How To Have The Ultimate Vacation Without Leaving Home
If you can’t afford a vacation then why not create your ideal break in the comfort of your own home. Think of it as the ultimate staycation. To get started, consider what elements make the perfect vacation for you. For me, that would include alone time, pampering and not having to worry about meal preparation. For you, it might be something else but with a bit of creativity you can create just what you need. And since you won’t need to spend money on accommodation or travel, you can use your budget in other ways and will probably still save money.
Getting Ready
If your stay at home vacation is going to work you’re going to need to prepare a few things in advance. First of all, get everyone else out of the house. Ship children off to stay with grandparents and get spouses to go out with the guys or girls so that you have the house all to yourself. After all, you don’t want anything to get in the way of your old G of self-indulgence and pampering.
Meal Plan
Second, think about food and drink. Get your favorite tipples in before you start and stock up on your favorite foods. Go one better and collect leaflets from your favorite local restaurants that deliver. You want to make sure that you have plenty of choice for lunch and dinner menus just as you would if you went away on vacation.
Third, tell everyone that you will be out of contact for the vacation period — and mean it. No checking work e-mail or stressing yourself about ongoing projects. If this is to work, you have to behave as if you had left the country.
Indulge Yourself
Once the scene is set it’s time to start your vacation. With no one else in the house you can sleep as late as you like and stay up late without having to worry about the consequences the next day. For breakfast, get a delivery from your baker or coffee shop. For lunch and dinner, look at those leaflets and get your favorite meals delivered. Then you can settle down to your favorite pastimes.
It’s your choice — you might want to make a dent in that stack of unread books that has been piling up for three years or play online games late into the night. Perhaps it’s time to use up those lotions and potions that you got as gifts and have a long relaxing soak in the bath with a book, a glass of wine and no one to disturb you. For extra pampering, book a manicure, pedicure, massage or all three with a mobile therapist.
Having this kind of vacation is fun and cheap — and you’ll be able to watch TV and movies you like without having to argue over who is hogging the remote. If you were going to stay at home on vacation what would be on your list?
(Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28005722@N08/3406521225)
Tags: staycation, travel, Travel Tips
May 11th, 2010 at 6:17 am
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