In a post-pandemic world, where everything and anything seems to have risen in price, is travelling worth it?
Domestic flight prices rose 36% in March 2022 from the beginning of the year to reach an average price of $300.
And hotel rates are expected to rise 8.2% in 2023.
While the prices may look scary on paper, travelling the world on a budget has never been easier.
If hostels aren’t your thing, scour the usual sale sites (think Voyage Prive, Secret Escapes, and Booking.com for travel) for luxurious hotels on a budget.
Travel also takes time out of your precious leave from work and requires some time to plan your adventures.
So while I haven’t drawn the prettiest of pictures (so far) in the light of travel in 2023, let’s look at: is travelling worth it?
Key stats looking at: is travelling worth it?
- Between a third and a half (44%) of American adults regret not going on more trips away. [Source]
- 46% of women travelling solo said they travel alone for freedom, independence, and the chance to do what they want, when they want. [Source]
- The most popular reasons for travel cited by American travellers include: rest and relaxation (51%), escaping day to day life (49%) and visiting family and friends (44%). [Source]
- 77% of travel and hospitality loyalty programs offer transactional rewards, such as the ability to earn and redeem points. [Source]
Travel makes you healthier
Did you know that travelling doesn’t just provide you with amazing and unique experiences, but also benefits your health?
The most common health benefits of travel are improved emotional wellbeing (54%), spending time with loved ones (52%), improved energy (35%), intellectual curiosity (34%), and mental clearness (30%).
According to a study from the Global Commission on Aging and Transamerica Center for Recruitment Studies, in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association, women who vacation at least twice a year show a significantly lower risk of suffering a heart attack than those who only travel every six years or so.
And they’ve found similar results for men: those who do not take an annual vacation show a 20% higher risk of death and 30% greater risk of heart disease.
Many travellers also experience feeling less anxious, more rested and in a better mood after returning from their trip.
Returning from a trip could also see significant improvements in your sleeping pattern too!
Travel increases your productivity
Is your job emotionally and mentally strenuous?
Are you starting to feel the effects of burn-out or becoming disinterested in your career?
Taking a vacation can work wonders for your productivity as it provides that break your brain is searching for.
When away from your stressful job, it provides you the very much needed time to recharge and unplug.
Employees who took less than 10 of their vacation days a year were 34.6% more likely to receive a bonus or raise over three years. Whereas those who took more than 10 of their vacation days were 65.4% more likely to receive a raise of bonus.
According to studies, vacation can increase performance by 80%.
Travel boosts your confidence
Travelling can be amazing for your self-confidence.
Even if not travelling solo, being able to navigate through busy airports and find your hotel in a new location, as well as exploring an unknown town are wonderful achievements. Just knowing this can be a huge confidence booster.
This is further intensified when you’re forced to leave your comfort zone and interact with new people. Travelling will have you trying new experiences – from food you’ve never ate before to activities you’ve never been able to do from the comforts of your own home.
How to save money for travelling in 2023
Plan in advance
Be aware of the major sales in the travel industry – tax free weekends, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas and the New Year.
By adding these key dates into your calendar, and planning you trip in advance, you can snap up some great deals as soon as they come up. We all know the stress of seeing a great deal but hours worth of decisions to be had before hitting the ‘buy’ button – deciding in advance will save you time, money and stress!
Scour the discount sites
If you’re looking to book something as soon as possible, or outside of the usual sale days, check out discount travel websites.
These include Voyage Prive, Secret Escapes, Scott’s Cheap Flights, Jack’s Flight Club, Agoda, Kayak, and Skyscanner.
Utilize discount codes
Have you ever bought something expensive and then remembered you have a 25% off discount code just after you’ve clicked purchase? That’s the worst!
Are you a member of AAA, Costco, a military member or veteran, emergency and healthcare worker, or the U.S. government? You may have some great discounts you can tap into for your travels around the world.
Book direct
While there are discount sites for great deals, some hotels offer a cheaper price when you book directly.
Have a look on their actual site or give them a call to see what the prices are when you get rid of the middle man.
Look at lesser known places to travel to
Capital cities can be really expensive, as can the major places often found on bucket lists. But what about if you venture out a little more?
For example, if you want to visit London – maybe stay in Manchester (arguably the capital city of the north) and jump on the train to London, you’ll be there in just over 2 hours.
Or, similarly, stay in London (or nearby) and jump on the Eurostar to be in Paris in just over 2 hours.
23 best places to visit in 2023
If you’re travelling for the very first time, have a think about what’s on your bucket list. Have you always wanted to visit the beautiful and powerful islands of Indonesia, or do you want to eat as many pizzas as possible in Italy?
Think about what’s important to you and your travel priorities. If you’re a major foodie and you want to explore the best cuisines in the world, consider Italy, Mexico, France, or Indie.
If you’re more on the adventurous side, research into Chile, New Zealand, Australia, or Thailand.
If relaxing on beautiful white sandy beaches is more your vibe, Hawaii, Seychelles, Philippines, or the Whitsunday Islands may be the vacation destinations for you.
According to ‘Conde Nast Traveller,’ the 23 best places to visit in 2023 are:
- Auckland, New Zealand
- British Columbia, Canada
- Central California Coast, USA
- Egypt
- Galilee, Israel
- Kenya
- Loire Valley, France
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Melides, Portugal
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Mendoza, Argentina
- Mustang, Nepal
- Ollantaytambo, Peru
- Queensland, Australia
- Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Srinagar, India
- Taiwan
- Turks and Caicos
- Vienna
- Wales
- Western Japan
- Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
- Zamora, Spain
Why travelling is the absolute joy of life and definitely worth it
Yes, travelling costs you time and money. But, it’s absolutely the best thing in the world.
Travel provides opportunities for things you may never see or experience in your bubble at home which will give you more clarity and understanding of other situations.
It’s a great escape from daily life.
[…] Thankfully, they do. And remember, if you want to work from the location, it’s not just the parks but the cruise line too – this opens up more opportunities around the world. […]