Australians are travelling more than ever before, are you one of them??
A recent Skyscanner report revealed 87% of Australians travelled internationally at least once in 2018. Factors such as affordability, accessibility and a focus on work/life balance are making travel more accessible to many people, which is pretty darn awesome.
The great news is, travel is evolving big time. As the world becomes more connected, travellers gain access to unique experiences that allow them to shift beyond the norm and embrace different types of adventures; delve deeper into the culture and step outside of their comfort zone. Resorts can only get you so far.
Travellers are looking for real life experiences and memorable encounters – the ‘wow-factor’. In order to gain this, you need to push the boundaries of your comfort zone. This might just mean opting out of that large-scale resort in exchange for a boutique-style locally run accommodation, a safari led by born-and-bred locals, or tasting a local delicacy, rather than opting for a familiar meal.
Nothing ventured nothing gained? Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. If you’re picking up what we’re putting down, chances are you’ve heard these phrases more than once before. There’s a truth in these words – a knowing of a completely new world existing beyond our perceived limitations.
Feel the need to up-level your holidays and embrace a new type of travel? Here’s a few reasons why we think you should reconsider the resorts and embrace real life experiences.
Resorts can be less environmentally-friendly
Large resorts are huge consumers of energy and water. Think about the amount of laundry that is needed to change the towels and sheets of hundreds of hotel rooms each and every day. Not to mention the consumption of water for those lavish spa baths. In the midst of a climate crisis do we really need that kind of luxury? Could we be saving that water for better use?
A more sustainable option is to support local accommodations that distribute energy in a more efficient way. These types of accommodations offer a way more personal experience. You’ll often meet other travellers who are eager to share experiences and, where you are more than likely coming into contact with the accommodation owner themselves. Which leads us on to our next point.
Profits aren’t often distributed fairly
Large resort chains are often monopolized with large portions of profits ending up in the hands of CEO’s with corner window offices. Only small portions of the profits are directed into the hands of the local community. The tourism industry generates over 10% of global GDP, meaning it could be a large driver for sustainable economic development in developing regions if we spend our tourism dollars in a more conscious way.
Resorts are so vanilla.
Let’s call a spade a spade. When staying in resorts you could be in any city in the world, including your own. With their familiar surrounds and Western-style environments, beautiful buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners with all your usual favourite foods from home and those magnificently staged cultural shows – would you even be able to tell if you were in another country? What is the point of travelling if you are replicating your familiar surrounds of home?
Is travelling not a chance to get out of our routine, doing things we never thought we could, would see or try? The freedom of routine, discovering new cultures, cultivating new friendships, reconnecting with ourselves and our global neighbours, and possibly learning a thing or two about ourselves – it’s honestly liberating!
View our totally non vanilla Seduced by the Serengeti holiday.
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Truly lived a real life experience? The wonderful thing about travel is that we can turn our experience into anything we want it to be; a safe one, a courageous one, a memorable one. We think about how we want to feel when are on holiday but seldom think about how we want to feel when our holiday ends. Perhaps dipping your toes outside your comfort zone in a safe and contained manner and opting for a little more adventure abroad may reward you in the long term. Why not try it out?