by Pam Johnston
Member since:
February 8, 2007

Considering a Staycation?

May 29, 2008 03:02 PM EDT
views: 370 | comments: 30

Until recently, I had never heard the word before. Now it seems I'm hearing it everywhere. At work, at the supermarket, on the sidelines at little league games…everyone is buzzing about taking a staycation.

For the uninformed (like me!) a staycation is exactly what you think it is... a vacation spent at home. Yup, your home.... as in "Home Sweet Home".

With the economy struggling and the cost of gas and food skyrocketing, it makes good sense. Why bother spending all that money on a traditional vacation when you can hunker down at home and actually relax with your family?

So, I was wondering… are you planning to take a staycation this summer? If so… tell us about it! How much money did you save? Where do you go? Where did you NOT go? Post pictures, inspire your friends!! Just be sure to use the word "staycation" in your headline and as a tag so we can find your stuff.

Happy summer staycation to you all!
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Comments: 30

Amanda T. May 29, 2008, 3:13pm EDT
Even with the gas prices the way they are I am still planning on taking a summer vacation. My husband never goes on vacation with me and the kids but he is planning on going this year. So that is the main reason why. My oldest son is already getting excited about the fact that daddy is going to the beach with us this year.
flit . May 29, 2008, 3:19pm EDT
we live, and have a small business, in cottage country (Ontario) and it seems that the staycation is going to hurt us badly... even more than we were already hurting.
Leah Christensen May 29, 2008, 3:42pm EDT
I've been in Arizona for the past half year, in my other home. It's nice to be back in my original home for a while, although I do miss my husband who is still in Arizona.
Nope, we are going to Costa Rica in July.
lynn a. May 29, 2008, 3:56pm EDT
A "Staycation" seems very practical. We'll be doing just that perhaps without the cation part of it. It's not a bad idea to roam about your hometown once in a while. When we do that we find places we hadn't seen before. Of course, it isn't as glamorous as going to the beach seems to me right now.
Jennifer Hodge May 29, 2008, 4:59pm EDT
I plan on exploring local areas I'm not familiar with and to be more conscious of buying local in terms of produce etc.
Melanie S. May 29, 2008, 5:12pm EDT
Well, that's exactly what we do every single year hahaha.

I have to say though that the term "Staycation" annoys the heck out of me! It's popping up everywhere, even in my freakin' local News Paper!
Jeff Cusson May 29, 2008, 5:34pm EDT
We're actually planning on going to California in a couple weeks to drive around LA / San Diego. That's right - not only are we going away, but we'll be renting a car for the week and driving a couple hundred miles in an area where gas prices are currently upwards of $4.50. Go ahead and call me crazy... I can't really dispute it.
Amy B. May 29, 2008, 5:42pm EDT
I haven't gotten away from home in years, so I guess I've been having staycations before they were trendy. I always enjoy vacations near home - I check out tourist sites and other things of interest that I ordinarily don't make time for. Why is it that we seek out things to do or go exploring when we're on vacation, but we don't do the same thing in our own hometown?
Amanda C. May 29, 2008, 5:43pm EDT
Hm, I've never heard of it. I guess I'm out of the loop. WE are taking the train to NY this summer
CyberGwen ! May 29, 2008, 8:30pm EDT
Sometimes we stay home and others we travel. It just depends on what is going on. We aren't about to let the scary media hype and gas prices make us stay home.
Like Amy B., it feels great to be a trendsetter. LOL Haven't been on vacation for about 15 years. If the money was there, the time wasn't and now the cost is just too high. I would encourage people staying home to check out what their city may have to offer - recreation centers, pools, library reading clubs - staying home doesn't mean you have nothing to do but television viewing. Start a block party in your area and get to know your neighbors!
Jim K. May 30, 2008, 10:06am EDT
well, I'm headed to Italy this summer for my honeymoon, and squandering my American money in the land of euros. But it seems the theme of weddings and honeymoons is excess. We contemplated more practical honeymoons, but we figured it was a rare chance to have the time, independence and money. So I definitely have no regrets. Just feel fortunate I can have the experience.
Then after that, its staycation time. Sounds like playstation.
Dave Sandborg May 30, 2008, 11:17am EDT
We took a driving vacation over the long weekend. It was still cheaper than flying, though I do have a pretty fuel-efficient car. We have a few other things already lined up, so we'll just go through with them. It's more likely that our plans would change further on down the line. Regardless of whether we cancel any trips or not, I am eager to explore our local area more on general principles.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. May 30, 2008, 5:49pm EDT
My husband said "Book It and we will go"! So Pam don't think a staycation is in the forecast.............
Wilhelmine Estabrook May 30, 2008, 7:26pm EDT
Yes, we're staying home. Summer is the perfect time here in the country. We're having some of my husband's children and grand children here, so that will be like a vacation with lots of food and noise and laughter. then I have a sister coming from North Carolina. Maybe a visit from a an old friend from Boston, whom I haven't seen for 58 will visit. Lots of good stuff to look forward to.
John Philipp May 30, 2008, 8:28pm EDT
Pam, the neighbors recently said they were going on vacation. When asked where they said," Look where we live. Why go anywhere?"

The hire a maid and a cook for two weeks and then take day trips or overnights and see the parts of California that are close but one never gets around to. Costs them less than half flying somewhere.

Seems like a good idea to me — after everybody goes Ontario and buys something at flit's.
Duckie 1 May 30, 2008, 8:43pm EDT
We went on a cruise last fall and on another one in April and were looking at going on a cruise to Alaska this summer but it might have to wait until fall comes. However, if my husband must undergo surgery, there might even be a longer wait.
Jane C. May 30, 2008, 9:36pm EDT
LOL. When I saw the title, I thought a staycation was when you went to visit someone and never left. I did that to some friends of mine when I was 18. would you believe we're still friends?
Kathy D. May 30, 2008, 9:54pm EDT
I haven't gone anywhere in three years. This year we are planning a few small trips around social obligations.

We have season passes to our local amusement park (Cedar Point). There's no reason to visit any other park.
Jennifer N. May 31, 2008, 4:29am EDT
Well we typically only travel in winter so we always have staycations I guess, lol. We are in an area where there's a ton of things to do locally or within an hour's drive, so there's really no worries on being bored.

The exception was our trip this month to NY which was a rare treat.
Luna Rushdi May 31, 2008, 4:34pm EDT
Hi Pam, thanks for introducing a new word to me! I have been on staycation lots of times, just didn't know it. At the moment, with my husband gone to South Africa for three months, even though I am not officially 'on leave' from work, it feels like a Staycation at home, as I am doing whatever I feel like and at times crashing on the couch if walking upto the bedroom feels like too much of an effort :)
MaryAnne, Director of Member Services May 31, 2008, 5:27pm EDT
I used to do staycations every few years when my kids were growing up so we'd have time to enjoy local fun spots. I found it really relaxing and it gave me time to catch up with my neighbors and friends.
Ravichanthran P. Jun 2, 2008, 2:20pm EDT
staycation is a nice thing every alternative year!! But may not be that fun every year.
Any nice concept introduced, thanks
Shannon S. Jun 4, 2008, 6:27pm EDT
I am meeting up with my family at Virginia Beach this summer, but that doesn't mean I won't look for every opportunity to spend some time at home, too.
Jan S. Jun 4, 2008, 10:52pm EDT
I hadn't heard the word before, but I'm already aware of the trend. Since we live on a lake and have boats and jet skis, we get a lot of company. This year, however, many more people are asking to come up. They'd only have to pay for gas, since lodging and food are free. What's wrong with this picture?
Photobucket
Amy H. Jun 5, 2008, 8:03pm EDT
My stacation will mean that I stay in my own state. We usually go out of state for vacation. But this year we will have a statecation.Smileycons!
Kimberly D. Jun 9, 2008, 10:43am EDT
I thought we would be having a staycation, but we decided to take a short trip to Disneyworld with my 2 year old. I was actually surprised that I was able to get a pretty nice room at one of the nicer hotels right next to Disney at a good price. I guess because so many are planning a staycation, hotels are hurting and having good deals. Now of course the gas and tickets to the park are still high, but at least I feel as if I have some sort of deal. The hotel package even came with vouchers for breakfast in their resturaunt, and a gift card for $50 to spend on site!

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