How to Plan Your Staycation

Many people imagine themselves leaving home to go on vacation to visit a faraway place. But, even with stricter budgetary constraints or a requirement to stay closer to home, there is still a way to enjoy your break. In this article, we will look at the benefits of a staycation and how to plan it to make the most of your time off. 

10 Staycation Benefits

We’ve compiled a list of ten staycation benefits, at least a few will be applicable to most people, and with a little thought you’re likely to think of more: 

1. Saving Money

Many people are struggling with the current economic situation and inflation has risen dramatically. Traveling and staying in accommodations can be expensive and these two aspects of a typical vacation are where most of the budget is spent. So, if you’re taking a staycation you can direct that portion of your budget towards entertainment, drinks, food, and more at home. 

2. Saving Time

Even a trip to somewhere relatively close has a longer door-to-door travel time than most people expect. When you’re already commuting for work it’s likely that you won’t want to waste time when you want to take a shorter vacation. With a staycation, you don’t need to wait around to get on a plane or deal with traffic when you hit the road. 

3. Visiting Your Favorite Places

Most of us have a favorite local place that we tend to visit less because it’s so close to our homes. When you take a staycation, you have a ready excuse to visit that neglected view, your favorite brunch spot, or other place that puts a smile on your face. Go and visit those stores that you used to frequent or visit that cocktail bar that makes the best drinks. 

4. Helping the Environment

When you’re not traveling on planes or even ground-based public transport, you’re enjoying a break and causing minimal damage to the environment.

5. Take Some Time for Yourself

Because you’re not traveling you can use the staycation to focus on yourself and do something that you really want to do. Perhaps you want to learn how to cook or you have a book that you’ve been meaning to read, but you can never seem to find the time? Taking some time to focus on plans and hobbies that have been on hold is a perfect fit for a fulfilling staycation. 

6. Avoiding Stress Packing

There are some people that enjoy packing for a trip, but for most of us, it’s a real hassle that we would prefer to avoid. On a staycation, all your stuff is already where it needs to be and you simply cannot forget anything.

7. Enjoying Self Reflection

When you spend some contemplative time alone or in small groups there are significant mental health benefits to enjoy. A staycation is an excellent opportunity to practice meditation and take some time to reflect upon what is truly important. This type of activity is extremely hard to do in a busy airport or on a crowded beach. 

8. Checking Out New Places

Even if you’ve lived in an area for a while, there is a good chance that you’ve missed out on one or more experiences. In some cases, this may be something that you’re unaware of or perhaps it’s somewhere you want to go, but you keep putting it off. This could be a museum, a gallery, or that restaurant that’s usually a little out of your price range. Remember that you’re saving money on travel and accommodation so you can spend a little more on your staycation. 

9. Keep Your Furry Friends Close

One of the most anxiety inducing aspects of traveling is that you may need to leave your pets behind with a sitter or place them into a kennel or cattery. This is an unpleasant experience for the pet too and with a staycation this can be avoided entirely. The pets can tag along or you can spend some extra time at home with them to relax. 

10. Stress Reduction

Traveling can be stressful. This is why many people fall ill when they travel and this can ruin an expensive trip. Staycations offer an opportunity to truly rest and relax on your own schedule without the accompanying stress. 

How to Plan a Staycation

This seems like a strange concept, after all, isn’t a staycation simply staying at home? No. A good staycation should be a break from normality, it needs to be a distinct break and you need to have funds and the opportunity to have fun, relax, and explore. Using your home as a base for a wider range of adventures lowers the cost of the break, but some money is required. Perhaps you want to visit a local attraction or buy a ticket to a music venue? Set aside sufficient funds for the staycation and try to stick to your budget and you will enjoy the experience more. Some people like to pick a theme for their staycation such as a wellness weekend, a long weekend hiking, glamping nearby, or visiting the beach. Choosing what you want to do and who you’re going to do it with is a great idea. If you do need to stay somewhere overnight, make sure you research your accommodations carefully to get a good deal. For those that want to stick closer to home, why not approach your hometown as if you were a wide eyed tourist from out of town? This can give you some fresh perspective on the sights and places to visit that are already on your doorstep. When you live somewhere it’s very easy to forget why others travel from afar to visit a place. Make sure that you schedule some downtime between periods of intense activity to unwind and relax. This is the perfect opportunity to turn off electronic devices and reflect on what you’ve achieved and what you’re planning to do next. When you are active, try to do things that are outside your comfort zone and don’t forget to take some pictures.