Everyone loves a holiday, but not everyone really travels.
It’s not just about sipping cocktails on a bright sandy beach (although that sure wouldn’t go amiss right now!).
It’s also about discovering the hidden treasures of the world, getting to know new cultures and customs, and of course, learning about yourself along the way.
While lockdown is beginning to lift, travel is still pretty limited.
So, until we’re free to explore our wonderful world again, here are just three ways to emulate that travel experience from the comfort of your own home.
1. Learn about other cultures
Travel introduces us to different ways of living and gives us a chance to learn how other cultures approach everyday challenges. This can alter our perspective on the world for the better.
For example, other cultures approach stress in very different ways to our own. In South Asia, where Buddhism is widely practiced, many people use meditation as a way to cope with the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
If you don’t know your yoga from your YOLO, the French approach might be a little better suited to your tastes – they have a secret known as the petit aperitif. Upon arriving home from a stressful day, they will treat themselves to a small glass of wine and a light snack before making dinner, to vanquish the tension of the day.
It’s not quite the same as indulging in a Parisian culinary adventure, but it might just lighten the load a little.
Learn a second language
Not all travellers do this, but it’s a super useful skill to have and one of the best ways to cure wanderlust when you can’t travel.
It will help you out when it comes to travelling abroad, not just when it comes to finding your way around, but also in making new friends and forming new connections. It also looks great on a CV and can really up your earning potential – statistically people who speak multiple languages earn more and have more job opportunities too.
Learning a language is pretty challenging, but hitting new milestones is so rewarding. If you need a little help, Teachers To Your Home have tutors available for a number of languages and offer adult learning. They can help you work towards a qualification, or simply teach you the basics to a conversational level.
Get inspired!
It’s never too soon to start looking for inspiration for your next holiday.
Sure, there are ‘Best Of’ lists that will help you find your next travel destination no problem. But if you’re looking for something a little more unique, that special something that the travel guides don’t have, why not check out a travel book or series?
Netflix has plenty of great offerings on this front, from Jack Whitehall’s Travels With My Father, to the beautiful and impressive Tales By Light. Meanwhile travel writing is a vast and varied genre explored with brilliant brain-pickings from diverse cultures – if that sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out this list of 15 fabulous selections. Watching some travel TV series is one of the best ways to feed your wanderlust.
Bonus: Check out virtual tours for museums and galleries
During the pandemic, many of the famous and lesser-known museums and galleries offer free virtual tours.
You could literally spend days – yes, days, not minutes or hours -, maybe even weeks discovering and visiting them all. Enjoying these virtual tours of museums is one of the best ways to cure your wanderlust while stuck at home and to learn more about the amazing things that are out there.
These are our tips for recreating the magic of travel at home. Bon voyage!
