With most of the world on lockdown amid a global pandemic, getting away isn’t easy. Changes like travel bans, social distancing, and quarantine requirements make it difficult to travel outside of state lines, let alone internationally. While this does put a monkey-wrench in vacation and business travel, it doesn’t mean you have to remain stuck in the house. A staycation could be just as fun.
What is a Staycation?
A staycation is leisure time spent exploring your city or state. You can plan to stay at a local hotel or opt to stay home and indulge in day trips and exciting activities. It has become a popular trend in the middle of a pandemic as you can remain close to home while still getting a taste of rest, relaxation, and fun.
Planning Your Trip
Planning a trip to your hometown is a bit different than planning for a traditional getaway. If this is your first time, these tips will come in handy.
Choose a Destination
The first step is selecting a destination. If you live in a city with tons of activities to try, then you can center your vacation around your town. On the other hand, if it’s boring, you can select a neighboring city. Keep in mind that you want to steer clear of areas with high coronavirus outbreaks.
Decide Where You’ll Stay
Once you’ve figured out where you want to go, the next step is deciding where you’ll stay. If you’re on a tight budget, staying at home gives you more money for activities. However, if you simply want to get out of the house, you can look into affordable hotels and vacation rentals. As occupancy has been low, chances are you can find a good deal on nightly rates.
Transportation
Whether you’re planning day trips and staying at home or intend to vacation in a nearby town, you’re going to need reliable transportation. While using a personal vehicle would save you money, if you’re traveling in a group or your vehicle isn’t reliable, it’s best to rent a car. Contact a car rental agency nearby to find out what the new rules are amid the pandemic.
Arrange Meals
Eating out while on vacation takes up a lot of your budget. While it is essential to fuel up on nutrition every day, planning your meals helps you save money. You should also try not to eat out three times a day. Learn how to make strong coffee and simple meals for breakfast. You can even prep meals and pack them for your trip. This way, you can heat them in the microwave and enjoy. If there are particular restaurants you’d like to try, see if there are coupons you can use.
Search for Activities
While large gatherings and indoor activities are limited during the pandemic, you can still do a lot of things during your staycation. If the weather permits, it’s best to start with outdoor activities. Many state parks are open with tons of things to do, from camping and hiking to fishing and swimming. If you’re going to look for activities indoors, be sure that you schedule an appointment and arrive early, so it doesn’t get too crowded. To save money on your staycation, don’t forget to look for coupons you can use.
If you’d prefer to stay home, you can still enjoy your staycation by doing things around the house. Plan an at-home spa day, lounge by the pool in your yard, have an outdoor movie night, play games, and watch tv all night with the kids. As long as it’s not related to school or work, it counts as a much-needed break.
Being on lockdown sucks, especially when it’s been months since you’ve had a vacation. While you may not travel abroad or across state lines without jumping through a bunch of hoops, you can still have a good time planning a staycation. Using the tips discussed above, you can have a fantastic time without worrying about your health or safety.