With the price of gas driving up travel costs and the low American dollar, a new form of vacationing is taking hold. The “staycation”, a vacation spent at home being a tourist in your own home town or simply relaxing and enjoying your well earned time off.
People are choosing to spend their vacations at home, forgoing the hassle of travel. Just think no long lineups at airport security, no packing, no sleeping in a strange bed and none of the inconveniences of modern travel.
To help make your stay at home vacation a success you should treat it like a vacation. Don’t use the time to catch up on housework or other chores. Instead hire someone to clean your house at the beginning of your holiday and then pretend you are in a hotel and leave the cleaning to someone else. Put household duties on hold, just as you would if you were away.
Play tourist in your home town. Visit all the places you never have time to see when you are working. Take in that new exhibit at the museum or art gallery, take a tour of your city, and go to all the places and sites that tourists visit. You might be surprised to find out how many people have never seen some of the historic landmarks or famous museums located right in their own city.
Enjoy day trips around town. Drive to the local beach or lake on a weekday and spend the afternoon by the water. It will be less crowded and much more relaxing not having to fight that weekend traffic. Go for a hike or bike ride in one of your cities local green spaces. Enjoy a picnic in the park. The possibilities are endless.
Treat yourself to a spa treatment or shopping excursion. Book a day at the spa and spend the time pampering yourself like you would do if you had gone away. Wander the malls and shopping centers of your city, exploring new trendy little shops in out of the way areas that you normally don’t have time to go to.
Catch up on your reading or movie watching. Rent some movies or go to an afternoon matinee at the local movie theatre. Not only are they cheaper but less crowded as well.
Take yourself out for dinner or lunch. Try some of the restaurants that haven’t had time to visit. With a flexible schedule, you can enjoy a weekday evening meal at a new restaurant or bistro. Take the time to enjoy eating out. With no office to rush back to after lunch and no one waiting for your table, you can linger and even have that after dinner drink or desert.
The downside to staycations is that many developing countries depend on tourism to keep their economy stable. If people stop visiting some of these places the economy may suffer due to the lack of foreign currency being brought into the country.
A staycation can be a relaxing and inexpensive alternative to travel. Spending time doing whatever you want in your own home without any responsibilities will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated and ready to return to work.
