Most of us love a foreign holiday. But are the benefits of a staycation worth considering? Coronavirus changed how many of us think and live our lives. And while the world waited for us to take up our travel dream reigns, many people chose to reinvent their travel plans.
They discovered a different way to perceive and indeed actually travel. And guess what? They discovered it was possible to have a great time, while making lasting memories too.
While we all know the benefits of travelling, this post shows you innovative ways to still get that much needed break, away from stresses and strains of everyday life.
So buckle up my travel loving friends, and let me show you the incredible benefits of staycation holidays!
DISCOVERING THE BENEFITS OF STAYCATION TRIPS
Before we start discussing the possible benefits, just what exactly is a staycation anyway?
Well, a staycation, or “holistay”, is a holiday spent in your own home country, or one involving day trips to local attractions.
I think, for most of us, not being able to travel abroad would have to be replaced with some sort of travel. While holidaying at home is great, so too is hitting the open road and discovering pastures new.
So with that in mind, let’s discuss the positive advantages of a staycation holiday in your own country.
1. YOUR STAYCATION BEGINS WHEN YOU SHUT THE FRONT DOOR
Close and lock the door behind you and your holiday begins. No heading to the airport at unearthly hours of the morning, 3 hours ahead of your flight time.
Staycation Tip: Arrange to see a new sight or attraction en route to your destination. Pack a picnic to enjoy, as your holiday has already started and you can unwind and start relaxing.
2. IT’S A GOOD FIT FOR SHORT BREAKS
There are times when you just fancy getting away from home for a few days. For those working, vacation days can be in short demand, so it’s vital to maximise your time efficiently.
It is easier and more practical, to factor in a weekend away at the last minute. You can be spontaneous year-round, book and enjoy a relaxing break, even for one night.
Staycation Tip: Book a one night stay somewhere within an hours drive of home, to make the most of your available time. Consider staying in a yurt, tree house, castle, tiny house or stately home as an alternative to a hotel.
3. NO TIME DIFFERENCE EQUALS NO JET LAG
I love international travel as much as the next person, jetting off to discover new countries. However, arriving at 7 am after a 14 hour flight, and having to stay awake all day, to acclimatise, is not easy.
It is a tried and tested way of avoiding jet lag, but incredibly tiring, and would be great if it was unnecessary.
The time difference can also impact on your vacation time and the ease of keeping in contact with family back home.
Staycation Tip: Download some classic tunes and sing your heart out. No tiredness or jetlag for you!
4. NO AIRPORT STRESS
Hands up who enjoys the whole airport experience? Honestly? It certainly isn’t the most calming of experiences, that’s for sure. You can be travelling in the early hours, struggling with luggage, standing in huge queues to check in and go through customs. Need I go on.
I have witnessed travellers falling out over petty squabbles, children running riot screaming and people pushing into lines of queues. And all before you even check in! Airports can be incredibly stress-inducing places.
5. LESS TRAVEL TIME MEANS MORE QUALITY TIME
Even for long weekend city breaks, by the time you factor in the travel time, waiting time and flight time, this is cutting into your quality time away.
We also tend to pack in as much into our itinerary as possible, which can leave you feeling tired when you get home.
A great benefit of a staycation is that you can end up with more actual quality time, as you cut down on travelling time.
Plus, you don’t need to recover from the effect of long-haul flights, tiredness and jetlag!
Staycation Tip: Book yourself a relaxing massage or enjoy a spa day to really unwind.
Read On For More Staycation Benefits!
6. MORE SUSTAINABLE METHOD OF TRAVEL
We are all becoming more aware of responsible tourism and how our travels leave an imprint on the world. We have seen places such as Venice, left heaving with the numbers of visitors descending upon them.
Something each and everyone of us can do, is to reduce the number of flights we take each year. By doing this, we are reducing our carbon footprint.
7. TAKES LESS PLANNING
Planning is a huge part of many people’s holidays. You have limited time in a new country, and you want to pack in as many sights and things to do as possible. But this does all take time.
The beauty of a staycation, is that you can leave home without completing a multitude of jobs. No searching for cheap flights, or figuring out how you will get to your accommodation from the airport.
No waiting in line for your rental vehicle, or driving on the right when you are used to driving on the left. No applying for visas, foreign currency or weighing your luggage. All these things take careful planning and consideration.
With a staycation, you still have the fun of planning, but without the overload. For many people, this will mean less stress.
Staycation Tip: Hit the tourist information office and speak to locals for handy tips on what to explore. Grab maps and timetables and make a rough plan.
8. POSSIBLE TO SAVE MONEY
It is definitely possible to save money choosing a staycation, as so many costs are dropped from your overall budget.
One of the biggest costs of an overseas trip is your airline ticket. Even if you use a budget carrier, extra costs soon add up. On top of the ticket price is hold luggage, reserving seats and food which soon make the “cheap fare” less attractive.
Then add in visa, vaccination, airport parking and taxis from the airport on arrival. Yes, the sums are totting up, and all coming out of your total budget.
Enter the staycation, and you are probably looking at either train tickets or a couple of tanks of petrol. It doesn’t take long to see the attraction of the latter! More money for fun attractions, Michelin-star restaurants. I could go on.
Staycation Tip: Treat yourself with a little splurge. Buy that specialist bottle of whisky you have had your eye on or find a quaint restaurant for a fine dining experience.
9. CHANCE TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY
A great way to help make tourism sustainable, is to support local businesses and local culture. We try to do this when we travel abroad, but there are many ways to do this in your own country too.
Consider independently owned hotels and bnb’s for your stay. Shop at local farmers markets where you can meet local producers. Have a coffee in a new café or go fruit picking at a local orchard. Try local beers and wines and all the money goes back into the local economy.
Staycation Tip: If you are self-catering, buy treats from local delis, vegetables from local markets and alcohol from wine merchants. Support the local businesses when you can, they will be very grateful.
10. NOTHING IS LOST IN TRANSLATION
Part of travel can be immersing yourself into local culture and interacting with local people. However, as enjoyable as this is, there is often the language barrier to contend with.
Locals can nod their heads in agreement with you, then it becomes apparent that your request has been lost in translation.
During a stay in a Namibian Lodge, I requested a vegetable and cheese egg white omelette from the chef, who nodded at my request. What I received however, was just a bowl of cooked egg white!!
My request was obviously lost in translation. This will not be an issue in your own country.
11. CLOSE TO HOME IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES
It can be incredibly difficult, jetting off to faraway shores, when you have elderly relatives or other commitments. What if something happened and you had to return home quickly.
How would you find a flight? How long would it logistically take to get back home in the event of an emergency. Throw in flight times, availability and extra costs and stress levels would be rising.
Whilst this issue cannot be completely solved, being away in your home country makes things a lot easier.
Staycation Tip: Take family members along for real quality time together. Meet up half way, and see family or friends that you don’t normally get chance to holiday with.
12. NO PACKING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Gone are the weight restrictions imposed by airlines and the dimensions your luggage must be. Instead, you are able to pack as many clothes, shoes etc as you can comfortably fit into your car.
You are also able to cover all bases with regards to weather, and take a range of items to fit all scenarios. Which trust me, is a major advantage when dealing with UK weather.
Staycation Tip: Pack like a boss using packing cubes to segment your clothes, so they are easy to find. Just because you have no restrictions, doesn’t mean you can’t still be organised.
13. FIND UNDISCOVERED BEAUTY ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Hands up those who have incredible sights within an hour of home that they have never visited?
We often have amazing beauty spots, hiking trails, museums and lakes within easy reach. However, the thought of a holiday for many of us, myself included, often conjures up ideas of faraway shores.
The reality is that with a travelers mindset, we can explore anywhere and get a similar buzz.
Staycation Tip: Take your nearest city, and do some research for places to see and things to do. Put your tourist hat on, and plan your itinerary as you would, visiting an overseas city.
14. YOU CAN TAKE YOUR DOG WITH YOU
We have 3 cats who cost us the price of a small holiday in cattery bills when we take a trip. By the time we have taken them to and from the cattery and paid the bill, we have shelled out a tiny sum of money.
Kennel fees are steeper still, however you have the option on a staycation, to take your dog with you. There are numerous accommodation options that are pet friendly, plus you don’t have to worry about them missing you.
Staycation Tip: Research some dog friendly accommodation such as a cottage near the beach, and enjoy long walks.
While you can still plan and enjoy new adventures overseas, maybe you will now also consider a staycation. You get all the benefits of your usual foreign trip, without some of the stress, planning and cost.
With forward planning and wearing your tourist hat, you will return home refreshed and revitalised, with great memories to boot! And you may just realise that you are just as happy taking a staycation trip!
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