Relevant question and episode title for podcast The Upgrade by Suitcase Magazine, as soon as I saw this pop up on my download list I knew I had to listen.

Suitcase Magazine is a UK based travel magazine that explores The Culture of Travel. I found their podcast scrolling through Instagram a few weeks back and have since listened to multiple episodes.

The episode of choice tonight (paired with a sunset cocktail) discussed why we are missing travel during lockdown and ways we can travel without actually leaving home. I loved the banter between hosts India and Fleur, listening to them is like having a conversation with your travel loving friends.

One of the key ways they have found to keep traveling during lockdown is through food and cooking. Local cuisine is such a key part of experiencing a new culture, and Fleur interviews chef Tom Brown of the restaurant Cornerstone and asks him how he thinks readers who aren’t traveling can use food to transport them. His suggestion is to call on the foods you enjoyed on your last amazing vacation and try to recreate them, “it does take you away and inspire you.”

Other suggestions for incorporating travel into daily life (read: great daily vacation ideas) include books, films, music, language, cookbooks and photographs.

India and Fleur also talk about where they are hoping to travel to post lockdown and the episode wraps up with a statement I could not agree with more - “I think basically what we need is somewhere that’s quite pretty, has a massive bathtub and we can be quite well fed for a while.”

Yes, sign me up.

You can find The Upgrade on Apple Podcasts and listen to this episode by clicking here.