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How Your Travel Type Should Sightsee (Without Leaving Your Sofa)

family on couch with laptop
Allianz - family on couch with laptop

You may be spending more time at home these days, but you’ve still got dreams of traveling. The good news? There are plenty of ways to explore the world right now—in fact, it’s the perfect time to try out some travel experiences that you’ve thought about booking for real down the road.

To help you get started, we’ve put together traveler profiles with destinations and activities unique to the way you like to explore. Find your type—or types!—and see what the world has in store when it’s time for us to adventure together again.

The Relaxed Roamer

Likes: Cozy spaces, sandy beaches, and crafting the perfect out-of-office message 

To you, travel is all about taking it easy. You’re all about sitting back and enjoying the moment—no schedules, no fuss. Until you can swap your sofa for a sunny coast (preferably somewhere far away from video conference calls), here are a few ways to find your perfect vacation chill.

Get a taste of the tropics with a virtual tour of Hawaii (bonus points if you explore Oahu’s sandy shores while listening to this Hawaii-inspired playlist). You can even try your hand at making a tropical cocktail to sip while you check out the sights.

If your idea of a blissful getaway is a laidback road trip, then you can get your (virtual) kicks on Route 66. Whip up a few snacks for the road—er, loveseat—and you’ll be planning a cross-country road trip in no time.  

And if you’re really a sucker for relaxation? Chill a few cucumber slices and enjoy a simulated spa facial, and instantly transport yourself to a long weekend at the favorite resort you’ve been dreaming of.

 

The Wild Wanderer 

Likes: Vast views, fresh air, and boots made for walkin’

You’re the outdoorsy type—to you, there’s nothing better than exploring untamed destinations. Even if your present wilderness escape is less “exploring the Outback” and more “examining moderately-interesting rocks in the backyard,” there are plenty of ways to get back to nature until it’s time to travel again.

While you’re parked on the couch, check out the majesty of the National Parks: Yosemite National Park and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park are just a couple of the wild spaces you might want to explore, but you can find more on the National Park Service website. You can also head overseas to the incredible waters of Victoria Falls, or take a gander at the legendary Mt. Fuji through multiple live camera feeds.

If you’re an animal lover, you’re in luck: there’s tons of extraordinary wildlife to see through an immersive online look at the Galápagos Islands. Or get to know Lake Bogoria in Kenya, which is such a hot spot for flamingos that it actually appears pink from a distance.

And as an appreciator of the natural world, you’ll also enjoy a virtual visit to The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the wonders of our planet.  

 

The History Hound 

Likes: Ancient artifacts, intimidatingly thick biographies, anything labeled “circa”  

Do you have a favorite dynasty? Do you know what can only be described as “an uncomfortable amount” of trivia about the Visigoths? If your bank PIN is 1066 (real history buffs know), you’ll love this list of historical must-sees.

Get to know Stonehenge—the ultimate oldie-but-goodie—with a 360 degree view from inside the mysterious monument. You can also skip the hike up to Machu Picchu and take a virtual tour of the spectacular Incan village instead. Or run—don’t walk—like an Egyptian to get an incredible view of The Great Pyramids at Giza.

You can even give your historical tour the royal treatment: start with a virtual visit to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. If French history is more your thing, you can explore the Palace of Versailles, which went from a simple hunting lodge (well, by royal standards) to an extravagant cultural hub under Louis XIV. And no regal sightseeing would be complete without the Taj Mahal, commissioned by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife (but you already knew that).

 

The Artistic Adventurer

Likes: All-day museum visits, collecting ticket stubs, and full-volume singing in the shower

From visual masterpieces to transformative tunes, you’re all about the sensual side of life—and your travel destinations have to follow suit. Luckily, you can get your cultural fix from the couch.

If you’re ready to Louvre yourself in breathtaking art, the renowned museum in Paris is offering virtual gallery tours of some of its most celebrated works. They even have an app for a Mona Lisa virtual reality experience, so you can get an up-close look at the lady with the mystic smile—right on your smartphone. Plenty of other world museums are offering virtual tours too, including Tokyo National Museum, Museu de Arte de São Paulo, and the Johannesburg Art Gallery

If you’re craving a little drama in your life, The Globe Theatre in London—a not-to-miss landmark for Shakespeare fans—is streaming performances of some of The Bard’s most famous plays. You can also give your regards to Broadway with a huge schedule of live stream theater events, including performances, talk shows, workshops—and even dance classes taught by star performers.

Longing for live music? Then check out Live Nation's Live From Home series, which features live daily streams from your favorite artists. You can also take a tour of the Grammy Museum, and get to know some of history’s musical greats.

 

The Eccentric Explorer

Likes: Spooky legends, mysterious objects, and curating your delightfully peculiar Instagram feed  

The beach? Meh. If typical destinations leave you feeling lukewarm, there are plenty of unique (and even downright kooky) travel experiences waiting for you off the beaten path.

Check out the Winchester Mystery House, an impressive mansion rumored to be built by an eccentric widow at the behest of restless spirits. Even if you’re skeptical about a spectral presence, this architectural curiosity will leave you spellbound: it boasts 10,000 windows, 160 rooms, and over 40 staircases . . . some of which lead to nowhere.

Keep things eerie with a virtual visit to Bran Castle in Romania, the spooky stronghold that some say Bram Stoker used as inspiration for Dracula’s castle (it also happens to be a stunning example of medieval architecture). Or travel to Paris—specifically, underground to the Paris Catacombs, the historical resting place for nearly 6 million Parisians.  

You can also explore lighter oddities at the Museum of Bad Art, which houses an impressive collection of paintings you don’t want in your living room. Or if you’re flush with curiosity about the history of sanitation, explore the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets.

Finally, don’t miss a tour of Aoshima in Japan, known as Cat Island due to its high population of feline residents. Normally only accessible via ferry, you can check it out at home with just an internet connection.

We know you can’t wait to travel again. When it’s finally time to book the excursion you’ve been dreaming about, protect it with Allianz Travel Insurance. With a wide variety of plans to choose from, you can find benefits that are right for you—like trip cancellation, emergency medical benefits, and more—and you’ll also have our 24-hour assistance at your back in case of the unexpected. Because whether your travel profile points you to palace tours or mountain views, every explorer can breathe easier with the added confidence of travel protection.

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Jun 11, 2020