Staycations - Budget and Family Friendly

-- by Sok K Verdery

Have you ever thought about taking a vacation at home? While this form of holiday may not seem like your typical flight and hotel package in a faraway land staycations, or vacations taken from the comfort of your home, are a great option for getting to know your local area, saving the hassle of packing everyone up and making it on time for your flight and most importantly saving money.

Today, a two person vacation costs approximately $244 per day. Add on the rest of the family and there goes your savings. Family vacations can cost thousands and while they are still a great experience why not try and see what your local area has to offer.

Staycations are on the rise, mainly due to the Recession but there is also a growing trend in buying local. This includes shopping local, enjoying local entertainment and attractions and taking interest in the local arts and dining scenes.

Think of the money you can save! No flights, no hotels, no outrageous gas costs. Staycations offer the relaxation of home with the excitement of touring and the added bonus of always knowing you can drink the water and find your toothbrush.

If you're going to plan a staycation, do it right. This means no working, less cleaning, more fun! Consider a house cleaning service for the week or even having someone like a caterer make you dinner. Take-out Chinese food is also acceptable... to a point.

The real point is getting out there and enjoying all that you can without going far to get it. Take a day trip to a local winery, pack the lawn chairs to a local music festival or sporting event, go to that restaurant you've been dying to try. And while you're doing these things remember to make it feel like a vacation.

Take a week off and leave your computer untouched, unless you're uploading the day's photos of course, consider turning your phone off or setting calls straight to voicemail. Let everyone know you're on vacation and you will not be persuaded to do anything you would on a regular work day. Sleep in, take long showers, sunbathe on the lawn, enjoy a few beverages, go for a massage. You need to relax completely to get the full benefit of a staycation.

Do you need some ideas of what to do for the week? Head to your local visitors centre or check it out online and consume all the information you can about anything that perks your interest. This could include local scenic hikes, canoe rentals, a visit to the current exhibit at your local art gallery, taking in a movie or theatre performance or trying something new and exciting you've never thought to do like bungee jumping or mountain biking. Who knows, deep within your local scene could lay a new hobby!

Does this type of a vacation still seem out of your reach? Does your summer look about the same as did your fall and winter, slaving away at work with not enough sleep and never enough coffee? Well there are budget options as well.

Consider taking a couple of long weekends off during the summer instead of one long week. If you don't have your own consider borrowing sports equipment like bicycles or canoes from friends or searching for a cheap rental outfit. Many art galleries and museums are very affordable and outdoor recreation like playing Frisbee or going surfing are practically free of expenses besides the gas it takes to get there. Rent a movie or look for streaming videos online instead of going to the theatre. Your couch is probably way more comfortable than those tiny theatre seats anyways.

If you're thinking of a music festival, consider volunteering. Many smaller festivals require that you only volunteer one four to eight hour shift during the course of the event, gaining you free entry and sometimes even free or discounted food and beverages.

Never say never! Vacation is a state of mind and no matter where you take it, be it far away or right at home the point is that you're relaxing and spending time with your loved ones, doing activities that everyone enjoys. It's a staycation!

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Resource: Save both time and money with Staycation Savers. Visit CouponShack.com for more information.