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Quirky & Unique Travel Methods That are Trending Right Now

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What does the word travel mean to you?  Do you picture a road trip across your home country, or climbing onto an airplane as you head into parts unknown? For many people, travel means overcrowded flights, well known landmarks, and overpriced hotels in the biggest cities around the world, but if you only travel to the main tourist hubs, you may find yourself missing all the amazing things that a particular locale has to offer.

This growing desire to live like a local is leading to the growing popularity of new and unique ways to travel around the globe.  Who knows, maybe you might even find your new favorite way to travel as you read on.

Off the Grid Destinations thailand 2

Most of us don’t even leave the house to go to the grocery store without at least one smart device like a phone, tablet, or smart watch on our person.  We’re all connected to work, school, and social media at all hours, so a vacation that allows us to get off the grid and away from all of those connections is most welcome.

Some of these getaways are designed to provide all the comforts of home while keeping you away from the main hustle and bustle of most tourist areas, but others, like this stunning floating hotel in Thailand provides a more primitive but still sustainable experience –- there’s no electricity but you won’t even miss it once you start taking in the stunning surroundings.

Tip-Top Tiny Houses tiny home

Tiny Houses are becoming a popular alternative to traditional home owning.  With some intelligent planning, you can fit an entire functional home into a couple of hundred square feet. These unique little homes are also a great option for traveling when you don’t want to look into a traditional RV for traveling cross-country.

You can hook up your tiny house anywhere that there are standard RV hook ups but instead of being crammed into a tiny travel trailer, you’ve got a fully realized house on wheels that you can take anywhere that there are roads.

Build Your Own Cabin log cabin home

There’s nothing like finding the perfect secluded hideaway.  You can mark the coordinates on a map or in your GPS’s storage, but there’s nothing stopping someone else from taking your perfect spot. That is, unless you build your own home and claim the location as your own.

Log cabin assembly kits are a great way to enjoy the wonderful outdoors while still protecting you from the elements. As an added bonus, once you pick up the kit, you can build it yourself! Choose your floor plan, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you need, and browse the number of kit options to find your perfect home away from home.

Horse Caravans horse caravan travel

A gypsy lifestyle, moving from place to place while remaining totally off the grid, may not appeal to everyone but it can be a great way to get off the grid and enjoy some amazing scenery and culture without being trapped into traditional tourist-type spots.

Ireland, for example, is a great place to explore with a horse caravan.  You can meet new people, try amazing new and local foods, and travel at a slow but steady pace across the countryside.

Lost on a Desert Island desert island

Are you a big fan of the show Lost?  If being ‘stranded’ on a desert island is your idea of a relaxing vacation, then you’re in luck – a new trend of desert island experience vacations are starting to gain in popularity.

These vacations come in two flavors: adventure mode, for those who really want to enjoy a true desert island experience, and ‘comfort mode’ if you prefer to have a roof over your head and other basic amenities.

Why the Popularity? 

Why is there a sudden trend toward non-traditional travel?  While normal travel is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s not always the best way to really learn how to live like a local.

For the first trip to a new country, head to a city and enjoy the tourist spots. If you’ve been there before, though, you won’t gain as much from these tourist-heavy places so it’s important to find new ways to enjoy these beautiful countries.

Have you come across any amazing and unique vacation ideas that we might have missed in our list? Let us know!

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Kacey Bradley

Kacey Bradley

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective. Throughout her life, she has found excitement in the world around her.

Kacey has been able to further her knowledge and interest for nature, understand the power of exploring other locations, and embrace the styles and cultures that surround her through her passion for writing and expression.