5 Best Remote Experiences to Satisfy Your Wanderlust Cravings

2020 saw a pandemic that nearly shut down global travel. The lives and hopes of billions of workers and travelers were almost decimated. Students form a substantial portion of the number of international tourists and travelers each year, with others going on study abroad opportunities. With the tourism landscape shifting proportionately concerning the pandemic, many students may feel like their travel dreams have been thrown out the window.

Curfews, social distancing, and lockdowns aside, the world is starting to open up more, and opportunities for movement may certainly increase in 2021. In the meantime, there are more ways than one to satisfy your wanderlust cravings without needing to break the bank or move beyond borders. 

Traveling is an important part of any young adult’s life. This article provides 5 tips for a sensual travel experience with little to no travel. 

1. Go on ‘Virtual’ Tours

Virtual tours are the perfect remedy for anyone low on vacation time, travel budgets, or are social distancing. Virtual tours, especially ones with VR headsets with vibration haptics, provide that extra sensory appeal. Students are a good pick for virtual tours since they are more technologically aware and can adapt easily to software and devices. 

With 3D glasses and VR headsets, you can engage in virtual tours of landmarks, museums, ancient ruins, underground crypts, and palaces. Check out the best places to visit in Rome on a virtual tour. If you like the techy stuff, you might also be a computer science or engineering student. In this case, if you’re wondering, “who will do my programming homework as I take this virtual tour?” you should connect with expert writers. 

2. Read Travel Books 

If you lack an expense account for travel or the budget for a VR headset, books are probably the next best thing. A quick disclaimer, not everyone is a reader and especially not students who barely have enough time to finish up on their academic reading. If you do have the mettle to pick up a good old hardback, you should try out the following selection:

• Around the World in Eighty Days (1972), by Jules Verne. Jules Verne never actually traveled the world, but this masterpiece shows us the power of imagination. 
• The Great Railway Bazaar (1975), by Paul Theroux. Imagine a hippie traveling through the vastness of India and how all that culture and poverty affects their psyche. Or changes them for the better. This is what you get from this piece. 
• Out of Africa (1937), by Karen Blixen. The movie is probably more popular than the memoir by the Danish author. However, this memoir paints a beautiful picture and contrast of the colonial world Karen Blixen leaves to settle in the African paradise. 

There are other masterpieces that your fingers can find your way around. These three are as good a place to start if you aren’t an avid reader.

3. Follow Travel Podcasts and YouTube Channels 

Listening to other folks commenting on their own travel experiences might leave a sour taste in some people’s mouths. However, if you cover that downside with a bit more positivity, you’ll find that there’s a great deal to learn. You may never get a chance to travel to more than 190 countries like Drew Binsky. His travel blog sure does make it feel like you are part of the experience, though!

4. Go on Local and In-Country Tours

Too many folks focus on what they don’t have, i.e., cities and places they may never visit, rather than what they do have. Our own countries have a mountain-trove of treasure that people from around the world want. As a student, visiting local sites such as wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, and parks in your country is a great way to travel with less money.  

5. Learn A New Language

You might think that learning a new language is a bit abstract. Traveling is one of the best ways to learn about new cultures. Language and culture are directly interconnected, dependent on each other even. The best advice that you can get to sauté your remote travel experience? Go, French, Spanish, Swahili, or whatever else floats your bubble. 

Conclusion | Make the Best of What You’ve Got

Nothing on this list beats the actual experience of traveling to a new country or city. However, with the suggestions on this list and with a little bit of improvisation, you never have to feel eternally locked down.