There are plenty of things that can keep a traveler at home: money, jobs, family commitments, visa issues… But, as we all well know, travel is an addiction and anyone who’s been bitten by the travel bug needs to get their travel fix at some point or another.
So how do you get your travel fix, even when you’re stuck at home? Luckily, here at Go! Girl Guides we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve… (Warning: itchy feet may result)
Stay connected with the traveling community
Just because you’re not currently traveling doesn’t mean that you have to cut your ties with other travelers. Read travel blogs, join travel forums and keep up-to-date with what’s going on out there in the big, wide world. Or, take things one step further and bring the traveling community direct to you by hosting or socializing with travelers visiting your area, through sites such as Couchsurfing, Travel Massive or more.
Plan your next trip (even if it’s imaginary)
If you’ve already got a trip lined up in the future, great – plan away! Even if you don’t, then feel free to indulge in a little bit of what I like to term ‘fantasy travel planning’. This is a habit I picked up while putting off writing essays at university, and involves surfing the Internet in search of increasingly outlandish future travel destinations and activities that may one day come to pass. Even if you have no intention of actually going on a particular trip any time soon, there’s no harm in exploring your options. It’s fun and, what’s more, leaves you with a surprising amount of niche travel knowledge that you never know when may come in handy (for example, I am somewhat of an expert on yoga retreats in South America and French language schools, despite never having done either of these things).
Be a tourist in your hometown
Why is it that whenever we travel somewhere, we visit all the museums and art galleries, do the exciting activities and go out of our way to speak to strangers – but then drop all of these good habits the moment we get back home? Make a conscious effort to explore your hometown with a traveler’s state of mind. Go to all the places you’ve never got round to seeing. Take photos like there’s no tomorrow. Plan some unusual activities that you’d never normally do. And above all, make just as much effort to reach out to and speak with people and learn from them as you would if you were on the other side of the world – volunteering can be a great way to meet people from all walks of life and to give back to the area.
Keep your travel memories alive
Last but not least, when you’re stuck at home and feeling sad, indulge in a little nostalgia. Use some of the tips from this previous post to keep your memories alive for longer, and make an effort to maintain a connection with the culture you experienced. Read books, watch films and listen to music from the area. Stay on top of current affairs in the region. If you picked up some foreign lingo, go to language meet-ups or practice online to keep it fresh. If you loved the cuisine, visit restaurants in your own community or learn to cook your favorite dishes yourself. If you enjoyed a new sport or hobby on your last travels – be it salsa or sailing – then don’t give it up just because you’re home. Keep building on your past travel experiences and you’ll be benefiting from travel no matter where you are in the world
If you have a tip on how best to get your travel fix once you’re home, share them below!
