However, realistically speaking, it is not an accessible activity for a good portion of people. Between daily responsibilities and the rising cost of living, it can be hard to plan and pay for an adventure abroad.
If you’re feeling stifled and experiencing the much-dreaded feeling of missing out, we do have a few ways you can explore the world without moving an inch.
1. Visit the World Through Games
This might surprise you, however, if you think about it the gaming sector allows us to visit incredible, fantastical lands. So, why not use it to enjoy the vibes and culture of real-life countries? Since there are so many games out there, we’ll stick to one platform to make this easier on you.
As such, today, we’ll explore the selection of casino games offered by Paddy Power, where you can enjoy a variety of themes that explore different cultures. We’ll start this off with Ireland, the land of vibrant greenery and leprechauns. Thanks to slot games like Irish Cash Chips, Gaelic Luck, and Paddy Power Golden Odyssey - you can explore the lush landscape of Ireland, along with all its mystical icons through spinning wheels.
For those who have dreamed of enjoying Monaco in all of its opulent casinos, then playing a few rounds of classic table games will be ideal to enjoy a similar experience. To elevate this experience and make it more immersive, you should try some of the live games available. For instance, Live Spin a Win, Live All Bets Blackjack, and Live Quantum Roulette all fit the bill of classy gameplay that Monaco is famous for.
If you’ve always been enchanted with Greek mythology, then you probably have thought of visiting Greece at least a few times in your life. After all, this Hellenic ancient religion has transfixed many people, and between the glorious tales of the king of gods, Zeus, and the legends of the noble Hector, we can’t blame them. In this case, we’d definitely suggest checking out the following slot games that will satisfy this itch: Age of the Gods: King of Olympus, Hand of Midas 2, along with Moods of Hecate.
If you’re more of a fan of Egyptian mythology and would much rather visit the Great Pyramid of Giza, then you will have plenty to enjoy when it comes to this theme. Some notable mentions are the Eye of Horus, Cleopatra, and Pharaoh’s Daughter. From stunning depictions of the most notable Queen of Egypt and ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, Cleopatra, to the mystical background soundtracks, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported directly to Egypt.
2. Leveraging Modern-Day Virtual Travel
In 2024, technology has reached a level most of us couldn’t have even imagined a decade ago. And these advancements have led to us being able to explore cities as if we were actually there. With the help of VR headsets, one can enjoy a 360° view of several cities, emulating the feeling of simply walking around a city, via platforms like AirPano. Here you’ll find 360° photos, videos, gigapanoramas, and time-lapses of hundreds of cities.
Of course, VR headsets can be quite costly, so if you don’t have some lying around the house, there are other options that are almost as immersive. For instance, you can enjoy some 4k Virtual City Tours that are easily found online. As a recommendation, you can check out websites like Travel.Earth for a list of some of the best virtual city tours available. These will range from popular tourist destinations like London to going as far as outer space.
Last, but certainly not least, we’d recommend checking out the “Take a Tour on Google Earth” page. Google has done an amazing job at capturing almost the entire expanse of Earth, allowing it to provide people with easy access to practically any location. And, if you want to explore even more, simply go to the main page, pick a place, and select street view to get the most out of the experience. If you’re worried about it being too confusing, this is very similar to Google Maps, just a tad more refined.
3. Go Sightseeing
There’s nothing more exciting than travelling to a new country; the chance to immerse yourself in a different culture and soak up the sights, sounds and smells. Whether you just potter around Europe or visit far-flung destinations, travel broadens the mind and stimulates the soul.
Unfortunately, it's not always easy to get away for a break abroad, particularly in the current environment with costs being really high so it's simply not feasible for many to go overseas.
Now with the advent of technology means you can now go see the world without having to budge an inch. If you want to take a look at the world that's waiting out there, you can see even the most remote locations and sights without any of the hassle of transport. Hop between countries, and check out streets around the world. It's a wonderful alternative to actual travel. You can even use it to check out the areas of where hotels you might want to stay in the future are located.
Many other places also offer the facility to view online; UNESCO Heritage Sites are a great example. If you can't travel to India, you can now see the Taj Mahal in all its glory in an online virtual visiting experience.
And UNESCO isn't the only provider; there are city guides, tourist sites and even attractions like zoos that offer a virtual trip. You may not be able to travel at the moment, but nothing is stopping you from experiencing some of the most beautiful places in the world from where you are right now.
There are also lots of webcams showing live streaming from some of the most popular tourist destinations around the world.
4. Enjoy Theatrical Performances
The arts have been hit particularly hard by recent global events, with many theatres teetering on the brink of survival during the Covid pandemic. Forced to close their doors to the public for so long, many took a creative approach to performances.
If you can't travel to the opera house or the ballet you can now enjoy virtual performances online. Buy tickets for a virtual concert or recital in the same way, you would usually, and enjoy a live and exclusive performance streamed into your home.
5. Virtual Museum Tours
It is now possible to view view millions of pieces of art online from some of the world's top museums and galleries. Places include New York’s MoMA, Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam DC’s National Gallery of Art and Chicago’s Art Institute. Some other world famous locations like The Louvre, The Vatican Museums, the Smithsonian Museums, British Museum and the Palace Museum in Beijing all offer virtual tours.
6. Discover National Parks
Always wanted to visit some of the top rated National Parks around the world? Well now you can, even without actually visiting in person. In the USA the Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours and Google has some incredible technology allowing you to see places around the world like the Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas.
7. Theme Parks
An alternative but amazing experience for any thrill seekers out there. You can now enjoy some of the most popular rides at Disney World parks on YouTube with ‘interactive 360º videos’. Virtual Disney World 360º’s videos which allow you to view with a VR headset or, if using your phone, is highly recommended.
8. Virtual Tours
Booking a tour is an amazing way to see the world, and this became very difficult during Covid-19 with travel restrictions. But some operators have come up with genius ways to continue to let travellers get their hit of wanderlust. You can travel the world, without going anywhere with G Adventures, one of the world's best and most popular small group tour operator. Explore destinations like Peru and Costa Rica with a guide and feel like you are actually there.
See the World without Leaving Home
While the world may be your oyster, it can be a pretty expensive oyster to explore. However, the aforementioned options should at the very least tide you over until you save up enough for that plane ticket. At the very least, exploring the world in such ways will allow you to understand which places you’d prioritise over others.
