Travel Limbo? Learn how to travel from your living room!
There is nothing quite like the post-trip booking high. It is something that I am riding right now actually. For the past few weeks I have been baking king cakes and singing along to Disney’s Princess and the Frog while dreaming of beignets in the French Quarter. Stuck in the limbo between booking a trip and actually traveling? Some say the best part of the trip is dreaming up all that will happen on it, so I put together this list of things you can do if you are longing for a new destination.
Bake or cook something new
For me this has worked wonders. Not just for New Orleans, but anywhere I want to be. From empanadas to gumbo, food is a great mode of transportation. My personal favorite right now is cheesy grits. I found a 7 minute recipe that tastes just like the ones my dad makes back home. It is somehow both so nostalgic and getting me pumped to be in Louisiana. Recipes are easy to find. You can look some up on the internet or visit a local bookstore or library to pick up a cook book.
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Read or watch something based out of the location you're dreaming of
Anne Rice and I have been best buds since booking this trip and that is because many of her books, including Interview with the Vampire and Lives of Mayfair Witches, are based in New Orleans. I’ll make my grits or cut myself a slice of king cake and plop in front of the TV. With access to google you can find a good piece of media to transport you anywhere. I used to love books based in foreign countries, it felt like a great way to pick up some history and culture. When you finally do get the opportunity to visit your destination, it will be so fun to see where all the stories you heard about took place.
Visit the location's website or read travel blogs!
Seeing what the location has to offer through blogs and the visitors' page is always a great option. You would be surprised by what you learn through the experiences of other people. Bonus points because many of these pages will lead you to ways to support locals. When I visited New York, this is how I found some of my favorite restaurants. The usual touristy spots are great, but it is always nice to see what the locals love about their cities.
Pack your bags!
Maybe I’m just a procrastinator, but I tend to not pack until the night before a trip (crazy, I know). If you’re looking for something to do that will put you in the “almost there” spirit, think about packing your bags. What will you take? Do you need to buy anything ahead of time? Packing ahead is a great tool, and if you’re anything like me, it will help you from overpacking as well.
You will be proud to know that my suitcase for this trip is almost done and I have over a month to go! I have noticed that with the extra time I can now sit back and think about how I probably do not need 3 pairs of jeans and could swap at least one for a cute sweater. It also left me time to remember to throw bug spray and extra lotion in the bag. If you need a place to start here is a link to my 6 must have items for any trip.
Plan ahead!
So you’ve baked, watched, and packed your way through your destination — why not plan where you want to go on your trip? Maybe it's a site from your book or a cafe with the best dessert in the city. Either way, planning ahead can make any trip a little better. Of course, leave room to be spontaneous, but my favorite memories in Puerto Rico were the pre-planned ones.
We rented cars and were able to climb the Luquillo Mountains, which contain the El Yunque Rainforest — something we may not have thought to do if we did not plan ahead of time. Planning also helps me create a trip budget. I know the “B” word isn’t everyone’s favorite on vacation, but it does help you not blow all your money in one week (or worse… day).
I remember my first “big girl trip” without my parents. I was 18 and convinced I was going to have the time of my life. It was everything I dreamt of and more. I did not check my bank account once and swiped my card at everything I wanted. When I landed back home, I had less than five dollars to my name! Lucky for me, I also did not have any bills to my name either — or I would have been screwed. Do not be like young me. Plan ahead and don’t let a great trip break the bank.
Hopefully these tips get you in the traveling mood and help you to prepare for your next trip. Keep an eye out for the upcoming New Orleans post!
