Planning a vacation at home? Forget the stress of having to go to the airport or hop in the car for a long drive. Why not enjoy some quality time relaxing in your own home? And with these staycation ideas, your time off will feel like a true vacation.
How to Plan a Staycation on a Budget
Planning a staycation doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s where to start.
Figure Out Your Budget
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a memorable staycation, but you need to set some kind of budget.
Figure out how much you can or want to spend on your home getaway before you start planning anything else.
Plan Your Activities for a Staycation
What do you want to do on your break? Even if you don’t want to leave the house, it’s a good idea to have a few things planned. This could be something as simple as a special dinner or a project you want to work on.
Having plans will give you something to look forward to and make your staycation more memorable.
I’m going to share lots of ideas for activities below to inspire your plans.
Figure Out Your Menu
Food is the one thing you always look forward to on any vacation. But just because you’re staying home doesn’t mean you can’t feast and splurge a little.
Breakfast is one meal that you can focus on to make your staycation feel like a hotel stay. Make it special. Serve yourself croissants or other pastries with jam. Get some fresh fruit to cut and enjoy. Take the time to make freshly squeezed orange juice (manual squeezers are really cheap).
Little things like this can make your staycation feel more special without costing you an arm and a leg.
For lunch and dinner, ask yourself:
- Do you like cooking and want to be more elaborate?
- Or do you want something simpler?
Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Stress-free Vacation Meals
Staycation Dinner Ideas & Recipes
Easy Vacation Meals
Related: At-Home Date Night Ideas That Actually Feel Special
Visit Local Places that You’ve Been Putting Off
A staycation doesn’t mean that you have to be cooped up in the house the entire time. Why not plan to visit some local places you’ve been putting off?
- Check out local museums (they’re usually very affordable)
- Hit the beach or lake for an afternoon
- Have a picnic in the park
- Hike that trail you’ve always wanted to check out
Play the tourist in your town and visit local attractions that fit in your budget.
Staycation Ideas to Make Your Time Off Memorable
Not sure what to do during your time off? Here are some staycation ideas to inspire your plans.
Enjoy Your Morning Coffee in Bed – Without Your Phone
Make it a point to spend each morning in the present moment. Enjoy your coffee in bed or near a window (bonus points if you have a view of nature). Keep your phone off and just be for at least 30 minutes.
When I say “just be,” I mean it. Don’t read a book. Don’t scroll. Don’t watch TV. Stay in your PJs. Just breathe and take in the morning without any distractions.
You’ll be amazed by how this one little ritual can change your entire day and make you feel more relaxed. And really, that’s the whole point of a vacation isn’t it? To recharge your batteries?
Plan an Outdoor Picnic
If the weather is right, plan a backyard picnic, or take your lunch to a local park. You can also have an indoor picnic if the weather is poor.
Make it special.
- Lay down blankets and pillows
- Pack delicious treats in a picnic basket
- Bring some books or games
- Play some music
Playing a card or board game will make the picnic even more fun. Pick something simple and fun that won’t be too complicated or take too long to finish.
Forget that you’re at home or in a local park. Change your mindset. Play the tourist, and you’ll find it much easier to relax and enjoy yourself.
You don’t have to be elaborate or spend a lot of money to make your picnic memorable.
Have an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are always fun, especially for the kids. But even if it’s just adults on this staycation, you can still have a good time hunting for things inside of the house or yard.
You can even have a special prize for the winner.
Your scavenger hunt can have you look for anything in the house:
- Mug or cup
- Keys
- Books
- Sunglasses
- Left shoe
- Light bulb
For adults and older kids, you can have clues instead of just listing the items.
Camp in the Backyard
Want to know how to plan a staycation you or the kids won’t forget? Camp in the backyard. Transform your outdoor space into an oasis.
Start by pitching a tent. Fill it with cozy blankets and pillows. Add a plush outdoor rug to make it extra cozy (and keep it clean inside).
If you have some lounge chairs, bring them out. Cover them with blankets and pillows, too. Add some candles for ambiance, or have a bonfire.
Make your backyard camping fun by:
- Stargazing
- Watching movies (with a projector or on your phone/laptop)
- Roasting s’mores
- Telling stories
- Playing music or games
Keep your devices away (unless you’re watching movies on them) and just be with your family or partner.
Try a New Recipe
Why not add a new recipe to your list of food to eat during your staycation? You have plenty of options to choose from, but here are a few to inspire you:
- Baked feta pasta: Made famous on TikTok, you’ll bake pasta, lemon zest, basil, creamy sauce (made entirely of feta), roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes. You’ll find this recipe and all of the others in the Pin above.
- Blueberry cookies: How amazing do these cookies look? You can use fresh blueberries if you like, but frozen works better. Add in some white chocolate and butter (unsalted, of course) and you’re in for a wonderful dessert.
- Buffalo-ranch butter board: Buffalo hot sauce, ranch and green onions come together with this board. You’ll need carrots and celery to dip into the dip, but you can also opt for pretzels or something similar.
- Air fryer Oreos: Pancake batter wraps around your Oreos to create a sweet treat that goes perfectly with a movie marathon.
Naturally, you can opt for any other recipe you like. Just choose something that is fun to make and not too complicated, unless you’re a person who loves to cook.
Related: The 15 Best Airbnbs to Book Now for Spring Break
Pamper Yourself in Your At-Home Spa
You can’t have staycation ideas and not pamper yourself a bit. An at-home spa will do the trick, and it’s as simple as treating yourself with:
- At-home facials, using one of these kits
- Lay down and enjoy a relaxing bath with bath bombs
- Baths not your thing? Add a shower steamer instead
- Wear a steam eye mask, like this one
- Treat yourself to a foot massage
Have fun with your at-home spa. You’ll find so many neat options on Amazon for ways that you can spoil yourself.
Roast S’mores Over a Bonfire
It almost feels like cheating to mention s’mores, but they’re such a universally-delicious option that I feel like it has to be on the list. Start a bonfire outside, or use this neat s’mores kit, and then assemble your s’mores:
- Graham crackers or cookies on the top and bottom
- Add chocolate and marshmallow in the middle
Be sure to roast the marshmallow so that when you press down on the top and bottom of your s’mores, the heat melts the chocolate and it becomes a gooey delight.
Craft Something New
You’re on a staycation, so you need to do something fun for yourself. Craft nights are a no-pressure way to achieve this goal, but you have to be easy on yourself. If your painting or craft doesn’t come out just right, it’s okay.
With that said, a few craft ideas that may work well are:
- Candle-making
- Paint and sip
- Tie-dye
- DIY jewelry
- Vision board
Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a 5-Star Hotel
I don’t know what it is, but hotels always feel so comfy. Don’t they? What if you could transform your space into a 5-star hotel? You can do so by adding in the following:
- Scents, such as these perfume candles
- Comfy linens, like these
- Small coffee or tea stations
- Tons of comfy pillows
Be sure to have lamps in each corner with dimmable lights so that you can change the ambiance of the room.
Related: 30 Minute Yoga YouTube Videos To Start Your Day Right
Have Breakfast in Bed
I’m not going to lie, this is one of the staycation ideas that I’ll be taking advantage of this year. A delicious breakfast in bed, all wrapped up in a robe and blankets, sounds so cozy. What’s on the menu? It’s up to you, but this Scandinavian recipe Pin looks delectable with:
- Yogurt and berry jam
- Milk and granola
- Hard-boiled eggs with garnish
Serve with anything else you like, such as juice or buttered toast on a serving tray.
