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International travel isn’t accessible to everyone – especially with the way the world is right now. Read on to find out how to travel from home.
Wales has been at the top of my travel list for the past few years, now.
In fact, I’d been saving to go when the pandemic hit.
Now, I, along with many others, am stuck in limbo waiting for travel to be safe again.
(That, and I still need to get my passport. Minor detail.)
But I’ve found ways to enjoy a bit of Wales at home, in the meantime.
If you’ve got a wanderlust that’s been squashed by the current state of the world (or finances, or scheduling issues, or passport trouble, or fear of flying… the list goes on), try traveling from home.
Here are some ways to create the feeling of going anywhere in the world, while staying right where you are.
Listen to Music
Radio.Garden features an interactive map where you can tune in (LIVE!) to radio stations around the world.
You can also search the internet for artists from a particular country, and check out their music!
Watch Foreign Films
Watching movies that are set in your dream travel destination is a great way to immerse yourself and feel connected to the culture.
Check out the foreign film category of your favorite streaming platform, or browse your local library!
You can look specifically for biographical films or films that are based on a true story, to learn more about the location’s history.
(One of my all-time favorite movies is Pride, set in England and Wales, which tells the true story of a group of queer folks in the 1980s who rallied to support the Welsh miners’ strike.)
If the film is in another language, that can help you feel even more immersed.
Which leads me to my next point…
Learn the Language(s)
If you’re interested in the history and culture of your ideal travel destination(s), you might want to try learning the language(s)!
Particularly if English is not the primary language of the country, it’s always a good idea to have at least a basic understanding of the language of the land.
Learn now so you can be ready when you actually go!
Duolingo is an excellent (free!) app where you can learn over 35 different languages. I’ve been learning Welsh on Duolingo for over a year, now.
You can also join online groups with others who are learning or who already know the language, which can make you feel even closer to the country in question.
Watch Travel Vlogs!
There are hundreds if not thousands of travel vloggers out there, sharing their own journeys around the world!
Type your dream destination + “travel” or “tour” into the YouTube search bar, and take a little trip!
They went through the trouble of booking flights and navigating a new destination, and you get to sit there and travel from home.
It’s called living vicariously. 😉
Take a Walk… With Google Maps
This is my absolute favorite thing to do when thirsting for travel.
Open up Google Maps, type in the place you want to go, and drag the little Street View guy onto the map.
Need help? Check out this short video to learn how to use Google Maps Street View:
Ta-da! Now you can go virtually anywhere!
Hah. Virtually anywhere. Pun not intended but it made me giggle.
…Moving on!
Buy Imported Food
Pasta from Italy, pastries from France, tea from England, curry sauce from India, ramen from Japan…
In the US, you can find imported food from all over the globe in stores like World Market, the imports section of most grocery stores, or even the pantry section of places like TJ Maxx and Ross.
You can also look for foreign brands that ship internationally.
It took quite a bit of searching to find a brand that would ship to the US, but I recently got coffee beans from a Welsh roasting company!
Just the other day, I spent my morning sipping on Welsh coffee, listening to Welsh folk music, and exploring the charming market town of Builth Wells with Google Maps Street View.
It’s not the same as being there, but it’s as good as it’s gonna get for a while.
Hopefully some of these travel from home ideas will encourage you to dive into the places on your travel wish list.
Now get out there and explore the world!
Er… stay in and explore…
You know what I meant.
Happy travels!
Sincerely,
Pssst. Like the idea of taking time each morning to travel from home? Check out these other tips for a great morning routine!
Traveling from home not doing it for ya? Try one of these 9 things you can do on your own outside of the house!
If you could go anywhere in the world… where would you go? Share your travel dreams in the comments below!! (And then try some of these fun travel from home ideas!)
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