Tag Archives: staycation

A Staycation Beats The Winter Blues

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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!

 

 

The Rise of the Staycation – Top Destinations 2012

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The Staycation is going to be biggest since the recession began with the UK tourism industry set to benefit by a record £8.7billion

 

Cornwall is the top Staycation destination for 2012

 

In spite of 2012 being a tough year for many Britons, the one thing they are refusing to give up; is their summer holiday according to Travelodge’s annual holiday index out today.

 

The hotel chain surveyed 5,000 British adults to investigate their summer holiday intentions and discovered that 41% of Britons are holidaying at home this year (up 6% on last year) with the average week’s holiday costing  £433.47 (Up £10.78) on last year). This investment is set to benefit the UK tourism industry by £8.7bn (Up £1.5bn on last year).

 

The travel report also revealed that 48% of Britons will be taking four domestic breaks this year. (Up on the average of three breaks taken last year). The top three summer Staycation destinations for 2012 are: Cornwall, Edinburgh (Jumping to second position from fifth position from last year) and the Lake District.

 

Listed below are the top ten Staycation destinations for 2012 and 2011

 

           

2012 Destinations

 

2011 Destinations

1

Cornwall

1

Cornwall

2

Edinburgh

2

Lake District

3

Lake District

3

Devon

4

London

4

L ondon

5

Scottish Highlands

5

Edinburgh

6

Devon

6

Scottish Highlands

7

North Wales

7

Wales

8

Glasgow

8

Blackpool

9

Yorkshire Dales

9

Great Yarmouth

10

Blackpool

10

Scarborough

 

 

The annual holiday index also revealed that a third of adults are reliving their childhood and taking a traditional British seaside holiday this summer. Whilst 30% of Britons are taking a UK city break and a quarter of Britons are planning to explore the British countryside. Just one in ten Britons are taking a thrill seeking theme park holiday.     

 

Nearly half of British adults (49%) have waited until now to book their summer break due to financial budget constraints. Sixty five per cent of Britons have had to make major sacrifices to their household budget; in order to afford a holiday this year. Some of the financial cutbacks have included:

 

  • Not going out for a meal or drinks with family and  friends
  • Buying cheaper groceries and cuts of meal
  • Not buying new clothes
  • Not buying a present on a special occasion for their partner 

 

Around a fifth of Britons have relied on selling goods on eBay to cover the cost of their holiday this year.     

 

Grant Hearn, Travelodge, Chief Executive said: “It’s fantastic news that the Staycation is going to be bigger than ever this year despite British household budgets being attacked by a second recession. Our research highlights even in difficult financial times, Britons will make the necessary sacrifices in order to have a summer break. I guess everyone needs something to look forward to during these difficult times.”

 

“2012 is such a momentous year for British tourism and it’s a great bonus that the economy will be further boosted by £8.7 billion due to more Britons holidaying at home this summer”.

 

Further findings from the report revealed that over a third of British families (36%) are breaking up their traditional one week Staycation holiday into three shorter breaks, at different locations this year; so that their children will think they have gone on lots of holidays. 

 

A third of Britons are using their Staycation break to catch up with family and friends. One in ten Britons reported that taking a UK weekend break with friends was cheaper than a night out at home, whilst a quarter of couples surveyed stated they are taking more UK short breaks, so that they can spend quality time together.

 

Findings also revealed that 72% of Britons will travel to their Staycation break by car. Just 12% will go by train, whilst four per cent will choose to travel by coach and six per cent will opt for air travel.