The Merits of a Staycation

written on March 24th, 2016 by Carlo Villarica

The prospect of heading out the door at a moment’s notice is incredibly appealing. The world is your oyster. There are roads to drive through, beaches to swim and quiet sunsets to meditate.

Every adventurous traveler has had their version of this. Whether it be booking a quick ticket to another country or taking an uncomfortable trike two hours to that deserted beach. It’s fun to go out there and travel.

But you don’t need to go far, spend a ton or even sleep outside your house to enjoy the many merits of a vacation. There are times when the appeal of a staycation can have just the same effect as going out to a far country.

What is a staycation?

A staycation is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance, sleeping in their own beds at night. – wiki

A staycation doesn’t mean staying home and watching TV all day. That’s not a staycation. That’s an “I’m doing nothing today” day. You can do that anytime. Find something fun and different to do.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Take a day pass inside a resort. You can lounge around the beach, swim at the pool, take in the sun and sip piña coladas.
• Dine in that fancy expensive restaurant. You would never normally go there on a casual Tuesday, but today, it’s a staycation. Splurge a little bit. The whole point is to do something different yet worthwhile.
• Take a road trip. Setup your playlists, your road games and just head out to where the streets take you. Don’t worry. You’ll be back home before bedtime.
• Get a little culture. If you live in a major city, you likely have a museum or historical building nearby. You’ve never been there, have you? Go. Learn a thing or two. Ask questions. Grow.
• Be a kid again in an amusement park. Your local parks may not be as grand as Disney Land, but they can be just as enjoyable. Bring the kids. It will be much more affordable and the kids will still have fun.

Why bother taking a staycation?

• It’s cheaper than a full-fledged vacation. Did you know staycations became popular in the US during the 2007 – 2010 financial crisis?
• One of the keys to a happier life is investing in experiences instead of material things. A staycation can be just as memorable as a trip overseas. You just need to do it right.
• You can do this frequent and often. Instead of saving up for your once in a lifetime vacation, you can go on many short staycations.
• Explore your community. Many of us live in wonderful places. We just don’t see much of it because we may be busy with work and life in general. You never know what’s around the corner of your usual route home.
• Don’t stress yourself. We’ve all been there. Travel can be stressful. Not only will you have to deal with unfamiliar locations, cultures and locales, but you have to deal with your own expectations of making sure your trip is the best it can possibly be. Have you ever heard the phrase, “I need a vacation from my vacation.”? Guess how that came about.
• Contribute to your local economy. Instead of spending thousands abroad, you can have as much enjoyment spending hundreds locally. That in turn will help the local business thrive in your area. Which in turn will help your area continue to be a great place to live in.