How to Plan the Best Staycation Ever
There’s really nothing better than planning a vacation, without the stress of having to travel. Staycations are one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend. You get all of the perks of going on a vacation, but close to home! It’s the perfect way to relax and get away at the last minute & not have to spend a ton of money. So today, let’s talk tips for how to plan the bet staycation.
I always feel like I need a vacation after I get home from a vacation. Traveling is so draining. But when you plan a vacation near home, you skip the long flight or drive and get to focus on the main event!
Set Your Budget
The first thing you need to do is figure out how much you want to spend. I like to set a game plan and start putting money aside every week. You can use my fun DIY Piggy Bank as a fun way to start saving! If you’re planning your trip with someone else or a group, make sure everyone is on track with the same budget. Pick a dollar amount to set aside and make sure everyone you’re planning the trip with stays on track.
If you decide to set aside $10 a week, that’s $40 a month! If you’re going with a friend, that means you guys have $80 set aside for the hotel & whatever food and activities you want to plan. Save up for 4 months and you guys have $320 saved!
Pick a Location
After you start saving, start researching where you want to stay. I recently planned a staycation with my friend Danielle in Carlsbad. One of my new favorite hotel booking sites is actually Boxed.com! The site is kind of like Costco, where you can have bulk groceries and supplies delivered to your front door. But they also have hotels! You can save up to 45% on hotels, which is an awesome way to save money.
Start narrowing down where you want to go and how you want to spend your staycation. Do you want to relax by a pool? Have an adventure? Enjoy nature?
We decided to go to Cape Rey Carlsbad, which is about 30 minutes from where I live in San Diego. I picked it because it’s right on the ocean and has one of the highest rates spas in the country. When I plan a vacation, I want to relax. I like laying by the pool with a fancy drink & just chilling out. One of my favorite things to do is splurge on a massage and spend my day enjoying the spa.
Think Outside the Box
Just because you’re staying near home, doesn’t mean you should hit up all of your usual spots. Use it as an opportunity to try new restaurants, visit new bars & act like a tourist.
Maybe you live near an amusement park or there’s a tourist attraction nearby. Use your staycation as an opportunity to do what other people on vacation do!
I really like using Yelp and TripAdvisor to find fun things to do. It’s a great way to find new restaurants, attractions & activities.
Plan Ahead
Treat your staycation like a vacation and plan ahead! Take into consideration how much money you saved & create a tentative schedule. Having a game plan is the best way not to over spend or max out your budget. You can even contact the hotel ahead of time to see if they have any special deals going on.
For instance, Cape Rey’s Ocean Crest Spa has a ton of awesome summer spa deals. We got the Lomilomi massage, a Hawaiian massage that definitely put us in the vacation mindset. It was super relaxing and I loved the hawaiian music playing during the treatment. I felt like I had been transported to Hawaii.
Create a Bucketlist
Make a list of all of the things you’ve never done in the city you’re staying in. Maybe there’s an ice cream shop you’ve always wanted to go to, or maybe you’ve always wanted to go sky diving! Make a bucket list and use your staycation as an opportunity to experience new things and check off a few things!
Don’t Forget Your Camera!
Just because you’re staying nearby, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to snap some memories!
A lot of people ask me what kind of camera I use to take my photos. I always have my Sony A7, but I also use my iPhone with clip on lenses! If you’re on a budget, the clip on lenses are a great way to upgrade your iPhone pictures without spending a ton of money! I also love bringing my FujiFilm Instax Mini for fun instant pictures!
Another fun idea is to create a scrapbook or print and frame some of your staycation photos! I love using Zazzle to print my vacation memories because they always have awesome sales & a ton of fun products.
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