There are two types of travelers you meet when the holidays come knockin’: Those who fly home to see their family and those who choose to stay. I’ve always been in the ladder group, but I respect those who choose to end their trip to go home. I completely understand how spending the holidays abroad without your family can seem less than ideal; but I’ve spent many holidays away from home and have still managed to create that warm home-y atmosphere while traveling. Below are some tips I have collected over the years to ensure your holidays are still memorable and without the home-sick blues.
1. Plan Ahead
I am usually very against planning ahead as it doesnt leave room for spontaneous decisions and last-minute shenanigans. But for the holidays, I do think a little planning goes a long way. You don’t want to find yourself on Christmas Eve with nowhere to stay because all the hostels are booked up. During December/ January a lot of people go on shorter holiday trips and therefore book months in advance. In order to combat this, book yourself somewhere to stay over the holidays that you think will be a good place to celebrate. I always choose places that are really popular to ensure there will be some sort of celebration from the city or hostel. I was recently in Antigua, Guatemala for Hanukkah and I found out from some Israelis that the local Chabad was lighting a giant menorah and passing out Sufganiyot (a sweet hanukkah pastry). I went and it ended up being a really nice and wholesome way to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. I sang, danced, mingled, and had this whole community of people also celebrating that made me feel closer to home.
2. Find Friends
Nobody wants to be alone during the holidays, so find some people who are celebrating and do something special all together! Whether that’s going out to a fancy meal, cooking, or doing a secret santa. This past Thanksgiving, I was struggling to find some Americans at my hostel in Panama City. All the people I met were Dutch, German, or English…none of which celebrate Thanksgiving. Luckily, I had met some lovely Panamians in Bocas Del Toro who happened to be visiting their home in Panama City when I was there. They knew I was missing home, so they invited me over to their house to celebrate Thanksgiving together. Their family was so welcoming and warm, they even said hi to my parents over facetime. My friend and I went shopping to buy all the Thanksgiving ingredients and we spent the afternoon cooking all the classics. He invited some friends over and we had a family meal all together. We even went around the table and said what we were thankful for (it was entirely in Spanish but they let me say mine in English, phew). It was such a beautiful mesh of cultures as we had Panamians, Venezuans, Colombians, and Americans at the table. Being with people, even if they are new friends, really makes being away from home that much easier.
3. FaceTime the Fam
Just because you are away from home, doesn’t mean you need to be excluded from all the family traditions. Facetime your family and friends during some of your favorite activities from home so that you don’t miss out completely. I facetimed my family during Thanksgiving and they passed me around the table so I got to chat with all my cousins, grandparents, and aunts/uncles. I also facetimed my parents while they made latkas, a tradition I loved being a part of. Having a chat with the fam is always a nice way to be reminded that you are loved and missed at home. A tip for anyone reading this who has a loved one traveling right now: make sure to show them some extra love this holiday season. Whether that’s through text, phone call, email, or Venmo. Hehe jk on the last one….but for real a little present never hurt nobodyyyyy.
4. Do Something Memorable
The best way to not feel homesick during the holidays is to be doing something infinitely cooler than being home. I know you might rather have your Grandma’s famous soup, but you can’t….soooo instead why not do something you have never done before. Book something special that will ensure this holiday season stands out from the rest. Every New Years my family, along with our close family friends, go on a trip somewhere new to celebrate together. The past few years I haven’t been able to attend and it does sting a bit to look back on the family photos and not see myself. So when I’m traveling during the New Years, I make sure to always have some event booked that makes missing the fam trip worthwhile. When I was in Thailand for 2020, I went to the Full Moon Party on the island of Koh Phangan; a huge beach party that went until the sunrise. Now, when I look back on that day I am reminded of how much fun I had, rather than how much I missed my family’s usual NYE traditions. This year for 2022, I booked a paragliding trip over Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. I figured seeing the world from above, and crossing something off my bucket list, would be a pretty spectacular way to ring in the new year.
5. Help Someone Else
Something that always puts me in a good mood is helping others. It’s the best selfish act one can do! Look up local charities to donate to or even volunteer your time helping the less fortunate. Everybody should have a hot meal during the holidays, so if you see someone on the streets, make sure to buy them something yummy. Another way to be in the giving spirit is to help out your friends who are missing home too. I personally don’t celebrate Christmas as I’m a Jew, but that doesnt mean I can’t help others celebrate and make theirs special. My friends and I booked a nice room for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to make it feel different from the rest. We’re also staying at a hostel that does family meals all together so it can feel like a proper Christmas dinner. I’m also going to get a few little gifts to give my friends since they won’t get to sit by the Christmas tree and open presents. Anything you can do to make someone else’s holiday feel more home-y is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
Don’t let being away from home during the holidays deter you from traveling! If anything, it makes being home next year all the more memorable. With a little planning, your holiday season can still be merry n cheery n all the other holiday adjectives you could want.
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