Tips for Planning the Best Staycation Ever

Believe it or not Spring Break vacation season is officially in full swing. It’s hard to believe given the cold temperatures everywhere. Regardless of the weather it seemed fitting to talk about planning a “vacation” and the latest trend is actually a “staycation”. We are actually planning a staycation ourselves for next month and are super excited about it. They are very on trend now given the current hard economic times and a number of different trend reports that I subscribe to are all talking about it with the upcoming Spring Break vacations and then peak Summer vacation time quickly approaching.

For those not in the loop, a staycation is basically a vacation where you stay at home and relax or take day trips from your home to area attractions. Common activities of a staycation include use backyard activities, neighboring parks, beaches, museums, festivals and the like. There are all sorts of benefits and great ideas about how to vacation at home so I thought that I’d share just a few:

Benefits of a Staycation

• Less expensive than a travel vacation — no lodging and minimal travel, dining and attraction prices. “The American Automobile Association said the average North American vacation will cost $244 per day for two people for lodging and meals… add some kids and airfare, and a 10-day vacation could top $10,000″.

• Less stressful — preparing to get away for a vacation can be stressful, so can traveling with young children, packing, and airport delays.

• Better nights sleep — you can sleep in your own bed versus a hotel bed if you take day trips.

• Decompression is possible — You can truly decompress with less stress and a good night sleep for 7 days. This is wonderful, as we’ve all had the vacations where we feel like we need another vacation just to rest after we return.

• Boosts your local economy — by staying close to home and spending money on attraction, dining and shopping, you benefit your local area.

Planning the Best Staycation Ever

• Schedule a beginning and end date. Make it feel like a real vacation with departing and arrival dates.

• Declare a “choratorium.” I love this idea. No chores. You’re on vacation. (I’ll have to see if I can talk my husband into this one).

• Unplug. Try going the week without the cellphone, texting, emailing and all the other forms of hyper-connection.

• Shake it up and live “freestyle” for the week. Get rid of the schedule. During a typical week we are so structured and our lives are so scheduled to get it all done, but on vacation we let go of that (a little or a lot depending on the person) and do different things. Sleep in late if you’re normally up at the crack of dawn, eat brunch instead breakfast, tick of an item on your bucket list.

• Create an at home/hotel experience. Do all those little things you do in a hotel — have breakfast in bed, take a hot bath, turn down your bed and set chocolates on the pillow for your spouse or kids, curl up in a cozy rob, set little luxurious lotions on the bathroom counter, watch TV in bed … I think you get the point. This is very important to set the mood and atmosphere and capture the true vacation feeling.

• Set aside souvenir money. We are talking a modest amount here of course, but set aside some fun-money for staycation souvenirs or little day excursions. Remember, this site is about living (not deprivation).

• Plan things to do. Make a list of activities and plan something fun daily to get you out of the house. Check out 50 Frugal Fun Ideas for a Bored-Silly Saturday to get the fun-juices flowing. Or 14 Ways to Pass the Day Trapped Inside for even more stay-at-home fun ideas.

• Capture your experiences. Take videos and pictures just like you would do if you were on vacation somewhere far away. Then, post them on Facebook for all to see. Or keep a vacation journal of everything you did through the week.

In this hurried, crazed world that we live in, vacations are critically important times for us to decompress, get back in touch with ourselves and our friends and family, and recharge our physical and emotional batteries that keep us going. Embrace the time because it flies right by, and make the most of every minute. Remember that it’s not where you are … it’s what you are doing.

Live your life. It’s invigorating!