Finding Your "Cozy Travel Corner"
- Brittany Hathaway
- Nov 10
- 6 min read
Imagine this: You are on day three of your dream vacation, and since the moment you woke up, nothing is going your way. Taking the bus felt overwhelming; the temple you wanted to visit was so packed you felt like a can of sardines, and the wifi in your hotel is spotty, so you can't even stream your favorite shows. (Now, don't worry, we do our best to make sure that days like this don't happen to you, but sometimes even with the best laid plans, things don't go your way, or the overstimulation gets you down.)
It is times like these when having your own little "cozy travel corner" can be your haven. Having a place you feel comfortable, safe, and calm can make all the difference, especially on longer trips, trips with lots of people, or trips to somewhere that is completely unfamiliar to you.
So, how do you find these "cozy travel corners"? Do they even really exist? In this post, I will tell you the story of my favorite "cozy travel corner" and give you some tips and tricks to find one of your own. Seriously, these corners sometimes make for even better memories than the famous sites like the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal. Lots of people remember those places, but your "cozy travel corner" is just for you.
Story Time: My "Cozy Travel Corner"
When I lived in South Korea, we got 10 days of holiday break during the summer, and some friends and I decided it was the perfect time to travel to Thailand. We stayed for 14 days and went to three different cities. We had the best time, but about halfway into the trip, while we were in Chiang Rai, we had a "struggle day". My one friend was craving comfort food from home because she was sick, we had taken a city bus for the first time that morning and it had been stressful as it was small and operated very differently than we were used to (you just get on and then someone walks around and takes payment in cash when the bus is moving and there were no stops...you just kind of yell when you want to get off and we had no idea where we were going), PLUS it felt like it was a million degrees outside and we were fully drenched in sweat. All we needed was a little break in some air conditioning to do some decompressing after a crazy day.
We were walking around near the bus station and we stumbled across this small shop with a red sign that said "Connect Cafe: Coffee, Sandwich, Pasta". As much as I LOVE Thai food, my friend was drawn in by the sound of pasta, and I was ready for a sandwich, so we made our way inside. Honestly, looking back now, there was not a lot about the inside of the cafe that was memorable. Normal chairs, normal walls, tables throughout, but after sitting down and ordering, we decided that this was our haven. I ordered a tuna salad sandwich and a cold pink milk, and my friends ordered some fries, fresh smoothies, and of course, cake for dessert.
Looking at the picture, it is nothing amazing, but let me tell you, I was so excited to have a good tuna salad sandwich and some hot steak fries (and of course, pink milk, which I was so excited to try because of a Thai Drama I watched years ago). The woman working was an older woman, and she was so kind, asking us questions and giving us recommendations for local places to go. We already loved the cafe, and then our bestie appeared.
The lady informed us that this was the cafe dog, and he liked butt scratches. He walked right over to our table and sat down as we all scratched his butt for hours. He would literally come at you in reverse, butt first, so that you could have easy butt scratching access.
From the delicious food and comfortable atmosphere to the kind lady behind the counter and the butt-scratch dog, we quickly decided that this was our little haven from the heat and rain of the rainy season and the craziness of our busy itinerary. We were only in Chiang Mai for three days, and while we spent most of our time exploring, I still think we ended up coming back here four or five times. In fact, on one of our returns, the lady was excited to see us and crafted these, haha.
We had an amazing time on our trip and made so many fantastic memories, but we were there for 14 days, and we had only met about 4 months before, so there were moments of stress, misunderstandings, and little tiffs throughout the trip. But we knew, even when things got a little crazy or felt a bit too much, the "Connect Cafe" would be our own "cozy travel corner" where we could go to escape. I have gone back to Thailand a few times since, and continued to make hundreds of amazing memories, but this cafe is a simple one that I will never forget. When we travel, a lot of us tend to go, go, go and try to get everything done, but for me in this moment, travel wasn't about going and doing, it was about embracing and feeling.
How Can You Find Your "Cozy Travel Corner"?
Every trip has its ups and downs, and sometimes you really feel like you need a little escape. Here are some tips for finding your own "cozy travel corner" during your next adventure.
Decide what you are looking for: We needed food and air conditioning, but some people want comfortable seating or a library full of books. Do you need a break from your group, some familiar foods, or a chance for relaxation and personal reflection? Deciding what you need is a great start to finding the perfect "cozy travel corner" for you. If you know what you are looking for, a little Google search or a text to us can go a long way to getting you there faster.
Follow Your Senses: Let your nose lead you to a bakery or your eyes to a shop with a warm, inviting glow. If it smells like fresh bread or sounds like quiet, happy chatter, it may be worth checking out.
Look for the Locals: See that tiny café with no sign in English, but it's packed with locals reading the paper? That's the spot. Avoid the big chains and look for where the neighborhood residents are spending their time. These are often the places with the best food and the best memories.
Wander One Street Over: The main tourist street is built for crowds and speed. Take a single turn onto a side street. That's where you'll find the quiet bookshops, the hidden courtyards, and the benches that seem to be waiting just for you.
Embrace the "In-Between" Time: Don't schedule every single minute of your day (don't worry, we can help with this). The best cozy corners are often found during unplanned downtime—when you're simply "on your way" to somewhere else and give yourself permission to stop. As long as you aren't flaking out on a scheduled plan, feel free to get off the beaten path if you are being drawn that way.
Put the Map Away (For a Little While): It's hard to feel "cozy" when you're staring at Google Maps. Tuck your phone away for 30 minutes. When you're truly looking at your surroundings, you'll be amazed at what you notice.
So What?
Some travelers may be just fine without their own "cozy travel corners", but for travelers who like to find calm, relaxing moments in the midst of their lives, "cozy travel corners" really make all the difference. We are always here to help you find the perfect corner for you, because we want to make sure that your trip, from the daily itinerary to the small and simple moments, is everything that you wanted and more.
We are so glad that you joined us this week, and we hope that this post has given you some ideas for finding relaxing spaces during your travels. Now we want to know...
What is your most memorable "cozy little corner" either at home or from your travels?
Let us know in the comments below! Thanks for reading, and we will see you again next week!
Want to learn more about how we can help you plan your next trip with "cozy travel corners" included? Schedule a FREE consultation call below, and let's see if Serenity & Bliss Travels fits with your travel needs :)
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