7 Tips for Planning the Ultimate Staycation
Let’s face it: that exotic vacation you’ve been dreaming about might not ever happen. Add a significant other or kids to the mix, and you can easily triple your expense. Suddenly your getaway is getting lost in the reality of “I can’t do this!”
Not to worry. The benefit of planning a staycation is that you don’t have to travel halfway around the globe to have an amazing vacation. No matter where you live, there are things to do and places to explore that you haven’t yet discovered. With a little planning, you can have a fantastic vacation no matter how near or far you go. And you can save some money, too!
So how do you make a cheap staycation fun and memorable? Here are some ideas to get you started:
Pretend that your home is actually a vacation rental. Which means that you aren’t using your time off to mow the lawn or repair that hole in the drywall. This is your time to relax, not run errands or pay bills or mop the floor.
Check with your local chamber or visitor’s bureau. They’ll have brochures and magazines (usually both online and in print) highlighting the best of what your area has to offer, including day trips to nearby attractions. Set aside time to explore the things that make your area unique.
Try some new restaurants. You might be tempted to stick with your old favorites, but this is a great time to try something different. Ask for recommendations (or just check with Yelp) and then take a chance, just like you would if you were visiting a new town.
Pamper yourself. Many spa and massage places will even offer discounts for locals, something you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of if you were traveling.
Do the tourist thing. Rent a surrey bicycle, go horseback riding, do a zip line tour, go parasailing, take a balloon ride, do a champagne cruise, go on a snowmobile tour. Support your local businesses by doing some of the fun touristy activities you would have enjoyed on vacation. Once again, you might be able to take advantage of a locals discount.

Take a class. You don’t have to go to Florence to learn how to make a pizza. And wine country isn’t the only place offering tours and tastings. Community colleges, cooking schools and even Airbnb offer one-day experiences that let you learn or improve your skills at baking, photography, painting, scrapbooking and many other hobbies.
Watch the sunrise or sunset. Most of us don’t take time to watch the sunrise or sunset when we’re at home. It’s such a leisurely vacation thing to do. So make the most of this time to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching the sun sink below the horizon or seeing it rise in the east. It’s a beautiful experience and it’s completely free.
Even a short staycation can bring you the benefit of that “vacation high,” and it takes far less planning (and money!) to make it happen. So what are you waiting for? Make that ultimate staycation a reality!
Have you ever taken a vacation at home? Share your tips in the comments!
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Steph
This is such a great idea for a post. I haven’t actually done a staycation, but after traveling nonstop for the last 3 weeks in 3 different countries I am feeling like I might need one lol. I love the idea about being a tourist in your own town; something many of us take for granted!
Sherrie
Exactly! There are cool things to do no matter where you are but a lot of times we take our hometowns for granted. It’s fun to look around and see what they have to offer.
Kristin Quinn
Such a good post! You can get all the benefits of a vacation without the stress (and expense) of traveling to a destination. I feel like I need one of these 😉
Sherrie
Definitely lower on the stress scale! As fun as the vacation may be, the actual traveling to a destination can be a drag. Much easier when your destination is close by!
Lakshmi
Lovely ideas…I need one so badly now..perhaps I will go to the spa and pamper myself
Mitali
That’s actually so true… I have been to 27 countries till today and I never kept the count of cities… But for my own city Mumbai I still haven’t been to quite a few places
Sherrie
Funny how that can happen 🙂 Sounds like it’s time for you to explore around home!
earthsmagicalplaces
All great suggestions! I love taking day-trips for my home town…. It helps curb the wanderlust between trips! 🙂
Boarding Call
sometimes we can forget that home actually has so much to offer! I love playing tourist in my own city… it really adds something more to the weekend than just the normal routine. great post 🙂
Ruth
I have been to Coeur d’Alene! Many years ago I visited my aunt’s in-laws. I was a good trip to a beautiful place. I think staycations are essential. I cannot travel every week or month but I can do many of the things you have mentioned in here. I hope more people take into consideration the idea of breaking the routine.
Sherrie
Glad you had a good impression of Coeur d’Alene! I love living here and it’s always easy to find things to do.
RED RIDING HOOD
There are even personality checks for whether you are a sunset or sunrise person ☺
Kelly / Tiny Trips & Tips
I totally agree on the checking your local visitor’s bureau; it’s great to discover your city as a tourist!
Liza
Great tips! I actually end up doing staycation quite often, as London is such a wonderful city with seemingly endless possibilities for exploration. Staycations rock!
Kay Rodriguez
I. LOVE. THIS. Staycations are so relaxing and give such a different perspective on a place you might see every single day! I did this recently and we saw SO many things in Washington DC that I’d never even heard of before. Best decision ever!
Kristin
I’m a huge fan of local tourism and spend more time exploring my home state of Tennessee than I do other states these days!
The Wild Wayfarer
I love this post.. there are so many things I still haven’t done even in the village I’ve grown up in, let alone in Dublin where I have now lived for two years! The opportunities are endless if you just think outside the box a little bit 🙂