A couple of weeks ago I finished some pages, left work and headed on vacation. Well, more accurately, I headed home to enjoy a staycation.
Staycations, the latest international trend that is becoming especially popular in America because of the faltering economy, are vacations without the heavy traveling.
Local attractions like Six Flags and the Dallas Zoo have capitalized on the staycation, advertising in print and in broadcast media for families to enjoy a staycation, save their money and spend it there instead.
Think about it. Taking off work, no packing, no long car rides with the kids screaming in the back of the car, and no waiting in line at the airports or going through security checkpoints.
We spent our staycation swimming a lot at the neighborhood pool, taking boat trips and playing family games. We also enjoyed a Rangers game in half-price seats and on dollar hot dog night. We saved a lot of money compared with what we could have if we had taken a trip.
The American Automobile Association’s annual summer vacation survey revealed that the average vacation for two costs $244 per day. Throw in a few kids, and you’re looking at a pricey vacation.
By staying home or with family or friends, you eliminate the cost of lodging. Staying close to home also saves gas money, which is helpful when it nears $4 a gallon.
A staycation can be as relaxing as a vacation if things are handled correctly.
zx Treat your staycation like a real vacation. Pay all the bills ahead of time, mow the lawn and do other chores before you start your staycation so you can relax.
zx Get your hands on some local travel guides. Sure, you might have lived in Johnson County for years, but you probably don’t know about all the little scenic spots around.
zx Plan activities beforehand, as you would for a real vacation. If you have a set itinerary for each day, you won’t fritter the days away, and you’ll be set on your budget for the trips.
zx Try not to check your e-mail frequently or be sucked into the real world. One risk of staycations is the proximity to work, and some may be tempted to keep connected and try to help with work. I did this myself, coming in to work on my Sunday pages once during the week. I didn’t care because I enjoy doing page layouts. But staycationers advise against this, saying you should cut yourself off just like you would be on a real vacation.
Staycations are just one of the solutions Americans are coming up with to save money as gas and food prices and unemployment rise.
I love traveling as much as any other person, but when it comes to taking some time off work, staying home was as much a treat as a trip to Colorado or some other destination might have been.
With a staycation, you decide where you want to go, who you want to see, and what you’re going to spend. What could possibly be better than that?
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Monica Green: Home, sweet home: enjoying a staycation
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