How to Make the Most of a Staycation

For most of us, we have been working non-stop during this pandemic and when we do vacation it has been spent with days off in our own home. Now I don’t know about you but a vacation shouldn’t involve running errands or doing those household chores that you’ve been putting off. I decided that for my next vacation I wanted to do a staycation in Airbnb close to home (less than 3-hours away) but far enough to feel like a vacation. I’m not comfortable with air travel at this point even though I’ve been vaccinated from the COVID-19 virus. I feel I would be able to enjoy a distant locale for vacation once more of the population is vaccinated or the number of COVID-19 cases are very low. For right now, local travel will do…

Now with COVID fears and general anxiety around travel, I found some ways to make the most of a staycation while still being safe. Here are some of my tips: 

Location: Sites like airbnb.com actually give you options on the landing page of destinations that are within driving distance. A drive that’s no more 3-hours would likely not require a rest stop for a bathroom break or to gas up which would limit unnecessary social interaction. Of course, look up your destination’s public health regulations to ensure you’re well-equipped prior to arriving. Additionally, local travel limits any kind of strain on a community’s healthcare system if were to need medical care versus going to a tropical country with an overwhelmed medical system.

Activities: Plan ahead what kind of activities you would like to occupy your time from something as simple as reading a book to hiking. Try to plan outdoor activities to minimize being indoors with people outside of your own home or community.  Also, bring any necessary items needed to keep you and your family occupied during down time. For my staycation, I made sure to bring my laptop as I had lots of content creation to do and I also booked a location that was across the street from the beach to give me instant access to the great outdoors. 

Meals: If you’re going to travel to small town or a town that is in their off-season, you might want to consider bringing your own groceries (some basics like eggs, bread, milk, coffee, and snacks) to minimize going to stores or shops. Splurge on takeout for dinner or outdoor dining (depending on your comfort level) as dinner usually is the more time consuming meal to make. I was on the fence about bringing my own groceries but after spending $60 on just snacks, cereal and milk at local supermarket, I definitely would schedule a FreshDirect grocery delivery for the next staycation.

TIP: Book an Airbnb with a dishwasher and washer/dryer so you can wash and sanitize items for your own peace of mind.

Hygiene: Pre-COVID, I was already a clean freak. I traveled with my Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer and occasionally my own linens. Well now with COVID, I packed my own cleaning supplies, disposable dishware, towels, sheet set, pillows, and blankets. Because I haven’t been anywhere other than my own home or work for months, I felt more comfortable in an Airbnb once everything was wiped down and I changed the sheets despite Airbnb’s “Enhanced Cleaning” policy…if it doesn’t smell like bleach or Faboloso, I don’t trust it.

Overall, my staycation was a success. I was able to relax, brainstorm on upcoming projects and spend quality time with my husband and furbaby. I’ll share more of my staycation in Montauk, NY in an upcoming blog post. 

Now, how do you staycation?