Although physical travel is on hold right now, there's no reason why you can't recreate the ultimate getaway from the comfort of your own home! Until we’re able to explore the world again, we’ve come up with a few ways to help channel your inner adventurer from within your own lockdown location.
1. Recreate the climate
Finding yourself daydreaming of the Mediterranean coastline of Italy or the golden sand beaches of Croatia? Us too. But never fear, we’ve got the answer to the next best thing. To recreate the tan-worthy temps of a Europe summer from your lounge, just follow these simple steps (for those of you lucky enough to have a backyard, skip steps a. and b. and jump straight to step c!) a. Turn on all the heating to make the room lovely and warm b. Move all the furniture to the sides of the room c. Pull out the beach towel or sun lounger and pop on your swimmers and sunnies d. From your laptop, play a soundtrack of crashing waves, birds chirping or a holiday atmosphere noise of your choice.
2. Bring the destination to you
It’s pretty hard to beat the views of Santorini’s incredible sunsets, the sight of hot air balloons rising over Cappadocia or blue waters as far as the eye can see in Croatia. While for now we might be stuck with the same view outside our window every day, here’s a suggestion to create a much-needed change of scenery.
a. Find a picture of a beautiful view of your choice
b. Enlarge it and print out onto several pieces of paper
c. Stick the paper over your window, replacing your current view with the rolling hills of Lauterbrunnen or the brightly coloured coastal villages of Cinque Terre
d. Change destinations as often as needed
3. Learn the language
While immersing yourself in the local culture of a destination may be out of the question right now, don’t let it stop you from learning the local language! There are loads of apps to help with this and you’ll be able to test your skills during conference calls with colleagues, virtual chats with friends and skype calls with the fam. By the time you take your trip, conversing in the language will be a piece of cake – voila!
4. Eat the cuisine
Speaking of cake, why not also take this time to brush up on some of the local dishes from your favourite travel spots and learn to make them yourself! Whether it’s a delicious Greek salad with olives, tomato, cucumber and feta, a mouth-watering Italian pasta or a refreshing Spanish sangria, the options are endless. It’s a win win – you’ll feel connected to your future travel destinations AND your belly will thank you for filling it with incredible food!
5. Take to the streets (from inside)
Although you’re not able to complete your dream trip in person right now, you’re still able wander the city streets (from your computer)! Search your holiday destination on Google Maps, drop a pin and switch to street view. Although it’s not the same as being there in the flesh, you’ll be able to roam the roads and cobblestone alleyways, avoiding the crowds and seeing all the sights virtually! You can even take virtual tours of some of Europe’s best museums like the Vatican Museum and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to help feel like you’re really there.
So there you have it. We know it’s hard having to put your travel plans on hold but use this time to keep the inspiration flowing. When the time is right, your favourite destinations will be there, ready and waiting to be explored!
