This month the topic for our blog posts is travel lust, a condition near and dear to my heart although I prefer the term wanderlust, something I’ve suffered from for years.

I’m amused by the looks of horror when I refer to myself as a gypsy. For many, the term conjures up a vision very different from my own. The definition I use is a person with an inclination to move from place to place. That describes me perfectly. Ever restless, I’m never happy staying in one place too long.

During the thirty years of my marriage, we have owned six houses, and lived in four different apartments. And I know that I am not done moving. When we purchased our current home, I designed it with an eye toward re-sale. I hadn’t moved in before I was already planning my next move!

I’m not sure if you are born with wanderlust or if it is catching. About a month after we moved into our fourth home, one of my son’s asked, “Mommy, when are we moving?” I think he too may have inherited or been infected with my restless spirit.

The longest I have ever lived in one place is twelve years. Surprisingly, that was not with my parents. My parents moved from place to place, while my husband’s parents lived in the same house for 50 years. The reason for such a long residence had more to do with wanting to give my children continuity through their years in school. By the time my last child graduated high school, our home was already sold and we were moving on again. Finally!

At one point I gave my husband some advice. If you want to live in one place, you need to take me on very long vacations to mollify my compulsion to wander the world. I believe all that accomplished was him catching the same bug. We are hoping within the next year or so to take an extended vacation, 6 months to a year, to roam the European continent and wherever else our fancy might take us.

Such an endeavor takes a lot of planning. The cost of staying in hotels and eating every meal in a restaurant or pub would come with an exorbitant price tag. We are always on the lookout for ways to cut the cost of food and lodging without compromising our lifestyle.

We have discovered a variety of options:

1. Airbnb – These are privately owned properties. It can be just a room in a house or condo, or a full unit with a kitchen and living area. I used this website to book my accommodations when I visited Jersey last year. I saved a lot of money over staying in at hotel in St. Helier. I enjoyed my evening strolls through the countryside and relaxing in a centuries old house..
2. Vrbo – This company specializes in privately owned vacation rentals. They only offer full units that will not be shared with the owner or other guests. Many of these appear to be well priced, a good option for a longer stay.
3. Upscale temporary rentals – I have a neighbor that used Perfect Paris and thoroughly enjoyed her experience. Located in the heart of major cities, some units are quite luxurious with a price tag to match. I might be tempted to pamper myself and spring for a few nights given the convenience of being within walking distance of many historical sites.
4. House sitting – International house sitting assignments vary in length from short to longer term assignments. This is something we are considering as it would save us a significant amount of money on housing and we could immerse ourselves fully in the local culture. Follow the link to an article about which placement companies are best.
5. Our vacation club has villas in some of the locations we intend to visit. We always know that the beds are comfortable and the kitchens nicely appointed, in case we need some time to recharge.

I plan to spend my time soaking in the atmosphere and beginning research for my next novel projects. So COVID, move along, my wanderlust is flaring up again and I need the remedy.

Let us know in the comments if you have some other great options for lodging when you travel.