But with most of the world shut off to American tourism, and social distancing still being a major concern, there has never been a better time to bring that sense of freedom and fun into your own home. Even if you don't have the option to travel like you used to, these products offer some affordable escape from the comfort of your home.
Wall Decals
Amazon
Sometimes all you really need to get out of your rut is a change of scenery. Redecorating a room where you spend a lot of your time can make it feel like you're somewhere brand new. And wall decals are among the quickest and cheapest ways to achieve that effect.
Turn your favorite room into a floral scene, a desert landscape, or something more whimsical in a matter of minutes. Coming in various sizes to provide either small touches of color, or wall-size tableaus, it's a simple peel-and-stick process to turn a familiar space into something. These tropical hibiscus decals from RoomMates bring the island vacation you've been craving into your living room for under $15.
PrettyLitter
We often overlook the sense of smell as a factor in setting the atmosphere of a space, but you have probably noticed that most homes have a distinctive smell, and that most likely includes your home too. And if you find a way to change that distinct smell, suddenly you're somewhere entirely new.
Of course there are any number of candles, sprays, or essential oil diffusers that can lend your home a temporary transformation into a pine forest or a French bakery, and they can make for nice change of pace. But if you own a cat and want to fundamentally transform and improve the background smell of your home, there is no better way than ditching old-fashioned clay cat litter for something that actually works.
There are some different options on the market, but PrettyLitter not only traps odors–it changes color to help you monitor your cat's health, and is delivered to your door on a monthly basis—so you can skip the litter errand and focus on enjoying your at-home vacation for just $22 a month.
Exotic Edible Plant Kit
If you're willing to put in a little more effort than just sticking some decals on your walls, it's possible to really bring some exotic life to your home in the form of a plant kit. These kits make it (relatively) easy to grow and tend to plants from around the world.
They can add some vibrant color and lively scent to your home, and edible plants—from hot peppers to this passion fruit plant—have the added bonus of delivering flavors from far away, so even food you grow in your own home can take your taste buds on vacation. All for around $25 with shipping.
Cocktail Machine
If you're the type of traveler who prefers to splurge on an all-inclusive resort with an open bar, then you might want to take some of the money you saved by staying at home and buy yourself a robotic bartender. That's essentially what you get with the Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine.
Rather than buying a bunch of ingredients and equipment for mixing your drinks, you just have to stock up on some cocktail pods and fill up the machine's four glass bottles with your favorite liquors. Suddenly you have a fully stocked and staffed bar available whenever you're ready for a refill. At around $350, and around $2.50 per cocktail pod, the Bartesian isn't cheap, but with the money you're saving on airfare, you can afford to keep your all-inclusive staycation buzz going.
Night-Light Projector
Another great way to transform your space is with some interesting lighting. There are a number of amazing and surprisingly affordable projectors that can make a dark room feel like an entirely different planet, but this ocean wave projector from GoerTek, with a variety of color settings, has the added feature of soothing nature sounds to help you relax. It's also under $30.
Spa Set
As long as you're giving yourself a chance to relax, why not take that to the next level with some truly pampered luxury? No garment on earth is quite as comfortable as soothing as a bath robe, yet most of us only wear one when we're at a hotel or a spa.
It's time to bring that comfort home, and while you're at it, why not take a soothing, French rose bath with a bath bomb, body wash, lotion, and an exfoliating scrub brush. The full spa set from Ellen Tracy is available for just $40.
Solar Therapy Lamp
One of the best reasons to travel during the winter is to go somewhere where it doesn't feel like winter! The short days and long nights of winter months cause many people to experience seasonal symptoms of depression. Travelling somewhere with more sunlight can be a great option for escaping those winter blues, but if you're stuck at home you can still get the light you need.
Solar therapy lamps mimic the color and brightness of actual sunlight, and can be used in dark winter mornings to reset your circadian rhythm and make you feel like your soaking up some rays on the beach. This therapy lamp from Miroco is available for under $40.
So the next time you're feeling stir-crazy and want an escape from the familiar, consider bringing your vacation home with one of these products.