What to do When You Can’t Travel – 7 Engaging Things To Try Now!
There are many reasons why people can’t travel. The most common culprits stopping us from travel are not enough time off work and not enough money. In 2020, travel has been shut down by the “Pandemic” or plague as my niece likes to call it. Many of us are wondering what to do when you can’t travel
In April, we had a month-long trip planned. A Transatlantic sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen followed up by touring Portugal for two weeks. Canceled. My dream trip to the Galapagos and Machu Pichu. Canceled… well, postponed to 2022. We are keeping our fingers crossed that by then, there will be a vaccine, and the world will be in a more settled place.
Table of Contents
What To Do When You Can’t Travel?Get Ready For Your Next Adventure!
This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy
Travel lovers across the planet are frustrated because they can’t scratch their travel itch. Being stuck at home when you’ve already had plans to visit the next place on your bucket list is maddening. You can’t travel to India to get a plate of Punjabi style, Chicken Bharta from the local Dhaba, and that leaves you wanting it all the more.
What to do when you can’t travel? Here are some of the best things to at least try to indulge your wanderlust when you really can’t travel.
Get Ready to Scratch Your Travel Itch by Learning a New Language
What country are you planning to go next? Spain, Japan, Hungary? Learn the language basics for your travels. Locals in all areas appreciate it when you can speak even a little of their native tongue, at least enough to ask, “Do you speak English?”
Try using an app like Duolingo or
If you choose a subscription “Duolingo Plus” plan, this starts at $12.99 per month with discounts for six months and one year.
The Amazing Race – Watch contestants circle the world, stopping in different countries, doing crazy stunts, and trying to make it to each pitstop before the other teams.
We all have a lot of time on our hands these days. Maybe you should take up the lost skill of reading. I mean really reading, not skimming through a blog or webpage. After you’re done reading my Blog, of course! Tours By Locals is currently offering virtual tours of many cities with a live guide. From their site, “When you can’t physically travel, but want a chance to reach out and connect with a new destination, virtual guided tours are the perfect option. Chat with a local guide in real-time while you get an online cooking class, history lesson, walking tour, or driving tour.” “Konnichiwa, After we check our connection and making sure we can hear and see each other, we will meet a ghost. She will teleport us to our start point, Kanawa, well in Kyoto. Through the video, you will feel the eerie atmosphere of Kyoto after-dark. Wander between narrow historical streets in Gion (Geisha District). Then visit spooky shrines, cursed areas, and the oldest graveyard of the city. Be ready to hear the spine-chilling stories and the legends behind…” This tour is currently offered at $55.00, lasts one hour, and you can have up to 6 users. These tours are all done via an internet connection like Zoom, so you will need to reasonable access to the internet. The best thing here is that after your virtual tour, ToursbyLocals will apply 100% of the cost to a future IRL tour booking! Now that you have your TV Shows, Movie, Book Club, or Virtual Tour all set up. Cook or have food delivered that is local to your favorite destination and throw a dinner party! You and your friends can make it a theme night. Practice your newly acquired language skills, dress in local garb, and watch your choice of video to bring it all home. Are you looking forward to climbing the ruins of Machu Pichu, like I am? Consider working with a trainer to build up stamina and strength for all that hiking. I haven’t quite figured out how you simulate the elevation (nearly 8,000 feet) yet. But if you are in Denver, the Mile High City, you are almost there! Planning a trip to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef? This one usually means you will be swimming, snorkeling, and maybe even diving (scuba). You don’t need an ocean to learn to deep-water dive — a community pool will do, and many offer scuba certification classes. Want to walk the Thames Path? (Quite a popular walk, I understand.) This long-distance walking trail runs for 184 miles (294 Km) from the Cotswolds to the heart of London. The path is gentle but really long. If you take the recommended 14 days, you average 13 miles each day. Walking 13 miles one day is not so bad, but doing so 14 days in a row is a different thing altogether. You may want to build up to it. You can make new plans even if you can’t travel right now. It’s a great time to take advantage of low rates and good cancellation policies. If you need to work on getting points for free travel on your credit card, you have time to build up your points. Get out those guide books and maps and put together your dream itinerary. Remember, the anticipation of a trip, the planning, and arranging, can be as fun as the journey itself. Think positively, we’ll all be on the road sooner than you can imagine.Or If Movies Are More Your Thing
Read a Book to Indulge Your Wanderlust
You Can’t Travel Right Now, But You Can Take a “Virtual Tour!”
Museums all around the world are offering virtual tours
You can even have a Virtual City Tour
One such tour is titled “ Unusual Stories of Kyoto with a Japanese Ghost”
Throw a Travel-Themed Dinner Party When You Can’t Travel
Use the Down Time to Train For Your Future Travels
Wanderlust Still Got You Down? Start Planning Your Next Trip (or two)