When Your Escape Is Grounded: Staycation Advice
Thanks to the unpredictable economy, low-cost, stay-at-home vacations have become a dominant trend in travel—and will probably continue to flourish. But even these “staycations” have different levels of activities, spending and spirit. Whether you are going bare bones, middle-of-the-road or deluxe, here are some tips to make the most of your time off, even when you must stay put.
Staycation Basics
Establish a vacation mindset. Okay, so you aren’t jetting off to the French Riviera, but you aren’t punching in at the office either. Make sure you switch your mind to “holiday” mode, and alert your co-workers that you will be unavailable—even if they know you’re in town. Vacation time should be spent with family, friends or alone—but not used to get ahead on work-related projects. This is often the hardest part of a staycation: convincing your brain to relax.
Remove all electronic leashes I repeat, remove all electronic leashes. It’s a blessing and a curse that today’s technology allows us to be in constant communication with each other. When is the last time you left the house without your cell phone, BlackBerry or laptop? If you simply cannot go cold turkey, bring your cell, but turn it off and only check it once a day. Your children will appreciate this more than you think. When you are with other people, they should take priority over any electronic device, especially when you’re on holiday.
Be creative with your itinerary. This is the time to pull out all the stops. Pretend you are visiting your own city and do all the things a tourist would do (within your budget). Have a family meeting and you might be surprised by what ideas are put on the table. Include at least one special event for each person in the family. If you’re on your own, push your personal limits—maybe there’s a nearby golf course, theater group or walking tour you’ve often thought about but never investigated. Now is the time.
Do your homework. It’s the golden rule for regular vacations, and it’s important for a successful staycation too. Get online and delve through websites for local attractions; start out on your hometown’s tourism home page. You might be surprised by what’s happening in your own backyard. This is also a time to take advantage of online discounts and printable coupons. Once you know what you’d like to do, make a call and find out what deals are available.
Ideas for Families
Announce new “house rules.” Tell the kids they can stay in their pajamas all day. Have pizza for breakfast and pancakes for dinner. Set up a tent and sleep on the front lawn. This is the simplest of family staycations; turning your home into a vacation playground. Play dress-up, play music, watch movies (with popcorn), have a family exercise class in the backyard, pull out those board games from yesteryear and remember what life was like pre-Wii.
Involve friends and neighbors. Plan a themed potluck dinner, or organize a neighborhood feast where you go from home to home for each course. You’ll be saving money and creating memories. Depending on the weather where you live, this could be the perfect time for a block party. Get to know your neighbors and use your time off to invest in community relations.
Take a “hotel” holiday. If you have a little money to spend, consider booking a room at a nearby hotel. Your kids will be elated to swim in the pool, ride the elevator and absorb a new atmosphere. A change of scenery is good for mom and dad, too. Splurge with a room service breakfast for everyone and see if the hotel has deals with any local attractions.
Ideas for Romance
Create an at-home holiday. Even with a tiny budget, a dinner at home can be the ultimate romantic evening with the right menu, music and décor. That aphrodisiac cookbook has been collecting dust; use it to breathe new life into your relationship and your dining room. Surprise your mate with candlelight and roses—and a handwritten love letter to ignite the atmosphere. Take one day at a time and take turns finding free or almost free events to fill your schedule.
Try something totally new. Yes, you’ve heard this before, but now is as good a time as ever to follow this advice. Head for the museum you’ve driven by every day for six years, attend a free concert at the local community college, treat yourselves to lunch at the Indian restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, go for drinks at the martini lounge with the revolving dance floor. You didn’t buy plane tickets, so allow yourself to live it up a little in your hometown.
Take advantage of local hotel romance packages. With a slightly larger budget to work with, staying in the area can still feel exotic, especially if you let someone else do the work. When you do your online research, check for availability and romantic escape packages at nearby hotels and bed & breakfast establishments. You can still pack a bag, with no worries of fuel surcharges or excess luggage fees.
Ideas for the All-Girl Getaway
Have an old-fashioned sleepover! That’s right, create an e-vite, gather your gal pals, and pretend your sixteen again. See note above regarding electronic leashes, and remind your families that you will be incommunicado except for emergencies. It’s amazing how a night spent chatting in your pajamas can rejuvenate you. Remember the OJ and champagne for morning mimosas!
Plan a do-it-yourself spa, book swap, clothing/music exchange. For those women who insist on having a reason for getting together, give your getaway a specific purpose. We all have clothes, music, and books we’d like to get rid of—why not create a fun evening of swapping? You can swap stories and smiles at the same time. A spa day is more of a treat; have each girl bring one form of pampering, from facials to pedicures; even painting your own nails is fun when your with friends.
Go to a local spa and pretend you’re far away. Similar to the romantic hotel escape, this type of staycation requires a budget. But if you have the means—and girlfriends who are game—then make it happen. Go directly to a local spa, do not stop at the grocery store, do not pick up your dry cleaning and do not answer work emails while your in the relaxation room.
By Stephanie Oswald of travelgirl
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