Staycation – Tips For When You Can’t Travel

TRAVEL LOVERS: 11 Tips for your Staycation

 Do you love to travel but suddenly find yourself with nowhere to go?

Maybe you even had your flight booked but it was canceled last minute? COVID-19 is impacting the travel industry in ways we have never seen before. If you’re going stir-crazy cooped up in your home, here are some ideas to help you get through the dull moments while you’re waiting to go on your next adventure!

First things first, grab a Boat Drink and get comfy. For those of you who don’t know what a “Boat Drink” is may I first suggest you get caught up. 

Try my Covid Colada to get you in the mood: 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup ice

1/2 cup diced pineapple, frozen

 2 ounces pineapple juice

2 ounces Coconut Rum

2 ounces of Midori Melon 

Pineapple slices

Directions

• Put all ingredients into your Magical Time Machine (AKA Blender). Blend until smooth and frosty. Pour the drink into 2 glasses and garnish the rim with pineapple slices. Enjoy your Covid Colada Cocktail while dreaming of your next vacation. 

OK now that, that is settled lets move on. Unless you would rather have a few more Boat Drinks. I can totally get that.  Here is a little secret – As long as your drink is strong and cold put an umbrella in it! “Boat Drink” !

Here are a few tips to help you satisfy your wanderlust while you’re in Quarantine, staying home, under Corona confinement. Whatever you are calling it we prefer to think of it as a Staycation.

Learn a New Language

Have you ever traveled somewhere without knowing the country’s language? It’s difficult to fully experience a city or culture when you’re struggling simply to order food in a restaurant.

Now that you have time at home, you can start learning that language you’ve always wanted to master. Look into easy language apps and platforms like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and Babbel. Even a few basic words and phrases can make your next trip go a lot smoother! I should take my own advice on this one. My kids didn’t really appreciate me adding “Le” to everything I said while in France. So I suppose I should get moving as I am supposed to be in Spain and Italy come November. 

Watch Foreign Movies or TV

One way to experience various cultures and distant locales is to watch foreign movies or television. Foreign entertainment will help you grasp the character, ideals, and social norms of a country. You may end up discovering a fascination for a place you’ve never even considered traveling to before! This is a fun one and easy to do. Check out Whale Rider – New Zealand, Nowhere in Africa – German, and Arabian Nights – Portuguese. 

Here is a list of streaming services for international content from ScreenRant to get you started.

Read a Book (or Audiobook)

If movies or TV don’t cut it for you, then try picking up a good novel or audiobook that thrusts you into a whimsical romance in Latin America or takes you on a thrilling caper through Europe. I was hooked on the Audiobooks for my hour plus commute to Washington D.C. before the Coronavirus made the World Stand Still. It made it easy to get through a book that way. I often suggest my kids listen to them while sitting in bed falling asleep. 

This site has a list of several travel books to keep you occupied during your stay at home: The Best Travel Books: 13 Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust

Travel Podcast

Need a change of pace? Try listening to Travel Podcasts. There are plenty of options out there. You’ll soon find yourself immersed in the thrilling tales of other world travelers. Many podcasts also offer travel tips such as budgeting, safety, and finding work while on the road. These are very interesting. I tried a couple True Crime Podcasts, but I can’t say its something I do often. However, it could be a good choice if you want something playing in the background while working from home. 

One Podcast I will suggest, especially if you need more laughter in your day, is ‎Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet. This podcast features comedic and dramatized readings of one-star reviews left by people with too much time on their hands.

Outdoor Walks or Picnics

Even if you can’t travel now, you’ll want to keep yourself in good condition for when you can. Try going on a nature walk or cycling.

A little fresh air and sunshine can go a long way to stave off the boredom, too. Say NO to Cabin Fever!  For those of you who like photography or drawing, grab your camera or sketchbook, fix a picnic lunch, and enjoy an afternoon in nature! I was out the other day and got some great photos around Washington DC and it was easy to avoid crowds as nobody is really down on the mall these days. 

Cook a Foreign Dish

Do you love cooking or trying new foods? Maybe there’s a dish you absolutely loved during your travels and you can’t wait to eat it again? Try finding a recipe for it online and making it at home.

Did your flight to France or your cruise to Mexico get canceled? Look up some famous dishes or traditional recipes you can make at home to give yourself a little taste of the culture!

Remember, you’re not the only one stuck at home under Covid-19 Confinement. Many world-class chefs have closed their restaurants and are now sharing their cooking through videos and podcasts. Try following Massimo Bottura and Samin Nosrat on Instagram for starters.

Use Social Media

If you already have a place in mind for your next adventure, join groups and pages related to your destination on Facebook and other social networking sites. You’ll gain insight from locals and other travelers. I enjoy other Travel Bloggers’ Instagram, Facebook and Twitter sites. If you really bored you can follow me NoShoesTraveler IG and the Twitter NoShoesTraveler . or check out some of my other travel posts 5 Reasons not to take your Cat on  vacation, https://noshoestraveler.com/disney-world-tips-and-hacks/

Virtual Tours

Did you know you can take a virtual tour through the rugged mountains and valleys of Yellowstone National Park or through the stone halls of the Louvre? Many museums, parks, and world attractions offer virtual tours so you can enjoy their services even from home.

If you are interested in virtual tours, Lonely Planet has a great list of available tours and wildlife webcams. 

Also check out Google Earth. You can oftentimes zoom into street views and walk the streets of Paris or roam New York City. I like to put in the address of the hotels I’m staying at and then check out the neighborhood on Google. 

Share Family Stories

Now that you have all the time in the world to talk with your family at home or to call your grandparents, take some time to ask them about their own experiences traveling.

Showing interest in your relatives’ stories may also help your isolated family members feel connected with you and bring some merriment and hope into their homes as well. You might just find out something new about your family as well as some useful tips for your next escapade.

Scrapbook Your Previous Vacations

If you like crafts, find all those pictures you’ve got lying around and start scrapbooking. You’ll have so much fun reminiscing about your past trips while creating an album your family and friends can enjoy.

Going through all those photos and remembering the good times you had may help you stay motivated and give you a vision for your new adventures, too!

Research For Your Next Trip

Get excited about your next trip! You can never start planning too early. Begin researching the museums you want to visit, the must-see attractions, and the cities you want to explore. Grab a travel guide. Start making a budget. Plan out your wardrobe. Make sure your passport is still valid when this Staycation has finally ended. 

When the travel industry is back in business, you won’t just be excited to go out and do things, you’ll be equipped and ready to go.

Don’t let this little Staycation keep you from looking forward to the things you love! 

So let’s mix up another batch of Boat Drinks, light those tiki torches, put a little traveling music on, and Stay at Home, Stay Safe, and I’ll see ya at the airport when this is over.