When you really need a break but you don’t have a ton of cash to drop on a vacation, or you simply don’t have the time to get away, consider planning a staycation for you and your family. While the idea of vacationing at home doesn’t sound great to everyone, staycations can provide the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge without blowing your budget or spending a ton of time traveling to your destination.
If you’re trying to plan a staycation for your family, here are a few tips you’ll want to consider as you go:
PLAN IN ADVANCE
Since staycations don’t actually involve going someplace new, many people are inclined to skip the planning process altogether. Not planning for your staycation is the fastest way to make it feel like you’re just spending another weekend at home. Don’t just randomly determine a weekend is going to be a staycation – instead, decide a few weeks in advance and go into it with a plan to keep everyone busy and having fun.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOCAL EVENTS
If your town or city is known for a big annual festival or event, consider planning your staycation to align with it. These events can sometimes be so large that you truly don’t feel like you’re someplace familiar, and the festive atmosphere can be a great way to add some fun and liveliness into an otherwise relaxing staycation. Check your local events calendar and see if you can align your staycation with something happening nearby.
GET YOUR HOME READY BEFOREHAND
Yes, you’re vacationing at home – but you should still go out of your way a little to make it feel special. You may want to put a few vases of fresh flowers around your house to help add a little ambiance, or create a cheeky “Welcome To Hotel Your-Last-Name” sign to remind your family that you aren’t just enjoying a regular weekend at home.
At the very least, you should give your home a thorough cleaning before your staycation begins. Nobody should deal with the stress of a mess when they’re on vacation. Find some time to tackle your clutter before your staycation starts if you genuinely want a chance to relax.
ENJOY A LITTLE SPLURGE OR TWO
Even if the whole reason you’re planning a staycation instead of a true vacation is driven by budget, it’s hard to make a few days at home feel like a vacation when nothing is out of the ordinary. Pick a few little things to splurge on. Take the family out to ice cream, pay for admission at a local attraction, buy a new board game to enjoy together, or stock the fridge with better groceries than you’d usually buy.
TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS!
Many people spend their vacations with their cameras glued to their hands, but the same rarely apply for staycations. Have some fun with it and challenge yourself to photograph your town and your family like a tourist while you’re staycationing. Family members who would rather not pose for pictures might be reluctant to participate at first, but you might be surprised to see how much fun you have staging family photo shoots in front of your town’s main attractions.
Whether you’ve enjoyed many staycations with friends and family or you’re getting ready for your very first one, these tips will help you create a great experience for everyone, and make your staycation feel more like a vacation!
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