With the economy on the rise, businesses are having a ball. While increased income puts many much closer to affording vacations in luxurious destinations, what this means for most professionals is more work and even less personal time. Taking a well-deserved vacation is shelved once again.
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The term staycation was coined during the financial crisis of 2007-2010 in the U.S. and subsequently when the U.K. pound sterling dropped in 2009 and destination vacations became too expensive. Today, staycations are making a comeback because workaholics can’t find the time to take longer than a weekend away.
If a staycation is all you have time for, there are many modern conveniences that can bring luxury and decadence right to your front door. It does take a little planning, but relaxing right at home can truly satisfy as the season gets chillier.
To create the feel of a vacation, take a half-day on Friday and come in after lunch on Monday. No one is so indispensible that they cannot take 2 half days off. Plan your staycation like you would a vacation – all inclusive. One of the most important things NOT to do on a staycation is clean up after yourself. Make sure you are pampered as if you were not at home.
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Whether it’s cleaning your flat in London or your ranch house outside New York, schedule someone to come each day you are home. Have them do all of your dishes, make your beds and change your towels daily. Pay extra for special touches like fresh flowers, setting your bathroom up as a spa or simply prepping coffee for the morning. Just a few consecutive days of not tending to dirty dishes or smoothing rumpled sheets is going to make a huge difference to your mood.
Make sure you collect all the local menus and delivery services in case you want “room service” or the weather runs foul and you choose to stay in. Have a local gourmet grocery deliver decadent snacks of fruit and cheese, wine and champagne. Use your best china and crystal, knowing someone else will clean up after you.
Make Friday night your big night out and then in. No matter where you live, have a luxury car pick you up and take you to an early dinner reservation at the trendiest restaurant in town. Reservations before 6PM are usually easy to get. You also get to come home before the evening chill really sets in.
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Have a friend prep the house while you are gone to turn your living room into a nightclub and casino. Change out some lights, hang a disco ball and have your favorite dance mix ready to play. Put wine or champagne on ice and, when you arrive home, dance like no one is watching.
Hook your computer up to your large screen TV, get your friends over and get ready to bring the thrill of real-time action into your front room. Play live games with real dealers and cheer each other on as you toss the dice on the craps table or beat the house at Blackjack. You never know – Monte Carlo could actually be your next holiday!
For Saturday and Sunday, split the planning up and assign a day and a budget to each person. That way everyone gets a nice surprise. Many people never know the historic or unique attractions of their home city unless someone comes to visit. Check into local tours or events or better yet, download a local activities app to discover what’s going on in your neck of the woods.
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Choose a weekend where there is a music festival or holiday gala going on. Get last minute tickets to a favorite sporting event or check out local fairs and farmer’s markets – all the things you never have time for. Jump on a train and take a day tour of the countryside or simply go to the movies.
Make sure you take that half-day Monday so Sunday evening can be a special evening at home. Hire a traveling spa to provide late afternoon massages and body treatments followed by a bath. Get a personal chef to create a gourmet dinner at home. Nothing is too extravagant – after all, you don’t work by halves, so why do relaxation as if you don’t really mean it?
For Monday, find a local restaurant that serves weekday brunch or breakfast and have your car take you to your lovely morning before returning to work. Make a plan to get each other a small and special gift to celebrate your staycation. And don’t forget to take pictures to record your treasured memories!