Back in January, 2020, with a fresh, new, hopeful year upon us, a group of us were talking about travel plans we had for the year. Some were staycation roadtrips. Others were tropical getaways. Some were dream trips to Europe. And others were planning for their bucket list trip-of-a-lifetime here and there throughout the world. It was so exciting to hear about everyone’s plans and their conviction that “this was going to be the year.” Well, we all know how that has turned out. Travel plans are postponed or out and out cancelled and our focus is just on surviving – emotionally, physically, and financially. But that doesn’t have to mean the end of travel! One group of friends who had planned an extensive trip to Greece created a virtual world travel party and report that it was a blast. While it wasn’t the real thing, it made them feel a lot better about their trip being delayed. Here are some ideas for how to throw your own party plus some inspiration for destinations.

Save these tips to Pinterest to keep them handy.

Just past the Jenner Headlands, on the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll find views like this.

Here’s Our List of 9 Easy Steps to Throwing a Virtual World Travel Party From the Safety of Home

1. Pick your destination. Maybe it was where you were planning to go already. Or maybe it’s where you’ve always dreamed of going but kept putting it on the back burner.
2. Send out e-vites. Sure, you can invite the people you would have been traveling with on your now-cancelled or postponed trip. Or, you can create an invitation list of all the people in your life you’d love to travel with (the beauty here is there are no excuses for not “going” AND, unlike being stuck with someone you thought would be a great travel companion but turned out not to be, the trip only lasts as long as the Zoom call!)
3. Channel the destination. Include in the invitation instructions for people to use a Zoom background from the destination you’re traveling to; dress like they would if they were going; send along a few vocabulary words and their pronunciation for “hello,” “thank you,” “good bye,” “where is the restroom,” “another glass of wine, please,” “I don’t have bail money,” “what do you have for an upset stomach,” and other potentially helpful phrases you’ll want to know. Make or order in food from that region (you may need to provide some recipes but we’ll help with that, below). You could all eat the same thing or different things and compare notes.
4. Zoom ahead! At the appointed date and time, you’ll all get onboard for your virtual travel party and have a great time commenting on each other’s backgrounds, clothes, food and drink. Allow only a few minutes to wallow in self-pity about not being able to go for real (because who wants to go to THAT kind of pity party!). Instead, acknowledge that major bummer and move on with something fun. Such as…
5. Play some virtual games. As host, ask the group questions such as: What were you looking forward to seeing the most? What were you looking forward to eating? What food or activity were you going to force yourself to try even though you were kind of afraid? Describe what the “perfect day” was going to look like to you, as you envisioned it. Then, playfully turn it on its head and describe how it went all wrong, for a good laugh, of course. And because travel rarely goes exactly as we envision it will.
6. Go there, virtually. Many destinations are creating ways to still experience travel but in a virtual way such as tours of museums, online plays, recipes, concerts, and more. Pick something and share your screen so everyone can tour, listen, or attend, together.
7. Don’t give up the dream. Okay, it’s possible your trip is never going to happen. But it very well might. So end your virtual world travel party with a vow that “we will travel again!”
8. Plan another trip soon. Hey, since it’s “virtually” free to travel virtually, you may as well plan some other parties. Go anywhere in the world you want from the safety of home. Just follow steps 1-8, rinse and repeat.
9. Lose yourself in the destination. Let these books and movies for food and travel lovers immerse you in the destinations of your choice. Maybe read a book before convening for your party, like a book club. Or watch the movie together.

Were you looking forward to your reservations at a certain restaurant? Look at their menu and plan what you would have had, course by course. Photo by Pixabay.

Here’s Some Foodie Travel Inspiration for Your Virtual World Travel Party

Destination…

Bali:

Touring around in a tuk tuk, deciding which restaurant’s version of Mie Goreng is best sounds like a very good day. Or you could make your own with the recipe we included.

See where George Washington visited in Barbados. Photo by Rich Grant.

Barbados:

Hold your own Rum Cocktail Contest! No one will be driving so…

Here’s what you would have seen (WILL see!) when scuba diving there.

What was America’s first president doing in Barbados?! Discuss.

Florida:

Don your coolest sun glasses and imagine the celebrity chefs you would have hobnobbed with at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

Oh, the see and be seen restaurants you must visit in Miami.

St. Augustine pre-dates the pilgrims settling in up the coast. The history and the beauty are amazing. And so is the recipe for authentic, Minorcan Clam Chowder.

You can still visit many buildings in Germany, including cathedrals, virtually. Photo courtesy Pixabay.

Germany:

You may have headed to Frankfurt, but wonders lay just off the beaten path.

Plot the stops you would have made in Rothenburg ob der Tauber 

Celebrate the Beethoven anniversary year, which has been extended until September 2021, with a variety of digital offerings.

#DiscoverGermanyFromHome with a vast virtual site that let’s you tour castles, get culinary inspiration, and more.

Grenada:

A cooking lesson, followed by lunch on the beach? Uh, yes!

Guatamala:

If one of the locals went to the market every day and made you three amazing meals, this is what it would look like.

Daniela’s Sicilian Chocolate Cake would be perfect during a Virtual Travel Party.

Italy:

Sip limoncello in honor of Sicily’s passion for lemons.

Lounging around, eating on the floor in loose clothing? You’ve been doing that for weeks! Who knew you were being Roman a la Spain.

Make this relatively easy Bolognese pasta sauce that has some surprising ingredients.

For dessert, it’s chocolate cake like the kind made during the chocolate festival.

Kauai:

Your fun can’t be slowed down with a leisurely meal at a restaurant inside. Know which food trucks you’ll hit up while you’re out and about.

Kentucky:

Were you headed for the Kentucky Derby (we have a virtual Derby party guide)? Or to hit up some authentic bourbon? Or just to have some real deal Kentucky fried chicken? We’ve got that covered.

San Francisco:

Imagine the sites, smells, and sounds of The Barbary Coast Trail.

One of the most famous Chinatowns in the country? Now that’s going to be good for dinner inspiration!

Spain:

Start off with some sangria, spicy shrimp, and maybe some Patatas Bravas courtesy Chef José Andrés,

Visiting during the Saffron Festival would be wonderful, especially when someone offers you a plate of paella by the side of the road.

Winnipeg:

Get the inside scoop on where the locals go for food and fun.

With these tips for your own virtual world travel gathering, you’ll still be connecting to the destination you were going to, and the people you were going to go with. This will help build excitement for when you can go, helps you plan, and increases appreciation for the places, people, attractions, and foods you’ll experience. Happy (virtual) travels! 

Hungry for more? Our podcast interviews are a great way to learn more about a place you’d like to visit from an insider’s prospective.

Pin this virtual world travel party plan to your travel Pinterest Boards and keep your dreams alive. 

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