By William Coleman
Surfing, rock climbing, sailing, canoeing, wake boarding and all other manner of outdoor adventures can all be done right here in the UK. There was a time where you couldn’t get a chance to try these things without digging very deep into the pocket or going abroad. In today’s world you can have great experiences without breaking the bank.
In the past 2 years right here in the UK I’ve surfed, skied, canoed and even gone white water rafting. This was all done on a budget too. But having looked into it I could have saved a fair bit more if I did some more planning and research on where is the most cost effective location to holiday.
A recent study by Get Going Travel Insurance revealed the activities and destinations where staying in the UK is better than going abroad. The study takes into account the ideal conditions, peak times to book and cost of activity to determine the best option.
If you like being thorough and doing your research and saving yourself a few bob along the way then this research could be just for you.
We are as a nation getting a lot more active when we go away, are we more health conscious or do we just love a good bargain? Either way there are tons of new things to do all over the UK that we can do on our holidays.
When I was a child the idea of going to see dolphins in the wild or surfboarding was something you could only do across the pond in the USA, or so I thought. Now as a young adult I can do all of this in just one weekend with the right amount of planning.
Get Going Travel Insurance finds whether you can do better by keeping to Britain for your trip – using a scientific points-based system to measure every option against ideal conditions unique to each activity, like wave height and wind speed for surfing, or rain quantity for caving, as well as factoring in the cost of travel, accommodation and the activity itself.
Surfing
Fistral Beach in Cornwall, England vs The Pass in Byron Bay, Australia
Australia may have the stronger surfing culture, but the UK actually takes the lead. Both locations meet the ideal conditions for wave size and wind speed, and while Australia is warmer, the approximate £700 saved on travel puts the UK over the top.
Caving
Cheddar Gorge in Bristol, England vs Skocjan Cave in Divaca, Slovenia
Despite the money saved in staying in the UK, the lower quantities of rain at peak times of the year means it’s a more comfortable and safer choice to go to Slovenia for your caving adventures.
Whale Watching
Shetlands in Scotland vs Husavik in Iceland
You don’t have to travel far to see whales! While they’re not guaranteed wherever you go, you can still get a chance to spot some off the coast of Scotland – and it turns out that with slightly warmer weather and lower costs, Scotland is actually the best option available, despite having stronger winds than the Icelandic option.
Skiing
Glenshee in Perth and Kinross, Scotland vs Chamonix on Mont Blanc in France
Despite neither location fitting perfectly into the ideal temperature range of -6°C to 1°C, the wider range of runs and greater lift capacity in the Alps outweighs Scotland’s heavier snowfall and lower costs to make France the overall better option.
Scuba Diving
Lundy Island in Devon, England vs Bonaire in the Caribbean
Scuba diving needs warm and clear waters for divers to make the most of it – but while the Caribbean is certainly hotter, the visibility in Devon waters is remarkably high, and with the money saved not taking a long flight, you can spend longer in the water – the UK offers the top option.
James Carrington, a spokesperson from Get Going Travel Insurance, said: “It’s not just that everyone can get great deals by thinking about adventuring in the UK. For anyone who finds air travel difficult, inconvenient, or even impossible, it’s great to know that they don’t have to miss out on adventures typically seen as overseas options only.
“Even if you take cost out of the picture, UK locations are frequently great destinations for holidayers, and a staycation can be just as fun if not more so than heading halfway around the world!”
