For some reason a holiday away from home still seems more exciting than one in the country. Mention a trip to Italy or Thailand and people will listen. If you say you are spending four days in another Indian city the reaction is usually a little less enthusiastic.
It is a curious way to think about travel, particularly in a country where traveling from one region to another can be like going to a whole other universe. Everything else changes, the food changes, the language changes, the weather changes. But domestic travels are usually seen as something to undertake when an overseas getaway is not in the cards.
Foreign travel is, of course, attractive in its own right. There is the excitement of being somewhere new, eating food you didn’t grow up with, finding out how things work in a different country. But a good holiday is not about getting over a border.
India has beaches and mountains, ancient cities, wildlife reserves and small towns that hardly make it on the standard travel lists. Some places are great for a week away, some are best for a quick long weekend. And the great news is there’s no shortage of diversity. A holiday in Kerala will be very different to a holiday in Rajasthan or Meghalaya.
And then there is convenience. Going abroad often requires a lot of preparation, for example applying for visas and exchanging currencies. It is often much easier to organize a trip in the country, particularly if time is short. That does not mean it will always be cheaper though. It’s still worth looking at flights and hotels in advance as popular destinations can be more costly during holidays.
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That’s where Skyscanner comes into play. Its search features let travelers compare flights from several airlines and see alternate travel dates. Price Alerts are great if you have a certain route in mind, but the Everyplace search can throw up ideas for destinations if you haven’t got a plan yet. And for those still choosing when to travel, Whole Month makes it easier to compare tickets across the calendar.
You don’t have to turn every holiday into a big international trip. Sometimes long flights and planning and paperwork are worth it. Sometimes a few days closer to home is just what the doctor ordered.
Besides, a vacation doesn’t have to sound amazing when someone asks where you’re going. It should be a place you desire to spend your time.
