If you are cutting back your budget on travel this year, why not go on a vacation with a difference? You spend less than a fraction of the total travel cost on a staycation. Staycation is a new age term that refers to vacationing in your hometown and exploring it with a new pair of eyes.
Vacationing at home will certainly cut back on expenses. Now all you have to do is decide what to do to actually feel as though you are on vacation. I have just returned from a staycation in a local five star hotel. The good thing is I managed to clinch a good deal by paying only $250 a night with taxes compared to the usual $500 albeit without breakfast within the hotel premises.
Start by looking for an accommodation for the weekend. Look at hotel websites to see if they have special weekend deals or check any online hotel sites for great discounts. What places of interest are close by that you have never had the time or opportunity to visit? Are there any restaurants you have never tried or parks you have never visited? No matter how big or small the town or city where you live, there are probably places you have never been too. Why not decide to try a few of them on this vacation.
Plan your itinerary to ensure you have a well-spent staycation. Check out good places to eat or local events you can witness. If you like the theatre, check out what’s on and get ready to book seats.
Bring just enough cash so you don’t tend to overspend. Keep your credit or debit card at bay but hidden from your sight in cash you need to use it. If you don’t intend to shop, stay away the shopping malls or tourist souvenir shops at places of interest.
There are so many fun and relaxing things you can do without going shopping. Enjoy a good book by the beach or by the hotel pool while sipping your favourite drink. Watch the sunset or sunrise by the beach- something you hardly do on a workday or on any other weekend. Walk along the streets of heritage site and check out its architecture and window shop at curiosity or antique shops.
Go for nature walks or visit the gardens. Enjoy the greenery and the variety of flora around you. Alternatively, soak in the sights and sounds of the city where the baskers perform or witness street events. Feast your eyes on the local harbour and check out local museums or art gallery. Enjoy a cone of ice cream or a nice steaming cup of local coffee as you immerse yourself in the surroundings.
Look at the local sites from a different perspective and you will appreciate them more in that way.
You will realize that you would have save about half the cost of travel if you choose to be a staycationer for once. You save a lot by not having to purchase an air ticket and cutting down on the number of days you choose to be away from work.
You will feel as much invigorated by being away from home for the weekend as you would have been if you’d been away from the country for a week. Apart from stretching your dollars, the plus side of being a staycationer is you don’t have to deal with the lethargy of jetlag.
September 28th, 2009
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February 12th, 2010
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