While nothing beats the real thing, you can start getting pretty close in VR
You’ve probably already used a type of VR travel, and you might not have known it. Google Street View has been around since 2007 and enables people to explore towns, cities and even whole countries virtually. But as VR headsets become more available we’re moving on to entirely new capabilities. For example, some hotels are giving headsets out to guests to let them see the sights before heading out. Museums have also started offering virtual tours in case you aren’t able to visit in person. And some planes and trains have introduced a type of mixed reality so that you can ‘see’ outside of the vehicle while remaining inside. For more extreme environments, VR offers an attractive way to experience sights few have witnessed, such as Everest VR, which allows you to see what it’s like to climb Mount Everest. Augmented reality, meanwhile, can bring historic destinations to life, letting you wander ancient streets and ruins. And with mixed reality you can even bring distant locations into your living room, complete with exotic animals jumping on your furniture!