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5 Tips For Having The Best Staycation

Cole Haan

By Jessica Schiffer

“Ah, the elusive staycation! It’s an art, really,” said Erin Rose Belair, a travel writer who has traversed nearly every corner of the country. “I’ve tried at it and failed, but I’ve also tried and succeeded.”

Indeed, the staycation can be a tough nut to crack. In its ideal form, it can be rejuvenating, revelatory and significantly cheaper than out-of-state travel. When done correctly, it can also replicate the health benefits of a real vacation: Studies have shown that looking forward to a holiday boosts well-being, and that people who take fewer than two vacations a year are at a higher risk for heart disease.

When you’ve used up all of your vacation days, or your budget is tight, a staycation can be the next best thing. But differentiating the experience from a typical weekend at home can be a challenge. To help navigate that, here are some tips on perfecting the staycation.

1. Prepare Like You Would For A Real Vacation

Even if you’re not leaving town, it helps to act as if you are. When Protravel International travel advisor David Duran and his partner plan a staycation in their hometown of Phoenix, they opt to stay in a hotel to get out of their day-to-day element. “We tend to overpack our suitcases because we can and go through the motions as if it were any other vacation,” he said. Sometimes that even means renting a car to fuel new adventures. According to Duran, there are usually rental car deals for locals if you ask. 

2. Be A Tourist In Your Own Neighborhood

When we spend all our time in one place, we tend to fall into routines and the comfort of familiarity, which can leave a lot of territory around us unexplored. A staycation is a great way to break out of your usual patterns. “It’s the perfect excuse to get to know where you live a bit better,” said Duran.

Belair, who lives in Laguna Beach, California, agreed. While a staycation is a great time to play tourist and visit the latest museum exhibits or famous monuments, you can also spice things up with something as simple as checking out a new restaurant. “I always make a point to go to new restaurants and order new things, she said. “It makes me feel like I'm exploring a new place even if I’m not far from home.”

3. Get Outdoors

Studies have shown that spending time outside boosts your mental and physical health—and being on a staycation is no exception. In order to really disconnect from your everyday life and reap the rejuvenating benefits of vacation, it’s crucial to carve out some time in nature. For more active staycationers that might mean going on hikes. But if you’re looking for something less physical, we suggest planning a picnic in a local park or lounging by a hotel pool. 

4. Emphasize Self-Care

As with a normal vacation, you don’t want to tire yourself out so much on your staycation that you find yourself less energized when it’s over. This is especially true for people with a busy work life, like Erica Choi, the lifestyle influencer known as Egg Canvas who also works as a design director for Barneys New York. “Sometimes you just need a weekend in, and there's nothing better than to set up spa time for yourself at home,” she explained.

Whether you’re staying in a hotel or in your own home, Choi recommends stocking up on face masks and, if you have the time, scheduling a massage. Engaging in light exercise like yoga or a long walk is another great way to treat yourself without depleting too much of your energy.

5. Turn Off Digital Distractions

One of the most important tips for making the most of your staycation is to go on a digital detox. Setting up a traditional out-of-office message on your work email and disabling work-related notifications will help you leave work behind. Belair takes it a step further by turning off her phone. “Any really good reset means not answering emails, DMs or obligatory texts,” she said. “I must unplug.” 

For Choi, disconnecting from technology provides an opportunity to catch up on the huge stack of books she never finds time to read otherwise. “A staycation is the perfect time to really immerse yourself in that stuff you’ve been missing,” she said.

Jessica Schiffer is a freelance writer and contributing editor for Vogue Business who lives in Brooklyn.