Sometimes, you just want to take a break from it all—without the schlep. Therein lies the beauty of staycations: you don’t have to shell out hundreds for all the expenses so often accrued during a getaway.
But just because you’re not leaving town doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat your staycation like a special event. Now’s the chance to take those vacation days, disconnect your devices, and get a change of scenery. Whether you’ve got cash to splash or wanna keep things cheap and cheerful, we guarantee you’ve never experienced your hometown like this before.
As always, before any trip check for any travel restrictions or closures before planning your vacation.
On a Budget
Your Stay: With a bit of imagination, staying around town can feel like a vacation. Stay near your favorite restaurants, bars and shops.
Or experience a whole new neighborhood. Looking at your city from a different angle can remind you what you loved about it in the first place.
Your Meals: Staycations are all about the picnics—and we’ve got some advice on how to nail yours. Hit up your city’s markets, locally owned restaurants and food trucks and scoop up some affordable food to go.
Your Activities: A staycation is the perfect time to explore your city like a tourist. Hit up those landmarks that you still somehow haven’t visited. Bring along a camera and test your urban photography skills.
Let a guide book point you towards exciting neighborhoods and relaxing parks and gardens. Throw in a ride courtesy of your local bike-share and there’s no limit to your explorations.
Mid-Range
Your Stay: You’re looking for the Goldilocks of accommodations — not too pricey, but with some creature comforts you might not get at home.
Consider a stay in a new-to-you hotel where you can relax with room service or an inexpensive meal from the hotel’s cafe. For a treat you likely won’t get at home, book a room with a balcony for a bit of outdoor space.
Your Meals: Just because you’re not traveling geographically doesn’t mean you can’t travel culinarily. Pick a cuisine you’ve never sampled and book a globetrotting night out. Turns out you don’t have to go to Portugal for killer bacalao, and laksa can be as zingily spicy here as it is in Malaysia.
Your Activities: Taking a class—during your vacation? Nah, we’re not talking pop quizzes. Instead, you could be using your time in your hometown learning how to brew beer, make cheese—even blow glass.
Splurge
Your Stay: You look like you could use some pampering. Preferably at a luxurious hotel in your city, with 500-thread-count sheets, nearby nature walks and in-room Jacuzzis. Just because you’re not going out of town doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yo’self.
Your Meals: Turns out you *don’t* need to wait for a birthday or anniversary to bring out the gastronomic big guns.
Splurge-y staycations call for decadent meals, so consider this your cue to try that Michelin-starred or James Beard Award-winning spot you’ve been eyeing up. While you’re at it, go for the prix fixe and, for non-drivers, the wine pairing menu. It is vacation, after all.
Your Activities: Hey, budding culture vultures: Your vacation is when you should broaden those artsy horizons. Book a private guided tour of local street art or a behind-the-scenes tour of nearby museums or cultural centers.
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