Going on shorter vacations have recently become popular among travellers, especially with the boom of staycations this summer. People are widely opting to stay safe, secure and secluded in destinations in Ireland, as opposed to staying in a big resort or crowded hotel abroad. Companies offering flexible trips are booming, as the campervan rental company, Indie Campers report a 233% increase in Irish bookings this summer, compared to last year.
Although the consequence of limiting the spread of the virus and the ever-changing nature of travel restrictions in 2020 has contributed to the trends of shorter and secluded getaways. The term Micro-cations, often used for vacations that are less than 5 nights, started to gain momentum amongst millennials already before the pandemic.
The popularity of this trend is linked to the flexibility of planning shorter trips, and the affordability for a sweet escape. According to a survey by Allianz Partners, 32% of responders preferred micro-cations as it was easier to take time off work for shorter periods, and another 19% said they did not want to spend money on longer trips.
Shorter vacations are focused towards destinations closer to home that you can reach by land travel, either on a road trip or by public transportation. A climate change study by the New York Times found that a 2,500-mile flight releases enough greenhouse gases to melt 32 square feet of Arctic summer sea ice. Compare that to taking a rented vehicle, public bus, or train to somewhere closer to home.
Picking up on these trends and the demand for a more sustainable, secure and independent alternative, Indie Campers have recently announced the launch of their new online marketplace as an attempt to bridge the gap between the demand and the supply by connecting van owners through a peer-to-peer network.
“Within the current changing travel landscape, this move enables us to align even more with the ever-emerging trends of the sharing economy, adding to our supply of flexible, authentic and sustainable travel experiences, and matching the growing widespread interest in getting into nature and away from the crowds,” says Hugo Oliveira, the CEO of Indie Campers.
As travel restrictions are picking up again across Europe, micro-cations might become the trend of the season. In that relation, Indie Campers have gathered a list of tips for planning the perfect micro-cation:
- Plan ahead
Mark your calendars in advance for all the long weekends and bank holidays, if required, apply for an extra day off in advance. Plan a road trip itinerary to save on time. You can also visit Indie Campers road trip recommendations for inspiration.
- Define the budget for your holiday
Planning a budget in advance and listing the important expenditures allows you to evaluate if you can splurge on some good meals or just hit the grocery store for a few.
- Pack light and smart
Campervan essentials go beyond comfortable clothes and travel documents, having at hand small items like baby wipes, head torch or USB cables can be useful during your trip.
- Stay land-bound
Save money and the planet by considering a road trip or using public transport to reach your destination.
- Analogue entertainment essentials
Consciously plan to disconnect from the online world during your short trip, to make the most of it. Bring things to keep you entertained, make sure you have a good book, playing cards, board games or fun sports gear with you.