Who can ignore the price of a gallon of gas? It’s front and center in the newspapers, on the web and certainly at the pumps. The classic summer vacation of the fabulous and frugal has always been to simply throw the family in the car and hit the open road. Unfortunately, this year’s high gas prices and environmental awareness have put the brakes on this old stand-by.
If flying is expensive, and now driving is expensive, what’s a person to do?
Staycation.
Huh?
A staycation is vacation taken in one’s own home town.
Boring!
No. Think about it. Much vacation stress originates is the traveling to and from said paradise. The day spent to get there and the day spent coming home are essentially wasted exhausting days.
Why not explore your own area as a tourist would? Go to a play or museum. Find a great hike. Indulge yourself with a spa day. Or simply sleep in. Heard about a great new restaurant? Go ahead and make a reservation. Without the regular expenses of travel, you can now afford it .
What if you want to get away from the house, but not your town? Stay in a wonderful swanky old hotel for a couple nights. Even a corporate chain with a pool, cable TV and big breakfast buffet can be a fun treat. You might be surprised how little they charge. Online sites such as Travelocity and Priceline can help find those cheapest rates. Heck, in a pinch, you could even swap homes with a friend.
Treat the staycation as you would a regular vacation. Don’t get trapped into thinking this is the time to re-landscape the yard to organize the closets. Unplug the phone! Relax! Rejuvenate!
Experiment swapping out your vacation with a staycation. You might find yourself more well-rested than if you’d taken that Tahitian trip after all. The extra money in your wallet and the extra gas in your tank will certainly go far to support this illusion.
Nirvana is a state of mind, not a geographic location.
-Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I LOVE IT! We had already, by default, planned on a staycation this year, but after reading your suggestions, I’ll give it more thought so we can make it feel fun and adventurous. Great suggestions!