As summer nears its end, and the end of the COVID-19 Pandemic is nowhere in sight, it has been almost impossible to vacation for the safety of yourself and others. However, instead of giving up on the idea of vacationing, some are taking the vacation home to them. Staycations are becoming the hot new thing this summer, having all of the comforts of a vacation, but at a more affordable price.
First, if you want to experience a Staycation, the most important thing you can do is plan ahead. According to Cleavland.com, there are a few things you must consider when planning your stay-at-home trip. One tip to look out for is to remember that everyone wants something different from a vacation. Make sure that you can accommodate for every person’s needs and wishes. Another aspect to remember is to stick to a budget. Just like a normal vacation, you cannot just blow money away.
A Staycation is still a vacation, so this means resist any urge to do work or other household chores. You are meant to relax on a vacation, not stress out, which means you shouldn’t put those extra stresses on yourself. And finally, get out of the house. While a staycation technically means vacationing at home, getting out of your house and partaking in some local activity that you never do adds excitement to your getaway. Yes, you are in a pandemic, but everyone needs a vacation.
But how do you actually create a staycation in the comfort of your home, or in your local area? It might be a lot easier than you think. In a Vox interview, Dan Kieran advocates for simple, slow travel: partaking in something you have never done before. This could range from walking down an unfamiliar street to even sleeping in a different part of your home. Hiking, picnicking, and even a movie under the stars could qualify as a staycation. Anything out of the norm can be your staycation if you want it to be.
While in America we might not be as used to staycations, countries such as Sweden have long embraced the tradition, and COVID-19 is only extending and reshaping it more. Known as ‘hemester’ in Sweden, these vacations range from staying at home to traveling to a different part of the country. Around 20% of the population owns a summer cottage or cabin and 50% have access to one through family or friends. With COVID in play this summer, real estate agents in Sweden have been reporting a rise in demand for summer houses, meaning that staycations are thriving more than ever.
It is important to take the road less traveled by exploring local cultures and foods that you tend to shy away from. The world is your oyster. In a sense, these local trips can force us to appreciate our neighborhoods, an area that we often want to tend to take advantage of. When at many times we want to escape our homes and travel far, circumstances keep us from doing so. Maybe we should look to Sweden and other countries in order to come back to our roots by staycationing local and staying safe.