15 Ways to Bring the Tropics Home

If you’ve been following along with us you know we are all about budget travel. In the past, we’ve posted about our self guided, frugal getaways to the Caribbean. More specifically, we have visited Puerto Rico and St. Croix each for a week at a time. Our goal is to keep the total cost of major expenses of flight, accommodations and rental car under $600 per couple. Sound alright? But maybe, for some reason or another, a trip to the tropics isn’t in the cards for you. That’s ok! There are plenty of ways to create your own tropical experience without leaving your own home! Check out our list of 15 ways to bring the tropics home all year round!

Create Your Tropical Vessel

One of the more cliché things about being on vacation in the tropics is the cocktails (or mocktails!). Even more so, a beverage served up in a pineapple! With this nifty ‘pineapple corer‘, hollowing out a pineapple has never been easier. Simply cut off the top of the fruit and begin to twist this tool into the pineapples flesh. Stop about an inch from the bottom, making sure to not go all the way through. (Otherwise your vessel becomes a sieve). And there you have it, a fancy vessel for your tropical beverage! (Don’t forget the metal straws 😉 What next? Be sure to check out our ‘Cocktail Creations‘ board on Pinterest for some tropical cocktail recipe and presentation ideas!

Drink Caribbean Distilled/Brewed

If you’re ‘stay at home tropical vacation’ entails cocktails, be sure to pick up something that calls the Caribbean home. The Bacardi distillery is located in Puerto Rico, while Captain Morgan and Cruzan are distilled on St. Croix. Feeling adventurous? Try St. Croix’s own Mutiny Island Vodka, a fun new spirit distilled from breadfruit! You can even pick up some beers that are commonly seen in the Caribbean; ‘Red Stripe’ for example is brewed in Jamaica. Other beers you may be lucky to find include ‘Presidente’ from the Dominican Republic and ‘Medalla’ from Puerto Rico.

Listen to Some Tropical Jams

Spotify is an endless resource of music and pre-designed playlist for any mood! A quick search using words you associate with spending time in the Caribbean and you’ll be all set. Get creative and try words like ‘calypso, caipirinha or salsa’. Here’s a link to a steel drum playlist to get you off on the right foot. Another great way to bring the Caribbean home!

Invest in Tropical Foliage

There’s just something about the tropical plants that fill your field of view when traveling near the equator. Why not try bringing them into the space that surrounds you to invoke that same feeling at home? Specialty florists tend to carry cuttings from these beautiful plants including bird of paradise and split leaf philodendron. Alternatively, you can head over to your closest Lowes or Home Depot for an entire plant. They generally carry bromeliads, palms and peace lilies to name a few. And if live plants aren’t your thing, you can always try silk!

Endeavour in Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a very popular practice that truly generates mood changing results. We can travel to different places by simply introducing a certain scent into the air that surrounds us. Try lighting a tropical scented candle or, if you have a diffuser, you can add some tropical essential oils to your collection! You can even mix and match them for various aromas. We love this collection by P&J Trading:

Freshen Up Your Space

Switch up your décor! Another way to really change the vibe in your space is, of course, to redecorate. We’re not saying commit to a new paint colour on the walls (although you totally could!) but rather suggesting a couple decorative pillows or throws to add some tropical flare. Here are some colours for inspiration:

Travel Vicariously

Take a trip back in time through the adventures of ‘The Swiss Family Robinson’, a novel by Johann Wyss. This story follows a shipwrecked family as they explore a tropical island. There’s a Disney film version as well if reading isn’t up your alley. Heck, even Pirates of the Caribbean can get those tropical vibes flowin’! Alternatively, there are several options for ‘virtual travel’ these days. Check out our Pinterest Board for more Virtual Travel ideas.

Play a Tropical Game

Set up a station for ‘Bimini Ring Toss‘, commonly played in bars in the Caribbean, and a great way to bring the Caribbean home. The premise is you get a ring on a string that you have to try and swing onto a hook attached to the wall. Never played before? It’s additive, we promise!

Check out a Beach Webcam

More and more destinations are setting up live webcams, allowing you to remotely catch a glimpse of the beauty that can be found in many far off locations. Here’s one for St. Croix or try this one with multiple locations throughout the Caribbean.

Eat Caribbean Grub

Cook up some Caribbean fare – a great excuse to try out a new recipe! Use some jerk seasoning on your meat/tofu/veggies and fry up a side of plantains. Zatarain’s even offers a ‘Caribbean Rice’ option if you’re lacking inspiration. And be sure to pick up some delicious tropical fruits for dessert: papaya, mango, coconut, starfruit and make up one of those fancy fruit spreads. Maybe even a rum cake!

Hammock Time Out

If you live somewhere with the proper indoor supports or have a couple well spaced trees in your yard, set up a hammock! Even if you have to layer up to get in it for a bit, laying back and staring up at the sky is a refreshing practice for any soul. On that same note, you could do it at night too! Staring up at the stars is a great way to escape, if only for a few minutes.

Take a Warm Bath

If immersing yourself in the warm tropical waters is what you’re craving then take a bath! Throw some Epsom salts in there and make it a nice long salty soak. You can even bring the essential oil diffuser, music and cocktail in there with you! Is there any better combination to bring the tropics home?

Get Crafty

If you’re in the habit of bringing back souvenirs, you could try making your own. How about a Vejigante mask! These brightly dressed characters of Puerton Rico don devilish looking paper mâché masks and parade down the streets, attempting to ‘chase off evil spirits. This is a great activity to involve the kids with as well.

Snorkel Vicariously

Or maybe you’re a snorkeler and watching sea life pass you by is more your thing? Check out this great video with over an hour’s worth of clips featuring Caribbean species passing you by in a pristine coral reef setting.

Build Your Own Beach

Lastly, depending on how far you are willing to go, you could build your own little slice of paradise. Simply fill a Rubbermaid container with some play box sand from your local hardware store. Next, dig your feet in while sitting in a lawn/beach chair and enjoying the suggestions listed above. Be prepared for a potential mess though 😉 These backyard beaches could also work well depending on how big you want to go with this.

So, do you feel like you’re any closer to that tropical getaway yet? Did we miss anything? We’d love to hear how you bring the tropics home when you can’t quite get there. Leave us a comment below and until next time…