The cost of travelling has significantly reduced in recent years, and now you can find a cheap flight to Asia, or to the other side of the world on a budget airline for a reasonable price. Travel enriches the mind, as well as the soul, and it’s well renowned as being the only one thing you pay for that makes you richer.
If you’ve long been thinking about taking the time to escape your usual routine and enjoying a break next year, then be sure to begin putting a plan into action now. It’s never too early to start figuring out whether you want to embark on a cross-country road trip, hop on an indulgent Mediterranean cruise, go interrailing, languish over a series of city breaks, or a staycation.
For all of this, this guide has got you covered.
Road trip
Life is for the living, and it makes sense to do as much travelling as you can possibly afford, and what’s more indulgent and lusted after than a road trip, especially one moving from state to state in the US? Of course, you don’t need to necessarily travel through the US, but some of the routes in America are famed as being some of the very best in the world.
When making a final decision on RV rentals, ensure it has enough space to enjoy time to yourself away from your travel buddy, as well as air conditioning, a freshwater toilet, microwave, shower, refrigerator, generator, and a gas cooktop. Some rental services will allow you to travel alongside your dog, so it’s worth enquiring whether your pooch can get in on the action too.
Road trips can experience bad press due to questions of safety, so always be sensible, never knowingly take risks, and be alert when driving at all times. Ensure you’re prepared and well before your departure date.
You will need the following, and these are crucial, so take note:
- Notes on compiled research concerning particular trailer parks, and parking permits
- License and registration number
- A copy of your car insurance policy
- The vehicle’s manual
- A spare tyre
- A roadside emergency kit.
Learn the language before you depart
Although this isn’t necessarily a trip in itself, endeavouring to grasp the language spoken in your chosen destination is going to open up so many more possibilities to you, and travelling plans may well naturally form for you. If you can communicate with others around you, the chance of being invited along to events, bars, parties, and excursions will increase tenfold.
You’ll be able to ask after recommendations, as well as engage with interesting people.
Mediterranean cruise
Cruises afford the ultimate luxury, convenience, and easy living for their duration. By nature, you’re cruising over some of the most fantastic and tantalising shore and coastline in the world. Your needs are taken care of, there’s no washing up to do, you can easily have your laundry completed, and you can dine on some real gourmet food, enjoy daily visits to the spa, and lounge on the top deck soaking up the warming rays.
Having said this, cruises are not for everyone. Those who prefer to get out and explore may want to consider another trip for 2020, but for those looking for a slower approach to relaxation in 2020, a cruise could be for you.
Interrailing and railways
Interrailing has been a rite of passage for young people for many years now, and although it’s been met with some controversy in recent years, it still remains a hugely popular way of exploring European cities and enjoying a whistle-stop tour of many places in a reasonably short space of time.
You can create your own interrailing journey simply by collating train tickets, and hostel stays along the way. This would provide you with a less rigid form of travel, and you can explore at your own pace. Look into the best railway journeys in the world, and choose which sounds the most exciting, engaging, and exploratory to you. Consider the likes of the Trans-Siberian Railway if you’re ready to brave the bitter cold in Russia, Siberia, and Mongolia, and pass through onto China (your final stop).
The experience is truly electric, and you won’t be forgetting your chilly adventure anytime soon, that’s for sure.
Rally of city breaks
You can keep this one cheap, or blow the bank with this suggestion. It depends on what kind of trip you’re ideally searching for. If you’re seeking indulgence and luxury, then you can book yourself into glorious all-inclusive hotels with a pool, fine dining, and spa facilities, or you can go down the budget route and crash in hostels, eat street food, head out on foot with a large backpack, and generally explore how you would as a backpacker.
Each of these has their advantages and disadvantages, so you will need to weigh up your options before ahead and choosing. You can travel through France, and onto Spain, then Portugal, for example, or could adventure through France, into Italy, then Germany, and finally reaching Switzerland.
Staycation
Think about it, have you really explored the country you live in? If you’re squinting your eyes and thinking dubiously, then chances are, you know in your heart that you haven’t. If this is a safe assumption, then you should try to head out and see more of the land you spend most of your days. Okay, it’s not the most exotic idea to form this guide, but it’s the one that’s closest to home and also, very likely, the cheapest. If you’re not particularly flush, then staying at home to enjoy a holiday may be just the ticket. There’s a bevvy of delights in your home country, it just requires time and planning to navigate your way around, and perseverance.
Consider driving from one end to the other, or driving across the landmass and stopping off in several locations. You can do this in a campervan, by hopping on and off public transport or even donning your walking boots, traversing some of the most outstanding national parks, and setting up camp along the way.