A study published in 2018 cited that our vacation habits contribute about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and it's set to increase. Transport, shopping and food are the biggest culprits. But tourism is also destroying our natural habitat. With millions of tourists flocking to pristine beaches, ancient cities and virgin forests, we’re losing our coral ecosystems, cultural diversity and wild animals at an ever-increasing speed.
Staycations offer the perfect solution to this problem. And no doubt, thousands of people are flocking to your city and local attractions for their vacation. Now it's your turn to fall in love with your own city and local attractions.
Having a staycation is all about planning. Just like any other vacation, you have to plan it to enjoy it. If you put as much care into your staycation as you do any other holiday, your staycation will be a holiday to remember.
And this isn’t about going cheap. While you can save money with a staycation, for many it's about reducing their carbon footprint and giving vulnerable ecosystems a chance to thrive. By not traveling long distances and paying for accommodation, you’ll free up money for other things so that your staycation is not only luxurious but feels like a proper vacation. So when you return to work, you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated. With the right planning, your staycation could be the holiday of a lifetime and help you to remember all the things you love about where you live.
Your staycation will be different depending on what your normal life looks like and where you live. But no matter if you have a house and garden with a backyard pool or a small Manhattan apartment with this guide, you’re sure to get the most out of your staycation.
10 TOP TIPS AND STAYCATION IDEAS
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If you want your staycation to feel like a vacation the first thing you need to do is record a message on your answer phone and set up an automatic email response letting people know you’re on vacation. Pop your laptop away and consider switching off your phone for at least some of your staycation.
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Organize a cleaner to come every day for a couple of hours. Have a meeting with the cleaner beforehand. This cleaning job is going to be different from their usual gigs. They’re there to give you that hotel feeling. Get them to make the beds, clean and organize the bathrooms, fluff cushions, empty the dishwasher, clean the kitchen and sweep the floors. You do not want to be doing any domestic chores on your staycation.
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Get a local chef to come to you. Again, set up a meeting beforehand and explain that you’re having a staycation. You might want them to come in with fresh croissants and juice in the morning, make your lunch and leave dinner for you to self-serve. Menus like salads and marinated meat for the BBQ work well for self-serve dinners, or something you can just pop in the oven. Anything will do as long as you’re not standing over a stove for hours. Alternatively, swap staycation meals with friends. Ask a friend to cook a few meals and return the favor when they follow your tip and do their own staycation. On other nights you can travel the world by local restaurants: visit Italy with a pizza, Spain with a Paella or Mexico with burritos.
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Now time for the activities. Go to your local tourist office or do a Google search and discover local treasures and experiences you’ve never come across before. You’ve probably been to the famous museum down the road, but there’ll be plenty you haven’t done. Look on Tripadvisor and AirBnb for a local wine or food tour. Do the things you always think about doing in your own town but never get around to. Like going to the local organic farmers market.
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Think about what you love to do on vacation and what makes it a vacation, and include it in your staycation. Whether it's watching a movie marathon with the whole family, dancing till the sun rises, going for a stroll around town after dinner with ice cream in hand, buying local handicrafts or playing board games incorporating your usual vacation traditions will transform your staycation into a vacation.
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No vacation is complete without sundowner aperos. Instead of the usual beer or prosecco before dinner, get the cocktail flask out and shake yourself up a holiday cocktail like a pina colada, Aperol spritz or frozen watermelon margarita. Don’t forget the trimmings, like a pineapple wedge and an umbrella, for added effect. Alternatively, pop out for aperos at a local hotel, race course or rooftop bar.
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If you’ve got a garden, use it. Get yourself some sun loungers, a daybed, a hammock or a fire pit, and have a few chilled-out days in your own backyard. If you haven’t got a garden, make sure you implement the next trick and kick back on your favorite sofa or spend the day in a local park. But remember, this is a staycation, so you’ll need a good book or some trashy magazines to keep you entertained. Or read Koraru’s awesome blog and guides and discover 8 ways to make your next escape planet-friendly, 5 idyllic locations for an unforgettable European getaway or be inspired to slow down on your holiday and check out our simple steps to make every day mindful
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Giving your own home a vacation atmosphere will trick your senses into believing you’ve flown across the world. Get some big tropical flower arrangements with flowers like birds of paradise, heliconia and Anthurium. Put on your vacation music playlist and relax to Club Tropicana, Happy Now and a bit of Jimmy Buffet, Beach Boys, Spanish salsa music or reggae.
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My favorite fun staycation idea is having a water day. Whether you’re on the water or in the water, holidays are all about water, so make sure you include it in yours. And don't forget to pack your favorite Koraru bikini. Or check out our new arrivals for this season's hot picks. If you don’t live near a lake, river, waterfall, or sea, spend the day at your favorite local spa.
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Stay up late, get up early and have a siesta - you’re on vacation!
Once all the planning is done, it's time to kick back, make room for spontaneity and pour yourself a summer cocktail. You're about to have so much fun that staycations make it on your calendar every year. Bon voyage.
Photo by Jack Foster on Unsplash
Written by Kirsti Formoso - Wellness Writer for Koraru. Kirsti Formoso is a wellness writer and researcher. She is passionate about holistic health and wellbeing. She has over 30 years of experiential knowledge in personal and spiritual development, and a Masters of Science in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology. She is also a peer reviewer for two scientific journals specialising in Transpersonal Psychology. When she’s not writing she can be found working on her vegetable plot, hiking in the mountains and breathing in all the wonders nature has to offer.
Header Image by Eilis Garvey on Unsplash
