11 Of The Best Virtual Travel Experiences For Self-Isolation

In the short-term, travel as we know it has changed. But, you can still keep the daydream alive…

The message around the world is clear, there should be no non-essential travel happening – both domestically and internationally.

With the global shutdown of borders and transit hubs, it is imperative – now more than ever – to stay indoors and continue to flatten the curve.

The good news is, you needn’t stop dreaming. In fact, now is a great time to reminisce about your favourite places and ignite the spark for your next adventure.

There are a few ways to do this: from virtual theme parks to online community groups, below are our picks for the best virtual travel experiences for self-isolation.

1. A virtual trip to Austria

Your dreams of recreating your favourite scenes from The Sound of Music may have been put on hold for 2020, but there are still ways to keep your Austrian fantasy alive.

Experience the rolling hills and mountain peaks of Austria through digital technology, with plenty of inspirational content to see you through isolation.

Additionally, if you’re craving a taste of Austrian cuisine, why not don your apron and recreate some regional specialities at home? On their virtual portal you can find some of the most delicious Austrian recipes to keep you busy.

2. Join Facebook groups with like-minded travellers

Facebook groups are a great facilitator for community, allowing you to connect with travellers whose feet are as itchy as your own during this uncertain time.

If you enjoy meeting new people, embracing a world of wanderlust and learning about new cultures, broaden your horizons in a virtual travel group. Below are some of our picks.

Travelling With Kids Worldwide

Perfect for: Parents who love to travel with their kids and share their experiences, tips and tricks with a community of like-minded people, ask questions and to be inspired to go on more adventures.

TravelFree group – cheap flights and more

Perfect for: Savvy travellers who like to save money and share hacks.

Girls LOVE Travel

Perfect for: Female-identifying adventurers keen to provide resources and empowerment to one another through online socialising and support.

Lonely Planet Travellers Group

Perfect for: All people to talk about their latest adventures, ask any travel questions and share top tips.

NOMADS – a life of alternate travel

Perfect for: Conscious travellers who prefer to live a low-impact, long-term, low-budget, mindful life on the road.

LGBTQ Travel

Perfect for: LGBTQI+ travellers to share travel tips, advice and maybe find a couch to crash on.

3. Explore Wellington in virtual reality

While New Zealand’s cool little capital is physically off limits, the city is helping ease the withdrawal pains with a range of virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree experiences featuring local businesses and attractions.

The Welltown VR game, which saw Wellington become the world’s first gamified virtual city, is made up of six short interactive travel experiences. You can shoot coffee at caffeine-deprived zombies, take an underwater dive in Wellington’s pristine harbour while dodging the curious whales, listen to birds in the native bushland, busk with a local band, stand beneath a Matariki starlit sky or help people take a leap off a diving platform on Wellington’s vibrant waterfront.

The platform is free to download from the Steam and Oculus VR stores.

There’s also an opportunity to go one step further. Welltown also includes an added section that connects you to experiences via 360-degree video. Sit front row at an All Blacks rugby test match or grab a special glimpse of a Weta Studio Tour at the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop.

And for those without a VR headset, selected 360 Wellington experiences can be enjoyed here.

4. Take a ride at Disneyland (sort of…)

There are still ways to visit the happiest place on Earth even if you can’t be there in the flesh.

Park-goers and fans have come together to post their ride-through videos and share their Disney experiences. Self-isolators can now browse hundreds of videos to get a taste of these rides online.

Get front row access to all the action at Disney World Florida, Disneyland California, Disneyland Tokyo, Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris without purchasing a Fast Pass or queuing in long lines.

Take a ride at Frozen Ever After, Star Wars, Peter Pans Flight, Mystic Manor and even the famous Splash Mountain.

Now anyone can visit the happiest place on earth

5. Visit the Seven Wonders from your living room

Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal – these historical sites have long-frequented the bucket list of many travellers. But what if you could tick them all off in one single afternoon?

A list compiled by Uswitch has brought together seven free virtual tours, allowing you to experience the allure of these wonders, right from your armchair.

‘Walk’ along the Great Wall Of China, immerse yourself in the ancient city of Petra, skip the crowds at The Colosseum, marvel at Mexican Mayans at Chichen Itza, take a tour of the Taj Mahal, explore Machu Picchu and prepare for your jaw to drop when you see Christ the Redeemer.

Let each virtual tour build your anticipation for how it will feel when you can finally make the journey yourself.

Petra storm in jordan — Immerse yourself in the Ancient City of Petra, Jordan

6. Simulate life in Angkor Wat

Have you ever dreamed of stepping inside history, entering a snapshot of life in the past as it once was? Virtual Angkor allows you to do just that, with a program that brings the Cambodian metropolis of Angkor to life.

The ground-breaking collaboration between virtual history specialists, archaeologists and historians takes visitors inside this 3D world, and uses a simulation to ask questions about what underpinned this incredible city. Dr Tom Chandler, a Senior Lecturer at Monash University, has been working on the Visualising Angkor Project for more than 10 years.

The underlying visual architecture of the Virtual Angkor project enables you to look around the city as if you were standing in a particular spot at a particular time. Although best experienced with a Virtual Reality headset such as a Google Daydream, the videos can be moved around with a mouse or cursor, giving you some sense of how the city looked and a limited capacity to interact with the wider landscape. It really is incredible.

The reconstruction shows daily life around Angkor Wat

7. Spend a day in Jerusalem

A holy city for three religions, Jerusalem is one of the world’s foremost pilgrimage destinations.

Right now, Israel is granting access to an array of virtual tours for armchair travellers, including one that takes you around Jerusalem’s most famous sights.

Beautifully captured, this footage will take you on a voiceover tour of the city’s holiest places, with 360-degree functionality making it feel like you’re exploring in real time. The video is filled with colourful characters and panoramic views that will leave you moved, energised and swept up in this beautiful place.

8. Take a tour through world-class museums

Some of the most prestigious museums and galleries around the world are opening their doors to virtual visitors. Check out some of our picks below…

The Louvre, Paris

Like The Louvre needs any introduction?

Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexico City

Popularly known as ‘Casa Azul,’ or The Blue House – this cobalt sanctuary is the historic house and museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.

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The Neon Museum, Las Vegas

A visit via the app will allow you to experience vintage Vegas through its iconic neon signs.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Chile

Explore the permanent collection of exhibitions at Chile’s National Museum of Fine Arts.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

This iconic online collection features more than 1,700 artworks from over 600 artists. This is a searchable database, so if there’s a particular piece you’d like to see you can search by name.

The Vatican Museum, Rome

The Vatican Museum website contains seven virtual tours, which includes a 360-degree view of the famous Sistine Chapel.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has just posted two guided virtual tours for people who are homebound to explore the museum.

9. Take a Utah Film Tour online

You might be surprised to discover that some of your favourite movies and television series were filmed in Utah, including Forrest Gump, Thelma and Louise and Westworld – to name but a few!

The American state’s red canyons, monuments and remarkable natural beauty is the perfect backdrop for these iconic films.

Follow along on the map to make your way around the state’s set locations and make a date to have a filmed-in-Utah movie marathon featuring your favourites from the list below or make your own selection from the map.

–Independence Day (1996 film)
–Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
–Back to the Future Part III (1990)
–Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
–Con Air (1997)
–Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump’s famous pilgrimate to Utah

10. Spend time with the Scottish

Ever wanted to chat with some of Scotland’s most talented, knowledgeable and funniest characters? Well, now you can.

Thanks to luxury experience providers, Away From The Ordinary, anyone who enquires about booking a customised visit to Scotland in 2021 will have the chance to chat to a genuine local – who they are likely to meet during their actual visit.

This could be anyone from a local bartender, to a seasoned guide, or native artist, granting guests access to an already friendly contact once they land in town.

The ambassadors include:

-Lord Bruce, the lineal descendant of the legendary Robert the Bruce
-Award winning musician and bagpipe maker featured multiple times on the BBC, Malin Lewis
-Diana Gabaldon’s (writer of Outlander) Highland Guide, Hugh Allison
-Jenny & Verity – Private chef and Forager Team

The team are also working on other exciting ways to help people who are social distancing still experience a little piece of Scotland, including digital whisky tastings, and full Scottish recipes from fantastic local restaurants. Find out more here.

11. Explore Canada via podcast

Take an audio trip around Canada with Ashley and Mike, a couple of thirty-somethings who are hitting the pause button on everyday life to explore Canada and connect to what it means to be a Canadian.

You’ll encounter the aurora borealis in the Northwest Territories, the interesting people and fascinating wildlife of the Yukon, the food of Prince Edward Island, stories of the First Nation peoples of Canada and so much more.

Listen online here or find the podcast on Spotify, Apple and Google.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

11 incredible virtual travel experiences for self-isolation