Posted: 5/11/20 | may 11th, 2020
With the world on hold for the foreseeable, it’s going to be a long time before we get back on the road. even as we begin to look to the summer, it’s likely that numerous destinations will keep their doors shut to international travelers until the fall.
But that doesn’t imply we have to put our wanderlust on hold.
With the world at our virtual fingertips, there are plenty of ways to feed your inner traveler from the comfort of your bed.
Many destinations and museums now let you “visit them” virtually. and there are also plenty of incredible books you can read, interesting films and TV shows you can watch, and fun meetups and classes to join.
In short, you can still see the world from home. Here’s a list of ways you can travel practically and keep your wanderlust spirit alive:
Books
Reading is one of the best and many budget-friendly ways to “travel” when you’re stuck indoors. You can carry yourself to far-flung destinations and get inspired by the power of words — all from the comfort (and safety) of home.
Some terrific recent reads: The Yellow Envelope, Wanderlust, Ghengis Khan and the Making of the modern World, and An Irreverent Curiosity.
Here are a plethora of articles with much more books:
12 books to Take You around the World
13 books That will give You major Wanderlust
13 Non-Travel books That changed My Life
Additionally, if you want some monthly suggestions, check out our monthly book club. each month you’ll get 3-5 books sent best to your inbox!
Movies
There are numerous incredible films to choose online best now. I imply between Hulu, HBO, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+, you can get anything you want. (Netflix has been especially on fire this month.) some of my favorites:
Wild – based on the novel of the same name, this film follows Cheryl Strayed as she hikes the Pacific Crest trail as a way to restart her life, end her drug addiction, and cope with her mother’s death.
Midnight in Paris – I pretty much love every film about Paris, but this is one of my all-time favorites. The film follows Gil, a writer on getaway with his fiancée and her family. At night, he wanders the streets of Paris before stumbling into a time warp that sends him back to the 1920s.
The beach – Staring a young Leonardo DiCaprio, this film is about young backpackers who set out to find paradise while in Thailand.
Lost in Translation – This film takes you into the heart of chaotic Tokyo. bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson play two characters adrift in the the city together.
Into the Wild – based on a true story, this film follows Christopher McCandless as he sheds his material life in search of something more.
A Map for Saturday – This documentary is the best film about long-term travel.
For much more suggestions, here is the complete list of my favorite travel films and another post on LGBT travel films and one on Africa-related films.
TV Shows
Looking for some binge-worthy TV? here are a few ideas to keep your wanderlust satiated from the comfort of your own couch:
An Idiot Abroad – comedian Ricky Gervais sends his clueless, culturally insensitive pal on funny (and typically insightful) misadventures.
Anthony Bourdain: parts unknown – In one of the best travel shows ever made, the late Anthony Bourdain sheds light on new places and cultures as he eats his way around the world.
Long way round – actor Ewan McGregor and his best pal travel across the entire world on motorcycles in this epic miniseries (and in long way Down they travel from Scotland to South Africa — again, on motorcycles).
Departures – Award-winning series chronicling two pals traveling the world together.
Dark traveler – journalist David Farrier check outs some of the world’s weirdest, scariest, and many tragic places.
The incredible Race – A reality TV show in which contestants race around the world for cash prizes (there are over 30 seasons, so it’s terrific for bingeing!).
Big City, little budget – My pal Oneika Raymond hosts this show, in which she shares budget suggestions and hidden gems so you can experience the best of big cities without breaking the bank.
Somebody Feed Phil – Phil Rosenthal, the developer of everybody loves Raymond, travels the world on a comedic culinary journey.
Virtual Meetups
Since we can’t meet in person best now, we’ve been hosting our own through The Nomadic Network. Every week, we have meetups where we share stories, host guest speakers, and play games. We do about 2-3 a week.
Here are this week’s events:
Launching a profession in Travel: A Roadmap with Kelly Lewis from Damesly
“Ten Years A Nomad” book Talk and Q&A with Me
Meet Heather: Year-Long RTW trip winner from Nomadic Matt Giveaway
For future events, click to see what’s coming!
Virtual trips (Museums, Galleries, historical Sites, etc)
It seems every destination or museum is now providing some virtual tour. I’m all for it. While it’s not the same as being there in person, it’s still an pleasurable way to pass the time, get inspired, and learn about the world. here are some of my favorites:
Anne Frank museum (Amsterdam)
Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
Van Gogh museum (Amsterdam)
Picasso museum (Barcelona)
Guggenheim (Bilbao)
Faroe Islands virtual trip (Denmark)
Salvatore Dali museum (Figueres)
Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
The Giants Causeway (Ireland)
British museum (London)
Buckingham palace (London)
National Gallery (London)
Natural history museum (London)
Tate Britain (London)
Metropolitan museum (New York)
Coliseum (Rome)
Catacombs (Paris)
Louvre (Paris)
Machu Picchu (Peru)
Ruins of Pompeii (Pompeii)
Hermitage museum (St. Petersburg)
Sweden virtual trip (Sweden)
National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC)
US Holocaust Memorial museum (Washington, DC)
Free trips by Foot is also offer a handful of trips from around the globe. They have walking tours, historical videos, and much more. check out their YouTube page for a extensive list!
Online Classes
With so numerous people home, online courses are seeing a substantial surge in activity. In fact, I myself have finally been able to get around to taking some of the courses I’ve purchased ages ago. If you’re wanting to jump into a new online course, here are a few worth checking out:
MasterClass – This program is one of my favorites. I view a ton of masterclasses. They are mini-courses with some of the most well-known and successful people in the world, such as Margaret Atwood, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Martin Scorsese, Gordon Ramsay, Malcolm Gladwell, Alice Waters, Serena Williams, and numerous others.
Superstar blogging – If you’re wanting to start a blog or break into the freelance writing industry, we offer two courses that can help. You’ll get totally free tech support, weekly calls, and feedback and copyedits on your writing.
Udemy – Udemy is an online marketplace with over 100,000 online video courses. You can find courses on pretty much anything here!
Skillshare – A project-based marketplace for online courses. like Udemy, there is lots of variety here.
Massimo Bottura’s kitchen Quarantine – World-class Italian chef Massimo Bottura cooks up a storm in his home kitchen.
Pasta-Making class (with Italian Chefs) from Take Walks – My favorite trip company, Take Walks, shows you how to make delicious pasta at home.
Seamus Mullen’s Quarantine kitchen – check out Seamus’s daily show for suggestions on clean and healthy eating.
José Andrés’ #RecipesforthePeople – chef José Andrés is helping the world relearn simple, delicious recipes on his Twitter feed.
Context learning – These in-depth, expert-led virtual seminars are ideal for history buffs who really want to dig in and learn about a destination.
***
Learn something new. Or meet some new pals in a virtual meetup. Or just chill out and eat snacks and view some movies.
We’ll be back on the road again.
But, until we can, at least we can travel the world through our computer.
Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a low-cost flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it numerous times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
SafetyWing (best for everyone)
Insure My trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
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