Staycation: What To Do When You Can’t Travel

Being a full-time student doesn’t allow me to travel all the time, so that I’ve come up with several ways to cure my never-ending wanderlust at home. Even when you’re not traveling to some exciting new place, it’s fun to break your daily routine and habits. There are several ways that you can get inspired by your travels and incorporate them in your daily life. Here are the things that I like to do, when I can’t travel:

Explore your hometown
Growing up in a big city like Berlin, there is always something new to discover. After returning home from living in Istanbul, I have actually a list full of places that I can’t wait to visit. I enjoy checking out new restaurants or cafés and corners in the city that are usually not my go-to spots. Go out, play tourist for a day and re-discover your hometown!

Have a dinner party
If you would travel with me, you would know that I love eating my way through every place. I mean, food is part of the country’s culture, so I should try everything, right? When you can’t travel, you can still eat amazing food from all over the world. Invite your friends over and have a Japanese themed sushi party, make some tasty Mexican tacos or learn how to cook traditional Pad Thai. Yummy!

Go out in nature
Sometimes a little time spend outside can be great to take your mind off of things. Take advantage of your local surroundings like a lake, mountains or a beautiful park and explore the natural scenery of your home!

Do something different
Traveling is all about new experiences! I often try to step out of my comfort zone to collect new experiences during my trips, but also at home. Learn how to master photography, visit an art exhibition, take a language class or try out a new sport. Whatever it is, it will shake up your daily routine and maybe you will even discover a new passion or hobby.

Check in a hotel
If you have the budget, then book a room in a fancy hotel or a quirky place for the night. Sometimes it can be nice to have a little escape from home. Order room service, watch some wanderlust-inspired movies and take a bubble bath. Waking up in a comfy hotel bed is the perfect way to start any day!

Bring your travels home
Coming home from my travels, I usually go through my oodles of photos and decide which ones I want to have framed on my wall or use for some crafting. I love looking back at my scrapbooks, photo albums and other journals and reminisce about my adventures. Be as creative as you want. There are no limits!

Have a spa day
When traveling, we often treat ourselves to nice things. However, there is no reason to stop doing these things when being back at home. Treat yourself to a relaxing spa visit, book a massage, get a manicure and read your favorite book.

Over to you: What do you do, when you can’t travel?