©R.M. Nunes/Shutterstock
El Nido, Palawan, Philippines, aerial view of boats and limestone cliffs at Secret Lagoon beach.
Did COVID-19 postpone or cancel your summer travel or study abroad plans? As someone who had 2020 branded as her ‘Year of Travel” for the past 3 years—I feel you. When or if international travel will return to “normal” is undetermined as of yet.
But, life goes on! So instead of dwelling on what could have been, here are some ideas on how to keep your travel spirit of mind alive while at home.
1.) Decorate your space.
If you’re indoors all day for something reason, be sure to surround yourself with images of you traveling in the past, where you want to go in the future, and things you’d like to manifest into your life.
Printed off your favorite Instagram travel photos and pin them up, or change the background of your computer and your cellphone. Your bedroom, your office, your kitchen.
Inundate yourself with inspiration, positive memories, colorful photos, quotes, and everything else travels related that puts you in that global state of mind.
2. Adventure, virtually!
Go on Google Flights (ah, these cheap prices!) and pretend to book something.
Now go on Airbnb or Booking.com and decide where you want to stay. The budget is no worry because this is, of course, imaginary.
You’ve landed. Yay! What do you want to do? Depending on where you’ve decided to mentally venture, you might go on a virtual museum tour like that of The Lourve in Paris or Tate’s Modern in London.
Sip some wine, close your eyes, put on a “grass” or “summer breeze” candle, and imagine yourself exploring that city, going back to that stunning Airbnb with a jacuzzi and a view, and planning for the future.
3.) Explore locally… distantly.
While international travel might be one huge question mark, it’s no question that American cities are slowly beginning to dip their toes into reopening (some, more quickly than others…)
When your region’s lock-down orders are lifting, try to find ways to see your local community in a new light. Drive through that neighbor with beautiful houses you can’t afford. Drive through the wilderness with a friend or family member, take a socially distanced sunset hike.
No matter where you live, there’s a high chance you haven’t seen every there is to see within walking or driving distance of you. Look into it!
4.) Become part of your bucket list—start your own Airbnb experience!
If you’re the #1 expert on everything about your home town, a certain topic, or you have an extraordinary, teachable skill—share it with the world! Invite people from across the globe into your passions and your home via an interactive online experience.
It will help you feel like you’re traveling because you can consistently be meeting new people, asking people what interests them about your destination or topic, researching, and most importantly, entertaining and connecting with beautiful cultures and personalities. And of course, the best part is actually making money doing this! Win, win!
5.) Create the ambiance in your own home!
Flights to Paris might be on pause, but you can bring a little je ne sais quoi into your own home with a little creativity and planning.
Create an ambiance for whatever country you’re trying to embody. For a Latin night in Puerto Rico turn on some salsa music, make some homemade salsa and guacamole, and YouTube some dance moves. For a night in Paris create your own charcuterie board, try a new wine, and watch Amelie.
I highly suggest checking out the tourism board’s website for whichever country you’re trying to channel, because now more than ever they’ll have exciting, education, virtual resources available to you.
6.) Join online travel communities
If you’re seriously short on time and funds you can get your travel fix completely online! Join one of the many travel Facebook groups, follow some awesome travel bloggers on Instagram, and join in on #TravelTuesday Twitter threads. Just get involved in the travel talk!
This way when you finally are free to travel as you want you’ll be chock full of ideas and maybe have some new travel buds.