How to plan a perfect staycation, 30 ideas for every mood and budget

Planning a staycation is the ultimate travel hack in our eyes. You get to skip the looooong airport queues, save some serious cash and finally appreciate all the a-mazing spots on your doorstep.

A proper break at home just requires a teeny bit of intention to make it feel special. We’ve rounded up the absolute best staycation tips to help, whether you’re typing ‘things to do near my current location’ into your search bar or just want to turn your lounge into a five-star retreat. Happy (holi)days!

What are some staycation ideas for families?

A family staycation is a game-changer when you let the usual household chores and strict bedtimes slide for a few days. The kids’ll be over the moon if you mix up their usual routine, and we’re willing to bet you’ll have the best time too.

1. Camp in the garden or living room

Grab every blanket you own and build an absolute masterpiece in your lounge for your home staycation. Throw in some fairy lights and let everyone sleep on the floor for a night. Have a garden and an actual tent? Get everyone outside for a stargazing session (and don’t forget the obligatory tin-of-baked-beans-for-dinner for the authentic camping experience).

2. Go completely rogue with the dinner menu

Let the little ones design a menu of their choice for the evening. Like waffles for dinner or a massive indoor picnic on the floor with every item chosen by them at the supermarket (crumby carpets are a future-you problem).

3. Have a massive indoor scavenger hunt

You’ll buy yourself at least an hour of total peace by hiding a series of ridiculous clues around the house for a treasure hunt. Have a tiny prize waiting for them at the end – they deserve it.

4. Host a family bake-off

Let the kids loose in the kitchen for a highly competitive (and incredibly messy) baking session. Whether you’re decorating cupcakes with way too much icing or making wonky pizzas from scratch, it’s bound to keep everyone entertained for at least an afternoon (hopefully).

5. Give the kids total control for 24 hours

Is there anything better than a ‘yes day’ when you’re a kid? Probably not. Say yes to literally every request your kids make for a whole day. It’s a bold move for a family-friendly staycation but they’ll talk about it for years.

6. Print your family staycation pics in a photo book

Take all those funny and oh-so-cute snaps and make a photo book to remember your staycation with your family. Let the kids sit next to you and art-direct each page with stickers and captions.

And if you’re in need of a little inspo, read our favourite childhood holiday memories blog.

How can couples plan a romantic staycation?

You absolutely do not need a massive budget or a fancy hotel to get those butterflies going. If you’re currently hunting for a ‘couples staycation near me’, put down the phone, because we’ve got some suggestions right here. A staycation for couples relies entirely on uninterrupted quality time and leaning into the romance (not location).

1. DIY a fancy home wellness retreat

Save your money on an expensive spa staycation and buy some obnoxiously fancy bath or massage oils instead. Dim the lights, light some candles and pretend you’re both in a high-end hotel. Bonus points for towelled robes and a glass of something sparkling. Cheers to that.

2. Head out with a golden hour feast

Throw some nice cheeses and a baguette into a bag and head out just before the sun goes down for a sunset picnic. A romantic staycation is pretty much just eating nice picky bits in pretty places and we are not mad about it.

3. Recreate your first date night

Head back to the exact spot where you had your very first date, or even recreate it at home. It’s a great reason to reminisce and laugh about how awkward you both probably (read: definitely) were.

4. Make an iconic shared soundtrack

Pour a glass of your favourite tipple and spend the evening building a playlist full of songs that mean something to you both. Hit play on it for the rest of the weekend staycation and enjoy.

5. Make a gift for each other

Each choose your fave-ever picture of you both and take it in turns to make a surprise photo gift. Use it as an opportunity to scroll through the archives and look back on all the memories you’ve shared. Dreamy.

What are some solo staycation ideas?

A solo travel staycation is the absolute best because you never have to compromise. You can literally do whatever you want, whenever you want, and (most importantly, in our opinion) you don’t have to share your snacks.

1. Get wonderfully lost in a gallery or bookshop

Want to stare at a painting for 20 mins straight? You can. Fancy browsing every book in the poetry section? Do it. You get to call the shots and the time is yours to spend it however you like.

2. Plan a long walk with a podcast

As simple as that – put on your favourite true crime episode and just keep walking. You’ll definitely stumble upon some new spots while you’re out and about – you could even challenge yourself to get through as many episodes as possible before heading home. Challenge accepted.

3. Treat yourself to that fancy brunch

Book a table for one at that place you’ve been stalking on Instagram. Take a book or just sit and people-watch the entire time. Because let’s face it, that’s everyone’s favourite thing to do, right?

4. Book a class or workshop

That pottery class you’ve wanted to do for literally years? Now’s the time to book it. You could even organise something different for every day of the week and have the most fun and creative local staycation ever.

5. Print your favourite places

Scroll through your camera roll, gather all the photos that make your heart happy and stick them in a Photobox photo book you can flick through whenever you want. Have a look at these great blogs on summer photo books and reliving summer memories for layout ideas.

Relaxing staycation ideas

We’ve all had those weeks where we just want to become one with the sofa. And oh, how blissful that feeling is. A truly relaxing staycation is the perfect excuse to do absolutely nothing apart from the things you want to do. And the rest of the time? Horizontal, pretty please.

1. Plan a ‘do-nothing’ day

Turn off all your alarms, put your phone on DND and let your body wake up whenever it wants to. A luxurious midday wake-up? Absolutely unheard of but absolutely achievable during a home staycation where the only plan = doing nothing.

2. Make breakfast a big deal

Move over rushed weekday toast, there’s a whole feast coming to town. Whip up a massive stack of pancakes or your fave brunch dish (we’re looking at you, basic but beautiful avo toast) for tasty and cheap staycation idea. And the best bit? Once you’re finished you can take your coffee straight back to bed, no matter what time it is.

3. Make a dedicated reading corner

Move a comfy chair right next to a sunny window and finally crack open that thriller you bought last year. Add a huge mug of tea to complete the vibe.

4. Go for an aimless stroll (on purpose!)

Step outside and flip a coin at every junction to see where you end up. You’ll probably find cute local spots you never even noticed before. Our tip: leave your phone in your pocket to really be present and take it all in. Permission to take snaps of all the wonderful sights you come across though.

5. Bring the holiday menu home

If you’re missing your favourite sunny spot, recreate it right in your kitchen. Cook a meal inspired by your fave holiday destination and stick on a themed playlist. For a holiday staycation that makes you feel like you could really be there, why not go the extra mile and decorate the table or dress-up as you would on that holiday. Ski gear in summer? Who knew…

Adventure staycation ideas

You can easily get that adrenaline fix you’re craving without venturing too far. A weekend staycation can be just as wild if you know where to look.

1. Tackle an unfamiliar nature trail

Look up a route you’ve never tried before and pack a massive backpack of supplies. Set off on bike or foot and you’ll even get the thrill of exploring without any petrol costs. Win-win.

2. Book an adventurous local activity

Search for ‘things to do near my current location’ and book the wildest option available. Paddleboarding? Indoor skydiving? Outdoor high ropes course? Say no more.

3. Catch the local train to somewhere new

Jump on the nearest train and pick a random stop to get off at. Be a tourist in a place you know nothing about and you’ll feel like you’re really on holiday.

4. Chase the sunrise

Drag yourself out of bed at an eye-wateringly early hour and find a high viewpoint to watch the sun rise over your town. It’s hard to beat the stillness and calm of feeling like you’re the only person awake in the world. Not a morning person? We get it. Head out to catch an equally glorious sunset instead.

Creative staycation ideas

You know that creative project you’ve been talking about starting for the last three years? Now is your moment. A home staycation is the best excuse to do something fun with your hands (that isn’t just scrolling) – especially if you’re looking for affordable staycation ideas that leave you feeling refreshed and a little productive.

1. Have a go at street photography

Grab your camera and head into the centre of town to capture the weird and wonderful moments happening right on your doorstep. Street photography is pretty addictive once you start – and we’re sure you’ll find so many cool places that have been hiding under your nose this whole time.

2. Start a mini travel diary

Buy a nice new notebook (any excuse for a stationery haul, tbh) and jot down a daily log of everything you get up to during your staycation. Whether it’s a funny conversation you overheard at a local café or a review of all the baked goods in town (someone’s got to do it, right?), it’s a great way to journal the tiny details that made your home staycation oh-so memorable.

3. Make a messy family scrapbook

Hoard every single museum ticket, coffee cup sleeve and receipt from your time off, glue them all into a big book alongside your photo prints and get everyone around the table for a big crafting session.

4. Design a permanent souvenir

Wrap up your mini staycation by dragging and dropping all your favourite arty shots into a beautiful staycation photo book. You can even pick out themes and stickers to match the whole vibe of your time off, as well as leave little captions to document every moment.

5. Let the kids take the photos

Hand over an old or disposable camera and let your children document the family staycation entirely from their own tiny perspective. You’ll probably end up with 30 blurry photos of their thumb, but it’s a fun way to see the world through their eyes.

How can a staycation feel like a real holiday?

A break at home is absolutely a real getaway, so it’s time to treat it like one. The secret to stepping into perfect staycation mode is to embrace those little luxuries and spice up your usual routine.

Switch on the out-of-office

Pop that out-of-office message on and put your phone away as much as possible. You can’t fully dive into a long weekend staycation if you’re secretly keeping an eye on your work emails. It can wait, promise.

Pretend chores don’t exist

Imagine your space is a bougie boutique hotel where you’re completely off duty. Leave the laundry in the basket and officially declare all admin and chores out of bounds until you’re ‘back’ from your at-home holiday staycation.

Create that elite hotel bed feeling

Nothing beats sinking into an expensive hotel bed on your first night away, does it? Put some crisp, fresh sheets on your bed right at the start of your break to set the ultimate relaxed tone. You could even go as far as investing in those new pillows you’ve been talking about. Zero regrets.

Mix up your dinner routine

If you usually eat your evening meal on the sofa while catching up on a series (us too), it’s time to change things up. Set the table properly and bring out your nicest plates, even if you’re just ordering a local takeaway.

Lean into the holiday aesthetics

We all know the big light is officially banned when you want to truly relax. Light your fave candles, buy some fresh flowers and put on your sunniest playlist to bring the holiday vibes home. Throw in fun little touches like a printed dinner menu or a silly dress code to make your cheap staycation feel like the best vacay ever.

What are the best staycation ideas near nature?

We all know a dose of fresh air cures pretty much everything, so pointing yourself towards the nearest patch of green or water is always a solid move when you’re planning a staycation and love being outdoors in nature.

Head to a local farm shop

Treat yourself to the most obnoxiously large loaf of bread and some outrageously expensive jam from a nearby farm shop or weekend market. Farm shop snacks are almost always better than supermarket ones (we don’t make the rules).

Book a ridiculously cute cabin

Pack up the car and spend a couple of nights in a tiny wooden lodge or a fancy glamping site. You absolutely win the holiday if you manage to find a staycation with a hot tub hidden in the woods.

Embrace the wild outdoors

Hire a kayak, try horse riding or go for a wild swim if you have a safe spot nearby. A quick dip in a mildly freezing local lake is a mandatory part of any British summer staycation.

Document nature

Channel your inner David Attenborough and head out to see what wildlife you can find. Take photos of everything you come across, the more unusual the better. Your best snaps of the scenery will look amazing printed as wall art in your hallway, trust us.

Zoom in on the details

Take a walk along the coast or waterfront and capture super close-up photos of the textures you find. Shells, sand and weirdly shaped rocks look incredibly cool when you focus right in on them in macro mode. You could even take a few as souvenirs (just make sure they aren’t a home to any wildlife before you pick them up!).

You planned the staycation, you didn’t have to deal with a single delayed flight, but you still had an unforgettable break. That’s a massive win in our book. Your home-turf adventures are just as special as a trip abroad, so give them the VIP treatment and turn your best staycation shots into a beautiful photo book or some fresh wall art. Time to start planning your next weekend staycation? We think so.

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Staycation FAQs

What is a staycation?

A staycation is when you take time off work but stay in your home country (or literally just in your own house). You could be doing fun day trips, exploring other cities or booking a hotel staycation just down the road.

Why are staycations becoming popular?

A local holiday can often save you a lot of money and gives you a brilliant way to dodge the travel anxiety. They’re also a great excuse to finally check out all those cool local spots you always say you’ll visit but never actually do.

What can you do on a free staycation?

So much! You can map out a brand new walking route, pack up a massive homemade picnic or hunt down a free local gallery. If you want to stay in, build an indoor camp, set up a cosy home cinema or host a highly competitive board game night. A fancy holiday-style breakfast or a quiet evening watching the sunset costs absolutely nothing and always feels super special.