Staycations are here to stay

Aamirah Thayibah

“Car sickness, train toilets, or airport queues, they all just put a dampener on the very idea of a holiday for me. I’m just not the travelling type, so the answer for me is staycations,” says Priya. But she does want a change of scene once in a while. That’s when she packs her bags, heads to a local hotel and checks in as a guest. “This allows me to get away from my house to a new place, not be worried about housework and get plenty of time for myself,” she says.

Many people like Priya hate travelling but want a change of scene but not really at the cost of a vacation. Vacations aren’t the most rejuvenating experiences, think visa trouble, catching a stomach bug, jet lag and all that that comes with a trip. More often than not, you need a holiday from a holiday.

Vacations can quickly turn into energy killers, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a holiday, staycations are the newest trend in the world of holidaying. A typical staycation allows for travelling not far from your own city, but rather exploring experiences in your city. Think local museums, hole-in-the wall eateries, parks, shopping, or any other places you pass during your daily commute but never had the time to check them out.

Staycations aren’t all about budget constraints, in the modern world it’s difficult to find time to relax with your family, even if they live with you or close by. A staycation allows you to spend more time with your loved ones instead of wasting time and resources on a full-fledged trip. “The time and energy you spend planning, booking, travelling is instead spent with the people who matter,” say Ravi and Bhavna, an overworked couple who run a business.

For a lot of people born and raised in the same city, staycations allow you to slow down and see your city through the eyes of a tourist, “it was only when my friends from out of the city asked me for recommendations within Bangalore that I realised how little I knew ” says George an IT professional.

Some also opt for a more local experience in favour of indigenous businesses and the climate.” George relays that the hands-on personal experience he gets by visiting local farmhouses is a more ethical and sustainable way. “Why would I want to spend a fortune, and add to my carbon footprint by going to Switzerland when a weekend at my grandmother’s farmhouse offers me the same experience but at a more intimate level,” asks George.

Another major factor turning people to staycations are the hotels themselves that offer spas, gyms, pools, continental restaurants, room service and luxurious bathrooms. The hotel becomes a vacation spot.

To many of us, vacations mean waking up at the crack of dawn to get started on the tourist experience. But to those who truly want to relax, let go and unwind, booking a weekend at a fancy hotel not so far from your home is a safe bet. A quiet day of ordering food to your room and bathing i n d e l u x e tubs is the perfect pampering you can give yourself after a busy week.

“While vacations do give me something to look forward to every time I sit down at my desk job, I don’t really have the time or resources to go to different countries, stay in hotels where I can barely enjoy the amenities and walk on foot around markets. When it’s time to go back home I’m somehow more tired than when I first left,” says Priya. Her ideal vacation in three simple words is an “all-inclusive massage”. This way, there’s a genuine feeling of rejuvenation that makes the cost worth it.

Many parents also choose staycations over more traditional holidays. Such trips can be planned more spontaneously and aren’t overpowered by paternal worries of sickness and anything that can quickly ruin plans. “Travelling, especially abroad, is challenging,” says Yasmeen, a mother of two young children. From formalities such as visas, insurance and tickets to toys and iPads and chargers, she finds herself hauling a large bag in one hand and a child in another. ”The idea of relaxation and vacations have been divergent for as long as I can remember,” she says. Staycations mean that her children can stay with their grandparents over the weekend, and she can treat herself to some me-time in a hotel nearby.

Staycations may not replace the adrenaline rush of travelling to a new country or city, but it is a more laid back approach that redefines the traditional vacation. It’s a mix of comfort and adventure that makes for a perfect mid-month break.