Staycations are a popular alternative for people who don’t have the time to prepare for a vacation to far off places. With so many great destinations in and around Metro Manila, you can get that relaxing day off anytime you want. To enjoy your staycation to the fullest, here are some useful reminders when planning your trip.
Staycation tip no. 1: Choose the right staycation place
With so many staycation places available in the city, it can be hard to decide which one to go with. A good step to begin narrowing down your options is by deciding on the theme you want for the trip. Some ideas you can go with are:
- Be a tourist in your town: Visit the various museums, historic sites, and other attractions within the city you have never checked out before.
- Runaway gourmet: Go on a trip to try out some of the well-known restaurants located in a certain area of the city.
- Swimming party: Look for nearby in-city resorts that have swimming pools where you can take a dip and feel like you are on an island trip.
- Relaxation day: Relieve your body of all the stress from the daily grind with a variety of therapeutic massages the staycation spot offers.
When deciding on your theme, make sure everyone in your family or group agrees with it. It is also important that there are activities they would find interesting. Note that your choice of theme will determine all the things you need for the trip.
Staycation tip no. 2: Set a budget and stick to it
As is with a full-blown vacation, having an exact budget for your staycation will help ensure that you don’t overspend. You also need to make sure to stick to it while still getting to enjoy your short trip.
One way you can keep yourself within the budget is by choosing alternative accommodations instead of the usual hotels. Low-cost inns have sprouted around popular destinations in the metro. They typically offer most of the accommodations you will find in hotels but with a simpler presentation, making them more affordable.
Another option for accommodation is Airbnb/rented places. These can either be rooms, condo units, or whole houses the owners will let you use for a few days. While they don’t have any form of room service, these places are fully furnished, letting you enjoy the comforts of home. Note that you will have to bring your own food, however.
Staycation tip no. 3: Know what to bring
Compared to the usual vacation planning, you often don’t have to pack a lot of stuff for your staycation. But you still need to be mindful of what to bring so you don’t have to end up buying additional stuff while on vacation.
Some of the essentials to pack are:
- Nightwear: Pack a set of loose shirts and shorts or pajamas you can change into for a more comfortable sleep. Also make sure that you pack several underwears.
- Toiletries: Some inns and rented places provide most of the necessary toiletries but it would still be a good idea to bring some for your personal use.
- Slippers: Some hotels might give you slippers to use but these might not be the right size so it would be better to bring your own.
- Medications: Bring any important medicines that would last for the duration of your stay so you won’t have to go to the nearby drugstore.
- Electrical socket adapters: You would never know what kind of electrical outlets are provided in your unit, so it’s a good idea to bring adapters for your gadgets.
When making your reservation at the hotel or inn, be sure to get the complete list of essentials they provide. In case you need some special items during your stay, such as extension cords, make the requests early. Certain hotels are strict about the room items they provide. If you forget, say, your toothbrush, they might not provide you one without prior notice.
Staycation tip no. 4: Plan your itinerary
One great thing about vacation planning nowadays is you can get a lot of information about the different attractions around your staycation venue. Websites like TripAdvisor give you various recommendations for other attractions. Use this as a guide for determining which places to visit during each day of your stay. Be sure to check their schedule so that you can fit them into your own.
You would also want to decide early whether to cook your own meals or dine out. The latter takes some work but will save you a lot of money. On the other hand, dining out is a great idea if you specifically want to experience the different restaurants around the area but you need to make advanced reservations. Factor how each option will fit into your itinerary so that you won’t fumble around deciding what to it.
Make your staycation a success with proper vacation planning
The above tips are just a few of the ways you can get ready for that much-needed staycation. While going freestyle is also a good experience, even a small amount of preparation will go a long way. Follow them and enjoy frolicking around the city on your days off.