Domestic Travel vs International Travel: Why Travel Local

I’ll be the first to admit that I have not seen very much of my home country. Despite being a travel blogger since 2012, my focus has always been on international trips rather than adventures in Canada.

But when the pandemic essentially shut down international travel, I didn’t have many other options. International travel news was grim.

If I wanted to travel at all, I had to embrace domestic travel in my home country.

And while there’s nothing as thrilling as getting that new passport stamp, the last few years have shown me that Canada has a ton to offer and domestic travel is actually pretty great!

Rather than settling for a sub-par trip, I’ve had amazing experiences without needing to cross a border. I’ve eaten great foods, seen beautiful sights, learned about history and culture, and made incredible memories.

So if domestic travel is so great, why do most people prefer international travel?

Of course, international travel has major pros. It’s hard to beat sushi in Japan, fiords in New Zealand or temples in Cambodia.

But if you’re always heading to the international departures gate, I want to encourage you to take a step back. No matter where you live, you can find awesome adventures in your own backyard.

Below I’m sharing six reasons why you should travel domestically in your home country, plus who really wins the domestic travel vs international travel debate.

Who knows, your next vacation may be closer than you think!

6 reasons to travel domestically in your home country

1. Domestic travel is easy

One of the best reasons to travel domestically in your home country is that it’s just easier!

You don’t have to worry about exchanging money or currency conversions, you can (likely) speak the same language, and your cell phone is going to work without any outrageous international fees.

No need to apply for a visa – or even have a passport – to travel in your home country. You may not have to navigate through an airport at all.

Plus, you may not have to travel as far. When you’re based in Vancouver, spending a weekend in Whistler is a lot easier than a weekend in Cape Town.

While that’s not to say you won’t have any hiccups with domestic travel, or that international travel is always difficult, it is nice to remove a few challenges when you travel within your own country’s borders.

Domestic travel can also be easier on the environment. If you’re not getting on a long-haul flight, that can drastically reduce your carbon emissions.

2. Domestic travel can be cheaper

One of the great perks of domestic travel is that it can come at a much more affordable price than international travel.

A domestic trip could look like loading up the car and driving to a campsite for the week. It could be taking a local train to a friend’s house where you’ll stay for free or being able to bring your pets and not have to pay to board them.

You could save a lot of money not needing to fly across oceans, pay for visas, book hotels, eat out for every meal, etc.

Of course, international travel isn’t always more expensive than domestic travel. If you live in a high cost of living area, it may be cheaper to go abroad (even after you factor in the flight).

Plus, there are lots of ways to save money while travelling internationally, such as pet-sitting for free accommodation, scoring cheap flight deals and booking apartments where you can cook your own meals.

So I won’t say that domestic travel is always cheaper than international travel – just that it can be!

3. It doesn’t have to feel like you’re in your home country

One of the amazing things about living in a country as vast and diverse as Canada is it truly feels like you’re visiting another country when you head to a place five hours or five timezones away.

We live in Vancouver and trips to Montreal where the language, architecture and delicious Montreal food is so different feel a world away. I swear I’m walking through a city in France and not Canada!

I travel for the novelty. I love exploring new things in new places. So being able to get that experience without crossing an international border is pretty cool.

Driving through Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail, seeing the fall foliage, and feasting on fresh lobster dinners felt very different from my everyday life in downtown Vancouver.

4. Travelling domestically helps you learn the history and culture of your own country

Travelling in your own country can help you appreciate the history of where you live and the cultural ties you have to your homeland.

When we lived in Prague, I loved going on walking tours through different European cities and learning about their history. But there’s something extra special about learning Canadian history where everything hits a little closer to home for me.

In Halifax, we visited the Pier 21 Immigration Museum and got to learn about the immigrant experience coming to Canada. That visit was incredibly impactful for me, imagining how my own family and friends arrived in this country.

I felt both a huge sense of pride but also a real acknowledgment and better understanding of some of Canada’s uglier immigration history. It was a real privilege to visit and I’m glad it’s something we made time for on our travels.

PS: Planning a trip to Nova Scotia? Check out 22 things to do in Halifax, including visiting the Pier 21 Museum! 

5. You can see friends and family

Of course, a very obvious reason to prioritize domestic travel is the ability to see local family and friends.

As a travel blogger, I dream about discovering new places, tasting new foods and enjoying new cultural experiences. Sometimes I forget that the best trips can be about catching up with familiar people in familiar places.

I grew up in Toronto and most of my family still lives there. I usually get back to Toronto once a year and it’s always so sweet to catch up with my loved ones and wander through my old stomping grounds.

My husband’s family has a tradition of meeting up at their family cottage in Pender Harbour on BC’s Sunshine Coast every year. It’s one of my favourite trips that we go on; I love taking part in a family tradition my husband has been enjoying his whole life.

Of course, your family and friends may not all live in your current country. So maybe it’s actually international travel that allows you to see more of them.

But if you’re lucky enough to live in the same country as many of your loved ones, don’t take that for granted. Factor them into your travel plans.

6. You need to travel domestically to appreciate what travel opportunities are in your own backyard!

Usually when we plan a trip, it’s to leave Canada. I would be lying if I said I’d pick a trip to Calgary or Quebec over a trip to Peru or Paris.

But from 2020-2022, we didn’t have a choice. International travel was effectively closed (or heavily restricted) and domestic travel became the safer, easier, and cheaper (thanks to never-before-seen discounted airfare!) choice.

The silver lining of not being able to easily hop a flight to London or Tokyo was getting to appreciate how much there is to see and experience in our own backyard. Turns out, Canada is pretty cool!

From getting engaged in Penticton, to family trips in BC and Ontario, to honeymooning in Quebec and the Maritimes, we have had an incredible time exploring our country like we never did before.

I got to see my home country through a tourist lens and learned to stop taking for granted all of the amazing travel experiences Canada has to offer.

Domestic travel vs international travel: Which is better?

So just because domestic travel is amazing, does that mean I’m never going to travel internationally again? Of course not!

And, if I’m being honest, I will probably still choose international destinations over domestic ones when given the choice. If I had to pick one winner in the domestic travel vs international travel debate, I know where my passport heart lies.

But I now know the value of domestic travel. Being forced to restrict our travels to Canada for a few years during the pandemic has given me a greater appreciation for my home.

And even though we can travel internationally again, I definitely plan to explore more of Canada as well.

I have loved practicing my French in Montreal, eating seafood in the Maritimes, catching up with family in Toronto and enjoying the coast in BC. I can’t wait to visit all of those places again and enjoy them even more.

But I also have so many new places on my Canadian bucket list! I want to be wowed by the views in Banff, watch waves crash in Tofino, wine taste in Prince Edward County and, one day, do a complete cross Canada road trip!

I’d love to know: Have you travelled domestically much in your home country? What were your favourite local travel trips?