Island hopping in Greece, white wine sipping along the Amsterdam canals and snowboarding in Japan no more; this year has proven some… complications for those of us who love to travel.
But while your passport may lie dormant and untouched, it’s still possible to have fun in your own city through the art of a ‘staycation’ (or for the uninitiated, a ‘stay at home vacation’.
1. Go For a Day Trip
Perching yourself under the sunshade of a restaurant in Florence - Aperol Spritz in hand- may not be possible right now (okay, definitely isn’t possible right now), however sipping on a locally brewed ale in a cosy pub a mere two hour’s drive away from home still is, and is enjoyable in its own right.
When we think of travelling we tend to think of places far away, however frequenting the little country side or beach town a stone’s throw away from home can also give us the very much needed breath of fresh air and adventure often exclusively reserved for longer getaways.
By visiting a neighbouring village or town, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the unfamiliar by eating at an unknown cafe for lunch, wandering quaint streets not yet infiltrated by McDonald’s at every corner and visiting little galleries and museums. Plus - you’ll avoid the city crowds and feel very much away from home due to not running into everyone you know on your way to the supermarket.
Live in Australia? Check out our ‘Top 5 Aussie Regional Destinations’.
Feel like you’re traveling by going on a day trip.
2. Have a ‘Night In’ Doing Something New
Here’s a juicy little nugget regarding staycations; you don’t even need to leave your house to feel the holiday mode and relaxation kick in.
What’s important is that you spend your time doing exactly what you wouldn’t typically do on a regular night at home. Normally cook dinner in your pyjamas after work? Dress up and get take out from that new Italian restaurant you’ve been dying to try out instead. Typically watch a reality TV show with your dinner? Pour your flatmate / partner / friend / family member and yourself a glass of sparkling wine and play a board game to mix things up!
The aim is to treat yourself like you would on a holiday - home doesn’t need to equate to boring and sticking to a firm routine.
If you’re after some more At Home Activities, check out AmazingCo’s experiences here.
Feel like you’re on a holiday (at home!) by trying a new activity.
3. Have a Pamper Night
If you’re ready to really kick things up a notch in the relaxation department, treat yourself to a pamper night at home.
While undoubtedly enjoyable and relaxing, the experience will also help you to imagine that you are indeed getting a facial at the alpine ski resort spa you were meant to be at right now, and not applying a three dollar supermarket face mask by yourself in your bathroom. We recommend lighting candles, applying a face mask (three dollar supermarket bought or other) and running a hot bath. Finish the night off by winding down with a glass of wine or tea.
Unsure of how to perfect your pamper night? Check out AmazingCo’s Girls Night In here.
You’ll feel like you’re on holiday with a pamper night.
4. See Your City With Fresh Eyes
Sometimes all we really need to do to feel like we’re somewhere strange and unfamiliar is to look around, and I mean really look.
Venture into the city (if it is safe for you to do so, of course) and perch yourself in a cafe you’ve never been to before with a book, or visit a new restaurant for dinner with a friend. Stray from the busy shopping streets and explore the backstreets and lesser visited laneways instead - perhaps a dingy underground bar or hidden bookshop awaits for your finding.
Contrarily, do the complete opposite by going out of your way to unapologetically visit every typical tourist attraction your city has to offer (if they’re open for the general public again, that is). Take photos of that old historical monument, visit the typically tourist run gallery, and drink a well and truly mediocre coffee from an international coffee chain. Chances are you’re too cool to have ever bothered with these run of the mill activities before, so indulging in them will well and truly open your eyes to the city that tourists see when visiting your hometown.
Feel like you’re traveling by exploring your own city like a tourist.
5. Get Super Fancy
While it may seem as though there is no up side to having had to cancel that long awaited overseas trip, you now more than ever have an excuse to treat yourself at home and relish in the finer things in life. As we now know, the key to enjoying a successful staycation lies in doing things you typically wouldn’t do at home, and a fancy dinner with all the trimmings can, if executed correctly, transform an ordinary evening into hours of enjoyment and relaxation.
In order to maximise the enjoyment and air of being on holiday, ensure you order take out from your favourite restaurant (as to avoid spending hours in the kitchen cooking), light multiple candles as if you were enjoying a fine meal out in an unfamiliar city, and get dressed to the nines. Open a bottle of sparkling, and imagine yourself in a place far, far away.
Feel like you’re on a holiday by getting super fancy and treating yourself.
While travelling to truly far away, unfamiliar places may be off the cards for the time being, looking around and taking a step back allows us to see a new perspective, and hey - home really ain’t so bad.
