Are you a beach lover that would never be found on a city break, or are you too much of a planner to ever go away last minute? It is so great to mix up your holidays with different places, experiences and budgets and you never know where you might stumble across or even find a new way you love to travel. Our guide below shares 10 alternative holiday ideas. So next time you think of doing your usual trip away, why not have some fun and try something new.
The staycation
A worldwide pandemic made people think differently about holidays as travelling abroad wasn’t always possible or easy. Staying close to home definitely comes with its perks. You can pack as much as you like and don’t have to worry about being over a limit or lugging it around. You already know the language which can sometimes be a barrier and it makes travelling with pets or children that bit more manageable. I have always loved a staycation as where we live is so incredibly diverse. You could head to a new city, the coast or go deep into the countryside and learn to love where you live.
For ideas on where to go for a UK staycation, check out our page here full of hotels to stay in and places to visit.
The City break
A city break can be as far or close to home as you fancy. Have you visited all the cities in your country? That could be a great starter if you aren’t sure you are a city break fan. Or, head to some of the most iconic cities in the world like Paris and New York. The great thing about a city break is you can just do it over a weekend if you struggle with leave off work. Already love a city break but ticked off the most popular ones? Then why not think outside the box and head to cities that are often forgotten or pick your favourite country and visit a city you haven’t been to.
The spontaneous trip
This is a trip I definitely need to try! I am very much a planner and like to be organised and prepared, so I’m not the best at being spontaneous and just packing a bag and going somewhere. If travelling with someone, then get them to plan the whole trip so that you just have to go along with it. Or book some time off for your trip and a week before find a cheap deal to somewhere you haven’t been before and just go for it. You could always start closer to home if the idea of this type of trip scares you but you never know how much you might enjoy a holiday when you go with the flow.
The relaxing holiday
We all need time to relax and rest from the stresses of the world, so sometimes a chilled holiday is definitely needed. I love nothing more than laying In the sunshine, reading books and just doing nothing. Whether you fancy really treating yourself to an all-inclusive holiday somewhere far away in the sun or just hiring a cottage a short drive away to switch off and forget about normal life, we all need time to unwind.
The activity holiday
Activity holidays may seem a bit daunting and maybe not even a holiday to some people. However, it’s great to mix up your usual sort of getaway and try something new or even do more of what you love. You could do a whole week of skiing in Canada, a surfing holiday to Cornwall or stay in a hotel that provides lots of activities for all ages. If a whole holiday seems too much, why not on your next trip away try spending a day or two doing different activities. You could go horse riding, wild swimming, canoeing, quad biking or anything that takes your fancy.
The indulgent stay
We all need to treat ourselves every once in a while and what better way than an over the top, extremely indulgent holiday. You could stay in a hotel you have always dreamed of or head to that country on your bucket list that is your dream destination. Not to get cliche, but life is short, so take that trip you have always wanted and create ever-lasting memories whilst doing so. If you are worried about the price, keep an eye out for deals across January sales or black Friday and search on websites like Voyage Prive or Secret Escapes for money off luxurious stays.
The Roadtrip
A road trip is a great way of seeing lots of places on one holiday. Just be prepared that you may only get to spend a couple of days at each location and will have to spend time travelling between each place. However, if planned well, you can really make this lots of fun and actually see more of a country and see lots of places you wouldn’t normally get to, especially if you drive between places. Why not visit multiple US states, road trip around the coast of Scotland or explore your favourite countries in Europe.
The out of season holiday
This may seem like an odd one, as to why would you ever travel somewhere that is out of season. There are some major benefits to this type of holiday though. It won’t be busy with tourists, you should be able to get flights and accommodation a lot cheaper and you see a country from a new perspective. If you love a certain country or city but have only been to a certain time of year, then head there in the opposite season to see it in a new way.
The unique room getaway
You may be thinking this one sounds a bit odd and that I have run out of ideas, but trust me this one is really fun. You may often go away and stay in a standard hotel room, which serves a purpose but imagine staying in a cosy shepherd hut, a bubble dome with views of the stars or a safari tent. There are so many fun and quirky places to stay now so you can mix up your holidays quite easily. Lots of glamping places offer luxury extras like outdoor baths, food hampers and are great to take dogs or children too.
Head to our blog here about the best glamping places to stay.
The Solo trip
I think everyone should take a solo trip away. It is a really wonderful experience and not as scary as you first may think. I have always been away with other people and would never have thought about going away for a night alone. However, I decided to push myself and booked a night away. It feels extremely freeing as you can just decide what you want to do and not have to worry about anyone else. It’s also a great confidence booster to show yourself that you can do it. If you are nervous, then just stay closer to home for your first one and somewhere that would make you feel safe and happy.
Other holiday types we can recommend are:
- The Wellness Retreat
- The Camper van trip
- The Digital Detox
- The adults-only holiday
- The budget-friendly stay
- The dog-friendly trip
- The unique room getaway
