SUMMARY POINTS
As a couple, you guys love to travel, especially to exotic locations. You dream of visiting Europe on a month-long tour but let’s be real, that shit ain’t happening unless one of you hit the lottery.
Your income is mainly spent on paying down debt, keeping a roof over your head, food on the table and clothes on your back.
Even with lunchtime micro job side hustles, there just isn’t any spare cash in the budget for a vacation, much less a luxury one to some far-off destination. As much as you guys would love to jet off to Bora Bora, it’s just not an option at this point.
Time is an issue too.
Maybe you can’t get enough time off work for a “real” vacation. Or maybe you have commitments that keep you close to home and you can’t jet off for long.
What you need is something that will give you the change of scenery you need without getting into even more debt to pay for it.
Enter the staycation.
It’s not a lame excuse for “real” travel. It’s a smart way to get away without the downsides of an expensive vacation abroad. You can actually afford this.
You get to break out of your regular routine but you don’t go too far from home. Staying local gives you the best of both worlds - a change of scenery and a chance to relax with none of the big expense or stress of a traditional vacation.
You can have an amazing time on a staycation without spending a ton of money. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend quality time as a couple, reconnect with each other and reignite the spark in your relationship.
It’s the shift away from your normal routine that really matters. Staying at home just keeps you in the usual routine and you get no vacation-like benefits from that.
You guys need to get away from the rat race, decompress and relax so that when the both of you go back to work, it’ll be much easier to get in the zone with work because you’re fully recharged.
Your income is mainly spent on paying down debt, keeping a roof over your head, food on the table and clothes on your back.
Even with lunchtime micro job side hustles, there just isn’t any spare cash in the budget for a vacation, much less a luxury one to some far-off destination. As much as you guys would love to jet off to Bora Bora, it’s just not an option at this point.
Time is an issue too.
Maybe you can’t get enough time off work for a “real” vacation. Or maybe you have commitments that keep you close to home and you can’t jet off for long.
What you need is something that will give you the change of scenery you need without getting into even more debt to pay for it.
Enter the staycation.
It’s not a lame excuse for “real” travel. It’s a smart way to get away without the downsides of an expensive vacation abroad. You can actually afford this.
You get to break out of your regular routine but you don’t go too far from home. Staying local gives you the best of both worlds - a change of scenery and a chance to relax with none of the big expense or stress of a traditional vacation.
You can have an amazing time on a staycation without spending a ton of money. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend quality time as a couple, reconnect with each other and reignite the spark in your relationship.
It’s the shift away from your normal routine that really matters. Staying at home just keeps you in the usual routine and you get no vacation-like benefits from that.
You guys need to get away from the rat race, decompress and relax so that when the both of you go back to work, it’ll be much easier to get in the zone with work because you’re fully recharged.
The Benefits Of Staycations Over Traditional Vacations
Don’t fall for the bullshit myth that you need a traditional vacation to make it a real getaway.
A staycation can be an even more relaxing choice when you weigh up the pros and cons. Vacations are great but they have some major downsides that aren’t a factor with staycations.
Here are some of the big benefits of choosing a staycation for your next break.
A staycation can be an even more relaxing choice when you weigh up the pros and cons. Vacations are great but they have some major downsides that aren’t a factor with staycations.
Here are some of the big benefits of choosing a staycation for your next break.
1. It’s More Affordable
Vacations can be a major source of debt but it doesn’t have to be this way. A staycation can be much more affordable since travel expenses are minimal. There’s no hefty airfare to fork out for and you can be creative with where you stay.
Sure, you can book a luxury hotel or high-end rental but it’s not necessary. If you don’t have a big budget, you don’t need to splash out.
Sure, you can book a luxury hotel or high-end rental but it’s not necessary. If you don’t have a big budget, you don’t need to splash out.
2. It’s Low Maintenance
One of the big downsides of a traditional vacation is the amount of planning and stress that can go into it. Sometimes, it can feel like you need another vacation to get over the vacation!
A staycation can be a totally different proposition. It can be as simple or action-packed as you make it. It’s totally up to you.
On some expensive vacations, you feel obligated to do a ton of activities because you want to get your money’s worth. There’s none of that with a staycation. If you want to keep things low-maintenance, you don’t have to pack your schedule.
If all you want to do is chill out and go with the flow, that’s perfectly okay. You set the rules.
A staycation can be a totally different proposition. It can be as simple or action-packed as you make it. It’s totally up to you.
On some expensive vacations, you feel obligated to do a ton of activities because you want to get your money’s worth. There’s none of that with a staycation. If you want to keep things low-maintenance, you don’t have to pack your schedule.
If all you want to do is chill out and go with the flow, that’s perfectly okay. You set the rules.
3. Your Vacation Starts And Ends On Your Terms
You’re not rushing to the airport to catch a flight or getting ready for an extended road trip. And that means no time wasted in airports or waiting for a taxi or rental car.
When it’s time to go home, you’re not working around flight schedules and planning for check-in time at the airport. And best of all, no jet lag!
You have control of when your staycation starts and ends.
When it’s time to go home, you’re not working around flight schedules and planning for check-in time at the airport. And best of all, no jet lag!
You have control of when your staycation starts and ends.
4. It Fits Your Situation
Staycations are as flexible as you need them to be. If you can’t swing a two-week vacation, you can easily fit a staycation into a few days that work for you.
Adding just one vacation day to the start or end of a long weekend can make for a perfect way to create an on-demand staycation that fits around your schedule.
Plus, it’ll really maximize your long weekend staycation and give you guys the much needed break from work life.
Adding just one vacation day to the start or end of a long weekend can make for a perfect way to create an on-demand staycation that fits around your schedule.
Plus, it’ll really maximize your long weekend staycation and give you guys the much needed break from work life.
5. It’s A Chance To Reconnect With Each Other
A traditional vacation can be a missed opportunity to spend quality time together. You’re so busy trying to do it all and get the full experience and you forget to focus on each other.
A change of scenery can be all you need to reignite the spark, especially if your staycation isn’t crazy busy. In fact, the more simple and chill it is, the better it’ll be for both of you. So, be sure to unplug from the matrix and just be with each other.
A change of scenery can be all you need to reignite the spark, especially if your staycation isn’t crazy busy. In fact, the more simple and chill it is, the better it’ll be for both of you. So, be sure to unplug from the matrix and just be with each other.
6. You Can Support The Local Economy
When you stay local, you’re giving your local economy a boost. Any time you eat out or buy something, it’s a local business that’s getting the benefit.
The morning brunch at the local diner, the sun hat from the town gift shop, the afternoon coffee and snack at the corner cafe all contribute to the “main street” small businesses.
The morning brunch at the local diner, the sun hat from the town gift shop, the afternoon coffee and snack at the corner cafe all contribute to the “main street” small businesses.
The 2 Types Of Staycations: Home Versus Nearby
With staycations, you’ve got two big choices. You can stay at home or you can staycation closeby - like within a few hours drive from where you live.
You can always stay at home and save a lot of money by not having to get a hotel room. If you’re really tight on money, this is the best option. However, the main detraction with this option is that it’s too easy to fall back into the same routine.
Staying nearby, like within a 2-3 hour drive, gives you the best of both worlds. It breaks you out of your normal weekend routine and helps you feel refreshed and recharged without spending a whole lot.
Plus, it’s a lot more fun than staycationing at home. You can feel like you’re on vacation, even if you haven't gone far. Plus, not having to make your bed in the morning is a nice little luxury. 😉
Whatever you'd normally do on vacation can easily happen here too.
Start your staycation with a celebration drink while the sun goes down, then head out for a leisurely breakfast the following day. Throw in some fine dining and you've got a real vacation feel, no matter where you stay.
The key is to treat your staycation as a special adventure, not a dull compromise.
It's like G.K. Chesterton says in this quote:
"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is, at last, to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land."
In other words, be a tourist in your own region.
And lastly, make sure you switch off notifications on your phone. Nothing ruins a relaxing staycation more than a work email popping into your inbox. You guys need to fully disconnect from work and leave all the bullshit behind.
A staycation is your ticket away from all that madness for a few days so take full advantage. You can’t recharge properly if you’re constantly checking work stuff.
You can always stay at home and save a lot of money by not having to get a hotel room. If you’re really tight on money, this is the best option. However, the main detraction with this option is that it’s too easy to fall back into the same routine.
Staying nearby, like within a 2-3 hour drive, gives you the best of both worlds. It breaks you out of your normal weekend routine and helps you feel refreshed and recharged without spending a whole lot.
Plus, it’s a lot more fun than staycationing at home. You can feel like you’re on vacation, even if you haven't gone far. Plus, not having to make your bed in the morning is a nice little luxury. 😉
Whatever you'd normally do on vacation can easily happen here too.
Start your staycation with a celebration drink while the sun goes down, then head out for a leisurely breakfast the following day. Throw in some fine dining and you've got a real vacation feel, no matter where you stay.
The key is to treat your staycation as a special adventure, not a dull compromise.
It's like G.K. Chesterton says in this quote:
"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is, at last, to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land."
In other words, be a tourist in your own region.
And lastly, make sure you switch off notifications on your phone. Nothing ruins a relaxing staycation more than a work email popping into your inbox. You guys need to fully disconnect from work and leave all the bullshit behind.
A staycation is your ticket away from all that madness for a few days so take full advantage. You can’t recharge properly if you’re constantly checking work stuff.
Outdoorsy Staycation Ideas
If you’re not a couple who likes spending a lot of time indoors, a staycation with lots of outdoorsy activities can be the perfect escape from it all. And if the weather is on your side, getting outside is a fun way to get to know the local area.
Plus, there’s something incredibly therapeutic about being in the fresh air and being outdoors can bring serious wellbeing benefits. It’s a great way to maximize the stress relief side of your staycation.
Plus, there’s something incredibly therapeutic about being in the fresh air and being outdoors can bring serious wellbeing benefits. It’s a great way to maximize the stress relief side of your staycation.
1. Connect With Nature
A staycation is a perfect opportunity to get outdoors and closer to nature.
Walking in nature has powerful benefits for your physical and emotional health. Including this in your staycation plans helps you manage work stress and rebalance.
Hiking and camping are the obvious ways to do this. A trip to a nearby park or any other green space you have locally is just as good though.
If you live close to a state park or national park, you can get the benefits on a much wider scale.
Or maybe you have a lake or river nearby that can bring you closer to nature.
Walking in nature has powerful benefits for your physical and emotional health. Including this in your staycation plans helps you manage work stress and rebalance.
Hiking and camping are the obvious ways to do this. A trip to a nearby park or any other green space you have locally is just as good though.
If you live close to a state park or national park, you can get the benefits on a much wider scale.
Or maybe you have a lake or river nearby that can bring you closer to nature.
2. Be A Tourist
This one can be a lot of fun and you can see your hometown or any nearby town or city in a totally different light. If you’ve not already explored the local attractions your area or neighboring city has to offer, this is a great chance to do that.
Maybe your state has a bunch of weird and fun attractions. A fun way to see them is to visit a few during your staycation. Or you can go off the tourist trail and look for hidden gems you haven’t discovered yet.
Either way, experiencing new things is the secret to making your weekends feel longer. Use this same principle here and your short staycation will feel more like a week-long getaway.
You can hop online and get recommendations for well-kept secrets in advance or surprise yourself with what you find while you’re exploring.
It’s like those awesome restaurants or ice cream parlors you stumble across on vacation, except these are in your backyard.
Maybe your state has a bunch of weird and fun attractions. A fun way to see them is to visit a few during your staycation. Or you can go off the tourist trail and look for hidden gems you haven’t discovered yet.
Either way, experiencing new things is the secret to making your weekends feel longer. Use this same principle here and your short staycation will feel more like a week-long getaway.
You can hop online and get recommendations for well-kept secrets in advance or surprise yourself with what you find while you’re exploring.
It’s like those awesome restaurants or ice cream parlors you stumble across on vacation, except these are in your backyard.
3. Go Glamping
Glamping is a great way to add some adventure to your staycation but with a touch more luxury than you’d get from camping.
If you’re a couple who loves being outdoors, it’s a perfect staycation idea.
You can go hiking in the day and come back to a lavish dinner with wine and all the accouterments. What could be more romantic?
If you’re a couple who loves being outdoors, it’s a perfect staycation idea.
You can go hiking in the day and come back to a lavish dinner with wine and all the accouterments. What could be more romantic?
4. Revisit Your Relationship Milestones
Take a trip down memory lane and revisit places that were milestones in your relationship.
Go back to where you first met, where you had your first date, and the place you first kissed. All of those places have special meaning and deserve to be visited again.
Be grateful for those moments - because doing so is the secret to triggering happiness in life.
Don’t forget to take pictures!
Go back to where you first met, where you had your first date, and the place you first kissed. All of those places have special meaning and deserve to be visited again.
Be grateful for those moments - because doing so is the secret to triggering happiness in life.
Don’t forget to take pictures!
5. Add Some Action And Adventure
If you both love thrill-seeking activities, you can include them in your staycation too.
Rafting, kayaking, skydiving, bungee jumping, and riding ATVs add excitement and adventure to any staycation.
Just be sure to balance it out with an easy evening routine to chillax.
Rafting, kayaking, skydiving, bungee jumping, and riding ATVs add excitement and adventure to any staycation.
Just be sure to balance it out with an easy evening routine to chillax.
6. Have An Afternoon Picnic
A picnic in the park is a relaxing and romantic activity that won’t blow the budget. Even if the weather isn’t in your favor, you can snuggle together under blankets.
Pack up some of your favorite foods and hit a local park. Or if you have a nearby restaurant you love, see if you can get takeout and combine it with your picnic.
It’s also a nice way to visit a park you’ve not been to before. Find a list of parks for the area that you’ll be visiting.
Pack up some of your favorite foods and hit a local park. Or if you have a nearby restaurant you love, see if you can get takeout and combine it with your picnic.
It’s also a nice way to visit a park you’ve not been to before. Find a list of parks for the area that you’ll be visiting.
Indoorsy Staycation Ideas
If the weather isn’t your friend or you’re not a fan of the outdoors, an indoor staycation can be a great move. This doesn’t have to be boring - you can have a lot of fun even if you never set foot outdoors on your staycation.
1. Hit The Spa
A spa retreat can make your staycation feel super relaxing and adds a touch of luxury to your break. Find a nearby highly-rated spa and go spoil yourselves.
If you need to go down the home spa route instead, create a shower sanctuary by picking up some luxurious spa products to treat yourself. You can even keep the surprise factor by ordering a surprise beauty package for the event.
If you need to go down the home spa route instead, create a shower sanctuary by picking up some luxurious spa products to treat yourself. You can even keep the surprise factor by ordering a surprise beauty package for the event.
2. Have Dinner At A High-End Local Restaurant
Is there a posh restaurant that you guys have talked about going to but it’s always felt too expensive for a regular date night?
Well, now’s your chance to make it happen.
Get dressed up and go there on your staycation. Order up some savory dishes, some wine and of course, a bit of dessert to finish things up.
Well, now’s your chance to make it happen.
Get dressed up and go there on your staycation. Order up some savory dishes, some wine and of course, a bit of dessert to finish things up.
3. Take A New Class
Do you guys love to try new activities when you’re on vacation?
You can still do this as a couple on a staycation too. See if there are any fun classes in the area that’ll help you learn a new skill. A few ideas include candlemaking, pottery, perfume making, cooking, etc.
You can still do this as a couple on a staycation too. See if there are any fun classes in the area that’ll help you learn a new skill. A few ideas include candlemaking, pottery, perfume making, cooking, etc.
4. Take In Some Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is a fun way to maximize stress relief while you're on vacation.
If you're near a vineyard, you can get the full experience. But if that's not a local option, head to a wine bar and pretend you're there.
Make it a wine meditation for a truly relaxing time.
If you're near a vineyard, you can get the full experience. But if that's not a local option, head to a wine bar and pretend you're there.
Make it a wine meditation for a truly relaxing time.
5. Movie Theatre Marathon
A movie marathon is another super affordable staycation activity. Plus, it’s the perfect way to pass the day if you don’t want to spend time outdoors.
Sure, you can do it at home but where’s the fun in that? Head to a local theater instead and indulge in 2-3 movies in a row. It takes some staying power but it’s worth it.
Movies are the ultimate escape and they’re pretty much guaranteed to take you to another place. Cuddle together on the back row and it can be romantic too.
Stock up on popcorn and snacks and make a day (or night) of it.
Sure, you can do it at home but where’s the fun in that? Head to a local theater instead and indulge in 2-3 movies in a row. It takes some staying power but it’s worth it.
Movies are the ultimate escape and they’re pretty much guaranteed to take you to another place. Cuddle together on the back row and it can be romantic too.
Stock up on popcorn and snacks and make a day (or night) of it.
It’s Time To Rekindle Things With A Staycation
You don't need to jet off somewhere exotic to have a "real" vacation.
With a staycation, you get the best of both worlds - a break from your normal routine on a budget that works for you.
Plus, it's a chance to really reconnect with each other, which let’s be honest, doesn’t happen enough during your day-to-day lives.
Whatever type of staycation you choose, it can bring big wellbeing benefits. You guys will feel refreshed and recharged. And you won't feel like you need another vacation to recover from the travel and stress!
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]
With a staycation, you get the best of both worlds - a break from your normal routine on a budget that works for you.
Plus, it's a chance to really reconnect with each other, which let’s be honest, doesn’t happen enough during your day-to-day lives.
Whatever type of staycation you choose, it can bring big wellbeing benefits. You guys will feel refreshed and recharged. And you won't feel like you need another vacation to recover from the travel and stress!
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]