A staycation is just like a vacation, the only difference: less traveling. When you take a staycation it means you are skipping the expensive flights and fancy all-inclusive resorts in favor of sleeping in your bed. Think of it this way: you are getting away from it all by going nowhere and saving your hard-earned money. Everyone needs some time off and when a vacation isn't in the budget, a staycation is the next best thing.
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Choose your staycation dates
Treat it like any other holiday. When going away on holiday it is imperative to choose your dates. Even though you will be spending time at home, your goal is to have fun during your staycation, which means putting aside the normal to take part in a great vacation at home. The plan is not to leave your home, which means you will need to have special dates, maybe even a specific time on that day to start your staycation so that you can mentally switch into vacation mode.
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Choose a theme for your staycation
- Geographical
- Book-inspired
- Movie theatre inspired
- Musical inspired
Here is a fun idea to help you transition into the holiday spirit: you could pretend you are in the Caribbean, which may mean you will only listen to Caribbean music, eat Caribbean cuisine, watch movies or documentaries strictly made in the Caribbean. You could choose a goal like developing a new hobby, reading a specific number of books, learning a new language or exploring new and old parts of your hometown.
Depending on your style and personality, sometimes even your mood (active or relaxed, indulgent or healthy), it can apply to an at-home vacation too. Defining your approach can help you come up with fun staycation ideas such as:
- Tourist in your town: Visit nearby museums and attractions you have never tried before, join a walking tour of nearby historical sites.
- Active traveler: Try indoor rock climbing, stand-up paddleboarding or mountain biking.
- Runaway gourmet: Make reservations at three of the best restaurants in your city, taste unfamiliar cuisines (Hawaiian, Chinese), take a food or brewery tour.
- Serenity and spiritual journey: Do a seven-day yoga or meditation challenge, download some guided meditations, book a massage, reflexology or acupuncture session, try a treatment you have never done (we are partial to saltwater float pods and Korean baths).
- Grown-up summer camp: Go camping, get crafty, rent a canoe and roast some marshmallows. Sleep away summer camp for adults is a real thing; you can recreate the experience with a staycation.
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Do something new
No one said you have to stay home. Search Airbnb or HomeAway for something nearby but different from your old house, like a Victorian farmhouse or an urban loft. If you trade your suburban digs for urban ones, embrace the lifestyle that comes with it: gallery openings, concerts, and rooftop bars.
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Set a staycation budget
You still want to feel like you have gone away on holiday and are having a fabulous time with fewer costs. But setting your budget on zero will result in no fun and no experience.
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Buy a few souvenirs
Where is the pleasure of traveling if it is not bringing home a few meaningful mementos? There is no reason you cannot do that during your staycation. Shop local boutiques or buy something pretty for your house and a little treat and souvenir of your festive season or any holiday.