We're a family of travelers. We love to discover new places, both within the U.S. and abroad. But with a 15-month-old and a big upcoming trip planned for this summer, we decided it would be best to stay local over the holidays this year. When it came to an end, we discovered that staycations offer plenty of opportunities that vacations don’t.
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Save money. That one’s obvious. When you stay local, you don’t spend money on marked-up holiday travel for flights, rental cars and food. And bonus – you save even more money if you sleep in your own house and cook some meals at home.
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Spend time with local friends and family. In the rush of daily living – juggling careers, kids, activities and obligations – it’s hard to find time to just chill out with loved ones, even if they live close by. A staycation gives you the opportunity for extended quality time.
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Take up a new hobby. There just never seems to be enough time to learn a new language, start painting or take a belly dancing class, particularly when you have little ones running around. When you take time off and stay at home, there’s a better chance you’ll have time to learn about your subject of interest.
A staycation makes you appreciate all the restaurants, attractions and scenery right at your doorstep or driving distance from where you live.
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Read. Sure, you can read when you go on vacation. But there’s always that lingering thought that you should be out and about, seeing the attractions. That’s why you spent all that money to get there, right? A staycation avoids that internal conflict and lets you catch up on your list.
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Convenience. Needless to say, convenience is everything with little ones. In the past, we’ve spent hours on vacation looking for the right place to eat or the closest drugstore to pick up something we forgot at home. With a staycation, everything you need is at your disposal, and if it’s not, you know how to get it fast.
6. Be productive – and have fun. It’s never a good feeling to feel like you need a vacation, right after your vacation. With a staycation, you can catch up on some lingering household projects, and at the same time schedule fun day trips, events and activities. It’s the best of both worlds.
- Appreciate where you live. There’s a quote that says: “Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.” A staycation makes you appreciate all the restaurants, attractions and scenery right at your doorstep or driving distance from where you live.
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- Be a better tour guide. The next time you have visitors from out of town, you’ll be a better and more knowledgeable tour guide – thanks to your staycation.
