Adrian Vacations and staycations are similar concepts when you think about the goal of the excursions. They are both trips out of the norm that take us away from our day-to-day lives with the goal of either keeping us entertained, getting us into a relaxed state, or even thrill-seeking. The goal is a personal preference for how you individually get away from your day-to-day life.
What is a Vacation?
Both are getaways from your day-to-day life. A vacation though is typically when you travel somewhere a little bit further away for your time away from work, the kids, your family, or whatever you are taking your vacation from.
What is a Staycation?
A staycation is where you have your vacation in an area that is local or close by to where you live. The staycation obviously became super popular during the Covid Pandemic when air travel was non-existent, so people had to get creative about the way that they could destress from their everyday life.
Before we delve into the benefits of each element we wanted to call out that there is a lot of crossover between the benefits of vacation and that of a staycation.
Benefits of a Staycation
Can be budget-friendly
As you won’t have to pay for flights if you are staying locally your gas/petrol costs probably won’t be too high (although who knows now with the soaring price of gas). This will significantly reduce the cost of your staycation if you want. You could also use that money that you would have saved on fancier accommodations or activities.
Save time on traveling
Airports are time-consuming places. From arriving at the airport a few hours before, going through security, the flight time itself, and arrivals and transportation on the other side. You can lose up to a day if you’re traveling to a faraway location. Add into that jet lag if you’re traveling multiple locations and your 7-day vacation can really be a 5-day vacation.
Great for Weekend Breaks
If your timeframe is short for your break, then a staycation can be a great choice. Without the need for travel, you can maximize those weekend breaks can get straight into it.
Support Local
Taking your time off and staying locally means that you can support local businesses in your area. By putting more of your money within your own local economic system it will help the area prosper even more. The dollar you spend at a local restaurant will follow through to local businesses that are part of the delivery of the meal that is sitting in front of you. Typically for family-owned or smaller businesses, the personal service you get is a lot better than chain resorts hotels.
Better for the Environment
If you cut out air travel and travel long distances you will lower the carbon footprint of your time off. A family of 4 flying (round trip) from Los Angeles California to Cancun, Mexico emits 2 tonnes of CO2. That is a significant amount of CO2 to be produced, so staying local can help to negate those emissions. If you really want to be as Eco-conscious as possible then you can even choose hotels that are eco-hotels. These are hotels that have good waste treatment facilities, are energy efficient or self-producing, and have a solid recycling policy.
Less Stress
Anytime I get near an airport my stress levels are elevated. There is something that clicks in me when I step into an airport that puts me into airport mode. I immediately try to optimize my way throughout the airport. From picking the right queues for security to finding my gate well before boarding the whole experience of flying is quite stressful. Obviously, not everyone is as tightly round as I am, but they can be pressurized places, so taking this potential stress producer out of the picture is a strong benefit of Staycations.
No Weight limits on your luggage
Packing for vacations is a tall task, due to the weight restrictions that airlines have. With a staycation. You can bring as much as your car can carry. You won’t need to prioritize one pair of shoes, you can bring the whole wardrobe if you want.
Benefits of a Vacation
Experience a different way of living
Going abroad or to parts of your country that are far away from your home base lets you experience a culture that is different from yours. On a staycation, this will be difficult to experience as you are inherently staying local to your abode. There is new food, traditions, and experiences that you can make the most of when you go abroad and these can be life-changing and enriching experiences.
There is nothing better than immersing yourself in a new culture. Experiencing the food, arts, and the people, the architecture, music. There is so much to explore when you vacation in a spot that you have visited before.
Go to a place to for the climate you want
When people vacation they chase different experiences. Whether you’re looking for a sun holiday or a ski holiday, going on a vacation is your best way of ensuring your desired climate. You may be lucky enough to live right next to a beautiful beach and all you want for your getaway is to chill out and sip a Pina Colada. If that’s the case then make the most of it and go for the Staycation, but sadly not all of us have that luxury. For those of us in cold climates in the winter, the sun is a big draw and a vacation is the only option.
Good for your mental and physical health
Life can be stressful and vacations are a great way of resetting. Getting away from your day-to-day life can let you forget about some of the things that may be stressing you out. When you are on vacation and you have planned well ahead. You should be able to leave all of your stress at home. If you are into active vacations they can also be a great way of getting exercise in.
Bonding Experience
Some of my favorite memories as a child are the family vacations we used to take to France. Those memories have been etched in my brain. Vacations are a great way of creating memories if you’re traveling with others. Although at times planning a vacation can sometimes be stressful when you look back you never remember the planning stage. It’s always the good times. If you’re looking for a vacation type that maximizes relaxation and minimizes planning then we recommend checking out an all-inclusive vacation.
