30 products that will make you feel like you're on vacation (even when you're not)

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We could all use a getaway right now, but while travel is restricted to most locations globally and we’re doing everything we can to stay home to avoid the transmission of Covid-19, that might not be possible. So instead of sulking around simply dreaming of your favorite destination, why not find ways to bring the vacation vines to your everyday life? Keep reading to find some of our favorite products that are sure to make you feel like you’re somewhere far away, even when you’re definitely not.

Homesick Beach Cottage Candle ($34; homesick.com)

Imagine waking up to the smell of the ocean drifting into your room. Though we can’t get to a tropical beach just yet, this candle by Homesick is the next best thing.

Sur La Table Taste of Morocco Cooking Class (starting at $29 per seat; surlatable.com)

One of our favorite things to do on vacation is take a cooking class to learn more about the traditional cuisine. Luckily, Sur La Table offers live online cooking classes where you’re taught by an expert chef how to make dishes of your dreams. We have our eyes on the Taste of Morocco cooking class to whip up the country’s most popular dishes right at home.

Babbel Language Software (starting at $6.95 per month; babbel.com)

You don’t have to wait until you’re boarding that international flight to start learning the language of your destination. Start learning (and using) that language you’ve been thinking about with Babbel’s language learning software. Its method immerses you in the language using realistic dialogue and learning through conversation. You’ll be fluent in no time!

Commander’s Palace 3-Course Shrimp & Grits Dinner for 2 ($169; goldbelly.com)

Give yourself some well-deserved R&R by ordering food from one of your favorite restaurants across the country through Goldbelly. Just place an order ahead of time to get the dish you’ve been craving shipped to you straight from the restaurant, like New Orleans’ Commander’s Palace three-course dinner of Creole cuisine that feels like a getaway.

Anyoo Single Cotton Outdoor Hammock ($19.99; amazon.com)


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Malin + Goetz Bergamot Hand + Body Wash

We can’t wait to get out of town and hop into the first hammock we can find. But who says you can’t set one up at your home? For only $20, you can have this vibrant hammock that holds up to 450 pounds. Reviewers say it’s sturdy and easy to set up too. Happy lounging!

Book of the Month Club Book Subscription ($9.99 for the first month; bookofthemonth.com)

Vacation means you finally have the time to read the books you’ve had on your must-read list for months now. Sign up for Book of the Month’s book subscription to get a new read shipped your way monthly.

Milk Bar The Birthday Classic ($72; milkbarstore.com)

There’s always room for dessert on vacation! Celebrate making it through 2020 with a dessert you can’t get just anywhere. We can’t wait to dig into Milk Bar’s The Birthday Classic, a top-rated option featuring one of its iconic birthday cakes and a box of its birthday truffles too.

NY Threads Fleece Bathrobe (starting at $19.99; amazon.com)


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Biscoff Cookies Twin Packs, 20-Pack

One of the perks of being on vacation is living in the hotel’s plush robe. Get that snuggly feeling right at home with this fleece bathrobe, available in white or six other color options.

Malin + Goetz Bergamot Hand + Body Wash ($24; malinandgoetz.com)

It’s such a sweet surprise when your travel accommodations provide high-quality skin care products that you want to take home with you. Malin + Goetz is one of those brands that supply bath essentials to some of the most luxurious hotels, so its products are definitely worth splurging on. Try out the Bergamot Hand + Body Wash that reviewers rave about for its silky feel and subtle fragrance.

Hawkins New York Shaker Ceramic Dinnerware (starting at $40; food52.com)

Don’t underestimate the impact a fancy dinnerware set can have on your meal. Bring upscale restaurant plating right to your dining table with these ceramic dishes by Hawking New York. Available in four beautiful pastel shades, these are sure to seriously upgrade your tablescape.

Luditek Sound-Activated Disco Ball ($13.99, originally $15.99; amazon.com)

You probably miss attending a party of some kind — dancing the night away to your favorite music, surrounded by people you love… Allow yourself the chance to let loose a little by throwing yourself a party in your living room with this disco ball that features three sound-activated modes and seven lighting modes to cater to your mood.

Skin Gym Jade Workout Set ($54; revolve.com)

Skin Gym is an industry favorite for modern beauty tools that give you a spa facial experience at home. So if you’re yearning for that getaway facial, gift yourself this Jade Workout Set that’ll suffice in the meantime. It features a facial roller and gua sha tool, both made from pure jade, to de-puff and increase blood circulation instantly.

Parachute Linen Sheet Set (starting at $149; parachutehome.com)

What is it about hotel beds that are so much more comfortable than our beds at home? Often it’s the sheets. Make your bed with Parachute’s Sheet Set, which we named the best overall linen sheets for their luxurious feel and à la carte purchasing options. They’re available in six sizes and nine colors, and they’re made in a family-owned factory in northern Portugal.

Tushy Spa ($109, originally $129; hellotushy.com)

The gratification of walking into your bathroom on vacation and noticing that your toilet has a bidet is unmatched. But why limit yourself to that luxury to only when you’re away? Splurge on the Tushy Spa, a bidet attachment that features temperature and pressure controls that’ll leave you feeling fresh.

Jogal Men’s Flower Casual Button-Down Hawaiian Set ($38.99; amazon.com)

A Hawaiian button-down screams vacation, so you definitely need to get your hands on one to act like you’re gallivanting across the beaches of Honolulu. Featuring a shirt and pair of shorts, this set is available in 13 different patterns with sizes ranging from small to 3X.

Spikeball Standard 3-Ball Kit ($59.95; amazon.com)

A fun game of Spikeball with your family might make you forget you’re just in your backyard and not on a family beach vacation. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, just think of it as similar to a two-on-two version of volleyball that’ll get you moving — and more competitive than ever.

Eucalyptus Blooms Shower Eucalyptus Bunch (starting at $14.44, originally starting at $16.99; etsy.com)

A hanging eucalyptus bunch in your shower can be soothing after a long day. The touch of greenery and the fresh aroma are sure to make your bathroom feel like a spa.

Lonely Planet Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Northern Thailand Travel Guide (starting at $19.59; lonelyplanet.com)

A travel guide like this one by Lonely Planet is a great way to immerse yourself in a destination’s culture even if you can’t physically visit just yet. Each guide offers maps, local secrets and thoughtful itineraries to help you navigate wherever it is you’re traveling. Diving into one of these will definitely make you feel like you’re already on your journey, and help you plan your own adventure once it’s safe to travel again.

Dr. Teal’s Lavender Body & Bath Oil ($15, originally $16.50; amazon.com)


© Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods Sushi Making Kit

The right bath oil can make you feel like a goddess and get you prepped for slumber. Formulated with jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and aloe vera, this lavender-scented bath and body oil will deliver intense moisture and relaxing vibes.

‘Spirited: Cocktails from Around the World’ by Adrienne Stillman ($36.64, originally $49.95; amazon.com)


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Babbel Language Software

Sipping on local drinks during any holiday is just as important as trying the local cuisine. From rum punch to espresso martinis, this book offers 610 recipes from 60 countries that’ll give you a taste of drinks from around the world.

Uncommon Goods Sushi Making Kit ($28; uncommongoods.com)


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Spikeball Standard 3-Ball Kit

Still upset that you had to cancel that trip to Japan last year? We completely understand. Bring a bit of the country’s cuisine home with this sushi making kit. It includes a bamboo rolling mat, shopping guide, recipes and base ingredients for four servings of sushi. Reviewers say the directions are easy to follow and that they’d purchase the kit again and again.

Self-Care: A Day and Night Reflection Journal by Insight Editions ($16.99; urbanoutfitters.com)


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Anyoo Single Cotton Outdoor Hammock

A relaxing trip has a way of making you reflect on all of the abundance in your life. Carve out some time each day to practice gratitude and self-care at home with this journal by Insight Editions. The pages provide space to jot down what you do each day and assess how those activities impacted your physical and mental well-being.

Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager ($54.95, originally $59.95; amazon.com)

Rejuvenate your tense muscles with this compact pillow massager. With four deep-kneading shiatsu massage nodes and a heat setting, you’ll feel as relaxed as if you just left the massage therapist’s office.

Biscoff Cookies Twin Packs, 20-Pack ($14.90; amazon.com)

Some of us could argue that these Biscoff cookies are the best airplane snack, but why wait till you’re in flight to enjoy them? Order a pack of cookies for a daily treat that’ll remind you of the fun excursions to come.

Original Casper Pillow (starting at $59, originally starting at $65; casper.com)

We all tend to get our best sleep in hotel beds, so we’re committed to making our own feel just as good. First step: new pillows. We think this Casper option is one of the best pillows for back sleepers because it’s soft and firm.

Away The Carry-On ($225; awaytravel.com)

OK, so maybe you don’t have any legit travel plans in the near future, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prep for your next adventure. Now’s the time to get your hands on one of Away’s carry-on suitcases, our pick for the best carry-on suitcase around. Known to seriously upgrade your travel experience, it has a durable outer shell and even comes with a removable battery to charge your devices on the go.

BP. 60mm Oversize Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses ($15; nordstrom.com)

There’s something about buying a new pair of sunglasses that makes you excited for brighter days ahead. Check out these BP. sunglasses in four different colors to accessorize your stay-at-home style.

House No. 23 Handwoven Turkish Beach Towel ($49; food52.com)

Turkish towels are sought after because they’re super absorbent, quick-drying and beautiful enough to drape over your sofa or serve as home decor. We’re obsessed with the stripes and fringe designs of these towels by House No. 23 and can’t wait to wrap ourselves in them while dreaming of a getaway.

Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne (starting at $72; nordstrom.com)

Throw back to the days running back to the hotel from the beach with sand in your hair and the faint smell of sea salt around you. Remind yourself of your last adventure with this Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne by Jo Malone, made with earthy, aromatic tones reminiscent of the shore.

C.S.M. Body Brush for Wet or Dry Brushing ($9.99, originally $11.69; amazon.com)

Smooth, glowing skin is key to looking and feeling like you’re on vacation. Incorporate an exfoliating brush like this one into your at-home spa ritual. Wet or dry, this brush will help increase blood circulation and slough off dead skin. It even features nodules within the bristles that provide a gentle massage while brushing.

  • a made bed in a hotel room: Parachute Linen Sheet Set

  • a pair of sunglasses on a table: BP. 60mm Oversize Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses

  • Dr. Teal's Lavender Body & Bath Oil

  • Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne

  • a plate of food on a table: Commander's Palace 3-Course Shrimp & Grits Dinner for 2

  • a cup of coffee on a table: Hawkins New York Shaker Ceramic Dinnerware

  • map: Lonely Planet Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Northern Thailand Travel Guide

  • diagram: Skin Gym Jade Workout Set

  • a dress shirt and tie: Jogal Men's Flower Casual Button-Down Hawaiian Set

  • diagram: Tushy Spa

  • text: Homesick Beach Cottage Candle

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