Are We There Yet? You Are With a Staycation

While traveling with children, how many times have we all heard this? Have a ‘staycation’ and you can answer with a resounding, “Yes”.  Planning for a vacation is half the fun, but finding no cash to take the family on a full fledged outing is cause for extra preparation. Follow these simple tips to keep some money in your wallet and have a successful ‘staycation’.

Saving Money

Saving money is one of the prime considerations of having a staycation. Money that would have been spent on travel, hotel and meals can be put in the bank and used for other things or saved for a family vacation at a later date. Staying at home doesn’t have to be a drag. With some planning and a little ingenuity a restful and stress-less vacation can be taken right in your own back yard.

How to Plan

Planning and organizing is paramount to a successful staycation. As with any vacation these things should be considered:

Budget costs – To have a special vacation consider setting aside a modest sum to cover costs of any activities that are planned. They may not be extravagant but setting a budget prevents overspending on frivolous items.

Plan time – It is necessary to book the time off of work and announce that a full week of vacation is happening. This will get the idea floating around and people thinking of things that they might want to do. Having the second week of July booked off for a vacation does not mean to use this time for family projects and house maintenance. This is the time to spend time with the family relaxing.

Organize daily activities – Planning a strict schedule can lead to catastrophe but setting out blocks of time to enjoy special activities or daily excursions will help keep people on track and allow activities to be organized. Some scheduling may be required for example if a paid white water rafting tour is organized. If the tour leaves at 1:30 this has got to be part of the schedule.

Get all family members involved – When everyone has a vested interest in what is happening they will get involved. If Susie want to go to the beach, Danny who wants to go to a movie, will be more apt to bide his time at the beach knowing that the next day was his to plan out.

Other Tips

Trying some of these simple activities will help organize a successful ‘staycation’:

• Become a tourist in your own city – Visit local attractions, free concerts in the park and other activities. Look in the local paper or search for your city online to find events that the family will enjoy.

• Take a trip to the National or State Park – Spending time with nature can rejuvenate the spirits. Camping out and toasting marshmallows over an open fire goes a long way to make family memories.

• Lose the cell phone, Blackberry and email – Unplugging the work station shows family, and the office, that you are truly on vacation even if it is in your own back yard.