By not being able to travel as much as we expected to this year, my best friend and I decided to try bringing the abroad experiences to our living room! And then we wrote up these fun itineraries so you can try it too.
As an Amazon Associate, for these recs I do earn from qualifying purchases, but at no extra cost to you!
If you’re interested in being transported to the beautiful country with colorful cities and vibrant culture, queue up a “son cubano” playlist (a genre of Afro-Cuban music that originated from the eastern side of the island) on Spotify and check out the itinerary below.
Start your morning with a cafe cubano — an espresso/strong coffee mixed with a generous amount of sugar that is whisked together and enjoyed multiple times throughout the day.
Then to really feel immersed with the city while drinking your coffee, watch the Youtube clips “Travel Cuba in 360 degrees VR” for the city highlights and “360 – Virtual Reality Driving Tour of Havana” to feel like you’re riding in one of those classic cars. (Watching both clips only take about 4 and a half minutes).
For dinner later in the day, try learning how to make their most popular dish — Ropa Vieja. This recipe requires a few hours of simmering, so start the prep process earlier in the afternoon and it’ll be ready by the early evening! The main ingredients are: beef, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, dry wine and spices.
The recipe I used was this one from The Daring Gourmet.
Good news for American readers: Porto’s, the incredible Cuban bakery located in southern California, now has a “bake at home” menu, and they ship nation wide! They send you their frozen treats and all you need to do is bake them for fresh Porto’s pastries right there in your living room.
Ideas to do in the afternoon while the ropa vieja is cooking:
Muddle up the drink that calls Havana its home — the mojito. All you need is some white rum, sparkling water, mint, limes and some sugar.
The recipe we used that we loved:
- 12 spearmint leaves
- 2 ounces of white rum
- 2 tsp of sugar
- 1.5 ounces of lime juice
- Sparkling or mineral water
All you need to do is put together the rum, sugar and mint, muddle the trio, pour in lime juice and then top off with ice and sparkling water.
(For a great sugar free version of the coffee or mojito, try Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener — it’s literally the best sugar substitute I’ve had since cutting out refined sugar from my diet earlier this year.)
Spend some time reading about these 23 interesting facts about Cuba.
Watch the documentary “Buena Vista Social Club” for an interesting award-winning film about music in Cuba, or check out Childish Gambino’s movie “Guava Island” that was filmed in Cuba with Rhianna.
Evening:
Enjoy your ropa vieja with a side of rice and beans (and maybe another mojito!)
If you’re interested in being transported to the beautiful country with colorful cities and vibrant culture, queue up a “son cubano” playlist (a genre of Afro-Cuban music that originated from the eastern side of the island) on Spotify and check out the itinerary below.
Start your morning with a cafe cubano — an espresso/strong coffee mixed with a generous amount of sugar that is whisked together and enjoyed multiple times throughout the day.
Then to really feel immersed with the city while drinking your coffee, watch the Youtube clips “Travel Cuba in 360 degrees VR” for the city highlights and “360 – Virtual Reality Driving Tour of Havana” to feel like you’re riding in one of those classic cars. (Watching both clips only take about 4 and a half minutes).
For dinner later in the day, try learning how to make their most popular dish — Ropa Vieja. This recipe requires a few hours of simmering, so start the prep process earlier in the afternoon and it’ll be ready by the early evening! The main ingredients are: beef, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, dry wine and spices.
The recipe I used was this one from The Daring Gourmet.
Good news for American readers: Porto’s, the incredible Cuban bakery located in southern California, now has a “bake at home” menu, and they ship nation wide! They send you their frozen treats and all you need to do is bake them for fresh Porto’s pastries right there in your living room.
Ideas to do in the afternoon while the ropa vieja is cooking:
Muddle up the drink that calls Havana its home — the mojito. All you need is some white rum, sparkling water, mint, limes and some sugar.
The recipe we used that we loved:
- 12 spearmint leaves
- 2 ounces of white rum
- 2 tsp of sugar
- 1.5 ounces of lime juice
- Sparkling or mineral water
All you need to do is put together the rum, sugar and mint, muddle the trio, pour in lime juice and then top off with ice and sparkling water.
(For a great sugar free version of the coffee or mojito, try Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener — it’s literally the best sugar substitute I’ve had since cutting out refined sugar from my diet earlier this year.)
Spend some time reading about these 23 interesting facts about Cuba.
Watch the documentary “Buena Vista Social Club” for an interesting award-winning film about music in Cuba, or check out Childish Gambino’s movie “Guava Island” that was filmed in Cuba with Rhianna.
Evening:
Enjoy your ropa vieja with a side of rice and beans (and maybe another mojito!)
First half of the day in Japan:
Start your day by making some onigiri with this easy recipe that’s also gives a comprehensive rice ball history.
Brew a cup or two of some classic Japanese tea, like some loose-leaf Sencha or bags of Hojicha, depending depending on your mood. (Sencha is one of the most common green teas of Japan with a more bitter flavor and Hojicha has a darker and more roasted flavor)
Did you know the country consists of over 6,800 islands and because there is such a large elderly population that more adult diapers are sold than ones for babies? Read more interesting facts here while you sip your tea and learn about the country you’ll be day-tripping to.
Cherry blossom viewing: This 360 degree video with a Ghibli soundtrack playing is a beautiful way to experience the cherry blossom trees virtually. It’s a short video but if you set the playback to 0.25 it’ll extend the video while you use your computer mouse to move around in the space. Tip: try muting the video if you slow the playback because otherwise it sounds like you’re entering another dimension.
Take a trip to the Airbnb Experience site and pick one of their highly rated online classes to feel really immersed in Japanese culture and traditions:
The Art of Making Japanese Mochi
– within an hour and a half, you’ll learn how to make 2 mochi recipes with Miyuki. Great and really fun for all ages!
The Secret to Soulful Udon Soup
– Learn how to make the dough, roll the noodles, and make delicious dipping sauce with Tomoko, an Airbnb Experience host from Osaka.
Tips to Brew Delicious Japanese Tea
– Join tea lovers Keisuke and Olga from Hokkaido to learn about different types of tea and the brewing process.
Origami and the Culture of Japan
– While learning how to create this beautiful paper form of traditional art, Manami who is a Tokyo native, will also discuss the origins and history behind it.
Become a Sake Master with a Sommelier
– all from the comfort of your kitchen! Learn how to make this traditional drink, how to enjoy it better, the best sake food pairings, and a lot more within the hour-long experience with Yuma, a Tokyo restaurant owner.
Sake Secrets from Japan’s Oldest Brewery
– Another great hour-long sake experience, but this time focusing on it’s origins and teaching you how to be a complete sake pro. Your host is Ryuta, who has been giving tours of the 300-year old brewery for 5 years and was taught the history of sake from the 23rd-generation owner himself.
After, have an Onsen (natural hot spring bath) experience. You can achieve this at home with a bath tub, Japanese bath salts, and a fresh towel. If there’s no tub, try a hot shower and then relax in the steamy air after with any lotions you have.
- If you can connect a YouTube video to speakers, listen to these Japanese Onsen Ambience sounds to really set the scene.
- Keeping with traditional Onsen ways, wash off/shower completely before filling your tub with the hot water and salts.
- Once you’re ready to soak, Onsen-goers usually keep the small towel on their head because the towel is not allowed to touch the water and there’s really no good place to keep it aside from staying right on you. Although the same rules don’t need to apply to your personal bathroom, try it to really feel like you’re visiting a Japanese Onsen!
- After you’ve dried off and slipped into some comfy clothes, have a glass of water or tea (and maybe some sake).
Evening:
- Watch a Japanese movie, like Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli productions, a romantic anime like Your Name, or some classic Japanese horror movies like Ju-On: The Grudge.
- Don’t forget about the delicious Japanese snacks! You can order a few snack packs online or keep an eye out for Pocky sticks, Hi-Chews, or the Ramune soda next time you’re at the store.
- And end the evening with AirPano’s really awesome Tokyo At Night 360 degree aerial video and downloading your boarding pass to Japan.
As an Amazon Associate, for these recs I do earn from qualifying purchases, but at no extra cost to you!
First half of the day:
Start your day by making some onigiri with this easy recipe that’s also gives a comprehensive rice ball history.
Brew a cup or two of some classic Japanese tea, like some loose-leaf Sencha or bags of Hojicha, depending depending on your mood. (Sencha is one of the most common green teas of Japan with a more bitter flavor and Hojicha has a darker and more roasted flavor)
Did you know the country consists of over 6,800 islands and because there is such a large elderly population that more adult diapers are sold than ones for babies? Read more interesting facts here while you sip your tea and learn about the country you’ll be day-tripping to.
Cherry blossom viewing:
This 360 degree video with a Ghibli soundtrack playing is a beautiful way to experience the cherry blossom trees virtually. It’s a short video but if you set the playback to 0.25 it’ll extend the video while you use your computer mouse to move around in the space. Tip: try muting the video if you slow the playback because otherwise it sounds like you’re entering another dimension.
Take a trip to the Airbnb Experience site and pick one of their highly rated online classes to feel really immersed in Japanese culture and traditions:
The Art of Making Japanese Mochi
– within an hour and a half, you’ll learn how to make 2 mochi recipes with Miyuki. Great and really fun for all ages!The Secret to Soulful Udon Soup
– Learn how to make the dough, roll the noodles, and make delicious dipping sauce with Tomoko, an Airbnb Experience host from Osaka.Tips to Brew Delicious Japanese Tea
– Join tea lovers Keisuke and Olga from Hokkaido to learn about different types of tea and the brewing process.Origami and the Culture of Japan
– While learning how to create this beautiful paper form of traditional art, Manami who is a Tokyo native, will also discuss the origins and history behind it.Become a Sake Master with a Sommelier
– all from the comfort of your kitchen! Learn how to make this traditional drink, how to enjoy it better, the best sake food pairings, and a lot more within the hour-long experience with Yuma, a Tokyo restaurant owner.Sake Secrets from Japan’s Oldest Brewery
– Another great hour-long sake experience, but this time focusing on it’s origins and teaching you how to be a complete sake pro. Your host is Ryuta, who has been giving tours of the 300-year old brewery for 5 years and was taught the history of sake from the 23rd-generation owner himself.
After, have an Onsen (natural hot spring bath) experience. You can achieve this at home with a bath tub, Japanese bath salts, and a fresh towel. If there’s no tub, try a hot shower and then relax in the steamy air after with any lotions you have.
- If you can connect a YouTube video to speakers, listen to these Japanese Onsen Ambience sounds to really set the scene.
- Keeping with traditional Onsen ways, wash off/shower completely before filling your tub with the hot water and salts.
- Once you’re ready to soak, Onsen-goers usually keep the small towel on their head because the towel is not allowed to touch the water and there’s really no good place to keep it aside from staying right on you. Although the same rules don’t need to apply to your personal bathroom, try it to really feel like you’re visiting a Japanese Onsen!
- After you’ve dried off and slipped into some comfy clothes, have a glass of water or tea (and maybe some sake).
Evening:
- Watch a Japanese movie, like Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli productions, a romantic anime like Your Name, or some classic Japanese horror movies like Ju-On: The Grudge.
- Don’t forget about the delicious Japanese snacks! You can order a few snack packs online or keep an eye out for Pocky sticks, Hi-Chews, or the Ramune soda next time you’re at the store.
- And end the evening with AirPano’s really awesome Tokyo At Night 360 degree aerial video and downloading your boarding pass to Japan.
Morning in France:
Bonjour! Start your French adventure off with some coffee and a small pastry. Support your local coffee shop and bakery by seeing if they have fresh pastries like Éclairs, macarons, or croissants. (If you’re close by, take a walk to the bakery or ride your bike over like you’re in the Tour de France.)
Take a virtual museum tour around the Louvre, get incredibly close to the Mona Lisa (like, 50 times closer than you ever could in person), or Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Check out more museums here.
Afternoon:
Go for an afternoon stroll around your home or to a nearby park to enjoy the outside while listening to this beautiful French playlist.
Learn about French culture like 10 Strange Habits You Might Pick Up in France while sipping on some coffee and experiencing Paris, France from the high above the city with AirPano’s 360 degree photo.
Evening:
Make a crepe! These have been a part of the French’s food culture as far back as the Middle Ages. Try this recipe — it only requires Unsalted Butter, All-Purpose Flour, Granulated Sugar, Salt, Whole Milk & Water, Eggs, Vanilla Extract + your choice of filling.
Order some french wine to be delivered to your door or find many good selections at your local store (if you’re over 21). For a non-alcoholic French drink, boil up some water to make some herbal tea 
Then, put together a charcuterie board with items like sliced prosciutto, crackers, fruit, Brie & Chenin Blanc.
- Our favorite snack options can usually be found at a Trader Joe’s, but supporting any small business supplying items like these during this time would be ideal. (We are in no way sponsored by Trader Joes — we just really love their products and we know they carry great charcuterie board item options.)
France is all about the great food! This was the origin country of Michelin Stars after all. So make a traditional dish, like any of the classic dinner recipes from this list, and listen to that French Spotify playlist again while cooking & enjoying your meal.
For the last stop on your tour, head to the cinema and watch a movie. This is a list we found with the top 100 French movies, which includes our favorite, Amélie, as Number 6.
Download your boarding pass to France to keep as a souvenir.
Morning:
Bonjour! Start your French adventure off with some coffee and a small pastry. Support your local coffee shop and bakery by seeing if they have fresh pastries like Éclairs, macarons, or croissants. (If you’re close by, take a walk to the bakery or ride your bike over like you’re in the Tour de France.)
Take a virtual museum tour around the Louvre, get incredibly close to the Mona Lisa (like, 50 times closer than you ever could in person), or Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Check out more museums here.
Afternoon:
Go for an afternoon stroll around your home or to a nearby park to enjoy the outside while listening to this beautiful French playlist.
Learn about French culture like 10 Strange Habits You Might Pick Up in France while sipping on some coffee and experiencing Paris, France from the high above the city with AirPano’s 360 degree photo.
Evening:
Make a crepe! These have been a part of the French’s food culture as far back as the Middle Ages. Try this recipe — it only requires Unsalted Butter, All-Purpose Flour, Granulated Sugar, Salt, Whole Milk & Water, Eggs, Vanilla Extract + your choice of filling.
Order some french wine to be delivered to your door or find many good selections at your local store (if you’re over 21). For a non-alcoholic French drink, boil up some water to make some herbal tea
Then, put together a charcuterie board with items like sliced prosciutto, crackers, fruit, Brie & Chenin Blanc.
- Our favorite snack options can usually be found at a Trader Joe’s, but supporting any small business supplying items like these during this time would be ideal. (We are in no way sponsored by Trader Joes — we just really love their products and we know they carry great charcuterie board item options.)
France is all about the great food! This was the origin country of Michelin Stars after all. So make a traditional dish, like any of the classic dinner recipes from this list, and listen to that French Spotify playlist again while cooking & enjoying your meal.
For the last stop on your tour, head to the cinema and watch a movie. This is a list we found with the top 100 French movies, which includes our favorite, Amélie, as Number 6.
Download your boarding pass to France to keep as a souvenir.
Morning in Portugal:
To start your day off in the westernmost point in all of Europe, have a coffee + some toast if you want a light snack. But you’re really going to want to save your appetite for pastel de natas. They’re basically a dessert but this will be the perfect way of starting your day and they are typical breakfast snacks to accompany your coffee. We even asked our Portuguese friend if it’s standard to do that or if it was just us that ate these pastries every day for breakfast when we were visiting… and it was confirmed this is a thing (:
The pastel de nata pastry — How to make with this recipe. And the Ingredients are just flour, salt, unsalted butter, flour, egg yolks, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, confectioners sugar!
Afternoon:
An Airbnb experience!
- 7 wonders of Lisbon: Travel over to Lisbon for a couple hours while Andrea, Alex, Miguel and Rita take you on a journey that explores the culture, history, architecture and food & drink of this absolutely amazing city.
- Wine Class with a Cool Wine Expert: Learn all about how red and white wines are made, plus some Michelin Star food and wine pairings! All from Rafael, a very knowledgeable wine producer.
- Sustainable Portuguese Cuisine: Join Katija, a lover of culture and gastronomy, as she dives into Portuguese food history and amazing traditional dishes that you can make from home.
- Portuguese Tapas Class: See what ingredients go into the flavorful Acorda Alentejana soup or Tuna Pate while you learn about the traditional cooking styles with Joana, a Lisbon tapas restaurant owner.
- Mystical Fado Music with Awarded Singer: One of the most traditional things you can do when visiting Portugal is seeing a fado show because it is one of the most essential parts of the Portuguese culture. Get a glass (or bottle) of wine and get ready to be transported to Lisbon with this beautiful singing from Maja, a professional fado singer/songwriter with 5 award-winning albums.
Evening:
Portuguese projects:
- Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world and has the largest cork forest. Use wine corks to spruce up plain surfaces with these DIY projects.
- DIY Azulejo Ceramic Tiles — Order some blank tiles from online and then find your favorite blue Portuguese tile pattern. Use it for inspiration to create your own traditional hand-painted tiles.
Which Portuguese cities would you love to visit in person one day? Download your Boarding Pass and share with you you’d want to travel with!
Morning:
To start your day off in the westernmost point in all of Europe, have a coffee + some toast if you want a light snack, but you’re really going to want to save your appetite for pastel de natas. They’re basically a dessert but this will be the perfect way of starting your day and they are typical breakfast snacks to accompany your coffee. We even asked our Portuguese friend if it’s standard to do that or if it was just us that ate these pastries every day for breakfast when we were visiting… and it was confirmed this is a thing (:
The pastel de nata pastry — How to make with this recipe. And the Ingredients are just flour, salt, unsalted butter, flour, egg yolks, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, confectioners sugar!
Afternoon:
An Airbnb experience!
- 7 wonders of Lisbon: Travel over to Lisbon for a couple hours while Andrea, Alex, Miguel and Rita take you on a journey that explores the culture, history, architecture and food & drink of this absolutely amazing city.
- Wine Class with a Cool Wine Expert: Learn all about how red and white wines are made, plus some Michelin Star food and wine pairings! All from Rafael, a very knowledgeable wine producer.
- Sustainable Portuguese Cuisine: Join Katija, a lover of culture and gastronomy, as she dives into Portuguese food history and amazing traditional dishes that you can make from home.
- Portuguese Tapas Class: See what ingredients go into the flavorful Acorda Alentejana soup or Tuna Pate while you learn about the traditional cooking styles with Joana, a Lisbon tapas restaurant owner.
- Mystical Fado Music with Awarded Singer: One of the most traditional things you can do when visiting Portugal is seeing a fado show because it is one of the most essential parts of the Portuguese culture. Get a glass (or bottle) of wine and get ready to be transported to Lisbon with this beautiful singing from Maja, a professional fado singer/songwriter with 5 award-winning albums.
Evening:
Portuguese projects:
- Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world and has the largest cork forest. Use wine corks to spruce up plain surfaces with these DIY projects.
- DIY Azulejo Ceramic Tiles — Order some blank tiles from online and then find your favorite blue Portuguese tile pattern. Use it for inspiration to create your own traditional hand-painted tiles.
Which Portuguese cities would you love to visit in person one day? Download your Boarding Pass and share with you you’d want to travel with!
