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    Home » Travel » Travel Tips

    Tips for Planning a Staycation

    Published: Mar 24, 2011 · Modified: May 29, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links

    18 shares
    • 2

    Tips for planning a staycation

    Tips for Planning a Staycation. Spring Break is right around the corner.  Do you have plans?  If a vacation in not in the budget, you may want to consider a Staycation instead.  Here are some tips for the planning the perfect staycation. You don't have to spend a lot of money or go on a huge trip to have a great Spring Break.

    Tips for Planning a Staycation:

    1.  Make plans.  Even though you are not leaving for an extended trip you need to make plans, or it will just turn into staying at home.  Mark your calendar and make plans!

    2.  Create a budget.  Decide how much money you have to dedicate to your staycation so that you can make your plans.  Be sure you stay within budget and don't blow it all on day 1 or it will be a long staycation.

    3.  Think outside of the box.  When making plans think about activities you would take an out-of-town guest too and consider adding those to your plans.

    4.  Do not do chores and limit your normal routine of cooking/cleaning/internet/phone/tv.  Really treat this like a vacation and make it feel like one.

    5.  Try new restaurants or pack a picnic lunch.  If it is within your budget, then take the family out to eat and if not then pack up picnic lunches and head out for your staycation each day.

    6.  You may even want to stay in hotel one night.  This could be a lot of fun especially if the hotel offers an indoor pool/breakfast option!

    Best of all enjoy your time and city.  There is lots to do that you may never think of on a day-to-day basis.  Not being able to travel far doesn't mean you cannot enjoy the most of your time together!

    Have you had a successful staycation?  I would love to hear about it!

    Travel Articles:

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    Melissa Jennings

    Melissa is a football and soccer mom who has been married to her best friend for 24 years. She loves sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rachel

      March 24, 2011 at 5:48 pm

      So glad that I found this website, it's great!

      Reply
    2. tammy

      July 31, 2011 at 5:13 pm

      every yr we have a staycation with our sons autism he hates going places.

      Reply
    3. Dianna

      July 31, 2011 at 5:25 pm

      We love to camp nearby home. We live near a river, so we take our camper about 2o min. from home so that the hubs can continue to go back and forth to work and when he gets off shift, wow, its fun to not go home, but to relax in a different atmosphere each nite. My son and I ride bikes, swim, play cards and have fun waiting till we grill dinner.

      Reply
    4. Lonnita C.

      July 31, 2011 at 5:42 pm

      We did a staycation about 2 years ago to GA, where my hubby is from. I love to eat and cook so trying new restaurants was a plus for me and we managed to stay within our budget. We where there for 3 weeks.

      Reply
    5. Maralea

      July 31, 2011 at 6:02 pm

      We too camp close to home. The campground we like to go to is only 30 miles away. Just nice to be able to get away from all the rat race and relax.

      Reply
    6. Laura

      July 31, 2011 at 7:20 pm

      Day trips can be nice

      Reply
    7. Crystal K.

      July 31, 2011 at 8:26 pm

      We live in a very, very small town (we're talking 350 people) so there's not many opportunities for a staycation *right* at home, but we've been know to travel about an hour to a city near us and stay in hotel for the weekend and go out and have fun there. It's not really a vacation, so I can't help but consider it a staycation since we haven't went very far and aren't shelling out tons of money to do it.

      Reply
    8. Christy A.

      July 31, 2011 at 8:30 pm

      I love doing little things in town on weekends...I really like the tip about not doing chores/cleaning/watching tv/etc. It's so hard not to do those things when your home, but I'll try next time we have a staycation.

      Reply
    9. Kasey Rodriguez

      July 31, 2011 at 8:48 pm

      Since a regular vacation is not in the budget, I may have to plan a stay-cation soon!

      Reply
    10. Jeannie

      July 31, 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Staycations are good when you work too many hours and don't spend much time at home.

      Reply
    11. Joan J

      July 31, 2011 at 9:19 pm

      Its amazing how easy it is to forget what your own city can offer. I used to live next to Lake Superior and found myself taking it for granted. There's so many things to see and do on/around that lake that I had to remind myself how lucky I really was!

      Reply
    12. Mami2jcn

      July 31, 2011 at 9:37 pm

      We're planning a Staycation for this coming weekend!

      Reply
    13. jayme cox

      July 31, 2011 at 9:43 pm

      I LOVE JIF TO GO!!! SO YUMMY!

      Reply
    14. ginette4

      July 31, 2011 at 10:05 pm

      We do staycations often, spend the day outside at the pool and leave the phone in the house, no tv, computer..cell phones are also banned!! Great times!!

      Reply
    15. sheralle

      August 01, 2011 at 1:14 am

      I have not yet had a staycation but have started planning one since the birth of my son. I think he's too little to travel so this is the perfect alternative!

      Reply
    16. Angela Dupree

      August 01, 2011 at 11:52 am

      always pack a lunch to save money

      Reply
    17. Heather R

      August 01, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      Staycations work for us - we visit the local pool, museum, zoo, drive-in, Coney Island, parks, Jane's Saddlebag, and much more... Most of the items are either free or little cost - which is always good. I am happy that we live in the NKY area - there is soo much to do around here.

      Reply
    18. Dana West

      August 01, 2011 at 3:41 pm

      My husband and I take the kids to stay at a local hotel every few months or when I can get a good deal! They are small so they totally think its a big deal trip and they get to swim and have a fabulous time! My husband and I love the time away from the "real world" as well!

      Reply
    19. Angy

      August 01, 2011 at 4:05 pm

      Staycations can be tons of fun! Keep checking hotels for cheap nights or package deals! One by us has tuesday night specials that include their waterpark and game room (gokarts, arcade, ect), well worth it!

      Reply
    20. Charity L.

      August 01, 2011 at 4:11 pm

      We love staycations! Ask grandma to babysit and take a 1 night hiatus! Sometimes that is all you need.

      Reply
    21. Maria

      August 01, 2011 at 5:09 pm

      We have free movies, so we take full advantage of that. We also have a $1 splash park. Great cheap staycation!

      Reply
    22. Teresa Organ

      August 01, 2011 at 5:47 pm

      If you can't afford a vacation then a staycation is the only way to go.

      Reply
    23. Jennifer Burke

      August 01, 2011 at 9:01 pm

      We have a zoo in town so we buy a family pass for the entire year and then we can pack snacks and stay as we want. We don't worry about seeing everything because we can go back when ever we want and see the rest for free! With our zoo pass we can also visit 150 other zoos and aquariums for free that are part of the same membership! WooHoo!

      Reply
    24. jennifer giordano

      August 02, 2011 at 12:02 am

      These are great ideas- although I was not planning a staycation before- I might be now! 🙂

      Reply
    25. Jennifer Digges

      August 02, 2011 at 12:14 am

      We do varies local trips to different beaches along the shoreline within 30-50 miles make 1/2 day to day trips. We pack snacks and sometimes we venture out to find the cheap hole in the wall establishments that set your taste buds a whirl! Sometimes it works and out good and others it's not so good but it's always an experience and something we talk about later... 🙂

      Reply
    26. Ahren

      August 02, 2011 at 12:21 am

      We are planning one this weekend - Zambezi Bay in Columbus. Just a short 2 hour trip and a night in a hotel. The girls are going to love it!

      Reply
    27. april king

      August 02, 2011 at 12:50 am

      I would love to plan a staycation at home. It's really hard to go off with the husband working long days. We do get to go to Busch Gardens for the day on weekends due to it being 20 minutes from home and we purchase the year pass and pack snacks to take with us.

      Reply
    28. Amy Osborn

      August 02, 2011 at 4:01 am

      I like all the tips on staycations. Will have to try the one on not watching T.V. Sounds great.

      Reply
    29. Teri

      August 02, 2011 at 11:22 am

      Thank you for the tips!!!

      Reply
    30. Krissie M.

      August 02, 2011 at 12:09 pm

      Good tips!

      Reply
    31. Eliza Aragon

      August 02, 2011 at 10:20 pm

      Great ideas, much needed advice on staycations! Thanks so much!

      Reply
    32. Rhoda S

      August 02, 2011 at 11:25 pm

      Not doing chores is hard. We don't even do that very well when we go out of town.

      Reply
    33. Charity I

      August 03, 2011 at 7:47 am

      Jiff to go is great. I have used it many times. Using this for dipping apples is is just great!...... Take the Jiff to go on a family trip to the zoo bring your precut apples and you are ready for a good healthy snack.

      Reply
    34. jenny

      August 03, 2011 at 9:16 am

      I am a stay at home mom so we are on constant staycation!

      Reply
    35. Sara

      August 03, 2011 at 11:30 am

      we had a staycation just last week I found it to be very relaxing!!

      Reply
    36. ellen

      August 03, 2011 at 11:32 am

      Everyday is a Staycation?

      Reply
    37. Candice

      August 03, 2011 at 1:24 pm

      Great ideas!

      Reply
    38. G Bailey

      August 03, 2011 at 10:07 pm

      loved Jenny's comment 🙂

      Reply
    39. Suzanne

      August 04, 2011 at 10:45 am

      we often camp in our own backyard......pitch the tent...cook over a fire, roast marshmellows......and at least there's a real bathroom when you need one

      Reply
    40. CherylS22

      August 04, 2011 at 10:57 am

      We had a staycation a few years ago. We decided to go on an escape weekend at a hotel on the other side of town. We spent the weekend exploring that part of the city that we didn't know & got to eat in a couple of nice restaurants that we normally wouldn't go to.

      Reply
    41. Ashley H

      August 04, 2011 at 11:00 am

      I think I do this everyweekend when I limt my chores andcooking.LOL. Thanks for the tips!

      Reply
    42. shannon

      August 04, 2011 at 11:01 am

      staycation is a great idea and a good way to stay in your budget!

      Reply
    43. Bea

      August 04, 2011 at 12:59 pm

      I luv Staycations. They are my fav, except for going home or to my sister's. I do all of the things on ur list. Luv it Thanks.

      Reply
    44. Geri

      August 05, 2011 at 8:53 am

      Those are some great tips!!! Thanks!

      Reply
    45. anna

      August 05, 2011 at 2:02 pm

      Pack a picnic lunch! That's the best way to save $$$. Especially when you're a couponer!

      Reply
    46. Sheila Vives

      August 05, 2011 at 10:05 pm

      Do not do chores is right ! Don't mom's deserve a vacation too ! It can be hard for some people to just relax and change routine, but you need it. To stay in good health you must take some R&R.

      Reply
    47. Niko O.

      August 05, 2011 at 10:29 pm

      As I was reading this, I was realizing if I have a couple days off and am trying to take a break, I simply need to get away from the house for both days so I cannot allow myself to do any household stuff 😛

      Reply
    48. Steph A

      August 06, 2011 at 2:01 pm

      I like the idea of a staycation!, it would be a great idea to get everyone's input for ideas of what they would like to do so that everyone can have something fun to look forward to.

      Reply
    49. Eric Seberg

      August 06, 2011 at 3:31 pm

      Don't think that would work, too many outside influences.

      Reply
    50. Sharon Boeding

      August 06, 2011 at 8:01 pm

      Staycations are sometimes more relaxing.

      Reply
    51. meme

      August 06, 2011 at 9:19 pm

      We are planning a staycation next week and I was excitied to see your article it has some really good tips that I will be using and I think it will help to make this a great staycation
      thanks

      Reply

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    Melissa Jennings and Shelley King are the bloggers behind Stockpiling Moms®. Since 2009, they have been sharing recipes, travel reviews and tips that focus on helping busy families make memories.

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