In recent years, the staycation trend has been going strong, and 2013 is no exception. The staycation is a way to enjoy your own country, or even city, without having to spend a fortune, and can be just as enjoyable as a foreign holiday – and much kinder to your bank balance! So book a week off work, dust off your road map and prepare to have fun in the UK.
The beach is the obvious place to start, but the Great British weather can’t always be relied upon to give us gorgeous blue skies and gentle waves lapping at our feet. That’s why you should take advantage the first day the sun comes out, as these opportunities don’t come around especially often in the British summertime. If you don’t live close to the seaside, you could always go to a nearby riverbank for some relaxing sunbathing.
If the weather takes a bad turn but you still want to feel like you’ve made the most of your week, why not book yourself in for a UK spa break? This is a much cheaper alternative to a holiday abroad and doesn’t rely on the weather at all. While the rain lashes down outside, you can kick back and relax in the sauna or book yourself in for a massage or body treatment. You could even get your golden glow with a spray tan. Nobody needs to know where you got your sun-kissed skin!
Thrill seekers might miss their dose of foreign theme parks on a staycation, so take advantage of the UK’s fantastic offerings. Thorpe Park regularly gets brand new rides ready for daredevils to enjoy, and Alton Towers is a popular option for those in the Midlands. These can be just as good as theme parks overseas, and if you don’t get to do everything in one day you could always go back later in the week to fill in the gaps.
Staycations are the perfect time to explore your own city. It’s very easy to neglect your hometown in normal life, with weeks filled up with work and weekends spent going to the same places time and time again, leaving you no time to try new things. Pretend to be a tourist in your own city and go into places that look interesting rather than places you already know. Try out the free museums, drop into cafes on side streets for a coffee or try going for lunch in a new restaurant. Whatever you do, make it something new and something you wouldn’t normally try. You never know, you could find your new favourite place!
