Posted on: August 20, 2008
Stay Right Where You Are!
Local sights are popular, low-cost destinations for late-summer vacationers
By Dawn Klingensmith
CTW Features
Soaring gas prices, time constraints and the endangered status of discount airfares have given rise to a new trend in travel – the “staycation.” Instead of flying or driving to far-off destinations, many families are opting to spend their vacations in or near their hometowns.
“Sticking close to home makes good sense this year,” says social psychologist Susan Newman, adding that increasing energy costs and hassles associated with air travel aren’t the only compelling reasons to do so. “There’s no need to pack and worry about what favorite toy or stuffed animal you might leave behind. Often, the big, splashy trips we’re convinced our children will favor aren’t as memorable as doing something simple like picking berries locally and making muffins when you get home.”
Staycations make it easy to lapse into couch-potato mode, so it’s advisable to treat them like regular vacations, which involves planning and structuring each day in advance.
“First, set a budget,” says consumer finance adviser Ethan Ewing, president of Bills.com, San Mateo, Calif. “Then, decide how far you’re willing to venture from home, and plan from there.”
Your state’s tourism bureau Web site is a good starting point, as well as a jumping-off point from which you can navigate to other sites for additional information and ideas. City tourism departments often issue “passports” for access to local attractions at discounted rates, and you can find additional deals online.
“Before you go to your chosen attraction, do an Internet search for your activity and the word ‘coupon,’” Ewing says. “Many places offer two-for-one, free-lunch, kids-free or percentage-off coupons online. Print them out and bring them along to save.”
Hopping on the staycation bandwagon, hotels have begun offering one- or two-night packages geared to locals or day-trippers. For example, the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Omaha offers a Family Fun Package, which includes breakfast for four, an in-room movie, a six-pack of soda and a pizza. Checking into a hotel allows you to enjoy little indulgences, such as spa treatments, poolside lounging and room service.
Pitching a tent in the backyard and sleeping outside provides a sense of “getting away from it all” without the inconveniences of camping or the expense of a hotel.
To get the most out of your staycation, complete household chores beforehand, just as you would if you were leaving town. On the first day, provide each child with a disposable camera for creating “postcards” and scrapbooks later on.
“The best souvenirs from any vacation are its lingering memories,” says Newman, a New Jersey-based author of 13 books on relationships and parenting. “Some of what you do on your staycation, your children will do with their offspring years from now.”
