If you are planning a staycation rather than a regular vacation, either due to money being tight or being unable to travel, there are things that you can do to help your staycation be as memorable as a regular vacation. We’re going to look at some of the benefits of doing a staycation and some things that you can do to help it be fun for the whole family.
3 Benefits of a Staycation
You Can Save Money
The biggest benefits of having a staycation is that you are going to save a lot of money. When you’re traveling, you are spending a lot of money in hotels, gas, airfare, theme park tickets and souvenirs. That can really add up. But when you stay at home, you don’t have to worry about spending so much money. You can use the money that you would have put towards your vacation to something else like home improvement, debt reduction and other things.
Fewer Crowds
Depending on where you live, there’s a good chance that you are going to encounter fewer crowds than you would if you were to go on vacation. Of course, if you live in Orlando or another summer hot spot, this likely isn’t the case. But if you are in a spot that isn’t tourist heavy, you can avoid the crowds you would otherwise encounter on vacation.
Support Local Businesses
Have you ever thought about what is in your area? Chances are that there are places there that you haven’t explored. When you have a staycation, you can take the time that you would otherwise be working to see what is around your home. You may just be surprised at what is around and what hidden gems you have found.
Tips for Having a Fun Filled Family Staycation
Now that we know some of the benefits of taking a staycation, how do you make sure that you and your family are having fun? Below are some tips that you can use to ensure that the time you spend on your staycation is enjoyable for your whole family.
Have a Good Attitude
One of the biggest differences between your typical weekend and having a staycation is the attitude you have. You will be able to make many great memories with your family and have lots of fun if you’re treating the staycation just like another vacation.
You want to approach it with a plan that is fun-filled and make sure that you are enthusiastic. Your family will likely catch your enthusiasm, and everyone will have a great time.
Have a Budget
One of the best things about staycations is, like we mentioned above, is that they aren’t as expensive as regular vacations. However, it’s a good idea to budget some money for things like souvenirs, food, activities and other splurges. This will help with making the time special.
For instance, you could order a different type of take-out during your staycation. After all, you’d likely be going out to restaurants on vacation. This way no one has to cook or clean up.
Avoid Distractions
If you were on vacation, you wouldn’t be doing work, right? So why do work on your staycation? Don’t accept any assignments from work and don’t plan to get together with people outside your family.
Have an agreement with your family for devices such as phone or tablets. Chances are you are going to be tempted to check your email, take calls, text your friends and even play games when you’re on staycation, even more than when you’re on a typical vacation. So you want to talk about the boundaries and see what is going to work for all considered ahead of time.
During typical vacations your family will stay busy throughout the day and they unwind during the evening in their own space and way. This often will involve tablets and phones. This could be something that you can do during your staycation as well.
Choose a Good Theme
Having a theme will help you and your family with organizing your plans for your staycation. It also will help with setting this time apart from just a weekend. You can select a theme for the whole staycation or give each of the days a different theme.
For instance, if you have older teens you might want to give them each a day that they can plan. For instance, if you have a child who is a fan of Harry Potter, maybe have a movie day where you watch the movies and make your own butterbeer. If someone likes Broadway, you can all get dressed up, have your own version of the Tony awards and a karaoke.
Some of the other themes that you might like are:
- Arts & Crafts
- Favorite Movie or Book
- Hometown Tourist
- International Activities & Foods
- Local Foodie
- Outdoor Activities
- Sports
Create an Itinerary
Planning an itinerary that’s full of fun is a big part of family vacations, so you want to do the same when you are having a staycation. It’s a good idea to write down the activities that the family would like to do and make sure they’re organized in a daily itinerary.
Clean & Prep Ahead of Time
One thing about vacations is that you wouldn’t be doing lots of chores. So you want to avoid doing them while you’re on staycation. Do all of your yard work, laundry, deep cleaning and other chores before you begin your staycation.
You wouldn't do a lot of chores on a regular vacation, so avoid them on your staycation. Do all the deep cleaning, yard work, laundry, etc before your staycation begins.
Plan Day Trips
One of the things that we love about vacations is getting to do things that are fun. So one of the things you want to do is to find things around your house that you can do. For instance, why not go to the zoo or an amusement park with the kids? Make sure that you allow the children to each get a souvenir, you too! Plan to have lunch at the place and then top off the day with a nice dinner on the way home.
These are just some of the things that you want to do when you are planning a staycation. Remember that there are plenty of benefits that you will find of choosing a staycation rather than going on a true vacation. We have just started to scratch the surface here.
Please take a look at our inventory and see what we have to offer. Whether you’re having a staycation, or you are heading hundreds or thousands of miles away from home on a true vacation, we have everything from luggage to electronics needs to help you make your time to be memorable and fun.
If you have any questions or you want to know more about what we have to offer, please contact us. We are always glad to help and answer questions. Please also keep checking back, because we are always adding new items to our store and having specials on our items.
