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You don’t have to leave your house if you want to get away and see new places, experience different cultures, travel, or see great concerts and events. If you own a VR headset like the Meta Quest 3, you’re actually much closer to traveling the world than you think.
I’ve used the Meta Quest 3 to watch concerts, sports games, events, and even see places in different countries in 4 to 8k resolution, which feels like I’m there. I’ve also met people from around the world and seen animals in their natural environments. You can do this as well without paying any more than you did for the headset.
Sometimes, You Don’t Need to Leave Your Couch
Virtual reality offers a groundbreaking way to see the world by turning your living space into a lively gateway for discovering new places. The main draw of virtual tourism is how easy and convenient it is, letting people dive into rich, immersive experiences without dealing with the usual headaches of real-world travel. This may seem like a gimmick, but the content that is already available for free mimics experiences seen on Sci-Fi.
For many, the physical side of traveling can be stressful or even the biggest barrier. With VR, you can tour countless cities, national parks, and famous landmarks through lifelike 360-degree views or fully detailed 3D settings, all without leaving your home. One of the biggest advantages of virtual tourism is that it removes many common travel frustrations. There are no long lines, no need to plan ahead, and the experience can happen on a whim, free from the stress that comes with bad weather, transportation troubles, or overcrowded spots.
Meta Quest 3S
Meta Quest 3S is the budget alternative to the Meta Quest 3, one that still offers high-end performance. Supporting virtual and mixed reality, the headset comes with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, 8GB RAM, HD resolution (1832x1920 pixels per eye), and roughly 2.5 hours of battery life.
Additionally, virtual tourism is a game-changer for adventurers with mobility challenges, older adults, or anyone facing financial or physical barriers that make traditional trips difficult. For example, someone who can’t physically walk through an ancient city can now explore its historic sites in VR, getting an up-close look at its beauty. Beyond physical limitations, VR can also help with emotional loneliness by providing a feeling of connection and adventure.
It’s not just cities either. You can watch 3D movies in grand theaters, watch live sports games from the comfort of a seat, see animals up close in a way that makes your heart race, and even watch concerts and events from an audience’s point of view. The settings and customization options are only growing by the day. This isn’t just passive watching like you would experience through a TV screen; it’s interactive, and your own movements control what you’re looking at.
Once you know where to look, you’ll see that VR is actually your front row ticket to experiences that would have cost thousands of dollars each. Luckily, most of this is free and accessible from day one of purchasinga Meta Quest 3.
Perfect Apps for Seeing New Places and Events
The best app for experiencing VR is YouTube. This is because plenty of YouTubers have the equipment needed to make realistic videos. If you search for “8k 360 video” onthe YouTube VR app, you’ll find plenty of videos in different cities that let you tour places along with the YouTuber.
My favorite experiences are thevideos with narrationabout the history of the area and the significance of whatever you’re looking at. I love learning new things, and it’s like going on a museum tour because you gain information while also looking all over the area at whatever you want. There are also people walking by, so it feels incredibly realistic.
Alternatively, if you check your videos in your VR, you’ll notice that many videos are inside it by default. you may see plenty of videos that show you the Arctic, forests, and even cultures you had no idea about. I had to take the VR off multiple times because an animal scared me since its food was so close to the camera. I’m completely serious that you shouldn’t try any videos on tigers unless your heart can take it.
If you want to watch sports or something like a concert, head to your events or the Meta Quest TV app on Meta to find multiple ways to watch them. There are new experiences happening every week, so you’re going to have a lot to watch.
Alternatively, you can also useWander, which is a top travel app that uses Google Maps and Street View, letting you instantly visit countless places worldwide and even see how they looked in the past. This is a paid experience, and I’d say it doesn’t feel worth $9.99, as I got bored with it quickly.
Meta Horizon Is Great for Meeting New People From Around the World
If you like to experience socializing, then you can head to Meta Horizons and watch movies, TV shows, and plenty of other types of events in a theatre with other users. You can also play games with others without leaving the app, and I’ve met plenty of people who live in areas I’ve never been to.
There are other apps likeBigScreenandVRChatthat let you join public areas to hang out with others while you watch movies or TV shows. I prefer Meta Horizons just because you’re able to move around with your controller instead of picking a spot to sit. It’s also very easy to find a Meta employee to answer any questions you have and help out, whereas BigScreen relies on a report system.
Meta Quest 3
I’ve been in Meta Horizons plenty of times, and it seems likeNarutois constantly in the theaters, so if you like anime, you’ll find new friends quickly. Otherwise, I recommend going to the games to play with others because people are friendly, especially inSuper Rumble, which is my favorite game to play with others.
VR Is Cheaper Than You Think It Is
Many people mistakenly believe that virtual reality is an expensive luxury, especially when it comes to the Meta Quest lineup. Also, wearing a VR headset for too long can be uncomfortable, but there are easy ways around this.
Meta currently offers theMeta Quest 3S, which is far more affordable than the Quest 3. The Meta Quest 3S comes in a128GB model starting at $299.99, but you can also do a payment plan that can go as low as$20 a month using Affirm. It delivers a strong mixed-reality experience while keeping most of the hardware and software features of the more expensive Quest 3, including the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and 8GB of RAM. Although it uses Fresnel lenses, which can make the edges of the screen slightly blurry, the display quality is still good enough that it is not an issue.
you’re able to buy the official equipment, but usingVR has never been cheaper, thanks to cheap alternatives, and that will help you explore and travel for much longer. I recommend acheap strap replacement from Amazon, because that’s what I use. You should also buya $14 chargeryou can keep plugged in instead of a battery pack, which is what I’ve done and have yet to have battery problems, and it’s better than the official charger the Quest 3 comes with.
There are plenty of ways to make VR expensive, but you don’t have to buy into them. If I could buy a VR again, it’d be the cheaper Meta Quest 3S. It would have been nice to save $200, and I have yet to fill in 100GB of my Meta Quest 3.
Virtual reality is changing the idea of travel by offering a strong and easy-to-access alternative to regular vacations. It tackles the usual annoyances of real-world trips, such as long waits, expensive prices, and planning difficulties, by taking you there and letting you see everything from the comfort of your home.
Sure, you’re not going to eat the food or deal with sleeping in a place that’s not your home, but you will get the experience of seeing places you never have before and being in the audience for events you’d pay thousands for. In a way, you’re getting some of the best parts of traveling for free.
