What does traveling domestically mean? Great question! In the modern age of affordable travel, it’s easier than ever to explore far-flung destinations.
However, the practice of domestic travel is regaining popularity. Travelers are rediscovering their countries and relearning what it means to travel domestically.
Let’s clarify what domestic travel means, how it differs from international travel, and what you can expect on the way.
What does traveling domestically mean?
Traveling domestically refers to any kind of travel within the borders of a particular country. You can travel domestically by car, bus, train, boat, and even air.
As long as you stay within the confines of a given country, it’s technically domestic travel.
For example, if you’re in the United States, everything from a short drive from Los Angeles to San Diego to a long flight from Los Angeles to New York City would be considered domestic travel.
Domestic travel even includes trips to places that aren’t geographically connected yet still within the borders of a country.
Sticking with the example of the US, visits to Hawaii, Alaska, and even Guam would fit within the category of domestic travel.
More Examples of Domestic Travel
Not completely clear on what travel domestically means? No problem! Let’s clear it up with some more examples – one from a country on each continent (minus Antarctica, of course).
North America – Taking a cruise from Florida to Puerto Rico counts as traveling domestically because both locations are considered part of the US.
South America – Hopping on a bus from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is a domestic trip since you wouldn’t leave the country’s borders.
Europe – Flying from Paris to Marseille would be domestic travel because the origin and destination are both within the same country: France.
Asia – Taking a night train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is, you guessed it…domestic travel! Both cities are part of Vietnam.
Africa – Walking from Cairo to Alexandria, other than being a ridiculously long trek, would be traveling domestically too since both cities are in Egypt.
Australia (Oceania) – Cruising from Sydney to Melbourne would also be viewed as domestic travel because both are Australian cities.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from.
Notice that when we defined domestic travel, we didn’t mention the nationality of the traveler.
That’s because it doesn’t matter where you’re from. Any person can travel domestically in any country.
A Canadian passport holder traveling within the borders of the United States is still traveling domestically. Similarly, a US citizen exploring South Africa is still engaged in domestic travel as long as they don’t leave the borders of the country.
You can travel domestically in a foreign country. It’s all about sticking with the borders of a country.
What are domestic and foreign travel?
Domestic travel is the opposite of foreign travel, also known as international travel. While traveling domestically means you’re staying within the borders of a country, foreign travel occurs when you cross an international border into a foreign country.
For instance, if you were to fly from New York City to London, that would be considered international travel because you’re crossing the border from the United States into the United Kingdom – two different countries.
Domestic vs International Travel: Why Does It Matter?
The distinction between domestic vs foreign travel is more than just definitional. There are real-world differences that are crucial to take into account when traveling.
Here are a few fundamental ways domestic travel differs from international travel:
Travel Documents
It’s always a good idea to carry identification when traveling domestically or internationally. In fact, it’s often legally required.
Generally, any form of government-issued ID is sufficient for domestic travel. For example, you can use various IDs when flying in the US, you can use various identifications including a driver’s license, passport card, permanent resident card, and more.
On the flip side, carrying a passport is essential when traveling internationally. Nearly every country in the world requires foreign nationals (holders of a foreign passport) to carry a passport when crossing their borders.
Visa Requirements
Visa requirements aren’t a concern when traveling domestically. However, they’re crucial for international trips.
In short, a visa is a travel document allowing foreign travelers to enter a foreign country for a defined length of time and for a specific reason.
If you’re traveling internationally, you should check the visa requirements of your destination country. Keep in mind that a single country can have different visa requirements based on the origins of different travelers.
For example, a US passport holder can visit Germany without any visa, yet a traveler from Iraq would need to apply for a tourist visa.
American travelers should check out the U.S. Department of State’s travel site for the most up-to-date information regarding visa requirements for foreign travel.
Vaccinations
Usually, domestic travel doesn’t expose you to any new diseases, illnesses, or other health risks that you weren’t already exposed to. The same isn’t necessarily true for international travel.
That’s why many countries impose vaccination requirements for foreign travelers. These health requirements are designed to keep both visitors and citizens safe.
Again, you should always check the vaccination requirements of a country before visiting. Keep in mind that it might be worthwhile to get more vaccines than what’s required.
Speaking to a travel doctor can help put you in the best place healthwise before traveling internationally.
Border Control
Whenever you travel across an international border, you have to go through border control. This happens nearly every time you enter and leave a country, even your home country.
At border control, sometimes called passport control, government officials will check your passport and ask you a few routine questions about your trip.
Since domestic travel happens within the borders of a country, you don’t have to worry about undergoing any sort of border control.
Still, that doesn’t mean there won’t be ID checks or other kinds of control when traveling within a country.
As mentioned before, carrying around your passport is a good idea when you’re traveling domestically in a foreign country.
Currency
It’s safe to assume you’ll be able to use the same currency as at home when traveling domestically. Most countries have a single formal currency that’s used throughout their borders.
When you cross over into a foreign country, you’ll most likely need to use a foreign currency.
For instance, when you travel from the United States to Mexico, you’ll go from using the US dollar to Mexican pesos.
You can convert money at currency exchange locations in your home country or once you arrive at your destination or simply use an ATM.
Travel Insurance
Insurance is another crucial difference between traveling domestically and internationally. Typically, standard medical insurance doesn’t cover trips abroad.
Travel insurance is often recommended for international trips to cover unforeseen medical expenses, trip delays or cancellations, and other issues you might experience on the road.
Domestic travel might still require you to obtain additional travel insurance, so it’s important to check your current insurance policy to see what’s covered and what’s not.
What is a domestic flight?
Airline travel is one of the most common methods of traveling domestically. In fact, over 687 million travelers flew domestically within the US in 2022 alone!
A domestic flight is any flight within the borders of a country. As long as the origin, layover, and final destination are within the same country, it’s considered a domestic flight.
The bigger a country is, the more it makes sense to get around by air. Since the US is the third-largest country in the world, it’s common to fly when traveling domestically.
Domestic Arrivals vs Domestic Departures
When flying domestically, you’ll come across the terms domestic arrivals and domestic departures.
Domestic arrivals refers to the area in an airport where incoming flights land from a destination within the same country. On the other hand, domestic departures is the place where flights going to another destination within the same country take off.
Airports that offer both international and domestic routes are usually designed to have these flights separated. For example, domestic flights might take off from Terminals 1 & 2 while international flights take off from Terminal 3.
What is the difference between a domestic flight and an international flight?
Cost
Domestic flights tend to be cheaper than international flights. That’s because airlines take on greater costs offering international flights including more fuel, more luggage, and more labor costs. These additional expenses translate into higher ticket prices for travelers.
Time
You’ll usually spend more time on an international flight when compared to a domestic flight. However, there is a lot of variety.
For example, the world’s shortest international commercial flight lasts just 90 seconds while the longest flight is 19 hours!
Layover
Generally, international trips have more layovers than their domestic counterpart. This is for the simple fact that longer trips have more stops, and international trips tend to be longer.
If you’re traveling domestically in a large country like the US, Brazil, or Australia, it’s not uncommon to have a layover within the same country.
