Afternoon all,

I have to start off by saying that choosing the topic for this post took all of 0.0001 seconds after just returning from the most incredible holiday in Scotland. What I'm talking about of course are 'staycations', a less-than-graceful term for spending a holiday in your own country.

Being the biggest advocate of going on holiday close to home, I would happily choose a week in my beloved UK over a trip to New York or Dubai in a heart beat and given the amazing weather here at the minute, I'm feeling completely inspired to share with you all the reasons why short breaks in your home country can completely change your perception of travel. Please also bear in mind that this post is directed more towards people in the UK as it appears to be more of a British preconception that holidaying in the UK is dull. Those of you in bigger (and hotter) countries probably already holiday in your own country however if you feel this applies to you, read on!

Here are some of the main reasons why I think you should give 'staycations' a try:

1. Minimal travel costs and time - One of my least favourite parts of travelling is the time wasted just getting to your destination. Planning holidays almost always involves incorporating a travel day either side to make up for the time spent in the car, on a boat, on a train or on a plane and let's be honest, long car journeys or flights are not pleasant! However, holidaying somewhere close to home allows you to make the most of all your free time and some of my best 'staycations' have only involved 3-4 hours travelling, leaving the rest of that day for exploring and visiting points of interest! This also lowers your travel expenses since you're not having to pay for expensive flights across the globe and did I mention there's no jet lag? Bonus!

2. Language barriers - Being a language student and enthusiast myself, I quite enjoy the challenge of visiting a country or location where English isn't as widely spoken as I am used to however, I am aware that this is not the case for everyone. There are many linguistic hurdles associated with holidaying abroad; food shopping, car or cycle hire, directions, road signs, and healthcare and these can all be avoided by simply staying in your own country. There's no need to feel isolated by native speakers or out of your depth when surrounded by bilinguals when you can enjoy a vacation in your own country. What's more, finding the best and cheapest, spontaneous deals or day trips whilst on holiday can be a real nightmare if you can't formulate a single sentence or feel you are being treated differently by the locals.

3. Discovering something new - Whilst I admit I am a little biased because I am British and very patriotic, I love where I live. England and especially Scotland are my favourite countries on the globe and I've been to many amazing places. However, what I love about them most, is how continually at home I feel despite the variety of landscapes, setting, altitude, wildlife, culture, food and weather that can be found here. There's no greater feeling than going home after a long trip away and by staying in your own country, you can enjoy longer trips and greater adventures without that feeling of homesickness or longing for an environment you are used to. What's more, I think 'staycations' are the very reason I love my own country; they constantly surprise me at just how many things there are to see here. You might not think your state, county, region or town has much to offer but often the greatest adventures are right under your nose and by taking the time to research and explore, you can discover things you never dreamed of seeing so close to home.

4. Boring stuff - I hate to add this one because it is far from interesting but for those of you that like to take the easy route or the simple method, staycations prevent a number of tedious holiday tasks: currency conversion, visa applications, tour guides/translators and travel insurance. I agree that these aren't convincing reasons but pros nonetheless.

I'd also like to share with you some of my favourite UK hotspots and travel destinations that I have discovered as a result of vacationing here in my home country for you to try out for yourselves!

• Kendal - The Lake District, Cumbria