Three budget alternatives to travelling abroad

The last two years have proven that holidaying abroad can never be taken as a given. 

Indeed, with the prospect of another summer of compromised travel on the horizon, many holidaymakers are considering staying home in the hope of a less stressful vacation in the UK.

These travel limitations have given people the opportunity to explore their home countries and learn more about their own cultural heritage.

Of course, if you are thinking of staying home for your summer holidays, you may want to inject an added sense of adventure into your trip. 

After all, a holiday is about getting far away from normal life and pursuing new experiences you would never otherwise enjoy.

Thankfully, with a little preparation and a healthy dose of imagination, it is certainly possible to enjoy an adventure in your home country without breaking the bank.

Here are three budget alternatives to traveling abroad:

Build your own custom motorhome cheaply

One of the most popular holidays has always been long–distance road trips with a motorhome. 

There is certainly a good reason for this. Motorhomes offer tempting levels of independence, allowing you to completely cut yourself off from the world and travel wherever you feel like going, without worrying about where you’re going to stay or finding accommodation that fits your requirements, night after night.

Instead, you can pitch up in campsites or designated motorhome car parks and enjoy the freedom of the open road.

Naturally, though, this popularity comes at a cost. 

Motorhomes are expensive. Whether you want to rent or buy one, the budget required is well beyond the realms of justification for most holidaymakers. 

Instead, you could create your own custom motorhome. While you will need a healthy budget to do this, it is far cheaper (and potentially more fun) than buying a pre-built motorhome.

The best approach is to buy a cheap, reliable van or minibus, which has plenty of space in the back for your sleeping quarters.

Next, it is a good idea to lay a smooth (and safe) surface down in the back, such as sanded wood or even carpet, if you’re feeling luxurious.

Then, either build a bed frame out of wood and lay a suitably sized mattress in the middle. 

Other home comforts – such as a food table or sink – are up to you and may require further  work, but your project’s potential will only be limited by the size of your budget and van. 

This idea could be ideal for young people particularly, as it presents a budget alternative to expensive overseas travel and camping plots at festivals – especially if you can find reasonable young driver van insurance. 

Try wild camping in the wilderness

Another budget alternative to traveling abroad is to embrace the great outdoors with wild camping. 

Wild camping is exactly what it sounds like – pitching up away from the noise of campsites in the wild. This brings with it a fantastic sense of adventure, as you can wake up in the presence of spectacular natural scenery.

All you need is a sturdy tent, waterproof clothes, and enough food to see you through each night.

Wild camping is allowed in Wales as long as you seek the landowner’s permission and leave no trace of your stay behind when you leave.

Good etiquette is to arrive late at night and leave early in the morning to create minimal disturbance to the local community and wildlife.

You could also combine your wild camping adventure with a hiking trip. Areas such as the Brecon Beacons are perfect for long walks and world-class views and are the perfect antidote to stressful cities and time spent staring at screens.

Hire a canal boat or car and explore a new area

If staying in the middle of nowhere isn’t your cup of tea, then hiring a canal boat could be a better choice for your holiday at home. 

Canal boat hires are becoming increasingly popular, especially if you’re looking to enjoy a weekend away with a group of friends. Combining a cozy cabin and the freedom of the canal routes means you can power along at your own pace. 

The low-speed lifestyle that canal boat journeys create could be the relaxing break from work that you have been looking for.

If canal boats sound too laid back for you, then you could always hire a car and set out on a road trip instead. 

It may be a hire car, but you don’t have to rent a hatchback. There are a number of luxury car rental services, which offer a number of vehicles suitable for whatever journey you have planned.

You could, for example, hire an off-roader to drive across the countryside or hire a convertible sports car and surprise your spouse with a romantic trip to a luxury hotel.