In recent years, the idea of holidaying closer to home has become more popular than ever, and while it can sometimes seem tempting to travel to foreign shores, often there’s a wealth of activities, attractions, and locations sitting right on our doorstep.
Moreover, while the lockdowns and travel restrictions caused by the recent Coronavirus outbreak seem to be largely behind us, thankfully, the soaring cost of energy and living expenses are putting a considerable squeeze on the wallets of most of us, making the idea of staycationing an ever more attractive prospect for that all-important time-out holiday.
However, to get the best from your staycation vacation, you’ll need to do a little planning. If you’re considering holidaying closer to home this year, below are some tips to help you make the best of your time.
Work out what you want to do
Sure, a holiday is often just about doing nothing and taking time to relax, but soon enough, you’ll likely get a little bored just lazing around. If you have a hobby or sport, a holiday can give a great opportunity to indulge in the things you love doing – stuff that you wouldn’t normally have time to do in our typically hectic Monday-Friday, 9-5 society. Thinking about these valuable, enjoyable past-times and trying to choose a location that’s suited to them will give you an ultimately more fulfilling break.
Consider your budget
In most cases, holidaying closer to home will save considerable money on flights, transfers, and (very often) accommodation prices – but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to map out your finances if you’re to find your ideal location. Take some time to work out all associated expenses like eating out (or in) plus any excursions/trips/activities you might want to do as well as the typical accommodation costs of Ibiza Villas or wherever you’re going. Alternatively, if you see yourself staycationing more often, you might want to consider investing in a motorhome or caravan. If you’re based in the UK, check online for Campervans for sale Scotland, England and Wales.
Use the power of the internet for research
Planning and researching a holiday is easier than ever these days, and using the internet to search for local attractions and facilities will allow you to work out an agenda for your trip so you can make sure every day is as action-packed and enjoyable as possible. You could also use the web for accommodation/travel resources and possibly plan a route to allow you to visit more places and maximize your stay. GoogleMaps and Rome2Rio are both extremely useful resources for planning trips.
Learn to barter better
As mentioned above, the recent COVID pandemic sent many businesses to the wall – and, in particular, those firms related to travel and tourism were hit especially hard. If you learn to barter well, there’s every chance you could earn a considerable discount on advertised prices and save a small fortune on your trip. Of course, you’ll likely want to help local businesses and give them a fair price for their goods and services, but there’s no harm trying to see if you can’t work out a better deal.
