Are you trying to fill the travel void from home amidst the pandemic? Pre-COVID, many of us, this xennial traveler included, took the ability to travel at a moments notice for granted. I subscribed to every travel deals email list imaginable. I was always watching for a last minute deal, ready to grab my passport and go. So, after being stuck at home for the better part of 5 months now, I am constantly looking for ways to fill the travel void that I am feeling.
Working in hospitality and tourism for so many years, I have been lucky to have jobs that encouraged travel either through remote work, generous pto policies or even travel for work itself. Like many of you, for me, travel is one of a few things brings a sense of relief from the stresses of everyday life.
Not everyone has the freedom to travel and work remotely from anywhere. But, even those who don’t can still make it work for themselves by maximizing their vacation time, staying healthy, avoiding using PTO for things like sick days or appointments and maximizing their holiday and weekend time.
In the last several years, travel has become more accessible.
Low fares and affordable vacation rentals make it easy for anyone to take a quick vacation.
Even if this meant just spending a long weekend at my in-laws cabin on the lake, no matter where you go, it renews your energy.
After losing our health insurance in the Virgin Islands, we decided it was time to move on to our next adventure. We headed back to the states for the time being while we plotted our next move. I was sad to make the decision to leave a Caribbean island. But, I chose to look at it as an opportunity to explore. We planned to start our adventure in Arizona. We could visit parents and use AZ as our home base while we spent a few months checking out the western US and northern Mexico.
Many people are being faced with situations much more dire due to COVID-19 so I try to keep complaining to myself however, just because I am not verbalizing my disappointment to everyone I meet doesn’t mean that the feelings go away.
Decide to Fill the Travel Void from Home.
So, instead of sulking, crying and being upset by the change of plans – I decided that I needed to find substitutes for travel. Substitutes that would give me the same sense of happiness and fulfillment, and fill the travel void from home.
If you are looking for the best ways to replace the feeling that travel gives you when you can’t travel, then you have come to the right place. In this post, I will touch on 4 of the best things you can do when you miss traveling that will give you the joy of traveling and fill your travel void from home.
Do you miss traveling?
If you miss traveling like I do then here are 3 ways for you to get your travel fix from the comfort of your living room.
Below I have outlined what has been missing since not being able to travel and how you too can soothe your soul and take a trip from the safety of your couch.
1. Culture
I long for culture, for experiences that make me feel a part of a destination such as getting to visit a Fijian village, meeting school age kids and bringing them shoes and school supplies; or enjoying local festivals and parades on the streets of St. Croix while the Crucian moko jumbies perform for gleeful onlookers to name a couple.
Bring some culture into your life even if you are staying at home.
Aside from food , which we will cover in the next section, what are some ways to enjoy the culture you are missing?
If you can’t be there in person, figure out how to immerse yourself in culture from the safety of your couch.
Some destinations are now offering online virtual tours of the destination and some of their top attractions. In St. Croix, they even held this year’s Mango Melee, an annual festival held at the island’s botanical gardens virtually and streamed it via Facebook Live. If the destination that you had been planning a trip to isn’t offering anything like this, check out another destination on your bucket list!
2. Food
I’m not sure about you but for me, one of my favorite parts of travel is the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture is to indulge in local foods and beverages. Being gluten free and having a vegan husband so this one is a challenge even when we get to travel however, it doesn’t stop me from trying.
How to incorporate vacation food into your home quarantine routine?
Start by asking yourself, did you have a trip planned that you had to cancel?
What were you most excited to eat on that trip? This could be one single item or a variety.
With most grocery stores now offering online grocery ordering and curbside pickup you can do your shopping without ever having to leave the safety of your vehicle. Not confident in your cooking skills? What about delivery? For instance, if you were traveling to Japan maybe ordering some sushi on UberEats is the answer for you?
3.Spiritual Enlightenment
Okay, maybe this isn’t something that everyone seeks in travel but for many of us, one of the best parts of travel is the journey of self growth that comes from the new experiences provided by travel.
Learning from the people, the history, the nature and the spirit of a location you visit are some of the best benefits you can get. So, you ask, how do you get this when you are stuck in your house for the indefinite future?
Well, it isn’t easy but for me, I have found that through meditation and exercise I am able to get some of those same feelings.
Download Headspace for guided meditations that make it easy for beginners. Since I have started using Headspace daily after my morning workouts, I have become more motivated to achieve my goals and happier in my own skin.
Be sure to get at least 30 minutes a day of outdoor exercise such as walking, running, kayaking, etc. This helps to release similar endorphins to those that travel lovers get when exploring a new place.
4. The Rush of Planning
This may seem like a strange one to add to the list but I’ve found one of the best parts of the journey of travel, at least for me, is the planning of the trip itself. I can get lost for hours on my phone or computer, watching vlogs, looking at Instagram and reading blogs and travel guides on destinations that I want to visit. Not to mention searching out deals on airfare and hotels or vacation rentals.
Why stop planning?
COVID-19 is still in full swing, especially in hotbed states like Arizona (lucky me!) so you may ask yourself, why keep planning but my question is why stop? We know life and travel will likely return to a new normal eventually but we don’t know when so how can we make plans?
I am a full believer in staying home, keeping excursions to public places to a minimum and wearing a mask whenever you have to go somewhere. Live safely now in order to live happily in the future.
BUT that doesn’t mean that you have to write off travel all together. While you’re stuck at home, take advantage of the time and keep yourself distracted with plans for future adventures. This alone will help you to fill the travel void from home and allow you to get excited for something once again!
Airlines, hotels and car rental agencies are all hurting for business and would love to see you planning next year’s vacation!
Planning a destination wedding?
Please don’t stop! While you likely can’t fly to the Caribbean next week to get married, you can start planning for the future. Many wedding planners, photographers, hotels and vacation rentals would LOVE for you to start planning. Supporting these businesses now means that they will still be around come time for your wedding or vacation.
Get motivated….Try these 3 things NOW. Start planning your 2021 vacation and fill your travel void.
- Download travel related podcasts, videos and audio books to listen to or watch while exercising. This is also a great way to plan and dream of your future vacations while getting your bikini body ready. I have recently discovered Mel Robbins on Audible and found that not only is she motivational but also helps me to think differently about life, about myself and how to achieve happiness.
- Watch YouTube videos related to the destinations you are considering, , pick a few to focus on, compare and ultimately decide on as your next vacay.
- Step into a virtual reality and take a vacation all while sitting on your couch. Start by ordering your VR goggles. Broke due to COVID? No worries, Google Cardboard is super affordable.
Follow The Xennial Traveler for more information on how to fill the travel void during lock down as well as travel and life inspiration for the future.
