If there’s no time for an extended summer vacation trip this year, you can still get a weekend recharge with a “staycation”. With a couple of days off for the weekend (or any 2 days) you can lounge by the pool of a posh hotel, try an amazing new restaurant, or just feel like you are getting a little recharge away from it all.
In an increasingly fast-paced world, everyone craves a bit of respite from the daily grind of work, responsibilities, and routines. The idea of a vacation naturally evokes images of exotic locales, crystal clear beaches, scenic mountains, or bustling, foreign cities. However, the reality of taking those dreamy vacations often involves hefty financial resources, time, and complex planning.
It can also be depressing sometimes to see everyone’s vacation pics on social media when you are stuck at home with no vacation in sight. Summer vacations, flights, and hotels all seem to be more expensive this year! [We have some ideas on how to save money on your summer vacation too!]
Everyone needs a break! It’s hard if you don’t have the time off, so it just takes a little off-day or personal time creativity to make the perfect epic staycation getaway that is close to home.
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What is a Staycation?
The term ‘staycation‘ is a blend of ‘stay’ and ‘vacation,’ an idea revolving around taking time off from work or daily activities but remaining at or near home.
It’s a time to relax, unwind, and enjoy local attractions or activities that you usually wouldn’t have the time for.
Don’t forget comfortable travel shoes for your epic staycation! I love Birkenstocks for travel, but
Choose a Summer Vacation Hotel Close to Home
Check out what the hotels in your closest downtown area or city have to offer. It can even be a quaint bed and breakfast that will provide a welcome break from the daily grind.
We love to do “Staycations” in our downtown area of New Orleans because it really feels like a vacation! There are so many things to do in walking distance like fantastic restauratns, stellar craft cocktails, live music, and just soaking up the atmosphere of the French Quarter!
We may be a bit spoiled because New Orleans always has a festival, live music, or other fun things going on, but many cities also have similar options so a staycation is perfect for experiencing everything your city has to offer!
One of our favorite staycation destinations that we love and always return to is the Virgin Hotel in New Orleans! We don’t even leave the hotel because they have a great bar, restuarants, and fun pool area (the pool is small, but the lounge and bar areas are great)! The rooms are really nice as well.
Some other hotels we love close to home are The Saint Hotel, Hyatt Centric French Quarter, Hyatt Regency, and Hotel Fontenot. We even wrote reviews of Kimpton’s Hotel Fontenot and The Saint Hotel with lots of photos in case you want to plan a trip.
See our video reel we did of our staycation of the Virgin Hotel’s Chamber room and morning coffee in the Funny Library cafe in the lobby.
“Nearcations” are a thing too!
We love doing “nearcations” at the Hard Rock Hotel or Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi because they have an amazing pool (or waterpark), restaurants, and so many activties nearby. It is a great location and a short drive for us.
Budget-Friendly Options
Some hotels also offer a “local’s” discount to help save a little over if you were visiting from far away. The Virgin Hotel in New Orleans always offers a local discount that we have taken advantage of just to be able to relax and hang out at their amazing rooftop pool.
Check with hotels in your area to see if there’s a local discount. Also, read hotel reviews and look at lots of photos to make sure you are getting the best value and activities for your staycation.
If you have a hotel credit card that earns points that could be another way to make your staycation easy on the budget. It will depend on the rates at the time and some other factors, but it can be a great way to save the budget. The Points Guy website has really detailed posts on all of the specifics on when to use points for a hotel if you want to read up on it and see what would work for you.
We usually use Hyatt points if using points in New Orleans because we love the Hyatt Centric’s pool and location right in the middle of everything. In the summer they usually boil crawfish at the bar near the pool and have a D.J.! We love it!
Relax or Party on Your Epic Staycation?
It is totally up to you what you need for your epic, close-to-home, summer vacation staycation trip. We have done both and always had a great time.
Experiencing new restaurants is great and we have also taken fun food tours that we would not have in our own town because it is usually a “vacation” thing we do.
I will say that just staying at the hotel and enjoying the pool, bar, room service, etc. all day feels so much more relaxing than partying all night. [although we still did research for our New Orleans craft cocktail crawl and our Haunted Places in New Orleans articles]
Sometimes when we’ve been on the go all weekend it feels like we need a recovery day (could be that we are not spring chickens anymore, so to speak) so it’s nice to just recharge.
There is also something that feels luxurious about lounging by the pool all day or visiting the hotel spa that makes it feel like a luxurious trip.
TIP: You can save money on your New Orleans (or many other cities) Staycation by using Sightseeing Pass! We use it to discover things we wouldn’t normally do. New Orleans Sightseeing Pass Free Entry to 20 Attractions in New Orleans
Some Benefits of a Staycation
Find New Appreciation for Your Local Hometown’s Culture and Envionment
Staycations can lead to a newfound appreciation for your local surroundings. Exploring local parks, museums, art galleries, or restaurants can provide a sense of renewed discovery and connection with your community. You also feel more confident because you know the area and how to get around more than someone visiting for the first time!
Staycations Help Save You Money
The most apparent advantage of a staycation is the financial aspect. Traditional vacations often come with high costs – airfare, accommodations, dining, attractions, and more. A staycation can save on these expenses without compromising the spirit of taking a break. The money saved can be invested in other areas or saved for a future vacation farther away.
Check out our article on how to stay on budget during vacation too!
There is Less Planning and Less Stress with a Staycation
Planning a vacation, especially to a foreign country, can often be a stressful affair. There are tickets to book, accommodations to secure, itineraries to plan, and a myriad of other things to arrange.
Staycations, on the other hand, require significantly less planning and therefore, less stress.
You can start and end your holiday whenever you want, and you don’t have to worry about packing too much or arriving on time for your flight or train.
You Can Spend More Time Relaxing and Feel More Refreshed
When you’re not spending time traveling or moving from one tourist spot to another, you can have more time to unwind and relax. This can allow you to return to work or your daily routine feeling more refreshed and revitalized.
Staycations Can Foster Self-Improvement and Wellness
A staycation can provide a much-needed break from digital distractions and work stress. This pause can help reduce anxiety and improve overall mental health.
You can use this time for mindfulness, yoga, reading, or other relaxing activities that you usually don’t have time for.
Travel is good for us even if it is just a short drive away! We’ve even looked at the current research on why travel can bring happiness.
Stay local and discover amazing things to do in your city.
The Best Part About a Staycation Getaway
The best part about having a little vacation break close to home is that you are not far away when it’s all over and it’s time for the dreaded return travel.
Traveling back home is much easier when you are in your own town and don’t have to drive for hours or deal with airports for a flight home. The sometimes stressful part of travel is virtually eliminated when it’s time to check out and go home.
Another great part of staying close to home is that if you discover a place that you really want to revisit or find some activity that you want to do again it is totally possible because it’s so close to home so you can plan another visit!
When you get home you can start planning the next quick staycation retreat! I’m planning mine for next weekend!
Do you think a staycation would work for your summer plans?