5 Tips for Planning the Perfect Staycation

You don’t have to go far to have a relaxing and affordable vacation! Get to know your hometown, try something new, leave the house, get outside of your comfort zone or relax in the privacy of your own home. Despite my love of travel, I also have a love of living a debt-free life, so I’ve taken my share of staycations from work or just to get away from “the real world” for a while, so I’m going to share some of my top tips with you!

• Tip One: Do Your Research. What’s the first thing you do in a new town? You find out about the history and the culture. So what’s the oldest building in your city? What is your hometown’s main attraction? Who founded your community and who lived there before them?Don’t know the answers? Spend an hour finding historic tours of places around your city you’d normally pass by on your way to work or school and then go and explore!
• Tip Two: Leave the House. A staycation doesn’t require you to stay in your pj’s all week (though it certainly can!) It’s a chance for you to plan an in-town adventure using the information you gathered during the hour of research mentioned above.Go to a museum, see a community theatre production, visit a state park, try a new yoga class, or just have lunch on the other side of town. Get out and try something new in the place where you live. You have time today!
• Tip Three: Create Your Own Amenities. Okay – so you really, really don’t want to leave the house? Create your own spa experience at home!Sleep on the “special” bedsheets for a night or two, use the fine china for all of your meals, and of course- treat yourself to a spa day. Make sure to gather everything you need for your luxe home spa adventure ahead of time so you can truly enjoy your days off.
• Tip Four: Stay in a local hotel. Want a true vacation experience? Use Hotwire or Priceline to find a mystery hotel in a neighborhood or community you know very well. I typically stick to hotels in the four stars and up category to avoid any possibly shady hotels that may be on those websites’ lists.Pick your price, book your room for the night, and plan to live like a tourist for a day or two! Eat, shop, play, and then come back to your unfamiliar but plush abode where you don’t have to cook, clean or otherwise entertain. You get the pleasure of a real getaway without the cost and travel time.
• Tip Five: Make a Reservation. Don’t want to pay for a hotel, but want to have a special experience anyway? Book time with a massage therapist, or an hour or two at a spa, or just make reservations for a nice meal! Treat yourself to a little extra attention during your staycation – it can go a long way toward your mental and physical health!

What have been some of your best staycation experiences?