to visit New York, California, or Florida, that would be domestic travel. However, if you want to visit Canada, Mexico, or France, that would be an international travel.

Passport and visa requirements : International travel usually requires a valid passport and a visa for the destination country, while domestic travel does not. However, some domestic travel may still require some form of identification, such as a driver’s license or a REAL ID. For example, if you want to fly from one state to another within the USA, you will need to show your ID at the airport.
Baggage restrictions: International travel may have stricter baggage restrictions than domestic travel, depending on the airline and the destination. For example, some international flights may have lower weight limits or charge extra fees for checked bags.
Currency and exchange rates: International travel involves using a different currency than your own, which may affect your budget and spending. You may need to exchange your money before or after your trip or use a credit card or an ATM that accepts foreign currencies. Domestic travel does not have this issue, as you can use your currency everywhere.
Culture and language: International travel exposes you to different cultures and languages than your own, which can be exciting and enriching. You may need to learn some basic phrases or use a translator app to communicate with the locals. Domestic travel does not have this challenge, as you can speak your language everywhere.

How do I plan a budget-friendly domestic trip in the USA?

Planning a budget-friendly domestic trip in the USA can be a fun and rewarding experience. There are many ways to save money and enjoy the diverse and beautiful destinations that the country has to offer. Here are some tips to help you plan your trip:

Depending on where you want to go and how much time you have, you can opt for driving, flying, taking a train, or riding a bus. Each option has its pros and cons, so you should compare the costs, convenience, and comfort of each one. Some general tips are:

Renting a car can be cheaper and more fuel-efficient than driving your car, especially if you use a service like Rentalcars to find the best deals. You can also look for driveway opportunities, where you can drive someone else’s car across the country for free or a small fee.
Taking a train can be a scenic and relaxing way to travel, especially if you get a train pass that allows you to hop on and off at different destinations. You can use Amtrak or the Rail Passengers Association to find the best routes and prices.
Traveling by bus can be the cheapest option, especially if you book in advance or use discount codes. You can use services like Greyhound, Megabus, or FlixBus to find the best deals and routes.
Flying can be the fastest and most convenient option, but also the most expensive. However, you can save money by using obscure search methods, such as using incognito mode, clearing your cookies, or using VPNs to find lower fares. You can also use services like Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kayak to compare prices and find the best deals.

The USA has a lot of variety when it comes to places to visit, but some are more expensive than others. You should consider factors such as the cost of living, the seasonality, and the popularity of each destination. Some general tips are:

Visit during off-seasons to get cheaper deals on accommodation, transportation, and attractions. For example, you can visit ski resorts in the summer or beach destinations in the winter.
Visit less popular or less crowded destinations that still offer plenty of attractions and activities. For example, you can visit national parks, small towns, or hidden gems that are not as touristy as big cities or famous landmarks.
Visit destinations that are close to each other or within driving distance, so you can save money on transportation and see more places in less time. For example, you can visit several cities along the East Coast or the West Coast, or explore different regions within a state.

The USA has a lot of options when it comes to where to stay, but some are more affordable than others. You should consider factors such as the location, the amenities, and the comfort of each option. Some general tips are:

Hotels and motels: These are the most traditional and convenient options, offering private rooms with attached bathrooms, TVs, phones, and usually Wi-Fi. They range from budget to luxury, depending on the brand and the location. You can use services like Booking.com , Hotels.com, or KAYAK to find the best deals and reviews.
Hostels : These are the cheapest and most social options, offering dorm beds or private rooms with shared bathrooms and common areas. They are ideal for solo travelers or backpackers who want to meet other travelers and save money. You can use services like Hostelworld or Hostels.com to find the best hostels and ratings.
Campgrounds, RV parks, or cabins: These are the most natural and adventurous options, offering tents, RVs, or cabins with basic facilities and services. They are ideal for travelers who love nature and outdoor activities. You can use services like KOA, Hipcamp, or Recreation.gov to find the best locations and amenities.
Alternative accommodations: These are the most local and authentic options, offering couches, rooms, or apartments with hosts or homeowners. They are ideal for travelers who want to experience the culture and lifestyle of their destination. You can use services like Couchsurfing, HomeExchange, or Airbnb to find the best hosts and properties.

The USA has a lot of things to do and see, but some are more expensive than others. You should consider factors such as admission fees, availability, and the interest of each activity. Some general tips are:

Do free or low-cost activities that offer a lot of fun and value. For example, you can go hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, or picnicking in nature; visit museums, art galleries, historical sites, or cultural events; watch street performers, live music, or sports games; or explore local markets, shops, or neighborhoods.
Do activities that offer discounts or deals for certain groups or times. For example, you can use coupons, vouchers, or promo codes to get lower prices; use a travel credit card to get rewards or cashback; use a CityPASS1 or a Federal Recreation Pass1 to get access to multiple attractions at a lower price; or visit attractions during off-peak hours or days when they offer lower prices.
Do activities that offer a unique or memorable experience that is worth the splurge. For example, you can go on a helicopter tour, a hot air balloon ride, or a whale watching cruise; visit an amusement park, a zoo, or an aquarium; or try a local delicacy, a specialty drink, or a regional dish.

A domestic passenger is a person who travels by air, land, or sea within the same country. For example, if you live in the USA and you fly from New York to Los Angeles, you are a domestic passenger. However, if you fly from New York to London, you are an international passenger.

Domestic passengers usually do not need a passport or a visa to travel within their own country, but they may still need some form of identification, such as a driver’s license or a REAL ID. Domestic passengers may also have different baggage restrictions, currency issues, or cultural differences than international passengers.

Travelers have long debated the issue of whether or not Mexico is regarded as domestic travel. While the answer is rather convoluted, Mexico is typically regarded as a domestic tourism destination.

When responding to this question, there are a few things to take into account. First of all, each country has its definition of domestic travel. For instance, domestic travel in the United States generally refers to travel within the borders of the nation.

In contrast to traveling from the United States to Mexico, traveling from California to Texas would be regarded as domestic travel.

Domestic travel is defined somewhat differently in Mexico, though. Travel within Mexico’s boundaries and between Mexico and its Central American neighbors are both considered domestic travel.

Traveling from Mexico City to Cancun would therefore be regarded as domestic travel, while vice versa would be true of travel from the US to Mexico.

There are a few other things to think about. For instance, some nations have different visa requirements for visiting Mexico than they do for visiting other Central American nations. Additionally, you could require a visa to enter Mexico depending on your nationality.

So, Mexico is a domestic destination? Yes, in most cases. There are a few things to take into account, though, and you should never travel without first checking with the relevant authorities.

Yes is the obvious response to this query. Domestic flights take place inside a nation’s boundaries. A flight from California to Hawaii would therefore be regarded as a domestic flight.

When traveling domestically by air, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, domestic flights frequently do not require a passport or customs clearance. In addition, compared to a flight abroad, this one will probably be cheaper and shorter.

It is significant to be aware that there can be some limitations on what you can bring on a domestic flight. For instance, you usually cannot bring a large piece of luggage on domestic flights. You can also be restricted in how many liquids you can bring on the journey.

Be cautious to check with the airline to learn about any potential restrictions if you plan to travel within the United States.

Also Read: Why Are Flights So Expensive Now?

Whether or not a Covid test is necessary for domestic flights is an open question. However, according to some recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , travelers who exhibit any Covid-19 symptoms should not be permitted to fly.

Additionally, the CDC has encouraged airlines to check every passenger for COVID-19 symptoms before boarding and to refuse boarding to anyone who is showing them.

It is significant to note that while the CDC is recommending airlines take safeguards to stop the virus from spreading, they have not specifically stated that all domestic flights must undergo a Covid test.

Before traveling, it’s crucial to see a doctor if you’re feeling sick. If Covid-19 is found in you, you could have to go through a 14-day self-quarantine.

There is no need to take any additional measures if you are feeling well, although it is always advisable to stay away from crowded areas and maintain excellent hygiene practices.

FAQs For What is domestic travel

People have a lot of questions while traveling domestically some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.

A. Domestic travel refers to journeys within one’s own country.

A. Traveling within your own country’s boundaries is the simplest definition of domestic travel. Flights, car journeys, and rail travel are all examples of domestic travel.

A. Local travel typically involves short-distance trips within a specific area, like commuting to work or running errands.

A. No, a passport is not required for domestic flights within your own country.

A. Domestic travel means traveling within your own country.

A. The difference between domestic and international travel is that the former occurs within one’s own country, while the latter involves crossing international borders.

A. The purpose of domestic travel can vary, including leisure, business, or visiting family and friends.

A. International travel involves crossing international borders to visit foreign countries.

A. Domestic flights operate within a single country, while regional flights connect cities and airports within a specific region or neighboring countries.

In conclusion, domestic travel encompasses a wide range of experiences and adventures within one’s own country.

Whether it’s exploring the natural wonders, vibrant cities, or cultural heritage right in your backyard, domestic travel offers a unique opportunity to discover, learn, and create lasting memories.

So, whether you’re planning a road trip, a weekend getaway, or an extended vacation, remember that the world of travel begins at home, and there’s always something new to explore within your borders.

Embrace the beauty of domestic travel and embark on a journey of discovery and connection with the familiar and the extraordinary.

Also, don’t forget to book your personalized holiday package with Fiery Trippers . Let us make your vacation a romantic as well as a dreamy getaway.

Travel Smart: Save Hundreds with This Simple Phone Hack

Stop Overpaying for Flights: Here’s How Google Flights Can Save You Money ✈️

Want a Bug-Free Vacation? Here’s Why You Should Put Your Luggage in the Bathtub 🛁

Tushar Chaudhary

He has a diverse educational background with expertise in travel content creation and digital marketing. His self-motivated learning approach has made him a well-rounded professional in the field. Read More

Mobile Nav Bar

Mobile menu.

Future of Home
6c8585ure of Home
Newsletter Sign-up
BECOME AN INSIDER BOH Insiders unlock access to weekly designer classes and exclusive Insider-only workshops

Travel is bouncing back. What does that mean for home?

Since the onset of the pandemic, the home industry has seen an unprecedented boom in demand. Within months of the first lockdowns, it became clear that more time spent at home meant more money spent on the home, in part because people started tapping into budgets they might otherwise have used on restaurants, entertainment, and especially travel. Anecdotally, over the last two years, BOH editors have repeatedly heard designers and home industry executives attribute part of the increase in design spending to reallocated vacation budgets. Why save up for a dream trip that could be years away when you need a great new sofa to sit on 16 hours a day right now ?

But all of that may be about to change, with travel expected to make a resounding comeback in the second quarter of 2022. According to travel industry experts and trend reports alike, people are not only planning to travel again, but they’re planning major, bucket-list-type trips (think: African safaris or luxury cruises to Antarctica). “We’re still seeing fewer travelers overall, but those who are traveling are staying away longer and spending more,” says Joshua Bush , CEO at Avenue Two Travel. “We’re seeing a higher percentage of private-jet requests than ever before, for example.”

In an Expedia poll of 12,000 people from 12 countries, the travel booking site reported that 40 percent of respondents said that they’re willing to spend more on travel over the coming year than they would have in previous years. With that willingness to splurge comes a renewed focus on advance planning. People who may have been more likely to travel somewhat spontaneously are being more cautious. A 2022 trend report released by home rental platform Vrbo revealed that the company had seen bookings extend by up to two to three months last year, with users reserving properties for July as early as February and making bookings for year-end holiday travel over the summer months.

With that earlier spending taking hold, Bush says that his agency has seen an influx in inquiries from clients who had never used a travel agency before, a trend that Misty Belles , a travel adviser at Virtuoso, has also seen. “There are so many rules and regulations in place from country to country right now, and they continue to be in flux,” says Belles. “People want someone to navigate all those uncertainties for them and still be able to enjoy their vacation.”

Despite the rise of the omicron variant, Belles and Bush say they haven’t seen a rush to cancel trips among their clientele. “People are maybe postponing trips they were going to take in January or February to March or April, but bookings for the summer have stayed strong,” says Bush.

With travel rebounding, will it cut back on home spending? The answer probably depends on where you sit in the market. For designers working with an affluent clientele, the choice between taking an extravagant vacation and spending big on a renovation isn’t really a choice at all—it’s, at most, a scheduling challenge. As a result, many designers are optimistic that a return to travel won’t impact their business, or they feel like it will end up having a positive effect.

“I haven’t observed any reduction in client design budgets, even as I’ve started seeing friends, colleagues and clients tread back toward leisure travel,” says San Francisco designer Noz Nozawa . “I’m actually optimistic that our industry will influence travel behavior. As people start making more travel plans, everyone’s interest in the home will lead to greater interest in treating oneself to staying at [well-designed] hotels. And because so many of us have clients whose office jobs will indefinitely be at least partially work-from-home, I don’t think travel will reduce [their] interest in improving their homes.”

A bigger impact is probably more likely in the middle and lower tiers of the market, where homeowners do have to choose between a trip to France and a new bathroom. Though they might not say so on the record, retail brands and designers who work with middle-class homeowners are likely eyeing the rush back to travel with some nervousness.

Only time will tell. With more avenues for extravagant spending opening up along with international borders, this year will likely show whether the renewed significance of the home is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon or a larger cultural reevaluation of what (and where) we place value.

Homepage photo: A high-end property listed on Vrbo | Courtesy of Vrbo

industry insider

The DCOTA is back on the auction block

Surya relaunches Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Is bad news for the economy good news for designers?

A simple, powerful new way for design retailers to give back

Red Sea shipping delays hit the home industry

Business of Home mission Statement

Newsletter and social, magazine subscribe, footer navigation.

Meet the Team
Our Manifesto
Work with Us
Budget Travel
Personal Development
Work & Travel
United Kingdom
More of Europe
Philippines
More of Southeast Asia
More of South America
More of Central America
South Korea
More of Asia
More of North America
New Zealand
Pacific Islands
More of Oceania
South Africa
More of Africa
More of the Middle East
Travel Essentials
Travel Gear

Home » Budget Travel » Homestays 101: The ULTIMATE Guide to Staying With Locals! (2024)

Homestays 101: The ULTIMATE Guide to Staying With Locals! (2024)

Some of my best nights spent travelling haven’t been inside of an Airbnb, a hotel, or even a hostel. They’ve taken place in local abodes, complete with home-cooked meals and heaps of connections.

If you’ve never heard of them before, the entire concept of homestays might sound confusing. Spending a night with a stranger? I get it. Homestays aren’t common everywhere, and it’s not an experience you can seek just anywhere.

But once you have your first real experience in a family homestay, I guarantee you’ll see what all the hype is about. Homestays give you a home away from home, and not just in the practical way that Airbnb does.

We all know home is so much more about “who” than “what” which is why staying with a real family can be so impactful. It directly immerses you into local life, and allows you to interact with communities in ways that aren’t possible otherwise.

But how exactly do you find these mystical homes that provide such unique travel experiences? In hopes to share the magic of homestays with other adventurous backpackers, I’ve put together this epic guide.

Here’s absolutely everything you need to know about homestay accommodation.

couple sitting at table in grassy yard looking out at a garden and mountains at a homestay

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

What is a Homestay?

How to find travel homestays, the best countries to try a homestay, what to expect at a homestay, are homestays safe, tips for epic homestay experiences, homestays explained: faqs, final thoughts for your homestay-ing adventures.

Buy Us a Coffee!

If you’re wondering “what the heck is a homestay?” you’ve absolutely come to the right place. They’re my favorite kind of accommodation and have led me to some of the best travel adventures. But that doesn’t really explain the meaning of a homestay, does it?

In short, a homestay allows you to meaningfully connect with locals by staying with them in their homes. These days, such accommodations come in all shapes and sizes. But at their core, they involve an “authentic” stay at a local home. They’ve also become more and more popular according to holiday accommodation stats .

bright orange fire burning on wood in a stove in a host family's home

It could put you inside the house in the same room, in a guest room, or in a separate portion of their home built specifically for tourists; it varies wildly between homes. Staying in a homestay could be as casual as grabbing a living room couch or in the form of a long-term arrangement like what you’d find with WWOOF.

Regardless of the varying specifics, one thing is constant across all homestays across the world. Or should be, that is.

A homestay isn’t just a place to rest your head after a long day of exploring. It’s an experience. And at its best, can actually become a home-away-from-away.

Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??

Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.

Why You Should Book a Homestay

Homestay bookings allow you insight into local life that you’d never find otherwise, all whilst fostering connections that can lead to real friendships. It doesn’t matter how authentic a killer street food is. The reality is that no type of food is more authentic than one cooked in a home kitchen.

And even if you stay in an Airbnb that gives you an idea of how a local home looks , you still won’t know how it feels. You won’t get to experience sipping butter tea boiled over a traditional bukhari . Nor will you feel the joy of getting to connect with someone born worlds away from you.

a meal spread out on a blue mat at a homestay

Whether you want to tend to crops on a rural Spanish farm or discover every corner of South Asian city via Couchsurfing , there’s a host out there for you! Unlike hotels which often provide quite stale experiences, staying with a host family is guaranteed to be more than just a place to rest at night. In fact, if you really do it right, you should come away from a homestay feeling like it taught you more about the destination than anywhere else you’ve visited.

Because that’s the whole point. Homestays give rare access into the daily lives and happenings of locals, and expose you to things you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Staying in homestays can lead to onward travel plans, hidden spots that only locals know, and real, long-lasting friendships!

Homestay vs Airbnb & Hotels: Homestay Advantages and Disadvantages

As with everything, there are definitely advantages AND disadvantages to staying in a homestay.

Sure, Hotels and (private) Airbnbs might be able to provide you with more privacy and luxury. But they’ll never be able to compete with homestays when it comes to real, immersive travel experiences.

But while I like to think the positives of homestays far outweigh the negatives, here are some realities to be aware of before you book homes from local hosts.

Cultural immersion like no other
Homecooked meals
Ability to make long-lasting friendships
Getting to go to local spots you wouldn’t know about otherwise
Usually budget-friendly or even free
Language learning
Little to no privacy
Homestay families may set rules or curfews
Some working homestays might require a lot from you
Possible safety concerns
Homestays aren’t available everywhere
A host can cancel last minute

Want to save money on accommodation?

supporting image for Booking.com deals promo

We got you. For reals.

If you’re traveling in a country like Pakistan or India, finding a host family can literally be as simple as stepping outside or hopping on a local bus. Seriously, it’s happened to me dozens of times by now!

But for more traditional locales, using one of the following websites is surely the best way to find your homestay.

wooden homestay in grassy field in thailand

The Best Homestay Websites

The way you find your host family will be as unique as the stay itself as there are a LOT of different ways to discover homestays these days. “Official” local homestays are often listed on popular booking sites. However be extremely nitpicky with these, as it’s not unheard of for regular hotels to call themselves homestays these days.

Homestay.com

There’s also Homestay.com . This site functions very much like Couchsurfing, but for nightly rates instead of just a yearly fee. Homestay.com states that it has “over 33,000 homes in 176 countries” so there’s certainly a hefty dose of variety there.

three members of a peruvian family smiling for a photo at thei homestay

Like Couchsurfing, Homestay.com has reviews available for each host and a full description of where and with whom you’ll be staying.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is perhaps one of the best homestay websites to find “real” host families. For just $14 a year, you have full access to the platform, which can connect you with locals and their homes all over the globe.

Couchsurfers can be found all over the globe. And while you might have to stay on an actual couch, many hosts have separate private rooms for surfers.

What makes the platform so great is that it breeds authenticity. Hosts are not paid for accommodating travelers, so you can be sure that anyone on the platform is genuinely looking to make friends. Plus it’s a platform with slow travelers in mind. I once stayed with a host for over a month!

It’s important to note that “real” Couchsurfing is not possible everywhere. In most American and Western European cities, it’s become more of a hookup service instead of a form of cultural immersion. Couchsurfing is definitely at its best in offbeat travel destinations .

Volunteering at Homestays

Worldpackers, Workaway, and WWOOF are the world’s most popular ways to find working homestay options.

These gigs tend to be semi-long-term, and usually include free food as well. Altogether, the 3 sites have such a wide variety of jobs to choose from that virtually any traveler will be able to find something appealing.

Booking.com

While primarily for finding hotels, you can also find traditional local homestays with signs and designated spaces for travelers on Booking.com.

Make sure to read the reviews very carefully to ensure that the listing is ACTUALLY a homestay. Keep in mind that there are many destinations where you won’t be able to find any at all. In that case, Couchsurfing should be able to come in handy.

Airbnb is unique in the travel accommodation game. And it’s yet ANOTHER way to find a homestay. “Private” and “Shared” room options sometimes mean you’ll be sharing the space with locals. You still have to carefully read reviews though–not all listings in these categories provide the type of stay you’re likely seeking.

white twin bed in wooden and white boho style beach room airbnb homestay

Good, old-fashioned word of mouth is another way to find kick-ass homestays. The best homestay I’ve ever experienced was mentioned in casual conversation by another traveler.

Types of Homestay Accommodation

No two homestays are the same, but there are definitely distinct categories of home stays you should be aware of. These days you’ll also find platforms like Fairbnb that are supporting social projects and local communities. Let’s get into it:

bamboo accomodation in a rice field what is a homestay

Ever heard of Worldpackers, Workaway, or WWOOF? If so, you know where I’m going with this. But in case not: let me explain. These three platforms connect travelers with jobs all over the world.

The set-up is simple: travelers get free food and accommodation in exchange for working an agreed-upon job. This type of homestay ensures you still get the local accommodation experience. It also helps you to contribute to a local project at the same time.

Local homestays can often be found on hotel booking sites . Most commonly function either as an addition or a guest room on someone’s property. The key difference between a homestay and a hotel is the home element. While a budget guesthouse might also be run by a local family, a homestay means you will undoubtedly get to spend some or all of your stay in a place where a family actually lives.

The original homestay was literally finding a host off the street, usually via invite. This still happens in numerous countries today and I’ve had incredible experiences with hosts in India and Pakistan in particular.

Finding random hosts is undoubtedly the most “authentic” type of homestay experience if we’re being honest. Although that doesn’t mean all the other types of homestays aren’t also awesome.

Aside from finding random host families, you can also try Couchsurfing, which is a (mostly) free platform. It recently began charging a $14 annual membership fee, but the nights with your host abroad are completely free. Couchsurfing is still one of the easiest ways to stay with locals around the world, and you can do it pretty much everywhere.

Personally, this is my least favorite type of homestay and the only one on this list I do NOT recommend trying. While homestays traditionally cater to backpackers, more and more bougie “eco-lodges.”

Unless this is what you’re interested in, make sure you read ALL reviews to ensure they’re not just borrowing the word ‘homestay’. It’s also a fairly solid rule that genuine homestay experiences are under $20 a night, often with food included. If you see a rate above that, be very skeptical!

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

So you can book an Airbnb practically anywhere in the world. And you can live the hostel life almost everywhere. But local homestays (not working ones, which can also be found pretty much anywhere) are best experienced in a select few regions.

Asia, in particular, is the Queen of Homestay accommodation. Though you can find hosts on other continents, too.

Thailand is one of the best destinations to experience “official” local homestays. As I mentioned, these types of homestays can often be booked online, and usually include a private room for guests to stay in.

bamboo house on stilts thailand homestay

As Thailand is one of the most popular backpacking destinations in the world, its tourism industry is quite developed and homestays are not hard to find! You can also find various working homestay projects to get involved in all over the country.

Another iconic South Asian locale, Nepal is filled with friendly people and unique traditions that are best experienced inside of a home! The “trekker’s paradise” has dozens of registered homestays all over the country, with additional options on Airbnb and Couchsurfing.

rural homestay with mountains behind it in nepal

To make the most of your experience at a Nepal homestay, look for homes in remote areas that might be difficult to stay in or access otherwise.

It doesn’t get much easier than this to find a host family. I’ve stayed with locals while backpacking in Pakistan through random encounters, Couchsurfing, official listings, and even friends (or family) of friends. Heavy on the random encounters though!

white house with garden homestay in pakistan

Pakistanis are extremely hospitable to tourists, and this is the number one characteristic of a good homestay destination.

The mountainous regions of Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan have some fantastic local homestays to choose from. My favorite is the Tourist Garden Inn in Mastuj. It’s a separate portion of a family’s home and has been helping adventurous backpackers since the ‘90s.

Since it’s so easy to meet Pakistanis, and so many speak English, receiving an invite from a kind stranger is all but a guarantee.

484 pages with cities, towns, parks, and ALL the out-of-the-way places you will WANT to know. If you truly want to discover Pakistan , download this PDF .

India is filled with the aforementioned local homestay option. You can find particularly great ones in scenic areas like Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, the breathtaking Southern state dubbed “God’s Own Country.”

white buddhist monastery built into a hillside in india what is a homestay

Like its neighbor Pakistan, you can expect to find breathtaking hospitality in India, which makes it yet another top pick for completely random homestays. India also has a thriving Couchsurfing scene. I’ve personally stayed with surfers in numerous cities throughout the country, and each experience highly, highly beat out what I could have found in nearby hotels.

If you plan on backpacking India , you should deffs at least download the Couchsurfing app. Look for places on booking sites that include the word “homestay,” and BE SURE they have descriptions and reviews that can confirm.

backpacker drinking using grayl geopress filter bottle

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress rigorously from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Each homestay is just as unique as those who run it. But here are some common amenities that make homestays so special–and so different from hotels!

yellow flowers in garden with tan mountains in background homestay in pakistan

Homecooked food – One of my favorite things about homestays is that they almost ALWAYS serve homecooked food! Whether or not the food is included in the nightly rate depends on each specific host, but you can almost guarantee you’ll be eating straight from your host’s kitchen!
Cultural immersion – Why choose a homestay over a hotel? If no other reason appeals to you, allow cultural immersion to be that reason. Homestays allow you to connect with locals in ways you would never be able to in other options. They give you a chance to see how locals really live, and provide insights into traditions and cultures you can only get inside a real home.
Space to chill – Homestays often mean amazing outdoor spaces. From massive gardens to surreal mountain views, to cool rooftop spots, hosts I’ve stayed with have had it all and more. Unlike hotels that often have no “chill space,” homestays have a knack for keeping open areas inviting and often trendy, too!
Affordable rates – While some commercialized homestays might not be budget-friendly, authentic homes are often priced with budget backpackers in mind. Some platforms like Couchsurfing are completely free! Homestays sometimes include at least one meal or extras like tea in the nightly rate, which is another benefit over hotels.
Daytrips – One of my favorite trips while traveling was only made possible thanks to the amazing hosts of the homestay I was staying at. They helped me arrange travel to a very remote region while traveling in Pakistan and connected me with more homes to stay in deeper in the valley. Homestay hosts are also known to show travelers around or offer trips to more difficult-to-reach locales. At the very least, your host can certainly help you plan onward travel!
Real friendships! – Due to their intimate nature, homestays should be your go-to if you’re looking to make genuine local connections. Whether they’re a Couchsurfing host or an owner of an established homestay business, don’t count out your host becoming a legit friend.

While homestay-ing is generally safe, there’s obviously a difference between staying with a random family you met on the street and a registered homestay house. Solo female travelers in particular will want to forego staying with single men for the most part, unless they have a plethora of positive reviews from other women.

To have the safest homestay experience possible, only stay with hosts who have great feedback. Ignore those on Couchsurfing especially with little to no feedback.

Of course, the ultimate travel safety tip: go with your gut. Even if a place has a million positive reviews, if you arrive at a homestay and feel unsafe or uncomfy in any way, get out! You won’t have to see the person again, and safety is always more important than saving face.

Staying Safe at Homestays

Whether you’re heading to an official homestay that’s been stayed in thousands of times, or taking a chance on a completely random family, you’re going to want to protect yourself (and your wallet) from any potential mishaps. Regardless of which country you’ll be exploring, or how long you’ll be there, it’s always a stellar idea to have some good travel insurance !

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

serene wooden homes in rice paddies thailand homestays

After spending many incredible nights in various homestays all over the world, I’ve found there are a few things you absolutely SHOULD do before staying with locals while traveling.

Read ALL reviews! – Not all homestays have an online presence. For those that do, you’re definitely going to get real familiar with the review section. This is especially important if you’re traveling without a travel buddy .
Note the location – Staying with a host family on the outskirts of a city can still make for a great time, but it can also hinder your experience as well if there isn’t any transportation. Of course, this doesn’t really apply to rural areas, where the goal is to be far away from civilization!
Get recommendations from other travelers – Online booking sites have revolutionized the travel industry, and they’re super useful for finding homestays. But some of the best homestays I’ve had the pleasure of spending time in weren’t found online, but rather in conversation with fellow backpackers. Facebook groups about your destination are great places to start when you’re planning your trip .
Know what you’re getting into – Each and every homestay is different. Some might give you a private room. Some may be home to children, and still others might have plenty of cuddly animals running around. For the most rewarding experience, make sure you’re choosing a host who fits your travel style!
Take advantage of every opportunity! – The whole point of a homestay is to fully immerse yourself into a brand new culture, while hopefully making some friends along the way. Spend as much time as you can in shared spaces, try all the food, and if a host invites you on an outing–go go go!

Work and Stay With Locals Through Worldpackers!

If you’re looking for a more long-term homestay situation, then look no further than Worldpackers! I’ve already mentioned the concept of working homestays.

Here at The Broke Backpacker, it’s our number one choice for volunteering abroad . In exchange for accommodation, food, and real cultural immersion of course!

Worldpackers connects travelers with local hosts and projects all over the world and has unique community features that beat out all competitors.

Alternatively, Workaway is another fantastic platform for finding working homestays abroad.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with meaningful travel experiences.

What is a homestay?

Homestay accommodation is when you stay in a local home. It, therefore, becomes a cultural experience too. A homestay can take many forms, and may or may not be free.

What is a host family?

A host family is the family that owns the home or runs the homestay you’ll be staying in. This may be a large family, a couple, or a single person.

How is a homestay different from a regular hotel?

While you might still have your own private room in a homestay, unlike a hotel, a homestay is either attached to or in someone’s home. You’ll get to have home-cooked meals and have unique local experience and knowledge you won’t find from hotels, where workers are often not even locals.

Can you live in a homestay?

If you find a homestay you really like, you can certainly stay there as long as you’re allowed to stay in the country. Working homestays also provide a more long-term live-in experience.

What kinds of homes can you stay in?

Homestays come in all shapes and sizes. You can find homestays in the forms of mansions, shared rooms, and everything in between.

Homestays aren’t just a place to rest your head at night. They’re a place to truly get to know the people and the place you’re visiting in ways that could never happen from a hotel room.

In 2019, I found a homestay in the nether regions of Pakistan’s Chitral district. What I thought would just be a short stay turned into an entire adventure with my host, along with a follow-up visit more than two years later. Now that’s the magic of homestays .

On yet another occasion, I ended up spending a total of 6 weeks with a host I met from Couchsurfing, which allowed me to experience some truly epic Pakistani festivals that I never would have known about otherwise.

It’s for these exact reasons why homestays are so sweet. At their best, they allow you to genuinely connect with locals, and take part in aspects of their lives that hotels shield you from. Discovering amazing homes, and making lifelong friendships within them, have made for some of my favorite experiences on the road.

As great as hostels, traditional hotels, and private Airbnbs can be, they can’t quite beat out a killer homestay. Because if you do it right, a homestay can easily become a second home and the people who run it can turn into a second family.

Now what are you waiting for?

Get out there and find an amazing homestay today! And don’t forget to be present once you get there. There’s so much to see and learn!

gitl sitting with two elders in their home in a remote region in pakistan homestaying

Buy Us a Coffee !

A couple of you lovely people suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee . If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂

Samantha Shea

Share or save this post

I just experienced homestaying in the north region of Pakistan, i.e. Swat, Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu and i have gathered heaps of experiences, tastes all traditional cuisines, made so many meaningful connections with people, land and culture. I am going to adapt it as my travel-style onwards. thanks for very kind words about Pakistani hospitality, it’s true worth-experiencing

What The Emotional Meaning of Home Really Means

May 21, 2024

Home is where the heart is, right? Not quite. Here’s why it’s worth taking a look at the deeper meaning of home. The emotional meaning of home.

What is home - crab takes his home with him in the Maldives

Table of Contents

The Emotional Meaning of Home

This week, I was supposed to be travelling. But I was sick. I stayed at home.

Much is written about the power of travel, about how new places, people and experiences light up our senses and stimulate our minds. Little is written about those other two words. Sickness. And home.

Recommended reading: The Importance of Doing Nothing

Perhaps it’s a product of practicality. When writers get sick, it’s much harder to write. Only when all hope of recovery is gone do people push through and put pen to paper, keyboard to screen or blink to assistant as in the case of Jean-Dominique Bauby , the journalist who wrote The Diving Bell and the Butterfly*.

This man had suffered a stroke that left him “locked in,” able to communicate only by closing one eye. An assistant would trace the letters in the alphabet and his eyelashes would flutter when she reached the right swirl. Each word took two minutes. The work, ten months to write.

Home is Not a Place

And to write about home, whether healthy or well, is to write about love. That is, a word we assume we know what it means until we actually stop and think.

And that’s how they all tie in together, those three words, I think.

They force us to think. They give us the time to think. The permission to think instead of achieve.

Words to Describe the Feeling of Home

When travel strips us from our everyday cares, removes our social crutches and forces us to face the truth that there is no-one but ourselves for company one long and lonely night, when there’s nothing, really nothing else we can be doing but waiting silently where we are…

We give ourselves permission to really let our thoughts fly.

Emotions Associated with Home

And sickness, spent at home, does much the same thing. It leaves us with our thoughts and a desperate desire for change, to make this stop, in a way that sickness on the road cannot. On the road, sickness focuses on survival: the need to reach somewhere safe and the desire to go home.

At home, we are left with our thoughts. And, if we’re lucky, reruns of CSI Miami.

The Psychology of Home

Of all my thoughts about home lately, the ones I recall the most are the cries of the terminally ill.

“I just want to die at home.”

Since hospitals remain dismal places, with air that smells like corrugated cabbage and corridors washed down with printed leaflets and bleach, the first hearing of such a statement sounds like a perfectly sensible idea.

Yet it delves deeper than that. A desire to reach home even when it is hours and days away with a painful path to get there and an uncertain welcome at the end.

Helena Rubinsteins' Childhood Home, Kazimierz, Krakow

Searching for Home: What is Home to You?

My father once told me of a patient he cared for in Bellevue Hospital, New York. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, he longed to reach his homeland, Croatia, though he no longer had family there.

Since this was the early 90s, the hospital staff were aghast.

“You can’t go to Croatia, there’s a war on over there!”

“Well,” shrugged the man. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

As I write, I feel shaky and I know that a fight to the death is going on inside me. Thankfully, medical opinion predicts that it is I who should win and the microbes the ones to die. This time around, at least. One hundred years ago, it would have been a different story. And even now there are no guarantees.

I have shivered and slept and let my thoughts fly.

And then I turned on Twitter. To see that the theme for this week’s #FriFotos was “home.”

Robert Frost once said that “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

To which I’ll add my own fevered line:

Home is where you long to be whenever sickness calls.

So keep well, enjoy the photos and have a have a think…what is home for you?

The Emotional Meaning of Home Around the World

Beit Sitti - Cooking lessons in Jordan inside someone's home

39 thoughts on “What The Emotional Meaning of Home Really Means”

Going through some adventurous Travel articles and then suddenly found something interesting and it made me really home sick now and made me realize importance of home. I hope you are better now and measuring some new destinations.

Thank you! And I hope that your home sickness has passed you by by now…Here’s to exploring – and health!

That is a very interesting take on the definition of home. Never thought of it that way

20 Ways to Travel From Home

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

We love to travel. But it’s not always possible to travel all the time. Sometimes world events conspire against us to restrict travel, other times our budget might not stretch to cover travel. All is not lost however! There are lots of ways to travel from home, which I’m going to cover in this post.

These options, many of which are free, will let you get some of the thrill of travelling even when you are at home. They can inspire you for future trips, help with your trip planning, teach you about a destination, or simply fill some time with travel related activities.

If you have children, some of our tips for travelling from home can be a great way for families to virtually learn about the world, different cultures, history, animals, and more.

One of the great things about armchair travel is that you can do it from home at any time! And it generally requires little, if any, planning or money to do it.

Whilst nothing can entirely replace the wonder of traveling to a new destination, we hope these ideas on traveling from home will give you some ways to explore the world from wherever you are.

Table of Contents:

How to Travel from Home

Whether you’re planning a trip that you want to get more excited about, want to research a potential destination, or just want some travel themed ways to entertain yourself or your family at home, we hope these ideas for traveling from home inspire you to do some armchair traveling or your own!

Guided Virtual Tours

When we travel, we love to take guided walking tours. They’re a great way to get to know a destination or specific attraction, and learn about what it is we’re seeing.

One walking tour company that we often use and recommend is Context Travel . We’re delighted that they also offer virtual guided tours. These tours can be a great way to learn about a location in advance of your visit, or even just as a way to explore somewhere you might not have thought of visiting. If you’re at home with kids, you can think of one of these tours as a virtual field trip!

Context offers a range of tours from home. These are divided into courses and private virtual tours. The seminars are pre-scheduled events which are open to all, you just need to sign up and pay the fee.

The private tours are more expensive, but are designed to give you a private and more detailed tours on a specific subject. These are similar to the real-world tours they offer.

The other nice thing about Context is that if you don’t see a private tour that suits your particular interests, you can drop them a request for a tour that does.

We also have an exclusive discount code for Context’s virtual tours and seminars, which is travelcats . Enter the code at checkout to get 15% off your first order.

Of course, there are several other tour companies offering virtual tours as well. See some of the options available here on Viator for an example of what else is out there.

Books and Audiobooks about Travel

As Anna Quindlen said in How Reading Changed My Life , ““Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.”

We would have to agree. Books are a wonderful way to take a journey without leaving your house, be that on a voyage to fantasy worlds, or on an adventure through our own.

They can be educational, entertaining, and informative, and you can enjoy them almost anywhere. You can choose a specific destination to explore through a travel writer’s eyes, or you can read a travel themed work of fiction. You can read a book for armchair travel, to inspire and help you plan a possible future trip, or as an activity as a family.

Here are some of our favourite travel books, which cover a whole range of travel related subjects. Most of these are also available as audiobooks so you can have someone read to you while you do other tasks.

Non-fiction travel writing

Any of Bill Bryson’s travel books which are filled with funny anecdotes about his travels, particularly around the USA, UK, and Australia
Paul Theroux is another well known travel writer with many books to choose from
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle – British couple moves to Provence
The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan – history of the Silk Road and the countries it runs through
Train by Tom Zoellner – great book about train history and riding trains around the world
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway – a memoir of Hemingway’s life in 1920’s Paris, published posthumously
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – a travel memoir chronicling the journey of the author through India, Italy and Indonesia

Fiction travel writing

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – Laurence’s all time favourite book. Definite escapism, with a vague travel theme
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – a book about the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – this book about mysterious symbols, ancient societies and hidden clues pave a trail across Europe, with a particular focus on Italy. Definitely a fun read.

Travel Inspiration books

You Only Live Once – This Lonely Planet book has a massive list of experiences to kindle your excitement for all kinds of things, many of which are travel related
1,000 Places to See Before you Die – awesome inspiration for future travels. There is also a United States and Canada version of this book for those traveling around North America.
Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips – another one for those of you looking for inspiration for planning future adventures

Children’s Travel Books

The Travel Book: A journey through every country in the world – aimed at kids, this book takes the reader on a journey through 200 countries, with fun facts on all of them

If you’re looking for more travel reading inspiration, check out this comment thread in our Facebook group for lovers of travel.

Travel Themed Films

Of course, books aren’t the only medium which allow us to travel from our own homes. Film is another way we can explore the world, and there are some fantastic travel themed films as well, which make for great viewing.

Some of these are based on true stories, whilst others are entirely fictional. Regardless, there are some great options in here which can serve as inspiration for a future trip, or just provide some travel based entertainment.

Here are just a handful of the movies we love:

Midnight in Paris – we love this story of an American who travel back to 1920s Paris and meets many of his artistic heroes
Eat Pray Love – film version of the popular novel by Elizabeth Gilbert
Lord of the Rings – this film trilogy inspired me to spend a year exploring New Zealand. It’s a stunning showcase of the beauty of the country, as well as an epic story.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – this story of a man searching for a more adventurous life features some stunning travel scenery, including beautiful scenes shot in Iceland
The Beach – the film (based on a novel by Alex Garland) that inspired thousands of travellers to travel to Thailand
The Bucket List – the movie that spawned the phrase tells the story of a terminally ill patient trying to accomplish a list of things to do before he dies
The Way – a bittersweet story of a man walking Spain’s popular Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage after the death of his son
Out of Africa – an epic romantic drama based on a true story about a Danish woman who moves to Kenya, and the challenges and adventures she faces as a result
A Walk in the Woods – a movie version of Bill Bryson’s novel of the same name, about his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail
Up – if you’re looking for a lovely family movie about travel to watch with your kids (or even without!), this tale of a senior adventurer setting off on a fantastical voyage with a young traveller should hit the spot
The Lion King – Beautifully remade in glorious 3D in 2019, this coming of age story of a young lion will take you on a beautiful journey through the African wilderness, and might inspire you to head off on safari

As you can see, there are no shortage of movies about travel to inspire your wanderlust!

Travel Podcasts

If you like the idea of learning about travel by audio, you might want to subscribe to a podcast. These are usually regularly updated shows that you can listen to on any of your devices.

There are podcasts across a whole range of subjects, including travel. And of course, within travel, there’s a whole range of podcast topics and shows to choose from, including family travel, budget travel, solo female travel, long term nomadic travel – the list goes on.

As you would imagine, there’s a huge number of travel podcasts to listen to, and they’re also free. So you have nothing to lose by trying a few of them to find one you like. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Rick Steves Podcasts – Rick Steves is one of the best known US based travelers, with his own range of guidebooks, products, and tours. In addition to his popular TV series and radio show, he also has a series of podcasts, covering a number of travel topics, including tips for travel in Europe, and interviews with travel authors and experts.
Amateur Traveler – hosted by Chris Christensen, this podcast interviews expert travellers from around the world. It’s been running since 2005 and runs weekly, so as you might imagine, pretty much every destination in the world has been covered.
Rough Guides Podcast – Rough Guide is a popular series of travel guidebooks, and they also offer a number of travel themed podcasts.
Armchair Explorer – Aaron Miller hosts this popular travel podcast series which features some of the world’s greatest adventurers telling their favourite story from the road. It’s done in a documentary style, which makes for a gripping and immersive experience
The Travel Diaries – Holly Rubenstein hosts a weekly interview series where she talks to special guests about their travel experiences around the world.
Y Travel Podcast – Australian couple Caz and Craig have been blogging about travel, with a specific focus on family travel, for about as long as we have. They’ve recently launched a travel podcast, which covers interviews, family travel and travel tips.

As you can see, there are plenty of podcasts to choose from, and there are thousands more out there to discover!

Live Webcams, 360 views, & Virtual Visits

If you want to explore a location at your leisure rather than on a tour, you have no shortage of options. There’s a huge number of live webcams and virtual tours available at destinations around the world.

These range in what they offer, from 360 degree interactive tours of existing locations, through to webcams, virtual renditions of past locations, and more. You can visit natural wonders, museums, wild animal locations, zoos, parks, observatories, and more!

Here are a few options to consider, all of which are free.

Google has a virtual tour of the Pyramids of Giza
Take a wander around a virtual rendition of Angkor Wat in Cambodia right here
This is an excellent interactive virtual tour of Stonehenge by English Heritage
Take a walk inside the Colosseum in Rome thanks to this tour from Google
Lots of museums have virtual tours as well. Check out this tour of the Louvre , this one of the Vatican Museum , this tour of the British Museum and this one of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to get you started
A series of live webcams of wild animals across countries in Africa
Live farm animals from a farm in the UK

As you can see, there’s something here for most interests!

Decorate your House with a Travel Theme

If you love to travel, one great way to get a travel vibe even when you are at home is to decorate your home with a travel theme.

There are a huge number of travel themed home decor items out there, and you can go as crazy or understated as you like. The list of what is available is long, but just to get you thinking, there’s travel themed bedding, wall art, throw pillows, globes, custom photo frames, tea towels, mugs, and more!

Maybe it’s just a few items to remind you of a trip, or perhaps you want to theme a room in a travel style. Or, you really love travel and want to give your whole home a travel makeover!

Whatever direction you want to go, we think you’ll find some products to suit.

We have some favourite travel themed items we decorate our own home with. We love our wall map pinboard for example, which lets us plan future trips and remember past trips. We’re also big fans of these travel themed wall decals , which add a cool travel theme to the wall of any room, and Jess loves her French inspired trinket dishes .

For more ideas, check out our comprehensive travel inspired home decor post, which has over 75 ideas for home decor items covering every room in your home!

Through Cooking

For many travelers, experiencing the food of a country is one of the highlights of a trip. Whether it’s pizza in Italy, curries in India, or the comfort food of the USA’s southeast, food has a way to transport us to a destination. Sometimes, just eating a dish we’ve experienced in a place can take us right back there!

If you can’t travel to a country, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy its food. You can do this either by going out to a restaurant, or by learning how to recreate some of your favourite food experiences from your travels yourself.

Learning how to cook different dishes from around the world can be a really fun experience, and one you can involve your whole family in. You get multiple benefits – a new meal to add to your cooking repertoire, a fun experience everyone can join in on, an opportunity to learn about a culture through its food, and of course, a tasty meal to eat at the end of it all!

There are lots of ways to learn how to cook different dishes from around the world. To start with, there’s no shortage of cookbooks focused on the foods of different destinations. Some of these provide recipes from around the world, whereas other may focus on one country or region. Here are some to consider.

This cookbook features 450 dishes from around the world
This cookbook covers 1,000 foods you need to eat before you die, from all around the world
Love comfort food? Check out this recipe book featuring comfort food from around the world
This cookbook has over 500 recipes focused on the Mediterranean region

You can also check out Youtube cooking channels or TV shows about food . If you have cable or a streaming service subscription, you probably get at least one channel focused on food and cooking.

There are also lots of specialist food blogs, such as this one focusing on the food of the Seychelles , or this one focusing on Italian dishes.

We’re fairly sure that you’ll have no trouble finding information to recreate delicious meals to take your taste buds on a journey!

Plan a Future Trip

Just because you aren’t traveling right now, doesn’t mean you won’t ever travel again. So one way to fulfil your wanderlust might be to spend some time planning a future trip.

Planning a trip, especially one of the independent trips we enjoy the most, can be quite a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. You have to figure out exactly where you want to go, everything you want to see, any transport requirements, and plan where you’ll be staying. Then there’s what you’ll likely do each day, and of course, you’ll probably want to start thinking about potential dining options as well!

If you’re planning on travelling with others, perhaps friends or on a family trip, then you’re also going to want to discuss their interests and priorities for the trip as well. In our experience, group trips work best when everyone is involved in the planning from the beginning.

The trip you choose to plan can either be a real trip you plan to take in the near future, or you can have fun and put together a fantasy trip.

When it comes to trip planning, obviously we’re a little biased and would recommend you check out a travel blog to help. We have two, this one and Independent Travel Cats , both of which have content on number of destinations around the world, whether you’re planning a city break or a road trip.

Of course, travel blogs aren’t the only option when it comes to trip planning. We also love to use guidebooks, including the Rick Steves series, Lonely Planet and Insight Guides .

When it comes to the logistics of planning a trip, we like to use Google Drive for collaborative documents, Google Maps for putting together trip routes and sightseeing lists, and we have an extensive list of other tools we use for travel planning here .

Travel in Video Games

Not all travel has to be in the real world. You can take a virtual adventure in a video game, either to explore a representation of a real world location, or to tackle entirely different realities.

I’ve been playing video games since I could hook up a game console to a TV, and have spent thousands of hours in virtual worlds. There’s truly a video game for everyone, whether you want to visit distant galaxies, or take a virtual walk in a walking simulator (yes, this is a thing).

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

The Civilization series . The first entry in the Civilization Series launched in 1991, making this one of the world’s longest running gaming series. The goal of the game is to build an empire, from the dawn of civilization through to the modern day. Along the way you’ll compete with historical world leaders, build structures like the pyramids, and if you’re lucky, take your civilization into space. A fun title that is also somewhat educational, and a great family gaming option.
Assassin’s Creed series . If you prefer your games of the cut throat variety, check out the Assassin’s Creed series. These games have your protagonists generally trying to save the world from evil, whilst you explore a number of wonderfully rendered real world locations. If you’ve ever wanted to throw yourself around the 15th century rooftops of Florence, colonial Boston, or one of many other locations, this is a great way to do that.
No Man’s Sky . If your ideal means of travel is a spaceship with which you can explore the galaxy, you might want to try this vast space exploration simulator. This has you attempting to survive as you explore literally quadrillions of planets across hundreds of galaxies.
Watch_Dogs 2 . This third person game is set in a fictionalized version of the San Francisco Bay Area, and has you playing as an elite hacker out to thwart an evil corporations privacy invading plot.
Lost Ember . If all the above sound a bit like hard work to you, then you might enjoy Lost Ember. Set in a post-human world, this has you exploring a series of stunning environments as a wide range of real world animals. There is a story to follow, but mostly it’s about just exploring the world and relaxing. Another good family entertainment option.
World of Warcraft . If you are looking to explore a fantasy adventure land on an epic scale in real time with millions of other players, then look no further than World of Warcraft. This game has you picking a race and faction, and setting out to make your name in a massive world consisting of a number of lands.
Minecraft . If you prefer the idea of building your own world, then you might like to try Minecraft. If you do, you won’t be alone, as Minecraft is the world’s best selling video game of all time. You can build your own world, tour virtual recreations of real world structures and locations, and generally have a block filled adventure. Another great family option.
Planet Coaster . If you love to visit theme parks, then you might want to give a theme park simulation game a go. These started back in the 1990s with Theme Park , which had a number of spiritual successors, including the RollerCoaster Tycoon series . Game play is similar, but the graphics have improved over the years. The overall goal is to build and manage your very own theme park, including ride construction as well as staff and concession management. The most recent and widely acclaimed version currently available is Planet Coaster .

Of course, this is just scratching the surface of what’s available when it comes to video games that can take you on a journey, but hopefully it gives you some inspiration and a good starting point for your search.

Revisit Old Travel Photos, Videos, & Memories

When we travel, we often take a lot of photos of our trips. Sometimes we collect souvenirs as well as mementos.

A fun way to go on a virtual trip is to revisit an old adventure you’ve had, and a great way to do that is to look through the photos, videos or travel travel journals you have from past adventures, as well as the items you bought when traveling.

This can be a really nice way to feel a little like you are traveling without leaving the house. Looking at old travel photos and videos, which are often collecting dust (be that real or digital!), is a lovely way to transport you back to a trip.

If you went on the trip with someone else, you might like to connect with them and go through the memories together. This way you’ll remember the moments you experienced together.

This can also be a good opportunity to consider turning some of your digital memories into physical mementos of your adventures, which can make for a fun home based travel themed project.

One easy way to do this is of course just to order prints, but there are lots more ways to turn your photos into physical items. From personalised mugs to custom throw blankets , there are loads of ways to turn memories into reality. See some more ideas in our guide to travel home decor .

Virtual Reality

If you want a more immersive travel experience than can be achieved via a computer game, movie or TV show, then you might want to check out a virtual reality experience instead.

There are two main types of virtual reality system that you can get. First, you can get a specialized virtual reality headset like one of the Oculus systems . Some of these work standalone, whilst other require a high end PC to get good results. This will definitely get you the best VR experience.

Another option is to get a headset which supports your smartphone like this or this . Since most of us already own a smartphone, and these tend to have motion sensitivity and high resolution screens, this can be an inexpensive way to experience virtual reality content.

However, the experience is definitely not as good as a dedicated system. The quality will be lower, there are no cameras to support interacting with real world environments, and you don’t get the advanced controllers that you get with a dedicated VR system. Support for these is definitely waning as manufacturers focus on the dedicated VR headset market.

Whatever option you go for, when you have your virtual reality solution you are going to need some content to view.

If you have a dedicated headset, then a good starting point is Google Earth VR , which will let you explore the world through Google Earth using your headset. Almost as good as being there!

If you have a smartphone solution, check out Google Street View which includes support for smartphone based VR.

Of course, there’s lots more content you can explore in VR, from rollercoaster rides on Youtube to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City . You can even take a virtual vacation in the Vacation Simulator game for VR!

Backyard / Home Camping

Taking a camping trip is a popular vacation option, and is particularly popular as a family travel option. Sometimes though, we might not be able to travel to our favourite camping spot.

All is not lost though! You can recreate the fun of a camping adventure in your own home.

If you happen to have a yard or outdoor space, then you can definitely take advantage of this area to pitch a tent, have a BBQ, and generally take part in all the fun camping activities you would do at a real campsite. In some ways it’s even better – you have access to your own bathroom, and if the weather turns bad you can always just go inside!

Even if you don’t have your own outdoor space, you can still recreate your own camping experience. Just set up one of your rooms as a campsite! You might have to be creative with your tent construction as most home floors don’t work so well for pegs, but as it’s unlikely to be windy indoors you can probably get away with a slightly less robust solution. And if you don’t have a tent, you can make a DIY camp out of some sheets and blankets!

We appreciate that camping at home might not be exactly the same as camping at a remote wilderness location, but this can definitely be a fun experience, especially if you have kids.

Travel TV Shows

There’s no shortage of TV shows for you to enjoy and get a travel fix from. These range from spectacular wildlife documentaries, through to television dramas that will make you fall in love with a destination, through to stories of adventure.

So whether it’s travel inspiration you want, a good story, or just to explore far flung corners of the globe, there’s a TV show for you. Here are some to think about.

Planet Earth – This is an epic documentary series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, which took four years to make. It will take you on a journey across some of the world’s most awe inspiring natural wonders. There’s also a sequel, Planet Earth 2 .
Long Way Round – In 2004, actor Ewan McGregor and his friend, TV presenter Charley Boorman, set off on a quest to travel from London to New York by motorcycle. The series covers the 19,000 miles they covered, and the challenges they faced along the way. It has since been followed up with an overland journey from London to Cape town called the Long Way Down . A third iteration called the Long Way Up, from Argentina to California, is due in 2020.
Parts Unknown – hosted by the late Anthony Bourdain, this travel and food show spans 12 seasons and 104 episodes, and takes the viewer to less visited parts of the world to explore both culture and cuisine.
Rick Steves’ Europe – Hosted by Rick Steves, these half hour episodes will take you on a journey across a number of European destinations, as well as a number of other countries.
Outlander – There’s no shortage of fictional TV shows set in stunning locations, but Outlander is perhaps one of the most well known. This time travel shows features locations around the world, but is best known for the stunning Scottish landscapes it depicts
The Amazing Race – this competitive reality TV game show has couples competing in challenges in locations around the world, as part of a wider challenge to race around the world. It has been filmed in locations around the world, and there have been over thirty seasons to date! The American version is the original, but a number of other countries also have versions of this popular show.
Places to Love – hosted by Samantha Brown, this lovely travel series focuses on the emotional heart of travel, and the people who make up the places she visits
Dora the Explorer – If you have younger kids, they will likely love the adventures of Dora. Whilst the show doesn’t visit real world locations, a live action movie released in 2019 does.

Naturally there are thousands more shows to choose from that include elements of travel, allowing you to explore the world from the comfort of your own couch. Many TV shows are also family friendly and educational, so your kids can learn as you watch as well.

Learn a New Skill for Travel

One great way to spend your time in anticipation of a future trip is to learn a new skill that you can use on the trip. This is also a good stay at home activity that you can involve your whole family in together if you wish.

Learning a language for example is a great way to prepare for a trip. This might be a language you started learning at school but have since let lapse, or a language that you know will come in useful on a trip you are already planning. French and Spanish are popular options, but there’s no shortage of languages in the world you can learn.

There are plenty of different ways to learn a language. There are free platforms like Duolingo (ad-supported, paid version available), and more known language programs like Rosetta Stone .

As well as a language, there are other useful skills you can learn to enhance your trips. We all love to take photos when we travel, so learning how to improve your photography can help you capture better memories of your adventures. It’s also a useful skill for all sorts of other events, from family gatherings to events.

Again, there are lots of way to improve your photography while at home. For example, we have lots of free content on our blogs all about photography. Get started on our photography tips page for a range of photography articles.

If you want to take your photography to the next level, then you might prefer a more structured approach to learning. We run a comprehensive online photography course which will teach you everything you need to know about photography across 10 weeks. We’ve already helped over 2,000 people improve their photography, and would love to help you do the same. You can see that here .

Set up a Relaxation Zone

Many of us travel to get away from it all and relax, and spa holidays are a very popular option for achieving this goal.

However, a spa holiday can definitely be an expensive option, and it might not be something your budget stretches to on a regular basis. And even if it does, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to recreate that experience at home anyway?

Well, why not set up your own home relaxation zone?

This can be a place of retreat for you and your family. It can be a specific room in your house, perhaps a spare bedroom where you can read and relax or a bathroom that you can set up for an at-home spa experience. If you have an outdoor space and the climate is suitable, you can also designate an outdoor space. Consider a garden area with flowers and herbs from different parts of the world.

It’s probably a good idea to have some ground rules for use of the space, and to fill it with some items to make it relaxing. For example, you might consider making it a devices free zone, with minimal talking allowed, and a focus on calming activities like meditation, yoga, or reading. Consider using fragrance candles or reed diffusers to create a calming environment that emulates that which you might find at a real spa.

Participate in Travel Forums, Facebook Groups, and Chats

Just because you’re not travelling right now doesn’t mean you can’t indulge your love of travel with like minded individuals! A great way to do this is online, either in travel forums, in Facebook groups, or in group chats devoted to travel.

There are a number of popular travel forums online. These include the long running Thorntree forum by Lonely Planet, the Rick Steves Travel Forum , and the Travelfish forum which focuses on travel in Asia.

If you would prefer to discuss travel on a platform like Facebook, then there are lot of options here too. We even run our own travel Facebook group where you can talk about all things related to travel, including sharing stories of past trips and helping others plan upcoming trips. You can join that here .

Set up Online Video Chats with Travel Loving Friends and Family

Do you have friends and family who love to travel? Maybe you’ve travelled with friends or family in the past, or plan to in the future. Or maybe you just know folks who love travel as much as you do.

If so, a great way to rekindle your love of travel is to connect with them for a chat. As well as being a lovely way to catch up, this will also give you a chance to talk about travel with a like minded individual. You can talk about trips you’ve been on, discuss potential future trips, share stories, and generally pass an amenable time.

There are a wide range of platforms that allow for free video chats, including Skype , Facetime , Facebook Messenger , Whatsapp , and Google Duo . There are also platforms designed to host more people at once, such as Facebook’s Messenger Rooms and Zoom . Whatever you choose, just make sure everyone on the call can use it (some products like Facetime for example are for Apple users only).

If you are planning on hosting a call with multiple participants, it might be an idea to appoint a host, or come up with a loose agenda, so everyone can get the most out of the call.

Travel Themed Subscription Services

If you want a regular dose of travel themed inspiration in your life, one option is to sign up to a travel themed subscription service of some kind.

These are available across a range of product types, and you might find that one of these options replaces an existing service you use with one that is more travel oriented.

Here are some travel themed subscription services we think you might enjoy. These cover all sorts of things, such as food, art, souvenirs, books, spices, handicrafts, beauty products etc. They cover a range of destinations, and some are aimed specifically at kids to start kindle their curiosity in the world.

The Wordy Traveler – This international travel themed book club sends a quarterly box which includes travel themed books, premium tea as well as a limited edition fine art print.
Little Passports – This kid focused subscription box aims to give kids across a range of ages a monthly package filled with toys and activities. They have a range of subjects, including a USA and World Travel themed box, which include souvenirs, toys, stickers and collectibles. This is a great option if you have kids and want to encourage a love of travel whilst also teaching them about the world. Based in the USA with shipping a number of destinations around the world.
Paddington’s Postcards – younger children in the UK will likely enjoy the Unicef Paddington’s Postcard series. For a monthly fee you get a monthly personalised postcard from Paddington Bear, all about the life of a child in another country. A lovely way to learn how people in different countries live
Nomadik – this subscription box service is perfect for lovers of the outdoors. Each month you get a box filled with at least $50 worth of outdoor gear that’s ready for your next adventure.

Always check when subscribing to any of these services where they ship, and be aware that you might be liable for customs and import taxes if you sign up to a service outside your home country. For this reason, we recommend trying to find a local service where possible.

An International Penpal

Travel is often about the people we meet and the experiences we have with them. Learning about different cultures through others is often one of the more rewarding parts of our travels.

The good news is that you don’t have to travel to have contact with people from around the world. You can find a Penpal, and exchange letters or emails with folks in different places.

There are a number of services to help you find a Penpal, such as Penpal International , Penpal World and International Pen Friends . There are also dedicated sites for children and students to find a Penpal, such as Students of the World .

Of course, as with any service like this, always be very careful about who you give your personal information out to, and if you want to get your kids involved, ensure they understand the principles of staying safe online .

Music and Dancing

Have you ever heard a song come on and been transported back to a memory where you heard it playing? Music, like food, has a powerful ability to stimulate our memories.

With this in mind, you might enjoy listening to music that originates in a destination you’ve visited, or of a destination you plan to visit. A good example of this might be bagpipe music , which for me is impossible to listen to without thinking of the stunning vistas of Scotland.

Other songs might evoke a road trip, such as the songs about Route 66 in the USA. You can also get world music to relax to , or music that showcases the sounds of a continent .

It’s not just music of course. Dance is a hugely important part of many cultures around the world, with different types of dance associated with places and people. Learning a dance of a destination you have visited or plan to go can be a fun way to learn more about the culture, as well as potentially connect with other like minded people.

You can learn to dance at studios in locations around the world, or you can do it for free at home using some of the many online dance class videos . There’s also the side benefit of getting a workout whilst you learn!

A Traveler’s Meaning of “Home”

For more than a decade, I have said that “home is where the toothbrush is.” I even have a hashtag for it on Instagram. It is my light-hearted (if you will) twist on the widely-accepted idea that the heart (read: love) has something to do with “home.”

I am actually fascinated by this idea, it has a complex beauty about it. I just never thought it was for me.

“ Home is where the heart is ” is something written in pretty cursive on an Etsy piece of wall art hanging in a Pinterest-perfect house I don’t own, surrounded by a family I don’t have. It is simultaneously sappy and mushy, yet belonging and grounding, and… probably supported by a 401k.

I am a traveler, and I’m usually solo. How can a person who has left pieces of her heart in so many places and with so many people ever feel whole and at “home” while alone on the road?

Yet at the same time, I have been traveling long-term internationally for nearly half my life. Why wouldn’t the familiar foreignness of the road feel like home to me?

I am an outsider. I move around too much. I have left behind everything I’ve ever loved, and I continue to do so on a regular basis. “Grounded” is what I am not . A “home” body is what I am not .

Yet, to crave the feeling of “home” and belonging is inherently human. Is there any hope for someone like me?

Where the Heart Is

My main misalignment with this old adage has been the matter of heart. The truth is, I am not sure I ever really understood “love” which is THE matter of heart.

Love, and this sappy proverb, was always for other people. People who live surrounded by those they share love with, and that must be home. Good for them, I’ll just go get on a plane with my backpack (and toothbrush).

I have struggled to find my place in love in the past, but I have also learned a lot about it and come to see it in a different light since I started my nomadic travels, especially as it pertains to loving myself.

I don’t believe we can wrap our minds around the power and capabilities of the heart.

That’s why I am choosing to change my perspective. Rather than leaving pieces of my heart with people and places all over the world, I believe I’ve been enriched, made even more whole, by gaining pieces of love from these people and places all over the world.

In the end, these very experiences make up who I am, at heart. If this is true, how can I possibly have left them behind?

What is “Home”Anyway?

Home is not a place. I would say it’s a mindset, but it’s not that either, because if there is one thing I’ve learned in the past two years, it’s that our minds and our hearts don’t always agree.

Home is a heartset. It lives in emotion, not logic. It lives in energy, not geography.

Home is when everything around you rises up to meet you exactly where you are, in a whole, familiar, ethereal embrace.

Home feels like there is nowhere else in the world you’d rather be, and that is the single best feeling in the world, especially for a constant traveler.

In my experience, I’ve learned to recognize these moments by an overwhelming sense of gratitude, which usually gives me pause. This is even noticeable to others. One friend has named these my “Jackie moments,” and those very moments are what I’ve come to understand as “home” to me. They are inspired by pure gratitude and peace.

The surprising part about home is that as much as it exists in the familiar, it can also exist in places, people, and activities that are new to us. Which means, home doesn’t have to be something we leave behind.

I have felt as much at home on the shores of Lake Ohrid in Macedonia as I have on the shores of Lake Tahoe in California, where I was born and raised. I have felt it in the curious familiarity of a stranger as much as with my best friend of 20+ years.

The way I understand it now, the best thing we can do to feel home is to deeply know, love and be at peace with ourselves, so that we can be open to letting home meet us wherever we are. This can ground us at any given point on our path, whether we happen to have four walls and a family or a backpack and solitude.

Perspective Is Everything

The physical things of so-called “home” change anyway.

My family looks different today than it did three years ago. The people are different, some new, some moved on, all of our beloved animals are now gone, the geographical locations have changed. Houses, relationships, traditions… many of these things have changed in a very short time. This is challenging for the heart.

If I looked for “home” in something so fleeting as four walls, or the presence of this person or that dog, I completely understand how that would be heart- breaking and why counting on my toothbrush to always be there for me would be much easier, much safer.

Gratefully, home is not a matter of walls or 401ks. It is a matter of heart, and the heart is transcendental. It is capable of recognizing and embracing and carrying what is most important to us to feel whole, to feel like us. It knows no geography, time, or distance, which is good news for everyone, especially a traveler.

With this perspective, I feel as entitled as anyone else to claim that I am home on my path, even though my home doesn’t have a physical address. And I will gratefully continue to add pieces to my heart, as long as it feels like home, toothbrush in tow.

To be continued…

What is home to you? I’m curious about what your opinions are, or if you even think about defining it. Please leave a comment below and share.

Homestay tourism: What is a homestay?

What is a homestay.

Homestay is a relatively new concept that has been introduced to the tourism sphere. In fact, the very notion of ‘home’ seems somewhat contradictory when we talk about tourism, doesn’t it? I mean, we travel to get away from home…

Well, it turns out that homestay tourism has grown considerably is recent years. With the rise in budget travel and an increased interest in cultural tourism , homestay have popped up all over the world. But what is a homestay? And how does a homestay work? Read on to find out…

What is a homestay? The simple answer

What is a homestay the not so simple answer, a definition of homestay, characteristics of a homestay, homestay as a cultural experience, homestay as a commercial enterprise, where to book a homestay, homestay family, couchsurfing, other examples of homestay platforms, homestay app, advantages of a homestay, disadvantages of a homestay, what is a homestay to conclude, further reading on the concept of the homestay.

When you Google ‘what is a homestay?’ you will be given some pretty short and basic answers. However, anybody who has taken the time posit down and look deeply into the homestay industry will know that explaining this concept is anything BUT short and basic…

Below I have given you a basic explanation of a homestay. This is similar to what you will find elsewhere on the Internet. But you didn’t go elsewhere, did you? You came toTourism Teacher! And as such, I will proceed to discuss the concept of the homestay from a critical perspective, you didn’t really want simple – did you?

Put simply, a homestay is when you stay in another person’s home. Could this be your best mate’s home? Technically, yes. Could it be staying in the home of a rural villager in Laos? Yep, it could be that too.

According to Homestay.com , a homestay is when you are offered a spare room in a house that someone lives in.You stay there with the family. Whilst this may rank top on Google for obvious reasons (the website name), this is in reality a load of rubbish.

Homestay have popped up all over the globe in recent years, and most of the time you are not staying with the home owner (or renter), the homeowner does not live there and it is not the deep cultural experience that some might expect.

Want to know more? I knew the ‘simple’ explanation wouldn’t be enough for you… Read on…

Lets be real here- a homestay is far more than staying in a spare room.

A homestay is essentially the commercialisation of the home. This commercialisation has disrupted economies throughout the world, resulted in gentrification and globalisation, and is largely anything but ‘cultural tourism’.

Lets dig a bit deeper and find out what a homestay really is…

The homestay industry

A homestay forms part of the sharing economy . Homestay represent the notion of the commercialisation of one’s home for financial benefit.

Homestays typically provide a middle-ground for tourists- they are more intimate than a hotel, but offer more of a formal setting than staying with friends and relatives .

A homestay can offer the tourist with facilities that traditional types of accommodation may not be able to provide. This might include an authentic cultural experience with those who live in the home or it could be having an entire home, and all of its facilities, to yourself.

Generally, the term homestay hasn’t received a great deal of attention in the academic literature. However, there are similar terms that have.

Two terms that reflect the notion of using your home as a business are ‘home-based enterprise’ (Di Domenico & Lynch, 2007, p. 321) and ‘commercial home enterprise’ (CHE) (McIntosh, Lynch, & Sweeney, 2011, p. 511).

According to Lynch (2005);

A ‘Commercial home’ refers to types of accommodation where visitors or guests pay to stay in private homes, where interaction takes place with a host and/or family usually living upon the premises and with whom public space is, to a degree, shared. ‘Commercial home’ therefore embraces a range of accommodation types including some (small) hotels, bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), and host family accommodation, which simultaneously span private, commercial, and social settings.

Lynch (2005) goes on to identify several key characteristics of a homestay. These are;

Family involvement
Local community benefits
Guest engagement with the property
The sharing of space between guest and host
The participation of owner-managers in the shaping of the accommodation product
The involvement of ‘lifestyle entrepreneurs’
The importance of gender, personal networks, social values, and family life cycle

As you can see from the list above, culture and connection between host and guest is, according to Lynch, an important part of the homestay experience. However, since his works written in 2005,a lot has changed. And I would now argue that financial gain is, in most circumstances, far superior to host-guest interaction.

Whilst there has been a clear move away from culture being the focus and towards economic benefit, a homestay experience can be a significant cultural experience.

There are many different ways that you can experience culture through a homestay, and this is largely dependent on the set up of the homestay itself.

Inevitably, if a guest is staying in the home of a local person, who regularly interacts with the guest, then they will receive a greater cultural experience than someone who is simply paying to rent a bedroom or entire property.

Some of the cultural experiences that a tourist may receive include;

Learning a new language
Tasting new food and learning to cook new recipes
Learning about the local way of life
Learning about local history
Exposure to the local community
Taking part in village, nature or workplace tours
Learning about the religion and visiting religious sites
Taking part in local events and celebrations

In recent years we have witnessed monumental growth in the so called ‘ sharing economy ‘. The sharing economy is a socio-economic ecosystem that is built around the sharing of human, physical and intellectual resources. Also known as collaborative consumption or peer-to-peer-based sharing, the sharing economy is a concept that highlights the way in which people rent or borrow goods and services rather than buying or owning them. In the context of homestay, this represents the sharing of one’s home.

This notion of ‘sharing’ has, however, has disrupted many traditional commercial operations. Hotel occupancy rates around the world are down as tourists opt for homestay options instead of hotel rooms. In addition, the income potential for homestay has driven up real estate prices in many areas, meaning that local people are struggling to get on the property ladder and gentrification is taking place.

The homestay concept has seen the rise of many budding entrepreneurs across the globe. People have transformed their homes in guesthouses, locals are offering culturally immersive tours and the wealthy have snapped up entire apartment blocks upon completion in the aim of building their Airbnb business.

Homestays come in all shapes and sizes, from sleeping on someone’s couch in a New York apartment to renting an entire island in the South Pacific. The possibilities are endless…

Homestays occur around the world.

A homestay can be organised via apps, social media, academic institutions and more. They offer the chance to integrate yourself into local society.

Below, I have outlined some of the most common ways to organise a homestay on your travels.

Also known as the ‘host family’, a homestay family are the people who own the house/accommodation where you’ll be staying. They provide board and lodging.

You will often find that you become close to the family, and they will have a lot to offer you in terms of local knowledge, connections and more.

Student homestay

Homestays are particularly popular with students.

For young people studying a language, international relations, business studies and other degrees, travelling abroad to immerse themselves in their studies is a huge part of the course.

Students can find a homestay through their university or college. The institution will have access to a list of host families, and will match students accordingly to families in the right area.

A homestay is a great way for students to get involved with daily life in that particular culture, or to practise the language they are learning.

Generally, a homestay is incredibly beneficial to students and an overall enjoyable experience.

Couchsurfing is a concept that really seems to have taken off in the last decade or so. And the concept is simple- a home owner (or renter) allows a tourist to stay on their couch.

I say couch, it doesn’t have to be a couch. In fact, many hosts offer the tourists a bed, their own room and sometimes their own bathroom too.

When couchsurfing, no money is supposed to change hands. Instead, the tourist repays the host with interactions.

WWOOFING stands for worldwide opportunities on organic farms. It is a form of homestay tourism, whereby the tourist works on the farm in exchange for free board.

WWOOFING has grown as an industry in recent years and is particularly popular in Australia , where many international tourists undertake agricultural work in order to extend the duration of their working holiday visa. Other popular WWOOFING destinations include the USA, Ireland and various places throughout Europe.

WWOOFING is also popular with budget and long term travellers as it provides the tourist with travel opportunities at a reduced cost.

Airbnb is essentially an online marketplace that involves the renting of property to travellers. They have also recently started offering experiences too.

Airbnb does not own any of the properties. It simply provides a platform from which people can rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests.Prices are set by the property owners and monies are collected via the Airbnb app.

There are many different types of Airbnbs. You can rent a room in someone’s house or a whole island and everything in between! I have stayed in some pretty cool Airbnbs myself, take a look at some of them in this post- 7 reasons why Airbnb is my favourite accommodation option .

There are many ways that a homestay can be arranged. Amongst the biggest and most known platforms that I have already discussed, there are also the following companies offering homestays:

Booking.com (they now offer apartment rentals alongside hotels)
SellMyTimeshareNow
onefinestay

There is an organisation who call themselves ‘homestay. This company organises homestay experiences for tourists around the world and has a functional app to facilitate this.

Available on iOS and Android, there are over 55,000 homestay accommodations in 160 countries available to rent via the app. You can find the perfect homestay for you, see what previous guests though and connect with the host family. See which cities are popular with guests looking for a homestay, and book whether you’re travelling for study, work or just a fun time!

Homestay advantages and disadvantages

As with everything, there are both advantages and disadvantages of a homestay. I have briefly outlined some of these for you below.

Ability to immerse yourself into a different culture
Chance to taste new food
Educational benefits- learn about the culture, religion and way of life
Opportunity to live ‘like a local’
Limited freedom- curfews, religious requirements, household preferences
Limited choice of location
Safety concerns

You should now be confident to answer the questions ‘what is a homestay?’. By weighing up the advantages and the disadvantages, you can decide whether this type of accommodation is for you or not. An important part off the sharing economy, I don’t think the concept of homestay is going anywhere anytime soon…

Interested to learn more about homestays? Here is some recommended reading on the topic…

What’s Yours is Mine: against the sharing economy – The author, Tom, questions how did we get from the generosity of what’s mine is yours , to the self-interest and greed of what’s yours is mine ?
The Business of Sharing: Making it in the New Sharing Economy – An insider’s guide for anyone thinking of entering the sharing economy and looking to make a profit.
Platform Economics: Rhetoric and Reality in the “Sharing Economy” – An in-depth analysis of policy concern over competition, tax collection, consumers’ protection, privacy, and algorithms transparency, and the future of work.
The Future of Airbnb and the `Sharing Economy’: The Collaborative Consumption of our Cities – a conceptual analysis of the `sharing economy’ and accommodation sector and Airbnb.
Tomorrow 3.0: Transaction Costs and the Sharing Economy – Munger brings a fresh perspective on the ‘sharing economy’, assessing companies such as Uber and Airbnb in relation to economics and transaction costs.
The Airbnb Story: How Three Guys Disrupted an Industry, Made Billions of Dollars … and Plenty of Enemies – The remarkable story behind Airbnb and in-depth character study of its leader, Brian Chesky, the company’s curious co-founder and CEO.
Airbnb Listing Hacks – The Complete Guide To Maximizing Your Bookings And Profits – Bestselling Airbnb host user guide.
Optimize YOUR Bnb: The Definitive Guide to Ranking #1 in Airbnb Search – A culmination of Daniel’s five-year experience with Airbnb from being an employee and a guest, to a host, to Superhost, and to starting an Airbnb property management company.

What is Domestic Travel?

In the world of travel, adventures can be found far beyond international borders. Domestic travel, an often overlooked aspect of exploring new places, offers a wealth of experiences closer to home. This blog post delves into the essence of domestic travel, highlighting its benefits, nuances, and frequently asked questions to help you plan your next local adventure.

Domestic travel refers to the act of traveling within one’s own country, moving from one location to another without crossing international boundaries. It encompasses a wide range of travel purposes, including leisure, business, and visiting friends or family. Whether it’s a weekend getaway to a nearby city, a road trip across the country, or a retreat to a secluded natural park, domestic travel offers endless possibilities for discovery and relaxation.

Benefits of Domestic Travel

Convenience and accessibility.

Domestic trips are generally more accessible and require less planning than international travel. There’s no need for passports, visas, or often even lengthy flights, making it easier to embark on a journey on short notice.

Cost-Effective

Traveling within your own country can be significantly cheaper than going abroad. It eliminates the need for expensive international flights and often, the cost of accommodation, food, and activities can be more budget-friendly.

Cultural Enrichment

Domestic travel provides an excellent opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of their own country’s culture, history, and diversity. Each region has its own unique traditions, cuisine, and way of life, offering insights that contribute to a richer appreciation of one’s national identity.

Supporting Local Economies

By traveling domestically, you contribute to the local economy, supporting small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and attractions that rely on tourism for their livelihood.

Planning Your Domestic Adventure

When planning a domestic trip, consider the type of experiences you seek. Are you looking for relaxation, adventure, cultural immersion, or perhaps a mix of everything? Research destinations that match your interests and consider the best time of year to visit based on weather and seasonal activities. Don’t forget to check local travel advisories and restrictions, especially in light of recent global health concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do i need travel insurance for domestic travel.

While not always mandatory, travel insurance is highly recommended for domestic travel. It can provide protection against trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen circumstances.

How Can I Find the Best Deals for Domestic Travel?

To find the best deals, book in advance and keep an eye out for promotions and discounts offered by airlines, hotels, and travel websites. Consider traveling during the off-peak season when prices are lower, and attractions are less crowded.

What Should I Pack for a Domestic Trip?

Packing depends on your destination and the activities you’ve planned. Always check the weather forecast and pack accordingly. Essentials include appropriate clothing, personal identification, a first aid kit, and any necessary travel documents.

Can I Use Public Transportation for Domestic Travel?

Yes, many countries offer extensive public transportation networks for domestic travel, including buses, trains, and sometimes domestic flights. Public transportation can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to explore different parts of your country.

Are There Any Restrictions on Domestic Travel?

Restrictions can vary depending on current health advisories, natural disasters, or political situations. Always check for the latest updates from local or national authorities before planning your trip.

Domestic travel opens up a world of opportunities to explore the beauty and diversity of your own country. It’s an invitation to discover new places, meet new people, and create memories that will last a lifetime, all while enjoying the comfort and convenience of staying within national borders. Whether you’re seeking a quick escape or a lengthy expedition, the adventure of domestic travel awaits.

Travel at Home: The Benefits of Domestic Tourism

It’s been a long couple of years since travel was stopped. Even now travel is in a precarious position as countries around the world constantly revise their border measures and restrictions in light of the changing Covid situation. But in the face of such adversity, travel hasn’t been completely stamped out. In fact, the true nomads have found a way to experience the thrill and adventure of travelling even in the midst of Covid by redefining what travelling meant.

Travelling doesn’t always have to mean going away to faraway exotic places and experiencing foreign cultures. Sometimes the best places are close to home and under the radar. This is exactly the sentiment that gave rise to domestic tourism.

Domestic tourism isn’t by any means a new phenomenon. But when international travel locked down, domestic tourism became the only respite for wayfarers creating a surge of interest for domestic locations where one could relax and holiday. Now that countries are cautiously reopening borders and easing Covid restrictions, domestic tourism may once again fade into the budget option for many travellers as they look to celebrate their newfound freedom with distance. But there are many reasons why domestic tourism shouldn’t be forgotten or looked down on, even with international shores opening.

So hold on to your travel pillow and your planner as I go through the beauty and benefits of domestic tourism.

Domestic Tourism

Domestic travel is termed as travel within one’s own country. Even visitors to a neighbouring state would be classified as domestic tourists. Domestic travel is important for the domestic economy as it feeds money back into the local economy. This helps revitalise the livelihoods of locals, as well as bolsters the local government’s funds using which they can improve infrastructure and amenities for the local community. This is especially important considering the impact Covid-19 has had on people’s employment and financial outlook. Any bit of help that we can extend to those around us will go a long way to helping them through difficult times.

But other than helping the local economy, there are other benefits to travelling domestically.

Save your wallet

Perhaps the most obvious is the impact it has on your wallet. There’s no doubt that international travel can take a chunk out of your finances. This not only applies to foreign countries where the currency is stronger than your local currency or places where the cost of living is much higher. Travelling internationally often involves extra expenses such as immigration fees and visa expenditure, any fees associated with obtaining other necessary documents, tickets for long-haul flights, hotel stays, tour guides, and the more expensive ‘foreign visitor’ tickets for local attractions. And this list doesn’t even include the extra expenses associated with health measures for Covid-19.

When travelling domestically, you automatically save on immigration and visa fees. You can also save on flight tickets if you travel by car or bus, opt for an AirBnB or stay at a friend’s place to save on expensive hotels, forego a tour guide in favour of exploring yourself, and benefit from the discounted locals’ ticket prices for attractions.

Not only can these savings translate to a cheaper overall trip, it could also mean a few extra days enjoying the sunny beaches of California or squeezing in one more museum visit for the family.

Revel in the hyperlocal

Domestic tourism also gives you space to truly enjoy the local. When visiting internationally, most tourists are caught up in what I call ‘the tourist hustle’—visiting all the places catering to tourists. Of course, this makes sense. You can’t go to Paris and not visit the Eiffel tower. But the problem is that these spaces have been developed and maintained by the local government specifically to appeal to tourists, and are often overcrowded . That’s why you often find a McDonalds right next to a major world attraction. Government’s know that some tourists would prefer more globalised, familiar cuisine than their local dishes.

Moreover, the people you run into and interact with during these stays will also likely be other tourists like yourself rather than the locals. By visiting only these spaces that cater to tourists, you miss out on experiencing the true local flavour. Furthermore, if you visit foreign countries with no knowledge of their customs and how to speak their language, you may find yourself experiencing miscommunication with the locals and losing a lot in terms of the depth of experience.

When travelling domestically, however, you can bypass the major tourist attractions and get acquainted with the lesser-known hidden gems. This can help you rediscover your own culture and the beauty of your homeland. Speaking the same language as the locals and not immediately being recognised as a tourist may also go a long way towards gaining the locals’ favour and insights into the best places to visit, from their point of view. This will be an entirely new experience of travelling than the one you will have access to as an international tourist.

Both domestic and international travel have their benefits and unique appeal. Next time you plan a trip, don’t just jump straight to international travel. Take a minute to see if there’s anyplace closer to home you’d like to visit.

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of travel in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

travel verb ( MAKE JOURNEY )

I like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home .
It's often quicker to travel across country and avoid the major roads altogether .
Passengers without proper documentation will not be allowed to travel.
The elderly travel free on public transport .
We like to travel in the autumn when there are fewer tourists .
The tragedy is that cultures don't always travel well, and few immigrant groups can sustain their culture over the long term .
around Robin Hood's barn idiom
baggage drop
communication
first class
on the go idiom
overnighter
peripatetically
public transportation

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

travel verb ( MOVE )

The objects travel in elliptical orbits .
In 1947, a pilot flying over the Cascades saw nine metallic flying objects traveling at an estimated 1,200 miles per hour .
The elevator traveled smoothly upward .
White light separates out into its component wavelengths when traveling through a prism .
As the material travels through the winding machine , excess liquid is squeezed out by rollers .
Lead dust travels easily from hands to mouth and can't be seen .
body English
recirculate
recirculation
repair to somewhere

travel verb ( BREAK RULE )

full-court press
goaltending
granny shot
reverse dribble

travel noun ( ACTIVITY )

They offer a 10 percent discount on rail travel for students .
The price includes travel and accommodation but meals are extra .
His work provided him with the opportunity for a lot of foreign travel.
The popular myth is that air travel is more dangerous than travel by car or bus .
Passes are available for one month's unlimited travel within Europe .
break-journey
circumnavigation

travel noun ( MOVEMENT OF OBJECT )

It can be difficult to predict the travel of smoke from smouldering fires .
The travel of the bullets and blood spatter showed that he was lying on the ground on his side when he was shot .
This seemed to prove that light has a finite speed of travel.
Striking the ball when the clubhead is already past the lowest point of its travel gives a slight overspin.
The actuator then rotates its output shaft to the extremes of its travel.
bring someone on
go the distance idiom
non-competitor
park the bus idiom
play big idiom
step/move up a gear idiom

travel | Intermediate English

Travel | business english, examples of travel, collocations with travel.

These are words often used in combination with travel .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of travel

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

delaying tactics

actions that are intended to make something happen more slowly, in order to win an advantage

It’s not really my thing (How to say you don’t like something)

Learn more with +Plus

Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
English–Dutch Dutch–English
English–French French–English
English–German German–English
English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
English–Italian Italian–English
English–Japanese Japanese–English
English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
English–Polish Polish–English
English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
English–Spanish Spanish–English
English–Swedish Swedish–English
Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
travel (MAKE JOURNEY)
travel light
travel (MOVE)
really travel
travel (BREAK RULE)
travel (ACTIVITY)
travel (MOVEMENT OF OBJECT)
Business Verb Noun
Collocations
Translations
All translations

To add travel to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add travel to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

More from M-W
To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of travel

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Definition of travel (Entry 2 of 2)

peregrinate
peregrination

Examples of travel in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'travel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English travailen, travelen to torment, labor, strive, journey, from Anglo-French travailler

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing travel

pre - travel
see / travel the world
travel agency
travel agent
travel light
travel sickness
travel trailer

Articles Related to travel

Is it ‘traveling’ or...

Is it ‘traveling’ or ‘travelling’?

A tale of two variants

Noah Webster's Spelling Wins and Fails

Some of his biggest successes and defeats

8 Ways to Get Away From It All

Whether it's a jaunt or a junket, remember sunblock.

Dictionary Entries Near travel

Cite this entry.

“Travel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travel. Accessed 3 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of travel.

Kids Definition of travel (Entry 2 of 2)

Middle English travailen "torment, labor, strive, journey," from early French travailler "torment, labor," from an unrecorded Latin verb tripaliare "to torture," from Latin tripalium "an instrument of torture," literally "three stakes," derived from tri- "three" and palus "stake, pale" — related to pale entry 3 , travail

More from Merriam-Webster on travel

Nglish: Translation of travel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of travel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travel

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Plural and possessive names: a guide, 31 useful rhetorical devices, more commonly misspelled words, why does english have so many silent letters, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, 7 shakespearean insults to make life more interesting, birds say the darndest things, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), games & quizzes.

Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Share full article

Supported by

How Will the Nationwide Hotel Strike Affect My Labor Day Plans?

Though hotel chains say they’ll continue to operate normally, travelers could see disruptions as employees walked off the job in cities from Boston to Honolulu. Here’s what to know.

People walking a picket line outside the glass doorway to a Hilton hotel. Many of them are wearing red shirts and carrying signs that read, “On strike.”

By Derek M. Norman

Over the busy Labor Day weekend, at least 10,000 unionized front-desk workers, housekeepers and other employees at 24 hotel properties across the country walked off the job on Sunday after failing to come to an agreement in contract negotiations.

The strikes — which as of Sunday afternoon were affecting some Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott hotels, and one Fairmont property, in Boston; San Francisco; Seattle; San Jose, Calif.; Honolulu; Kauai, Hawaii; San Diego; and Greenwich, Conn. — were scheduled to last two to three days in each city, just as many travelers’ holiday weekend plans were in full swing. More hotel workers in other cities could also soon announce strikes.

The strike comes as members of the UNITE HERE union at Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Omni properties across the country have been engaged in contentious talks since at least May.

The affected hotels say they plan to stay open, perhaps with modified services, but they may not always notify travelers that a strike is happening. So inquire ahead of time, or you may be surprised to find a spirited picket line in front of your hotel when you arrive.

Here’s what else you need to know.

There’s a strike at the hotel where I have a reservation. What should I do?

First, call the hotel and ask to speak to a manager to confirm that a strike is taking place at that property. UNITE HERE has also created a website, FairHotel.org , that offers an updated map of which properties are experiencing labor disputes. Ask the manager which services are being affected by the strike, and ask about the hotel’s cancellation policy.

Then decide if you still want to stay at the hotel.

Besides weighing the effect on services, consider your feelings about the dispute itself, said Bjorn Hanson, an adjunct professor at the New York University Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. Some travelers like to support the business and keep their reservation at the property, Dr. Hanson said. Others prefer to support the striking workers by not crossing a picket line.

If you choose not to stay at the affected hotel, he said, you should first book new accommodations and then call your original hotel as soon as possible to cancel.

In the case of past strikes, Dr. Hanson said, “Individual hotels have some discretion, but the hotel company policy was: Whatever our cancellation policy is, is the policy we will maintain during the strike. So at the very least, that is what the regular, average traveler should keep in mind and plan around,” he said.

The cancellation policy at Hilton , Hyatt , Marriott and Omni hotels generally depends on your specific rate and dates of your stay, so you’ll need to look up your reservation on their app or website.

Will my hotel stay open during the strike?

In general, hotels say they are prepared to operate without disruption.

Representatives for Hyatt, Hilton and Omni all said that they had contingency plans to minimize any strikes’ impact on hotel operations. Marriott did not respond to request for comment.

While the chains would not reveal details of those plans, it is likely that they would use nonunion employees, Dr. Hanson said. They might also, for example, substitute a grab-and-go buffet for table service. And outside contractors may be hired to perform services that hotel staff would typically perform.

During the most recent major hotel strike, last summer in Los Angeles, thousands of hotel workers walked off the job just as travelers were gearing up for the Fourth of July. That first strike was resolved after three days . Sporadic walkouts at other properties throughout the summer affected housekeeping services for some guests and caused disruptions after event organizers canceled events .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of hotel properties that were on strike as of Sunday afternoon. It was 24, not more than 25.

How we handle corrections

Derek M. Norman is a senior news assistant for the International section of The Times. More about Derek M. Norman

GENERAL TRAVEL

looking back at Rio de Janeiro in the morning sunlight from sugarloaf mountain

Why Travel?

Julia is an avid traveler, lifelong artist, theater geek, interior designer, future author, and o...

button]:border-none [&>button]:bg-white [&>button]:hover:cursor-pointer [&>button]:hover:text-cyan-400"> button]:hover:text-cyan-400 [&>button]:bg-white hover:cursor-pointer" height="1em" width="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

There are as many reasons to travel as there are mountains to climb and sunsets to admire: to learn, to grow, to become, to breathe fresh air, to see new horizons, to dive into new depths, to hear strange words. But, don’t take my word for it— there are plenty of philosophers and fellow travelers out there that will back me up as to why traveling is good, and just how important meaningful travel is .

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair of moving." Robert Louis Stevenson

Travel writer Paul Theroux claims that “...the wish to travel seems to me characteristically human: the desire to move, to satisfy your curiosity or ease your fears, to change the circumstances of your life, to be a stranger, to make a friend, to experience an exotic landscape, to risk the unknown.”

Robert Louis Stevenson says, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair of moving."

Activist and novelist Lisa St Aubin de Terán wrote, “...it might be said that a great unstated reason for travel is to find places that exemplify where one has been happiest. Looking for idealized versions of home— indeed, looking for the perfect memory.”

Yet, when all is boiled down to a single drop, we travel to define: ourselves, the world, and life. With each footstep, this definition can change. It is a definition that is open-ended, one that is influenced by every experience and new border crossing. It is a definition without a clear answer, and one that will keep evolving as long as we keep traveling.

It is also the most valuable definition that we will write, as it gives significance to all of our interactions. Even if the meaning itself changes, its importance remains undisputed:

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” Henry David Thoreau

Why travel? We travel to define ourselves .

In the words of Henry David Thoreau: “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” There is no motivation to step outside of our comfort zone until we understand that what lies on the other side is worth the risk, and it is in one of the high loops of this wild roller coaster of life, when everything is upside down and rushing past you too fast and you start to feel like a little child , that we truly open our eyes and feel alive.

It is difficult to paint an accurate self-portrait if we are limited by the color palette and dimensions of our canvas. Growing up in a familiar environment, with the same mentalities and events through the years, has a habit of spurning growth. It is not until challenges arise that we evolve, and until we come in contact with new ideas that our own minds can give birth to fresh thoughts. New countries break apart our mentalities and stereotypes, allowing us to put ourselves back together again how we wish.

Perhaps Paul Theroux says it best: “You go away for a long time and return a different person – you never come all the way back.” It is impossible to travel and remain unchanged. We develop, gaining new roots and leaving old thought patterns behind. Coming into contact with foreign cultures, languages, activities, causes, religions, and landscapes, we find undiscovered interests and begin to view the world differently. We learn patience, we practice good faith, we adapt new skills, and we discover that what we took as “normal” isn’t so normal after all.

St. Aubin de Terán wrote, “I wanted to find myself in a distant place, and new things to care about. The importance of elsewhere was something I took on faith. Elsewhere was the place I wanted to be.” Whether it is a long weekend away to the beach, a summer study abroad program , or an internship on the other side of the world , meaningful travel converts “elsewhere” as a synonym to the opportunity to grow. Priorities change, the new page is always blank, and our person alters alongside the journey.

[ Answer “Why travel abroad?” with the help of our online advisors ]

“You go away for a long time and return a different person – you never come all the way back.” Paul Theroux

Why travel? We travel to define the world .

There is a Moorish proverb that states: “He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” It is easy to pretend that we know how other people live and how other countries look, based on news broadcasts, socialized stereotypes, and Aunt Hilda’s crazy stories, but it is not until we tighten our own boot laces and hike out to see the world, that we replace myth with fact.

When we experience a stranger’s hospitality and observe how others treat others and their land, we can start to assign worth to other populations— and to mankind in general. Living the nomadic life and immersing ourselves into experiences , we see enough to make our own generalizations... and then learn that they will forever be broken and never remain the same. Participating in other cultures’ realities gives us a glimpse of the life beyond the travel books and even the most “authentic” tourist activities.

An immigrant himself, Dagobert D. Runes muses that “people travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” This couldn’t be more true. At first, travel might be associated with big monuments and fancy museums, but the longer we spend on the road, the more synonymous “travel” becomes with “living,” and we realize that there are more similarities between us than there are differences.

Before we know it, we are reaching out to the locals, looking for non-touristy neighbourhoods, and longing for meaningful connections. Sitting at a street café during our lunch break while working abroad in Portugal , we observe everyday life, and we see our own neighbours back home in these strangers’ shoes. When we see ourselves reflected in people on the other side of the world, it is a humbling experience that puts life in perspective . Sometimes, we just need to travel a thousand miles to realize what we left behind and what we carry with us.

[ Travel Advice to Remember When You Feel Unsure of Yourself ]

Mountain, crystal clear lake, sun flare, Tyrol, Italy

“I wanted to find myself in a distant place, and new things to care about. The importance of elsewhere was something I took on faith. Elsewhere was the place I wanted to be.” St. Aubin de Terán

Why travel? We travel to define life .

Perhaps most importantly, travel gives a new meaning to life; it opens our eyes to the things that matter, takes us by surprise, and leads to the (wonderfully) unexpected— only for us to realize that that is exactly where we need to be. Theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel ponders that, “The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living.”

It is precisely this wonder for life and the quest to find definition that serves as the greatest motivator to living a fulfilling life, both abroad and at home.

Ultimately, travel presents us with a new mindset for life . Henry Miller writes, “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things,” while historian Mary Ritter Beard says, “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of the living.” While enjoying the journey more than celebrating the destination, we grow an appreciation for the process, rather than the mere result. We learn to laugh at our blunders, shed fear of getting lost, cope with failure, let go of things that we do not need, and foster gratitude for the small things in life.

Getting out of our shells to globetrot or spend a semester volunteering with marine animals leaves a footprint on our being that lasts long after passport stamps fade (and almost as long as those turtles that you helped from becoming extinct are going to live). We come back more confident individuals, charismatic storytellers, and humbled souls that know that the journey toward knowledge is one that never ends.

As philosopher Martin Buber states, “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

[ 9 Things You’ll Only Understand if You’ve Found Yourself Through Travel ]

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” Martin Buber

Why traveling is good— and traveling with these programs is BETTER

“There were times when I felt uncertain and hesitant, but these were the moments in which I learned the most about myself. I valued every single aspect of my abroad experience, and I could not recommend it more to anyone curious about exploring the world and themselves.”

Maria, IES Abroad Amsterdam, Netherlands

“I learned to step out of my comfort zone and get to know people that I would've originally thought I had nothing in common with. I learned to respect Greek culture and adapt to their way of doing things so that I would not come off as rude. I learned to embrace differences and that language barriers don't mean I can't communicate with someone.”

Kassidy, Athena Study Abroad Paros Island, Greece

“I have learned so much about myself, the culture, and most importantly, I have developed strong communication and survival skills. This was my first time in China and not knowing the language was terrifying at first for me; however, TEAN made everything so much smoother and I blended right in.”

Chan Thai, TEAN Shanghai, China

friends running on the beach in the morning, Portugal

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of the living.” Mary Ritter Beard

Why travel — why not?!

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags (or leave them behind) and start making your path there and writing your own story. Whichever way you decide to go, it will be a journey to remember!

Find inspiration with incredible travel programs today

Look for the Perfect Program Abroad Now

By Gabrielle Sales | 1 day ago

Chloe and Reuben of Global Travel Academy walking up steps smiling

By Hailey Jurd | 1 day ago

By GoAbroad Writing Team | 1 day ago

By Rebecca Murphy | August 14, 2024

For Travelers

Travel resources, for partners.

Study Abroad
Volunteer Abroad
Intern Abroad
Teach Abroad
TEFL Courses
Degrees Abroad
High School Abroad
Language Schools
Adventure Travel
Jobs Abroad
Online Study Abroad
Online Volunteer Programs
Online Internships
Online Language Courses
Online Teaching Jobs
Online Jobs
Online TEFL Courses
Online Degree Programs

Armchair Travel: 16 Ways To Travel The World From Home

Got the wanderlust but you’re not able to travel anywhere at the moment? That’s okay – you can become an armchair traveler and explore all the places you want from the comfort of your bed.

You’ll need a computer or a smartphone, a good internet connection, and an idea of a place you want to explore. Nothing else is required for armchair travel, and if your interest is peaked, you can read all about armchair travel right here in this detailed guide!

What Is Armchair Travel?

Armchair travel is kind of like a staycation, but instead of exploring the local attractions, you don’t even have to leave the house. It’s discovering new places from the comfort of your chair, hence the term armchair travel.

It can include anything from looking over photos from your past trips to spending hours on Google Earth, walking around the streets of a city you’ve never been to. It’s pretty much just detaching yourself from your current surroundings and immersing yourself in things related to a different country so that for a moment you actually feel like you are there.

It’s as simple as reading a book about Paris while listening to Edith Piaf and eating a croissant.

16 Ways To Travel The World From Home

Technology has come far enough to allow us to travel the world from the comfort of your own home. Well, not quite, but it’s almost there – you can explore the streets of any country in the world from the comfort of your bedroom, you can learn about the best restaurants, and you can even do virtual tours of museums and other famous attractions – you just have to zoom in enough on the world map. That’s the beauty of living in the age of virtual reality and 360-degree images.

I’m just getting started, and here are even more armchair travel ideas that will help you explore your dream destination from home!

Read Travel Blogs

Just because you can’t hop on an airplane and head to a new destination doesn’t mean you can’t learn about it and explore it. Reading travel blogs is a good way to explore new countries through the eyes and lenses of other travelers.

It’s a form of virtual travel that allows you to draw from other people’s experiences. The key is to find a travel blogger you can relate to and whose content you enjoy reading. Immerse yourself in their content, and sooner than you know it, you’ll become an expert on a destination you’ve never even visited.

There are thousands of travel blogs run by people from all around the world, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find at least one that you enjoy.

Virtually Explore US National Parks

Most US National Parks offer virtual tours that are absolutely perfect for an armchair traveler. You can explore any national park you want from the comfort of your home, and you can even peek inside museums and other unique attractions that the national parks have.

Of course, it’s not the same as reaping the benefits of a hot spring inside a national park, but it’s a great way to explore nature and get to know more about the national parks. There’s also the added benefit of not having to deal with snakes, bugs, and the changing weather that’s so common in the NPs.

Head to the Google Arts & Culture website to see all the 52 national parks and historic sites from the US that have made their collections available for digital exploration. You can also see loads of other famous attractions from countries all over the world here, but more details on that later.

Read A Travel-Related Book

If you’re a bookworm, this is the easiest way to become an armchair traveler. Find some travel-related books that you enjoy reading and allow yourself to live in their worlds for the next few days.

Also, a travel-related book can be anything. It could be the autobiography of your favorite artist who recounts all the places life has taken him to, a proper travel guide to a different country, or even a fiction novel set in a foreign country.

Travel guides and coffee table books related to travel are the safest options if you’re not an avid reader. From travel guides through the US to detailed exploration of Italy’s best beaches – there are countless travel books out there, and you just need to search for one that’s about the destination you’re most interested in.

Those who prefer fiction have even more options. I can’t help myself and I have to recommend Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series – the popular crime novels are set in Norway, primarily Oslo, and the detailed descriptions of the city’s top sights will truly transport you to the Nordics for a moment.

Listen To Travel Podcast

Not a big fan of reading or watching TV? Put on a travel podcast then and listen to other people recount the details of their latest trips. You’ll hear some fun and interesting stories for sure, but you may also learn about the inconveniences that might arise should you choose to travel to the same destinations.

We Travel There is a great podcast hosted by Lee Huffman. He interviews locals from all around the world, so every episode is about a different city. The local attractions and best places to visit are usually highlighted in each episode, making this podcast worth checking out even when you’re planning a travel itinerary.

Where To Go is also a great podcast, mostly because it’s hosted by the team behind DK Eyewitness travel guides. They’re some of the best travel guides out there, and the podcast episodes truly give them a run for their money.

Watch Travel Vlogs On Youtube

There are countless travel vloggers trying to make a living by doing the one thing they love most – traveling. You can support them and help them make their dreams come true by consuming their content and exploring the different countries of the world from the comfort of your own couch.

Finding a travel vlogger you like shouldn’t be too challenging, especially with so many different options out there. The key is to find a person you genuinely enjoy watching, otherwise, you won’t be able to focus on the travel destinations!

You can also find live camera streams on YouTube from countries all over the world. They usually include short snippets from various cameras, but it’s a great way to get a glimpse of distant landscapes and everyday life in foreign countries in just a few minutes. Plus, if you see a stream that you particularly like, you can always just find that specific live camera and refer to it whenever you want.

Enroll in A Travel-Related Course

If you still enjoy learning and you’ve particularly interested in travel, why not enroll in a travel-related course. Working on yourself and furthering your education is always a good thing, and you never know what opportunities may present themselves after you’ve completed the course.

I’m not saying enroll in a five-year college course about tourism, but you can take various online and offline courses on a myriad of topics relating to travel. The best way to get started is to get acquainted with all the different diplomas and certificates that are relevant to the tourism industry.

There are dozens of them, and there are many ways to earn them, from attending free online courses to enrolling in MBA degree programs.

Learn what it takes to become a travel agent, get a certificate that allows you to be a tour guide in your hometown, or complete a flight attendant training program. There are countless travel-related courses you can take, and you just need to see which ones interest you the most. This can also increase your chances of getting a job with one of the travel companies if that’s something you are interested in.

Additionally, you can also enroll in language-related courses. They usually include learning about the culture, literature, and history of the country whose language you’re learning, plus learning a new language is always a great idea.

Cook Your Favorite Dishes From Around The World

Exploring a new country means exploring its cuisine and getting to know all of its different flavors. So, if you’re feeling like traveling somewhere but you can’t actually go to that country, you can try to make it – or at least a tiny bit of it – in your own kitchen.

Turn to YouTube or one of a million different recipe websites, and find a dish you enjoy from the cuisine of the country you want to visit. Tacos will immediately fill the room with staple smells from South America, a good curry can never not remind you of India, and sushi is entirely self-explanatory.

So, if you can’t go on a trip right this minute but you’re desperate to at least feel like you’re traveling, just make your entire kitchen smell like a street full of food vendors from that country!

Watch TV Shows Related To Travel

Sometimes it’s enough for a show to be filmed at the right location for it to become extremely popular. Emily in Paris proved that – despite the fact that the show was criticized for a number of different things, it remained extremely popular and mostly because of the fact that it’s filmed in Paris.

People love to tune in to see Lily Collins strolling down the cobblestone alleys of Montmartre and enjoying croissants with a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower, and I have to admit I’m also guilty of binging both seasons.

It doesn’t have to be a show about one specific city – there are countless travel shows that will satisfy your wanderlust for a moment, and many of them feature a different city or country in every episode. Put on some of Anthony Bourdain’s classics – No Reservations and Parts Unkown are still some of the best shows that combine food and travel!

The Grand Tour is another gem that covers remote destinations from around the world, and it’s particularly interesting for car lovers. But you don’t have to be into cars to appreciate the humor of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, and you certainly don’t need to know anything about vehicles to admire the spectacular landscapes that are featured in the episodes of this humorous travel show.

Watch Travel Movies

If you don’t want to commit to an entire TV show, you can just put on a travel movie. Into The Wild is a textbook example of a travel movie, and probably the best-known film in the genre. But a travel movie can be almost anything, as long as it’s set in the place that you’re yearning to visit.

I get the urge to travel to Sicily whenever I watch Godfather, and I doubt anyone would consider that a travel movie. But the beautiful landscapes that Al Pacino escapes to are so fascinating that, for a moment, it’s entirely possible to forget you’re watching a movie about mobsters.

The entire Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy showcases the beauty of spectacular European cities – Vienna, Paris, and Greece, in that order. Mamma Mia also depicts the beauty of Croatian and Greek islands, and it’s a great film to put on if you’re dreaming about a beach vacation.

Wild, starring Reese Whitherspoon, follows an inexperienced hiker setting out on the Pacific Crest Trail. The entire movie was shot on location, so it features the actual highlights of the iconic US long-distance hiking trail.

Go On A Virtual Tour of World’s Famous Museums

Some of the most famous museums in the entire world offer free virtual tours, and you should take advantage of that. J Paul Getty Museum, London’s Natural History Museum, and Musée d’Orsay in Paris have all made their collections available for virtual exploration.

Head to Google Arts & Culture again to go through the collections of these museums. You can even browse the various digital collections they have by genre or time period, so finding a collection curated specifically for you is easier than ever.

Learn A New Language

Learning an entirely new language is the best form of armchair travel. Not only does it get you closer to the culture of a country you’re fascinated by, but it’s also a way of developing a new skill that you can use for the rest of your life.

Learning a new language isn’t exactly the easiest thing you can do to satisfy your wanderlust, but it’s certainly the most useful one. You’ll particularly be happy you took up that happy if you manage to travel to the country whose native language you’ve mastered!

Also, keep in mind that learning a new language usually includes learning about the history and culture of that country, as well as reading a few books written by the nation’s most prominent writers. So, you’re not just learning how to talk to locals on your next trip, but you’re also getting a complete guide to the most important landmarks and attractions of the country you choose!

Plan Your Next Trip

Do you already have a destination in mind for your next trip? Then why not start planning it right now. You don’t have to purchase airplane tickets if you’re not sure when you’ll be able to go, but it’s a good idea to start researching other details that will come in handy during your trip.

Look at hotels and AirBnBs to see where you would like to stay and be sure to check out all the top tourist attractions and things to do at the destination. You can even make little maps for any future trip, and you can refer to the map when you actually arrive at that destination.

If you often go on road trips, you already know just how much planning goes into them, if you want things to go smoothly. You can get a head start on your next trip right now – it will get you excited about the trip, plus you can plan out a good chunk of the road trip.

Reminisce About Your Past Trips

Nothing can transport you through time and place quite like a personal photograph. Blow the dust off your online albums and take the time to go through all the 2365 photos you took on that trip to Rio de Janeiro. It can’t be just me that takes a million photos wherever I’m in a new city, and it can’t just be me that never looks at them again.

Take the time to go through the old photos and choose your favorites. You can even print them out if you like and create a travel collage to hang on a wall. Or you can just turn them into a throwback post.

You can also use this opportunity to make room in your phone for photographs you’ll take on your upcoming trips. Delete any blurry shots, images you don’t like, or images that you have a dozen copies of, and create some space for the photographs of places you’re yet to visit!

Create A Travel Scrapbook

Now that we all have amazing cameras in our pockets, it seems like we’re always taking photos, but never taking the time to go through them. Do you remember going through your childhood albums, and how happy you’d be when you saw that one photo you have a great memory of? Or when you looked at images from your travels as a kid?

You can still do that now, even if you’re a full-blown adult. You can even create an album if you want, but a travel scrapbook is a bit more fun. Go through the photos of the last (or any) place you visited, and select the ones you like the most and you want to have in your travel scrapbook.

If you need some travel inspiration, why not dedicate a few pages to every destination you visited. Print out your favorite photos with your friends and family, but also of the landmarks you liked and any places that stood out. Put all the photos in the scrapbook, and be sure to write little captions beneath the photos.

If you do go through with this, two decades from now, when your travel memories start to fade, you’ll be thrilled every time you lay eyes on your little travel scrapbook.

Play A Travel-Themed (Board) Game

Why not try a travel-themed board game to satisfy your itch for a quick trip? Trekking The World is one of the best-selling board games out there, and it’s great for families and friend groups of up to five people. You play the game by racing to visit as many countries in the world as you can and you collect souvenirs along the way. It’s extremely fun, and a great way to learn about some of the most popular destinations in the world.

The World Game is a travel-themed card game for up to five players. It tests your knowledge of geography by asking you to name the capitals of countries, point them out on a map, or guess their flag. It’s a fun card game, but only if you’re into geography.

It’s worth noting that board games aren’t the only types of games you can play that are related to travel. If you’re into gaming, you’ve got even more options when it comes to armchair travel! Many recent AAA games are set in existing cities, and most of those open worlds are incredibly detailed and pretty true to life.

Not all the details will be identical, but it’s important to point out that the reconstruction of Notre Dame will be done with the help of Ubisoft’s drawings that they used to recreate the iconic church in their Assassin’s Creed Unity game.

You can walk through the streets of London, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Tokyo, and many other cities if you’ve got a computer that can run newer AAA games. If not, just try Geouesser – the online game is one of the best things for armchair travel, especially if you want to explore places off the beaten path.

Socialize With Fellow Travel Enthusiasts on Social Media

If all else fails, turn to social media. Go on Reddit, Instagram, or even Facebook and find a group of like-minded travel enthusiasts with whom you can share travel stories and photos. This is also a great way to meet new people and make friends, and you could potentially travel with those people sometime.

But it’s a way of armchair traveling that only extroverts will consider, so it’s definitely not for everyone. You could be one of those people that lurk around the groups and forums, taking in all the stories and images, but not sharing anything with strangers.

About the Author Anna Timbrook

Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.

What Does Travel Mean to You?

A solo hiker in a yellow jacket sitting in the mountains looking at the scenery around him

A few years ago, I went around the world and asked people what travel meant to them. As I travel the country on my current book tour and hear everyone’s reasons for travel, I’m reminded of that experience.

Travel means something different to every single person in the world.

There are a million and one reasons to travel. Many people travel the world to get the bug out of their system, or to check things off a list to say they’ve been there and done that. Some run to escape their problems. Some people travel simply to get drunk around the world.

For me, travel means many things. Travel is freedom . It’s about being able to do what I want and fill my day with excitement. Travel was an escape. Travel was “elsewhere”. That place where exciting things and people resided. It was escaping the Matrix to learn about the world, why people do what they do, and how they act. It’s about pushing myself to the limit and getting more comfortable in my own skin.

But I wondered what motivates other people to do the same.

I have my theories of course.

But I wanted to hear it from people directly.

So, during an extended trip, I asked people I met on the road one question:

“What does travel mean to you?”

And here is what they said:

I loved hearing everyone’s answers because it so accurately describes all the various reasons that push us to travel the world, learn about the people in it, and ourselves.

Now, tell me in the comments below:

What does travel mean to you?

Share what drives you.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)
InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

a map with trip planning tools laid out on it

GET YOUR FREE TRAVEL STARTER KIT

Enter your email and get planning cheatsheets including a step by step checklist, packing list, tips cheat sheet, and more so you can plan like a pro!

Oasis tickets: Maximise your chances and avoid these mistakes - and how much they cost

Noel and Liam Gallagher have put a 15-year feud behind them to get the band back together. "Come see. It will not be televised," they warned in their announcement. So how can you get tickets?

Friday 30 August 2024 13:27, UK

Noel and Liam Gallagher pictured a Wembley Stadium in 2008. Pic: Zak Hussein/PA

Oasis are finally reuniting 15 years after they split, having announced a huge UK tour.

The iconic Manchester band's official social media accounts shared the dates of its 14 UK and Ireland shows, which will take place over July and August next year.

Speculation about a reunion grew in the weeks leading up to the announcement after years of Noel and Liam Gallagher's public feuding had made fans question whether it would ever happen.

"Come see. It will not be televised," they warned in their statement .

But when exactly are the dates for the brothers' on-stage reunion and how can you get tickets? Here's everything you need to know.

When and where are the concerts?

• 4 July 2025 - Principality Stadium, Cardiff • 5 July 2025 - Principality Stadium, Cardiff • 11 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 12 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 16 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 19 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 20 July 2025 - Heaton Park, Manchester • 25 July 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 26 July 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 30 July 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 2 August 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 3 August 2025 - Wembley Stadium, London • 8 August 2025 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh • 9 August 2025 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh • 12 August 2025 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh • 16 August 2025 - Croke Park, Dublin • 17 August 2025 - Croke Park, Dublin

How expensive are tickets?

Here's a breakdown of what we know about the prices:

More on Oasis

A person in a queue to access the Ticketmaster website on their phone, with the StubHub website in the background, detailing information about Oasis concert tickets for sale, in London. Oasis fans across the UK and Ireland who missed out on pre-sale tickets will be attempting to secure their place at the band's reunion concerts during Saturday's general sale. Issue date: Saturday August 31, 2024.

Ticketing system 'broken' after Oasis 'chaos', executive of resale site says

Ticket troubles – can there be a better system?

Minister for Health and Social Care Neil Gray during the SNP annual national conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Picture date: Sunday September 1, 2024.

Scottish health secretary Neil Gray denies he tried to by Oasis tickets during Alzheimer's panel at SNP conference

When do tickets go on sale and how can I get them?

All tickets will go on sale on Saturday 31 August. The Dublin dates will be on sale from 8am and the UK dates will go on sale at 9am .

🚨REGISTER FOR THE UK & IRELAND 2025 TOUR PRE-SALE BALLOT🚨 A ticket pre-sale will be held on Friday 30th August, ahead of Saturday’s general sale. To ensure the maximum number of fans have a fair opportunity to access tickets, applicants will be selected for the pre-sale via a… pic.twitter.com/spP24NemBV — Oasis (@oasis) August 27, 2024

But fans also had the chance to register for a pre-sale ballot before 10am (UK time) on Friday morning.

The deadline was originally 7pm on Wednesday but the band changed it due to "a last minute surge" in entries.

The band has now told fans on social media that anyone who has successfully got into the pre-sale ballot has already been contacted, and that anyone who wasn't sent a code will have to join the general sale on Saturday for a chance to get tickets.

Tickets for UK performances can be bought from the following sites:

• ticketmaster.co.uk • gigsandtours.com • www.seetickets.com

For the Ireland dates you need to go to ticketmaster.ie .

Be warned: you must register

The band's official website has "strongly advised" anyone hoping to purchase tickets to register in advance of the sale with the relevant ticket agencies.

Top tips for getting tickets

The ticket sites offer key advice for fans looking to have an edge over others in the race for in-demand tickets.

Here's a summary of their biggest tips:

• Don't wait until Saturday morning to register. This will mean you have plenty of time to get your account set up with all the right billing and delivery information • Verify your account. You have to add your phone number and confirm a one-time passcode with new accounts for protection. You only need to do it once • If you already have an account, double-check it. It's worth logging in before Saturday just to check you know your password, your delivery and billing information is all correct, and to ensure you've already completed your one-time passcode • Make sure your card details are already saved to avoid last-minute scrambling • Get your phones and laptops charged before the deadline • Make sure you're happy with your internet connection. Private WiFi is best, and if that isn't working, Ticketmaster advises using your mobile data over public WiFi, which it says is "usually the least reliable" • Don't refresh the page while in a waiting room. Ticketing sites use a queuing system when they get busy, meaning you get put in an online waiting room with other fans. They warn that refreshing the page won't move you further up the line, and that the page itself updates automatically. So once you're in, wait it out...

How many tickets can I buy and how expensive could they be?

You can get a maximum of four tickets per transaction, and you aren't permitted to sell them for more than you bought them for, according to event organisers.

Read more: Cool Britannia: Life in the UK in the '90s A timeline of Britpop's most successful band

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Will there be another chance to buy tickets?

There won't be another official sale, but you may be able to snatch resale tickets.

On its website, Oasis says it has partnered with Ticketmaster and ticket resale platform Twickets to ensure tickets aren't resold for more than the price originally paid - including booking fees.

The band has also warned those reselling the tickets that selling through any other platforms will breach the terms and conditions of the sale and may result in the tickets being cancelled.

Do you even deserve tickets?

Since the announcement, social media has been flooded by debate about who this concert is really for.

"What's your favourite B-side?" - an eligibility test being used by people who "were at Knebworth".

Die-hard Oasis fans who were there in the 90s will say they are the ones who most deserve to get their hands on tickets.

"Imagine waiting 15 years for Oasis to reform only to lose out on tickets to Chloe, 21 from Stockport who just wants to hear Wonderwall live", one X user posts.

In response, another writes: "Obsessed with all the men creating fictional young women who they might lose out on Oasis tickets to."

Analysis by Gemma Peplow , culture and entertainment reporter

"Like most kids, my parents influenced my music taste growing up, from Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner to the Rolling Stones.

"Kylie Minogue, obviously, was also a big feature in my cassette collection.

"But Oasis were the first band that felt like mine, not music I'd inherited.

"As a teenager I listened over and over, studied the album covers, and went on to see them live five times, each gig holding different memories and anecdotes. For those of us who grew up with them, they embodied our youth, the spirit of the '90s.

"But that doesn't mean these gigs belong to the older fans, which, like it or not, is the bracket I fall into now. You only have to see all the teenagers and younger adults at Liam's solo shows to see how Oasis's songs resonate with different generations. The music has stood the test of time, which can only be a good thing.

"Those gatekeeping fans are most likely the same as those complaining about how all music is rubbish these days. Well, you can't have it both ways.

"If I'm lucky enough to get tickets, I hope to be singing along with bucket-hat wearing fans of all ages."

for our MONTHLY POSTCARD

TRAVEL WITH MEANING PODCAST

Has travel ever impacted your life or career listen to our extraordinary guests as they share their meaningful and memorable travel stories, join the travel with meaning podcast as we chat with notable artists, entertainers, chefs, ceos, athletes, and entrepreneurs sharing travel stories that have impacted their lives and careers. .

AVAILABLE ON THESE STREAMING PLATFORMS

Celebrating Seattle

ALL EPISODES

WHAT DOES TRAVEL MEAN TO YOU?

Our community knows travel is a feeling and an experience. , merit badges what will you earn today.

Our merit badges are for ALL travelers. TWM badges can be earned by completing experiences in particular environments that create meaningful memories. The merit badge represents surviving the adventure, the elements, and braving the unknown. Earn your digital merit badge by posting your story and tagging @travelwithmeaning alongside a hashtag of the badge you're applying for. A winner is chosen monthly to be highlighted!

Sign up for our monthly POSTCARD!

Screen Shot 2024-06-24 at 1.49.10 PM.png

Thanks for joining our community of like-minded travelers.

Search Please fill out this field.
Newsletters

7 Personal Benefits of Travel

Forget milling around in your finest evening wear, Singapore Sling in hand: You'll be lucky to get peanuts. Flying isn't quite the party it was in Sinatra's days, and lots of time, energy, and money are expended to leave home, so why travel? How long do the personal benefits of travel last?

Getting away from home and stepping outside of your usual routine is beneficial for both mind and body. The long-lasting personal benefits of visiting a foreign country far outweigh the costs and time to get there.

The great travel writer Pico Lyer said: "Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits." Here are seven ways that travel, especially international travel, will enhance your life.

Travel Sharpens the Mind

You've done your old routine for so many years that you could run through it on autopilot. Being dropped into a new environment engages a dormant part of your mind and gets those synapses firing again.

Suddenly, you'll be required to navigate unfamiliar places, read foreign languages , try new things, make quick decisions, and choose your new eating and sleeping schedule.

Unlike at home, all the new sights, sounds, and places will require mental processing and filing. Your brain will welcome the workout! Once you return home, you'll be sharper than ever for better organizing and sprucing up your daily routine.

A Shift in Perspective

"Nobody comes back from a journey the way they started it." — Unknown

Being exposed to new cultures and people will greatly shift your paradigm and create a healthier perspective once you return back home. Seeing different social classes creates compassion and really makes you feel more blessed and content. Large portions of the world's population have to deal with daily threats such as hunger, disease , and landmines .

A hard day at work suddenly doesn't seem so bad when you see people in developing countries toiling in sun-scorched fields from morning to dark, or begging for a drink of water.

A Chance to Try New Things

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

While you may branch out at home from time to time by trying new restaurants or splurging on expenditures, traveling kicks you out of the comfort zone and forces you, for better or worse, to try new things!

Even if you don't enjoy your first attempt at scuba diving , at least you'll be able to relate in a new way the next time you see it in a movie or hear someone talking about it.

Becoming a well-rounded individual enhances self-confidence and will help you find new material for conversation in social settings with a wider variety of people.

Who knows, you may accidentally discover your new favorite food or find out that you want to pursue a new career in karaoke!

Meet New People

"A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles." — Tim Cahill

You'll meet far more friendly people on the road than you will under ordinary circumstances at home.

Other travelers are always looking to share experiences, give tips on places to go, and meet people from all over. Striking up a conversation with other travelers is extraordinarily easy.

A polite "so where are you from?" breaks the ice quite easily and may lead to lasting friendships with people from all over the world.

See the Real Deal

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." — Aldous Huxley

Until you visit a place and form your own opinions, your understanding only comes from what you were taught in school, read in books, or saw on media, which may or may not be a complete truth.

Don't over-research your upcoming destination in guidebooks. Do your best to avoid building a bias toward a place or installing mental filters before you visit. Wait to form your own opinion, remaining objective until you can make up your own mind.

Exercise and Sunshine

Sure, you could just go sweat in the gym under fluorescent lighting, but chances are that you'll be much more active from day to day while on the road, regardless of whether your trip is an adventurous one or simply a relaxing beach trip .

You could be exploring new cities on foot, hiking , swimming, walking between places, and hopefully soaking up some needed sunshine while doing so. And it's guaranteed to smell better than the gym.

Come Home Renewed

After stepping away from home for a while, you'll return with renewed energy, a new set of mental filters, and ready to take on the next big project or challenge. Call it a life reboot.

Getting away for some time, even though it requires effort, will greatly enhance your attitude and productivity once you return home. Sure, you may have some mail piled up and matters to attend, but those are simple challenges easily knocked out.

Breaking up the monotony for a while is a great way to reduce stress and give your life an injection of excitement. Don't be surprised if shortly after your return, you're already counting down days until the next trip!

Join The Newsletter

Travel + Beauty

115 Idioms About Travel: What They Mean & How To Use Them

If you have an upcoming trip to an English-speaking country you may hear a few idioms about travel along the way. In this post, I have 100+ travel idioms so you will know what they mean and how to use them yourself!

Whether you are taking time to learn English or know it well you will find these English idioms about travel fun to learn.

Let’s begin with this list of common idioms related to travel.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclosure here.

Pinterest pin for idioms about travel. Text says epic idioms and phrases about travel. Globe with landmarks around the world.

Besides reading these idioms for travel, you may enjoy these other related posts:

Travel Expressions and Phrases To Learn For your Trip
66 Genius Traveling Hacks
How To Use Google Maps To Plan A Trip
Tips To Survive Long Flights In Economy

Idioms About Travel

Here in this curated list, we’re going to dive into all the idioms about travel. All these idioms related to travel you will know when you’re finished reading this post! Whatever your preferred mode of transportation is when traveling, I have travel idioms for them all!

So fasten your seat belt, it’s time to take off!

Hit the Road

When you hear hit the road it means to leave.

Example: “We need to be at the airport by 8 AM. We better hit the road so we’re not late.”

To Pack Light

This is one of my favorite idioms about travel. I’m sure most travelers will find it hard like me to follow. To pack light means only bringing what you need and not overstuffing your luggage.

Example: “For the road trip we need to pack light so all our luggage can fit in the trunk.”

Backseat Driver

When one is a backseat driver they tend to be that annoying passenger who tells the driver how to drive. It can also mean one who is controlling.

Example: “Would you stop being a backseat driver? I know where I am going. I’ve driven around Paris many times.”

To be in a rut is being stuck in a situation that doesn’t seem to change.

Example: “I feel I have been stuck in a rut with my job since I moved here to Los Angeles .”

Hit A Roadblock

Hitting a roadblock is when something hinders you from progressing.

Example: “I was working on my novel every day, then I seemed to hit a roadblock and can’t write anymore.”

Carry Coals To Newcastle

Where some says carry coals to Newcastle it means to do something that is unnecessary.

Example: “You don’t need to pack all those suitcases for an overnight trip, it would be like carrying coals to Newcastle.

Catch The Sun

This is one of the idioms about travel we all have experienced before. Catching the sun means getting sunburned.

Example: “I caught the sun bad on my vacation in Florida. ”

Paddle One’s Own Canoe

To paddle one’s own canoe is to be an independent person.

Example: “Jane can paddle her own canoe. She likes to travel all over the world solo. ”

This is one of the idioms about travel we clearly all know so well. Live it up is to enjoy yourself and leave the worries of money or anything behind.

Example: “We are going to live it up every night during our trip to Miami. ”

Idioms for travel photo of a woman in Florence, Italy.

Drive A Hard Bargain

When you hear drive a hard bargain means to deal with a tough negotiator.

Example: “The farmers at the markets in Mauritius drive a hard bargain.”

Any Port In A Storm

When you hear any port in a storm means being in a troublesome situation and taking any solution to fix the problem.

Example: “Since our flight was canceled, we decided to rent a car to get home in time for work. We took any port in a storm for our situation”

Asleep At The Wheel

Asleep at the wheel is not paying attention or someone failing their responsibilities.

Example: “Amy is always asleep at the wheel and she can never do her part when we are planning trips. ”

Shift Gears

When you or someone quickly changes what they are doing.

Example: “I know we were planning a trip to Mexico t his summer, but let’s shift gears and plan a trip to Guatemala instead.”

Wheels Fall Off

When you hear the wheels fall off, be prepared! This is when everything that was going well makes a turn for the worse. Things begin to turn to chaos.

Example: “Our vacation took a turn during our hike and the wheels fell off from there.”

Cool One’s Jets

Cooling your jets means calming down.

Example: “Even though the plane was delayed with will get home tonight. So cool your jets.”

Highways And Byways

This is one of the idioms about travel relating to life. It means the paths taken in life, referring to major or less-traveled roads.

Example: “She moved to a village outside of Athens by highways and byways.”

To fly high means to be extremely happy.

Exampling: “We were flying high coasting the Greek Islands .”

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star

When you hitch your wagon to a star you or someone else is setting large goals.

Example: “You can make money traveling the world, why not hitch your wagon to a star?”

Fall Off The Wagon

Falling off the wagon means returning to destructive behaviors, such as drugs, alcohol, or overeating.

Idioms about travel photo inside an airplane.

Fork In The Road

When you have to make a decision between two different choices you come to a fork in the road.

Example: “I reached a fork in the road. I can’t decide if I should take that job in New York or Los Angeles . What do you think I should do?”

Rock The Boat

Rock the boat is causing harm or problems in a situation.

Example: “Jane and Robert are getting along since they returned from their trip. Hope one of them doesn’t rock the boat.”

On A Shoestring/ On The Cheap

Being on a shoestring is having to be tight with finances.

Example: “We were on a shoestring while backpacking through Europe.”

At The Crack Of Dawn

Waking up at the crack of dawn is waking up very early.

Example: “Let’s wake up at the crack of dawn so we can catch the sunrise on the beach.”

Call It A Day Or Night

Whenever you call it a day or night it means to go home or end an activity.

Example: “We stayed at that rooftop bar until 1 AM before calling it a night.”

Thirty Thousand Foot View

When you are looking at something with a thirty thousand foot view it means seeing the whole picture or perspective of the situation.

Example: “From a thirty-thousand-foot view, Miami is very hot during the summer season. However, it is cheaper to visit then and less crowded.

Ship Has Sailed

If the ship has sailed, it means you missed your opportunity.

Example: “I have always dreamed of becoming a flight attendant, but the ship has sailed on that one.”

Off The Beaten Track

To go off the beaten track means to travel the route or a remote location.

Example: “We went off the beaten track during our road trip to Switzerland .”

Your Mileage May Vary

If you hear your mileage may vary, it means getting different results.

Example: “I heard the milage varies when booking flights . I heard it’s cheaper to book on Mondays than Saturdays.”

Put The Brakes On

Putting the breaks on means to slowing something down.

Example: “We should put the brakes on how we spend money so we have money for our trip.”

Fifth Wheel

Having a person around that is not welcome is known as a fifth wheel.

Example: “My sister said she feels like a fifth wheel when she goes to dinner with us.”

Rocky road means going through a difficult time or situation.

Example: “It was a rocky road getting over my fear of flying.”

Catch The Red-Eye

Catching the red-eye is one of the idioms about travel we have all experienced at least once. This means taking a flight leaving late at night.

Example: “Since I am catching a red-eye I will be sure to stay awake so I can sleep on the plane.”

In The Same Boat

Being in the same boat as someone means experiencing the same situation.

Example: “I think we’re in the same boat feeling this jet lag.”

Jump/ Leap/ Climb On The Bandwagon

Whether you use to jump, leap, or climb on the bandwagon it means following the current trend.

Example: “I guess I will jump on the bandwagon with you all buy those shoes.”

Live Out Of A Suitcase

If you’re living out of your suitcase it means staying in several places for a short length of time. No need to unpack because your stay is so brief.

Example: “I have been hopping around Europe and living out of my suitcase.”

When you break the journey it means to stop and take a rest somewhere during your travels.

Example: “We will break the journey in Texas for a night before continuing to New York . ”

Drivers who consume the road and make it difficult to pass are road hogs.

Example: “That road hog is driving down the middle of the road! Look he’s causing traffic since no one can pass him.”

Make Your Way Back

When you visit a place again or come back to a task, then you made your way back to it.

Example: “It took a while, but I made my way back to Greece this year.”

Hustle And Bustle

To hustle and bustle means being busy.

Example: “We planned on relaxing during our trip to Mexico, but we hustled and bustled.”

Country Mile

A country mile means going a long distance, especially when you expected it to be shorter.

Example: “We thought the drive from Miami to Key West was short, but it turned out to be a country mile.”

Travel Broadens The Mind

This idiom means you can broaden your perspective about the world through traveling.

Example: “I was stuck in my ways for so long, but after exploring other countries travel broadened my mind.”

Put The Pedal To The Metal

If you ever hear put the pedal to the metal, be sure to buckle up. This means driving fast!

Example: “We were able to arrive in Fort Lauderdale from Miami quickly. Jack really put the pedal to the metal.”

Be In The Driver’s Seat

Being in the driver’s seat is having control of a situation.

Example: “My sister took the driver’s seat planning our trip to Hawaii. ”

Throw Someone Under The Bus

To throw someone under the bus means to harm someone for personal gain through deceit.

Example: “My co-worker is being considered for a promotion. She threw me under the bus when I called out sick and I wasn’t. I don’t know how she found out I really went for a day trip to Key West. ”

Have Itchy Feet

One who is experiencing itchy feet has a strong desire to travel.

Example: “I haven’t taken a vacation in a while. I’m getting itchy feet to so somewhere.

Drive Someone Up The Wall

If someone is really irritating you then they have driven you up the wall.

Example: “The guy kicking my seat on this plane is driving me up the wall.”

A Wheel Within A Wheel

When one is dealing with a wheel within a wheel it means having to handle a difficult situation.

Example: “I can’t figure out how to work this camera. It’s a wheel within a wheel. Do you know someone who can help me?”

Cross The Bridge When We Get To It

To cross the bridge when you get to is dealing with the problem if/when it occurs.

Example: “I am worried our flight will be canceled due to the weather. We will have to cross that bridge when we get to it, but let’s think positively.

Float One’s Boat

If one ever floated your boat, then they made you really happy.

Example: “We have visited Hawaii several times and I really don’t want to go. But, whatever floats your boat.

Idioms about travel photo of a man on a mountain alone.

Bump In The Road

When you hit a bump in the road a problem has occurred.

Example: “There was a bump in the road when our plane was delayed. We missed our connecting flight. “

Cover One’s Tracks

Covering one’s tracks is to hide the evidence of your actions.

Example: “We need to cover our tracks so the flight attendants won’t’ know we stole those snacks.”

To Jump Ship

When a person jumps ship they abandon a task.

Example: “My sister jumped ship and bailed on our yearly Europe trip.”

Just Around The Corner

Just around the corner, it means something is going to happen very soon.

Example: “My trip to Munich is just around the corner.”

Wheels Fell Off

This idiom about travel is about dealing with a problem that occurred unexpectedly.

Example: “Our vacation in Vienna started off well, but then wheels fell off. The second day we lost all our money. “

Run A Tight Ship

When a person keeps a tight ship, they are keeping things organized and in order.

Example: “Annie runs a tight ship when she is travel planning . ”

Take Someone For A Ride

If you have ever been swindled or conned, you have been taken for a ride.

Example: “I should have known that girl would take me for a ride.”

On The Home Stretch

On the home stretch means the journey is coming to an end.

Example: “We are on the home stretch. Zurich is our last stop before heading home.

Hit The Beach

Hit the beach means to go to the beach.

Example: “We’re planning to hit the beach every day when we’re in Miami.

On A Wing And A Prayer

On a wing and a prayer means when you rely on hope during a difficult situation.

Example: “We are on a wing and prayer that our flight home doesn’t get delayed again.”

Vacation idioms photo of a window view from the plane.

Miss The Boat

Miss the boat is an idiom travel expression meaning you missed your chance.

Example: “I should have booked that flight yesterday. We missed the boat on that price.”

Train Of Thought

Train of thought is one’s pattern and sequence of thinking.

Example: “I forgot what I was going to say. You interrupted and ruined my train of thought.”

When you have to think very quickly and are not able to put in much thought, you are thinking on the fly.

Example: ”I need a day to think about what I’m packing , it’s not so easy to think on the fly for this trip.”

Send Flying

Sending something flying is something is getting tossed in the air or somewhere around.

Example: “That guy at the airport bumped into me so hard it sent my passport flying.”

Take The High Road

Despite how someone might have treated you poorly, you still take the high road and respond ethically and rationally.

Example: “Even though Megan treated me poorly on the trip, I decided to take the high road and not get even with her.”

Turn The Corner

When things to a corner mean there is an improvement when dealing with a difficult situation.

Example: “After being lost in the mountains for days, things turned a corner when we bumped into a hiker on the trail who helped us.”

Travel idiom phrase manning to take a short break during a trip.

Example: “When we reach Dallas, let’s take a pit stop and fill up on gas and grab some snacks.”

Right Up One’s Alley

Having something right up your alley means it’s of your interest.

Example: “I am not into city destinations, secluded beaches are right up my alley. “

Just The Ticket

Just the ticket means getting exactly what you wanted.

Example: “I’ve got just the ticket to cheer you up. We’re going to Mauritius!”

A Mile A Minute

If you’re going a mile a minute, you are going very fast.

Example: “That taxi driver was driving a mile a minute.”

Travel idioms photo of a woman looking at glaciers.

Get One’s Wings

Idiom for when a pilot gets his license.

Example: “After all that training, I finally got my wings!”

Pull Up Stakes

When you pull up stakes you are packing up and leaving the campsite.

Example: “After spending 3 days camping, it’s time to pull up stakes.”

Tire Kicker

When someone pretends to be interested in buying something but doesn’t have intentions to buy anything they are a tire kicker. Also, one who wastes people’s time.

Example: “Let’s just plan the trip without Joanne. She is not going to contribute, we know she is a tire kicker.”

Feet On The Ground

Being able to remain calm in unpleasant circumstances.

Example: “Blake always has bad luck on a trip, but he is always able to keep his feet on the ground.”

Take The Wind Out Of Someone’s Sails

When you take the wind out of one’s sails it means to discourage them and others.

Example: “Amy was showing so much progress with her travel blog until Robert came and told her he didn’t like her writing. That really took the wind out of her sails.

Be In One’s Wheelhouse

This idiom about travel means to be in your comfort zone.

Example: “You always visit Vienna. Get out of your wheelhouse and explore other countries.”

When a person has road rage they are a very angry driver and can exhibit violent or aggressive behaviors.

Example: “I don’t want Blake driving when we are in Dallas. He has terrible road rage.”

Jet set is a group of wealthy and trendy people who frequently travel the world.

Example: “I am dreaming of the day to becoming a jet set.”

Hitch A Ride

To hitch a ride means getting a free ride.

Example: “I hitched a ride from France to Switzerland . ”

Train Wreck

If something is a train wreck, it’s a complete failure and disaster.

Example: “That airline is a train wreck! They are always losing my luggage and have delayed flights.”

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

When you reach the light at the end of the tunnel a difficult situation is coming to an end.

Example: “After having my luggage lost for a week the airline called and said it’s found. Now, they just have to get it to me, so I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Idioms about travel photo of a carry on at the airport.

Give The Green Light

Giving someone the green light is giving permission to move forward and proceed.

Example: “The pilot gave the green light to the flight attendants to prepare for landing.”

All Hands On Deck

When orders are given for all hands on deck, every crew member on the ship must report to the deck.

Example: “I was about to have lunch, but then the captain announced all hands on deck.”

Bad News Travels Fast

When bad news travels fast, means it gets around to others rather quickly.

Example: “How does everyone know I got arrested in Mexico ? I guess bad news travels fast.”

Neck Of The Woods

This means a place nearby.

Example: “Hey, I will be in your neck of the woods tomorrow. Would you like to meet for lunch?”

Be Off One’s Trolley

When one is off their trolley, they are exhibiting crazy behavior.

Example: “You must be off your trolley taking all those suitcases for an overnight trip.”

Running On Fumes

Telling someone you’re running on fumes means continuing to do something although you’re extremely tired.

Example: “We have been hiking for hours, I am running on fumes.”

Desert A Sinking Ship

To desert a sinking ship means leaving the situation when you know it is going to fail.

Example: “I hate to be the one who deserts a sinking ship, but I don’t think that is a wise decision for me.”

Walk It Off

When one has an injury, one will make an attempt to walk to feel better.

Example: “After hurting my ankle at the beach yesterday, I tried walking it off, but it didn’t help.

Hit The Ground Running

Hit the ground running is to begin something with lots of excitement.

Example: “Jane hit the ground running promoting her group tour.”

Go Off The Rails

To off of the rails means to begin behaving strangely.

Example: “John went off the rails when his flight got delayed again.”

Make Headway

When one makes headway it means they are making progress.

Example: “It was difficult to make headway sailing because of the tide.”

Go The Extra Mile

This idiom about travel means doing more than what is expected.

Example: “That airline always goes the extra mile for their passengers.”

Old Stomping Grounds

When one visits their old stomping grounds it means to visit a familiar or favorite place.

Example: “It’s been a while since I visited my old stomping grounds. I used to visit Greece every summer.”

When you part ways one is separating or going in different directions.

Example: “After working for the airline for 20-years, I decided to part ways.”

In Full Flight

If one is in full flight, they are leaving something or someone quickly.

Example: “I was in full flight to catch the plane during my layover. ”

Set Up Camp

Setting up for camp is to prepare or set up.

Example: “We need to set up before we go on our hike.”

Clear Sailing

Clear sailing means when a situation is clear of problems.

Example: “We didn’t have any delays or issues with our flight. It was clear sailing.”

At A Good Clip

Being a good clip means going very fast.

Example: “Wow, we walked around the city at a good clip. What’s next?”

Without A Hitch

When one has no problems they are without a hitch.

Example: “The flight went without a hitch.”

Where Rubber Meets The Road

When one is where rubber meets the road, their skill are being tested.

Example: “During my first solo trip I had many moments where rubber meets the road.”

Get The Show On The Road

Getting the show on the road is when you start something.

Example: “Vacation is here! Let’s get this show on the road.”

Fly By The Seat Of One’s Pants

When one has to fly the seat of one’s pants, they are depending on their own instincts.

Example: “I got lost in Los Angeles and was flying by the seats of my pants to find the hotel.”

Circle The Wagons

When one becomes defensive they are circling the wagons.

Example: “Don’t circle the wagons. I know you know where we are going, I just made a suggestion for another route.

Walk The Plank

When one has to accept the consequences of their actions.

Example: “I said you didn’t need all those suitcases. Now, you must walk the plank and carry them all yourself.”

Travel idioms photo of a woman looking at a USA map.

Spin One’s Wheels

Spinning one’s wheels is wasting time on something or someone.

Example: “She is just spinning her wheels at that job. She will never get promoted.”

Fly Under The Radar

When something or someone does something without being noticed.

Example: “Lilly never stays until the party ends. She flys under the radar when she leaves.

When you go on a short or long trip by car.

Example: “Let’s take a road trip from Miami to Key West. “

My Way Or The Highway

If one says my way or the highway, it means you do what I say or leave.

Example: “Sally makes all the travel arrangements. She makes it clear it’s her way or the highway.”

At A Crossroads

When one has come to a point where a choice has to be made they are at a crossroads.

Example: “I’m at a crossroads deciding where to spend the holiday. Should I go to Vienna or Munich ? ”

Sail Close To The Wind

If you said close to the wind you are doing something risky or even dangerous.

Example: “John likes to climb some of the tallest mountains alone. He is sailing too cost to the wind.”

Have a One-Track Mind

One who is preoccupied with one particular topic.

Example: “Laura has a one-track mind. Travel is the only thing she ever talks about.

Lose Track Of Someone Or Something

When one forgets, misplaces, or doesn’t pay attention to someone or something.

Example: “I lost track of Amy after she moved to Panama .

Step It Up A Gear

Stepping up a gear is to work on something with more enthusiasm and energy.

Example: “I decided to step it up a gear studying for my pilot’s license.”

Smooth Sailing

One is smooth sailing when they can work on a task free from difficulties.

Example: “Planning our world trip was stressful, but with Google maps, it turned out to be pretty smooth sailing.”

Sunday Driver

A Sunday driver is one who drives obnoxiously slow on the road.

Example: “Don’t have Tom drive us to dinner. He is a Sunday driver and we will miss our reservation.”

Idioms Travel List Wrap Up

I hope you enjoyed these idioms about travel. Learn them quickly by using these travel idioms as much as you can when speaking with others. I’m curious to know which of these travelling idioms were your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.

Keep these idioms about travel handy with you, especially if you’re learning English, and download your travel idioms pdf here.

If you enjoyed these vacation idioms, check out these other related posts:

Like this post on idioms about travel? Share it with others or pin it for later!

Text says ultimate list of idioms and phrases about travel. Pinterest pin for idioms about travel. Plane in sky.

Things To Do In Serifos: The Ultimate Guide To This Greek Island

Chora on a sunny day one of the things to do in Serifos.

8 Antigua, Guatemala Photo Spots Worth Knowing

Me posing at an Antigua, Guatemala photo spot

SYDNEY, NSW
MELBOURNE, VIC
HOBART, TAS
BRISBANE, QLD
ADELAIDE, SA
CANBERRA, ACT
Police investigating death of baby at family daycare

Victorians urged to stay home as worst weather of year intensifies

Wild Weather

Send your stories to [email protected]

Auto news: Melbourne Tesla owner uses fishing rod to charge car.

Airbnb hits out at Victorian government over 'damaging' new rental levy

How world's richest woman spent her $100 billion fortune

Crews work to restore power to 40,000 Victorians after wild weather

Trampoline found in paddock as storm clean-up begins

Explained: What do the numbers on your passport actually mean?

If you have ever wondered what those numbers stand for, then your curiosity will end here. the numbers on your passport serve many identification and administrative purposes..

Pack Your Bags! 6 Current Travel Slang Terms To Take On Your Next Trip

Have you been feeling wanderlust lately? If so, you are not alone. Lots of people are looking to hit the road and travel as pandemic restrictions slowly lessen across the world. All of this vacationing and globetrotting is likely to lead to a whole bunch of trendy new travel jargon—either organically or as marketing pushes by a travel industry hungry for all those new travelers. While you start prepping for your own big trip, here are some examples of modern travel slang that you can stuff into your suitcase.

The word baecation simply refers to any vacation spent with your bae , your romantic partner. Baecation is often used in travel marketing and advertising of romantic getaways or destinations known as lands of love.

Baecation is a hybrid construction that combines the word bae with the end of the word vacation . The fact that baecation rhymes with vacation is an added marketing bonus. Baecation is formed similarly to the word staycation –meaning a vacation where someone stays home– which has become a mainstay of travel lingo.

friendcation

As you might have guessed, the term friendcation refers to a vacation spent with friends. A friendcation could refer to any type of vacation as long as you bring a buddy or two along. In marketing and social media, friendcation is often used to refer to vacation spots that feature group activities, such as hang gliding or nightclub-hopping.

As with baecation , friendcation is simply a hybrid construction that combines the word friend with the ending of the word vacation .

eduvacation

You know something that goes great with a vacation? Learning! The term eduvacation refers to a vacation or trip that involves learning about things. The term is broadly used and could refer to a wide variety of vacation destinations and activities, such as a trip to a famous museum, a tour of a cultural historic site, or a safari that teaches about animals.

The word eduvacation is a combination of the words education and vacation . Unlike baecation and friendcation , the entire word vacation makes an appearance because without the whole thing you would just have … education.

A familymoon is a vacation for a newly married couple—and their children. The term is used to refer both to couples that have had children with each other prior to getting married and to couples who had children from previous relationships. As you’d expect, familymoon is used in advertising and social media when referring to travel spots that are kid-friendly and have plenty of things for children to do.

The word familymoon is based on the word honeymoon , a trip taken by newly married couples. The family in familymoon refers to the couples’ children—their family. A similar word that uses the -moon suffix based on honeymoon is the fairly well-known term babymoon . A babymoon is a vacation that a couple takes to celebrate (and rest before) the upcoming birth of a baby.

Go Behind The Words!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

It is time to bridge the generational divide and go gramping . The word gramping refers to grandparents and their grandchildren going on vacation together. While this term can refer to camping trips, it is also used more broadly to refer to any kind of trip or travel that grandchildren spend with their grandparents. Similar to familymoon , gramping is often used to refer to places that are accessible to both children and older people and have plenty of things they can do together.

The word gramping is a hybrid combination of the word camping with the prefix grand- found in both grandparent and grandchild(ren) . It is formed similarly to the popularly used travel word glamping , which refers to glamorous camping in which a person brings luxuries on a camping trip.

Let’s get down to business and … go on vacation? The word bleisure is often used in the phrase “bleisure travel” to refer to a combination of business and leisure travel . The term is often used to refer to business trips that involve some form of enjoying oneself. This could involve things such as making time for a hiking trip, fitting in some sightseeing, or bringing the kids along to have fun in between video conferences. Bleisure travel has become increasingly popular in recent times due to large numbers of people having to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The word bleisure is an oxymoronic mashup of the words business and leisure . Bleisure is used to refer to trips that in some way combine getting work done while finding time to relax or do something fun.

These travel terms, as well as many others, are often driven by travel marketing. For example, you may see the newer travel term open-jaw flight , meaning a flight that leaves from a different city from the one that a person arrived in, alongside the well-known term red-eye flight , which refers to a flight taken during the sleep hours.

Given that it is in travel agencies’ best interest to come up with snappy, marketable ways to sell vacation packages, don’t be surprised if we continue to see plenty of new travel lingo to get us all gallivanting across the globe.

If you're planning to travel somewhere sizzling, include these words in your vocabulary bag.

Current Events

Hobbies & Passions

Word Origins

[ hang -gree ]

Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

IMAGES

Travel Meaning: What You Need to Know About the Travel Industry
What Does Home Mean When You Travel Long-Term?
What is Home? Travel Reflections From an Expat Entrepreneur
Travel meaning Poster
Travel Meaning Print Art Print
Are you a homebody or is a travel journey your home? #travel #

VIDEO

Holiday Travel Guide: Let's talk pricing, strategy
Travel Vocabulary for Hotels
Travel Meaning
ONBOARD Transport for Wales(TfW) Class 150
ONBOARD Transport for Wales(TfW) Class 150

COMMENTS

What Is Domestic Travel? Definition, Examples, & Tips
The meaning of domestic travel is simply any travel that takes place within the states or territories of the US or your home country. "Domestic" comes from the Latin domus, meaning home. Domestic travel includes moving within or between states, territories, and US possessions freely without a passport. When you travel domestically, it may ...
What Does Domestic Travel Mean? Definition + Examples
Kyle Kroeger / ViaTravelers. Domestic travel is a term used to describe traveling within one's own country, excluding international destinations. It encompasses various travel experiences such as weekend getaways, family vacations, business trips, or exploring one's native culture and heritage. Engaging in domestic travel means journeying ...
What Is Domestic Travel? [2024] Definition & Practical Tips
A. Traveling within your own country's boundaries is the simplest definition of domestic travel. Flights, car journeys, and rail travel are all examples of domestic travel. ... So, whether you're planning a road trip, a weekend getaway, or an extended vacation, remember that the world of travel begins at home, and there's always something ...
Travel is bouncing back. What does that mean for home?
Travel is bouncing back. What does that mean for home? Since the onset of the pandemic, the home industry has seen an unprecedented boom in demand. Within months of the first lockdowns, it became clear that more time spent at home meant more money spent on the home, in part because people started tapping into budgets they might otherwise have ...
Homestays 101: The EPIC Guide to Staying With Locals! (2024)
Homestays 101: The ULTIMATE Guide to Staying With Locals! (2024) Some of my best nights spent travelling haven't been inside of an Airbnb, a hotel, or even a hostel. They've taken place in local abodes, complete with home-cooked meals and heaps of connections. If you've never heard of them before, the entire concept of homestays might ...
The Emotional Meaning of Home Matters More Than You Think
Emotions Associated with Home. And sickness, spent at home, does much the same thing. It leaves us with our thoughts and a desperate desire for change, to make this stop, in a way that sickness on the road cannot. On the road, sickness focuses on survival: the need to reach somewhere safe and the desire to go home.
20 Ways to Travel From Home
Books and Audiobooks about Travel. As Anna Quindlen said in How Reading Changed My Life, ""Books are the plane, and the train, and the road.They are the destination, and the journey. They are home." We would have to agree. Books are a wonderful way to take a journey without leaving your house, be that on a voyage to fantasy worlds, or on an adventure through our own.
A Traveler's Meaning of "Home"
Home is a heartset. It lives in emotion, not logic. It lives in energy, not geography. Home is when everything around you rises up to meet you exactly where you are, in a whole, familiar, ethereal embrace. Home feels like there is nowhere else in the world you'd rather be, and that is the single best feeling in the world, especially for a ...
Homestay Tourism: What Is A Homestay?
Homestay is a relatively new concept that has been introduced to the tourism sphere. In fact, the very notion of 'home' seems somewhat contradictory when we talk about tourism, doesn't it? I mean, we travel to get away from home… Well, it turns out that homestay tourism has grown considerably is recent years.
What is Domestic Travel? Definition + Examples
Exploring the Comforts of Home: The Joys of Domestic Travel In a world that often glamorizes international jet-setting, the subtle charms of domestic travel remain an underrated treasure. Venturing within the confines of one's own country can unveil a mosaic of landscapes, cultures, and experiences that are both familiar and novel.
TRAVEL
TRAVEL definition: 1. to make a journey, usually over a long distance: 2. If something travels well/badly, it…. Learn more.
Travel at Home: The Benefits of Domestic Tourism
Domestic Tourism. Domestic travel is termed as travel within one's own country. Even visitors to a neighbouring state would be classified as domestic tourists. Domestic travel is important for the domestic economy as it feeds money back into the local economy. This helps revitalise the livelihoods of locals, as well as bolsters the local ...
How to Become a Home-Based Travel Agent
A home-based travel agent is an individual who books and arranges travel for clients, right from their house.They then receive commissions from suppliers for tickets booked, although they also charge clients for services not included in the commissions.. As a home-based travel agent, you can be completely independent with an online agency or work with a travel supplier as an affiliate.
TRAVEL
TRAVEL meaning: 1. to make a journey, usually over a long distance: 2. If something travels well/badly, it…. Learn more.
Travel Definition & Meaning
The meaning of TRAVEL is to go on or as if on a trip or tour : journey. How to use travel in a sentence. to go on or as if on a trip or tour : journey; to go as if by traveling : pass; associate…
Labor Day Travel Plans? What to Know About the Hotel Strike.
Though hotel chains say they'll continue to operate normally, travelers could see disruptions as employees walked off the job in cities from Boston to Honolulu. Here's what to know. By Derek M ...
Why Travel? Here's All the Inspiration You Need
Looking for idealized versions of home— indeed, looking for the perfect memory." Yet, when all is boiled down to a single drop, we travel to define: ourselves, the world, and life. With each footstep, this definition can change. It is a definition that is open-ended, one that is influenced by every experience and new border crossing.
Armchair Travel: 16 Ways To Travel The World From Home
Virtually Explore US National Parks. Most US National Parks offer virtual tours that are absolutely perfect for an armchair traveler. You can explore any national park you want from the comfort of your home, and you can even peek inside museums and other unique attractions that the national parks have. Of course, it's not the same as reaping ...
What Does Travel Mean to You?
For me, travel means many things. Travel is freedom. It's about being able to do what I want and fill my day with excitement. Travel was an escape. Travel was "elsewhere". That place where exciting things and people resided. It was escaping the Matrix to learn about the world, why people do what they do, and how they act.
Oasis tickets: Maximise your chances and avoid these mistakes
Standing tickets will cost fans £151.25. Heaton Park, Manchester. In the band's home city, tickets start from £148.50, with only standing available alongside a number of hospitality and luxury ...
HOME
Our merit badges are for ALL travelers. TWM badges can be earned by completing experiences in particular environments that create meaningful memories. The merit badge represents surviving the adventure, the elements, and braving the unknown. Earn your digital merit badge by posting your story and tagging @travelwithmeaning alongside a hashtag ...
7 Personal Benefits of Travel: Why Travel?
Getting away from home and stepping outside of your usual routine is beneficial for both mind and body. The long-lasting personal benefits of visiting a foreign country far outweigh the costs and time to get there. The great travel writer Pico Lyer said: "Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits."
The man turning jet planes into cool houses
Wasilla, south central Alaska. Home to bears, lakes, mountains and a flight school that's fast becoming a private aviation wonderland. At FLY8MA Pilot Lodge, you can opt for a scenic flight tour ...
115 Idioms About Travel: What They Mean & How To Use Them
Catch The Red-Eye. Catching the red-eye is one of the idioms about travel we have all experienced at least once. This means taking a flight leaving late at night. Example: "Since I am catching a red-eye I will be sure to stay awake so I can sleep on the plane.".
Air Canada labour negotiations and your travel
If you're scheduled to travel during this period, you can retrieve your booking to change your flight, free of charge, to another date: between September 8 and September 14, 2024, and/or; between September 24 and November 30, 2024. Rest assured that we will notify you of any impact to your flight itinerary in advance of your travel.
Victorians urged to stay home as worst weather of year intensifies
Damaging gusts brought down trees and fences late on Sunday afternoon across the state and high tides and surf warnings forced the closure of some piers.
Explained: What do the numbers on your passport actually mean?
Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) What does it mean: The MRZ is a series of two or three lines of characters at the bottom of the passport's data page that contains encoded information including your passport number, issuing country, name, nationality, date of birth, sex, and expiration date. Why is it important: The MRZ allows automated systems at border control and other checkpoints to quickly ...
Travel
To travel is the act of going from one place to another, usually a considerable distance. Your daily commute in the morning doesn't generally count as travel. ... as between one's place of work and home. peregrinate. travel around, through, or over, especially on foot. live out, sleep out. work in a house where one does not live. sightsee.
6 Current Travel And Vacation Slang Terms
These travel terms, as well as many others, are often driven by travel marketing. For example, you may see the newer travel term open-jaw flight, meaning a flight that leaves from a different city from the one that a person arrived in, alongside the well-known term red-eye flight, which refers to a flight taken during the sleep hours.
Railcard train travel to offer less of a discount
The train fare discount being offered to Railcard users is being cut by operators this month. Savings are advertised as being one-third and are currently applied at a rate of 34% for Railcards ...