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Staycations are vacations that you take in your own home or hometown. Over the last few years, these types of vacations have become incredibly popular worldwide. A much cheaper way to vacation, staycations not only allow you to save travel costs, but also free you from the hassle of packing luggage, standing in long airport queues, and traveling on long haul flights.
If traveling to an exotic beach doesn’t fit in your annual budget, you can easily enjoy a much cheaper staycation in your own town, without shelling out a ton of money on plane tickets. If you are looking to plan your very first staycation or trying to spice up your next one, scroll below for 10 amazing ideas to level up your next stay-at-home vacation.
1. Enjoy a Spa Day
Enjoy a relaxing staycation spa day from the comfort of your own home by ordering some bubble bath and face masks. Take a warm relaxing bath with essential oils, light some candles, and play soothing music. Hydrate with some fruit and mint infused water to create the perfect spa experience for yourself.
If you’re looking for a more authentic setting, book a spa day at a local hotel in your town. Book a massage, a pedicure, or a facial, and relax with a book or your favorite magazine.
2. Take a Global Food Tour
Love exploring different cuisines on vacation? Why not cook yourself some delicious dishes from around the world in your own kitchen? Not only will you save a ton of money not paying for restaurant dishes, but also learn about new flavors and learn new skills along the way.
Cooking is also considered to be a relaxing activity by many and can help you take your mind off work and other chores. So if you’re missing Paris, bake yourself some butter croissants. If you miss a restaurant you visited in Dubai, why not try making your own hummus?
3. Picnic at Home
If you have a garden or a backyard, you can set up a beautiful picnic for yourself and your family. Throw a blanket on the floor, make some sandwiches, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy a variety of cheese. If you have kids, you can also play outdoor games and make a pitcher of homemade lemonade.
If you don’t have any outdoor space, you can even enjoy an indoor picnic in your own living room. Just play some nature sounds and create the same setting indoors.
4. Go Camping
If you enjoy adventurous vacations, why not go camping close to home or even in your own backyard? A change of scenery, and living amidst nature will help you relax and rejuvenate your body. Set up a fire, roast some marshmallows, and share ghost stories. You can ever stargaze and play campfire games with friends or family.
5. Take a Hike
Another great idea for travel adventure lovers is to go on a hike. You don’t need to travel to Peru or New Zealand to enjoy a great hike, you can enjoy the great outdoors, and breathe fresh air, by simply trekking in your very own hometown.
Head to your nearest state or national park to enjoy an exploratory hike to please your adventurous soul. Not only will you benefit from the physical activity, but you can also learn a lot more about your town or city during your staycation.
6. Stay At a Local Hotel/ Airbnb
If you really want to get away from home for the night, you can save a ton of travel money by booking a local hotel or Airbnb in your own town. Choose one that serves a wholesome breakfast, and enjoy the day relaxing in your robe. You’ll be free from the stress of cleaning up after yourself and can spend the whole day ordering out delicious food and relaxing in bed. If you’re really missing the beach, choose a hotel with a pool and relax with a drink poolside.
7. Tour Your Town
If you’re in the mood for sightseeing, you don’t have to travel all the way to Europe or Asia. Rent a car for the day and drive around your own hometown touring local historical landmarks, galleries, and museums, learning a lot more about your town’s history and culture. You can also visit your local zoo or aquarium and enjoy a gourmet picnic in a nearby park.
8. Transform a Room in Your House
If you have some extra space in your house, why not transform it into your very own vacation pad? Hang a hammock, add some tropical plants, and decorate the room in any style you want.
Make sure to leave your phone, laptop, and other digital distractions outside this space. Bring your favorite book, or a magazine, and relax on the hammock with a refreshing cocktail for the perfect staycation day.
9. Plan a Movie Night
If you’re looking to relax in your jammies and watch some of your favorite films, plan a movie night at home. You can set up a projector and screen in your backyard, add some lawn chairs or bean bags, and even hang fairy lights to create the perfect ambiance.
To make the night even better, make yourself some buttery popcorn, enjoy your favorite theatre candy, and pour yourself a drink. You can watch your favorite movies from the comfort of your home in style.
10. Take a Virtual Tour
In the midst of the global pandemic, people have recently begun to explore virtual tours across the world. You can sightsee castles, museums, national parks, and even cities like Tel Aviv now digitally.
Can’t travel to Paris? Don’t sweat. You can tour the Louvre and the Eifel tower without standing in long queues and from the comfort of your own home. You can also virtually tour the San Diego Zoo, Disney World, the Great Wall of China, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among many other popular landmarks worldwide.
