If you follow me on social media then you are well aware of an upcoming staycation the fella and I are taking to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Kevin knows that the day of love is one of my favorite holidays which is why he tries to plan a mini getaway, sans kids, each year to make the time a little extra special. Boy do I love that man!
While a staycation isn’t always the first choice – um, Hawaii – sometimes it’s the only choice when it comes to sticking to a budget. Since we took a few staycations last year, I think I can safely say that I’m a staycation planning expert! To celebrate my new title I thought I’d share some of the tips and tricks we try to follow when planning getaways within our own city. Check out these four tips for how to make the most out of your staycation.
- Do your research and prepare an itinerary. Just because you’re only a few miles away from your home doesn’t mean you can’t have some semblance of a real vacation. Like any getaway, having an itinerary prepared is a good way to check-off the sites you want to see, the eatery’s you’ve been dying to visit and the shops you want to peruse. This is a great way to play tourist in your own city!
- Don’t overschedule. Sure, I just suggested creating an itinerary but I don’t want you to overcommit yourself either. Leave room for spontaneity! A night where you don’t have anything planned is a great time to stumble upon hidden gems in your own backyard – a hole in the wall taqueria, an impromptu segway tour, or better yet, room service in your pajama and a movie. Let the city guide you!
- Get out of the house and book a hotel. The point of a staycation is to get away, even if that’s 10 miles away from your house. Staying at a hotel legitimizes the vacation just a little more and truly makes you feel like you got away. This is also a great opportunity to enjoy the hotel amenities, like a continental breakfast, spa services and room service!
- If you can, delete your work email account from your phone. In today’s world, the convenience of working straight from your phone is both good and bad. In terms of disconnecting and truly being present, it’s bad. It’s common to have your work email connected to your phone which can hinder the purpose of a vacation, regardless of if you’re on the beach or your own backyard. I highly suggest truly disconnecting from work and removing all evidence of employment from your phone, this includes email and any communications channels like Slack.
How do you plan your staycations? Share in the comments below!
