10 Things you CAN do during a period of no travel
Hi friends,
This is a weird time to be a travel blogger. Flights internationally are being grounded, cruises cancelled, family reunions & events postponed. People are feeling alone and isolated. No one is traveling and people are unsure of when they can again. Not a good time to have the travel itch when being quarantined….
BUT, I took this time as a fun travel challenge. So many times it’s been go, go, GO! We almost miss the boat on enjoying the experience of travel. And to me, some of that is the fun of the planning! For others, it’s about learning the history of the city before they arrive at their destination. This is a great time to utilize our ability to dream a little and be ready for when the opportunity to travel comes around again.
So below are some ideas I have for us wanderlusters to still have that excitement of traveling within the comfort of our homes.
Learn a new language
Think about how many times you told yourself you were going to learn Italian before your big trip? Heck, I studied abroad in Italy and all I could do was order pasta in Italian by the end of the two months! Learning a language is a beautiful thing, and is a great skill in such a global economy.
Create your ultimate travel bucket list
I always joke “I haven’t been there, but it’s on my list.” So yes, my list is VERY long. But realistically, I know there are some top places that have been on my mind (looking at your Peru 😏) and I think it’s fun to list out top ten places. Or maybe you make an ultimate list and break down groups of neighboring countries to see more in one trip. This is my favorite way to plan trips especially with European countries to maximize my time and see as many countries/cities as possible.
Work on your budgeting
Since we are staying at home right now, there shouldn’t be much to spend on unless you are just going all out on the online shopping. (Had to stop myself from all the good sales!) Travel costs $$$ as we all know, and for some the words “I can’t afford to travel” are heard far too often. Now is a great time to truly sit down, print off your credit card and bank statements, grab some highlighters and get to work!
Pink = Personal
Blue = Business/Investments
Green = Necessities
You can get even more detailed with more colors, but essentially this is a great way to take those pink items and find how you can cut back and use that money saved to finance a future trip!
Watch movies that inspire travel
This is a BIG list, so I’m just gonna go ahead and give you the full run-down HERE.
Take a bike ride or walk around a new area in your city
Social distancing doesn’t have to mean total isolation inside. How many times on vacation have you just spent time listening to the birds chirp or appreciating the cool breeze against your face? Get outside and soak up some vitamin D and enjoying that relaxing feeling as if you are on vacation far, far away. Those emails with updates can wait 30 minutes.
Read a good travel related book
Whether it’s a book that takes you to your dream city, or is about a time in history you love learning about to escape your current reality, reading can help reduce some of the eye strain we’re all having from working on our laptops/watching TV all day at home. I personally love any book related to WW2, so my favorites are We were the lucky ones, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society.
Watch Travel Documentaries
Slightly different from a travel movie, these documentaries/series are more educational in case you don’t feel like Amazon Prime’n the latest Rick Steve’s guide book. I have always joked I wanted to be Samantha Brown when I grew up, filming series in cities to be a local tour guide from the comfort of their sofas. But hey, I’m 28 there’s still time! The Wander List is a great series I’d suggest!
Shop for your next travel outfit
Okay okay, I know I just talked about budgeting earlier! But right now there are some great sales going on and you can support your local boutiques by shopping online. Now is the time to get that comfy outfit you can wear in your living room and on the plane during your next trip!
Cook a meal from another culture
I don’t know about you, but I tend to cook the same three things on repeat. But as we are at home and cooking meals more often, this is where we can practice our skills. And if all else fails and it tastes horrible, most places are still delivering or offer take out!
Write some good reviews on TripAdvisor
During this time, we all need show some kindness and compassion. So many small businesses and hospitality companies are suffering during this season. Whether it’s a review to a local spot, or a hotel from your last vacation, boosting the reviews of companies on these sites not only helps future customers but also is the easiest no cost way to support your favorite businesses.
Now for the side note:
I recognize there is a lot of information overload happening right now. Take these ideas to help during a period of social distancing. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but be smart, don’t touch your face, stay home except for necessary errands and wash your dang hands!
Think of any other ideas? Drop them below in the comments! Sincerely,
Sarah
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