A staycation is a great alternative to your usual jet-setting vacay without venturing too far from home. Whether you choose to stay in your home city or visit one nearby, you can still take a break from your day-to-day life with a holiday from home.
As blue skies and sunny weather starts to make a more frequent occurrence in the UK, it is the perfect time to book and few days off work and plan a staycation. This provides the ideal opportunity to explore some of the spectacular sites that the UK has to offer.
Whether it’s taking in the stunning views of the Lake District, breathing the salty air of Cornwall or exploring the big city of London. Head to the shores of relaxing beaches, book a remote cabin stay or book a luxury hotel for a much-needed change of scenery.
Staycation Benefits
Reduce your travel time:
Usually, you will only have to be in the car or on the train for a couple of hours at the most to reach your staycation destination, allowing you more time to relax when you get there.
Save money:
With a staycation you can cut the costs of flights, visas and expensive hotels which means you have more money left for enjoying yourself when you arrive at your destination.
Easier trip planning:
Even if your staycation is very last-minute, all you have to do is book and hotel room and you’re good to go – no need to plan for baggage allowances, taxis, currency etc.
Avoid cramped plane journeys:
With a staycation you have the luxury of using your own vehicle and you can conveniently stop off to stretch your legs or take a break whenever you feel like it.
No time difference:
Avoid the grogginess and confusion of jetlag and instead return home feeling refreshed and well rested.
Support your local economy:
By staying at home, you’ll be pouring your money back into your local economy, benefiting your country.
Minimise your carbon footprint:
Air travel is one of the most damaging modes of transport. Thankfully, a staycation provides the ideal way to satisfy your wanderlust without stepping foot on a plane.
Planning Your Staycation:
#1 Create a Staycation Budget
Just as you would create a normal vacation budget, you should decide how much you want to spend on your staycation. While staycations tend to be cheaper than international vacations, they still require a planned out budget in order to run a smoothly as possible.
#2 Choose Where to Go
Choose the ‘where’ based on which staycation destination has the most of what you want to do. Do you want to go to a spa, spend time in the outdoors or visit museums? There is a best-suited staycation destination for every type of trip – you just have to find it.
#3 Decide What to do on Your Staycation
Be a Tourist in Your Own City
Very few people have properly taken the time to explore their own city. Well, it’s time to change that. See your own city through a fresh pair of eyes. Wherever you live, there are certain to be plenty of interesting historical sites and landmarks to explore.
Take a trip to those places you’ve always thought about visiting but never have. Whether it’s that old ruin down the road, that sleek-looking art gallery or the building that’s famous for some reason or another. You could even book a tour in your hometown to dive even deeper into the side of your city that you’ve never even thought of looking at. Think food or win tours, guided history explorations or even late night haunted ghost walks.
Take a New Mode of Transport
Mix things up a little by changing the way you usually get around: bike, walk, bus or Uber. Even if it’s not the fastest way of getting to your destination, this is your time to experience something new without travelling halfway across the world.
Taking a different path to your usual will give you a new perspective and open your eyes to new places and things that are usually off your radar. Public transport tends to be a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture of any place. If you are a frequent driver then it becomes easy to miss interesting landmarks that aren’t on your usual route.
Try a New Restaurant
Who says you need to travel the globe to experience the foods of the world? Your own city or those nearby are sure to have plenty of hidden gems that you’ve never even tried. You should make a point to try new foods from new restaurants on your staycation. Ditch the usual fish & chips or pizza for something you wouldn’t normally even think of trying in your home country.
The best way to ensure you try as many around the world foods as possible is the make a list of all the foodie treats from around the world that you’d like to try and then scavenger hunt to find them in your staycation destination.
Make Time for Relaxation
A staycation is the perfect chance to pay a little attention to yourself. Show yourself some loving and self-care by finding some time for relaxation while on holiday. Given that you have far fewer things to consider than when travelling abroad, it is much easier to completely relax on a staycation compared to a normal vacation.
Sleep in late, read a book, have a pamper day or go for a slow stroll. Whatever you need to refresh, make sure you devote part of your staycation to it.
Go Off the Grid
A must for any staycation is disconnecting. Turn off your phone. Ignore your emails. Detox from social media. Whatever it takes to disconnect from your usual world, do it.
This is especially important on a staycation because otherwise you might as well have stayed at home, continued working and being stressed about the things you’re usually stressed about. To enjoy your staycation to the max, you should make your best effort to embrace the present moment.
Cross Something off Your Bucket List
A staycation is the perfect opportunity to plan unique activities that you’ve always wanted to do. Go down your bucket list and see what you could tick off in your local area. Is there a class you’ve been wanting to take for ages? Get into horseback riding, discover your hidden passion for dance or try your hand at pottery making.
Now is the time for those adventurous one-time activities too. See if there is something different to try in your staycation destination that you’ve never even considered before. You could go rock climbing, see if you’re any good at axe throwing or go crazy and do a skydive.
#4 Choose Your Staycation Accommodation
Airbnb Apartment
The Airbnb apartment options are nearly endless, wherever you are in the world. The options are also incredibly versatile. This is excellent for staycations because you can stay in something completely new and unique just a few miles away from your home.
One-of-a-kind staycation accommodation options is something that Airbnb offers in droves. Whether you want to stay in a boat, a treehouse, a glamping pod, a cabin, a house, an apartment or even a caslte, you can find it on Airbnb.
Hotel Room
Maybe you just want some time to relax on your staycation, in which case, a classic hotel room is the ideal choice. With so many hotels to choose from in every city around the world, you won’t have any trouble finding a luxurious but reasonably priced hotel room.
Many hotel rooms even include breakfast or have other enjoyable facilities such as pools and gyms which you can use to make the absolute most of your staycation.
Camping
Or, maybe you want to experience what the great outdoors in your hometown has to offer. Camping is the best accommodation choice for those who want to be one with nature. An excellent low-budget option, you can experience your home in ways that you never have before.
#5 What to Take on Your Staycation
Packing for a staycation isn’t like packing for your usual globe-trotting holiday. You have to consider factors like the weather, the journey and what activities you’re going to be doing on your holiday from home.
I have compiled the ultimate list of what to pack for your next staycation trip so you’re equipped whatever the activity or weather – we know how temperamental the British weather can be.
For the Journey
It is likely that you will be driving to your staycation destination and you need to keep yourself entertained during those hours stuck in the car. The perfect car journey companion is a pair of headphones to blast out your favourite vacation tunes.
It is best to opt for a pair that are noise-cancelling to shut out the world and everyone else in the car. You might even be lucky enough to catch some z’s along the way. Headphones will also come in handy if you plan on doing some sunbathing on your staycation – if the weather permits. For the best headphones for your staycation, take a look at my guide to the best headphones for travelling.
For the Weather
Sunscreen
Even when staycationing in the often drab and dreary UK, it is still important to protect your skin with SPF. But sunscreen is even more crucial if your going on a summer staycation and planning on heading somewhere with a beach where sun exposure is guaranteed.
When shopping for the best staycation sunscreen, make sure you choose one that has a ‘broad spectrum’ label. This means that it will provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays, which combined cause sunburn, premature skin ageing and wrinkling and pigmentation.
Waterproof Jacket
Perhaps more suited to a UK staycation is a waterproof jacket. Even in the British summertime, the heavens have a tendency of suddenly opening and showering down on you.
A waterproof jacket is especially important if you’re planning making your staycation and active break, with hikes, long walks and other outdoor adventures. You must make sure that you have the best gear to help you stay dry in the unpredictable British weather. It is best to opt for a jacket that will keep the rain off your back, but that it also lightweight enough to let you walk long distances.
For the Memories
It is just as important to make and keep memories on a staycation as on a trip abroad. For avid photographers, a staycation is the perfect opportunity to brush up on your photo-taking skills.
When looking for the ideal staycation camera, it is best to opt for a compact style that is easy to fit into your pocket or a small bag for the spur of the moment pics.
Follow these top tips on how to plan the perfect staycation in 2023 and have the time of your life taking a break in your home country.
Planning Your Staycation
For more staycation inspiration, take a look at some of our other UK holiday guides:
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