Staycation vs Abroad

[LinnettdeBelleforte]

So to get me through the long, depressing winter (I'm in Scotland) I am planning a holiday for early March: I am trying to decide between a staycation in the South of England or somewhere slightly further afield (Southern Europe) I haven't been down South in ages, and I have a yen to visit London and the South coast again: does anyone local have any recommendations for pretty villages that might be nice to visit, or am I really better off going to Spain and saving England for summer?

Any particular reason why it’s staycation of abroad?

Does a UK holiday not interest you? There are loads of brilliant places where you could go for a holiday, rather than staying home with day trips to eg London

I think we are talking at cross purposes. I am not in London, I am in Scotland. The staycation would be London or the South of England.

March could still be fairly brisk even in the south of England! But you might see more signs of spring.

I thought a staycation was staying at home?

Staycation means you stay at home and have day trips out.
I think you are talking about a holiday in the UK OP.

March here in the south can be bright and uplifting or grey, cold, and depressing! I'd go for warm European destination for March and plan the staycation for September.

That's what I'm thinking! I lived in London many years ago, and I do miss it, but I remember March could be very changeable: sometimes it was brisk and sometimes it was gorgeous. After the horrible spring and summer that we had last year, I am not putting myself through months of cold again: I am leaning more towards Spain now, although I am still interested in pretty town recommendations!

I think a 'staycation' means a UK holiday, no? That's how I've always heard it used, anyway.

I'd go for abroad in March and have a southern U.K. holiday in summer, as in March it'll still be cold and brisk in U.K. .

Staycation is definitely staying at home whilst on holiday. If you choosing between a UK holiday or a foreign one in March I think a city break in the UK is fine. However the weather would be a bit limiting for a country or seaside break

As you said staycation in your title, of course I thought that's what you meant

So you're considering a UK holiday, a holiday overseas, and a staycation? I guess not.

So it's between a UK holiday or a holiday overseas?

I would go for UK holiday. March can still be lively in terms of weather, so I'd be wary of lower-lying places that might flood. Bath might be nice for a couple of days, then go via Oxford (perhaps stay at The Bell in Aston Clinton near Aylesbury?) and then end up in London?

What sorts of things do you like to do/see?

Thanks everyone for their responses and sorry for the confusion in wording. I am sure that I have heard staycation the way I used it in my OP, as I think that the term came about during the pandemic when fewer people went on 'full' holidays, but different people may use it differently.

Thanks so much for your recommendations! Bath sounds intruiging, I have never been there before but have always wanted to go. As for what I like to do, I love museums and galleries and fine dining.

March weather wise is tricky, in the south of the U.K. it varies from snow to a pleasant 18 degrees, Spain isn't much more guaranteed, yes it probably will be warmer than London but rain and storms aren't uncommon

March in the south of England will feel noticeably warmer than Scotland, particularly if she lives north of the central belt. A trip to London in March would be great. Bath is a couple of hours from London on the train or if coming from Scotland will be a very long cross country trip. It's lovely but TBH there's far more Georgian architecture in Edinburgh. The Roman baths are good though. Oxford is also lovely and has more museums and galleries and it's an easy day trip on the train to Bath to see the Roman Baths and Pump Room.

you are not wrong @LinnettdeBelleforte the definition of "staycation" seems to irritate many. 😖

Fyi, according to the Oxford English Dictionary it's interchangeable.

From my reading comprehension skills I knew exactly that, in your post, you meant the UK.

www.oed.com/dictionary/staycation_n?

1. A holiday spent in, or in the neighbourhood of, one's own home. Rare before the late 20th century.

1. Originally British. A holiday spent in one’s country of residence (although generally involving staying away from one's own home).

Thank you! I thought I wasn't crazy! English isn't my first language although I am very fluent, so occasionally I doubt myself.

Early March is still too wintry and unpredictable IMO (I live near London). So as others have said I'd head to southern Spain or Portugal in early March and wait until the kids go back to school in Sept and then come down here. September is often the most glorious and settled weather of the year, so ideal for a UK break. There are lots of nice places to stay on the south coast. I like Chichester, Arundel, Rye, Lewes.

In March I’d rather go to southern Europe unless there was something date crucial I wanted to see in the UK. Pretty uk towns can be fairly bleak in miserable weather.

I noticed a switch in the meaning of staycation during the pandemic. It definitely has duel meaning now.

Well I’m in Cornwall and I am seeking somewhere warm ish for March as well.

Stormy, grey, rain and sometimes freezing - March is a bit hit and miss down ere. I think you’d be really miffed (quite rightly) if you came all the way down South for that sort of weather.

Flights are cheap at the moment as some airlines have a January sale so if you’re quick you could book something somewhere warmer in Europe ☺️

I totally get it. This is the most bleak and most depressing January I’ve ever experienced and I crave / am desperate for some sun

A staycation means you stay at home. In one's hometown. Anywhere else is a holiday - just in the same country (yes, aware that Scotland is technically another country, but it is the UK...!)

Leaving aside the arguments about what a staycation is (those who say it's a holiday in their own country rather than staying at home with day trips are wrong as it's a holiday, why wouldn't it be, the clue is in the name, you stay in your own home) if you're looking at Spain, you could have a city break in Andalucia so fly to Malaga or Seville and then have a couple of trips to other places in the region as it's easy to get around by coach or train, making places like Cordoba, Granada, Jerez or Cadiz accessible.

In terms of 'pretty towns' then Mijas, Nerja or Estepona would fit this brief as would Lanjaron (the gateway to the Alpuljarras) but this is a bit of a trek without a car. You will be able to get flights to Malaga, Seville might be a bit more tricky and the weather should be good although can be unpredictable between late October and early May, with the odd rainy day or even a storm. But there's plenty to do indoors if you like museums etc.

A staycation used to mean you stayed at home during some time off and did activities such as a bit of gardening or clearing out the shed. In recent years, it has come to mean taking a holiday in the UK rather than going abroad. I don’t approve of this change but I fear there’s nothing we can do about it.

It is. I think people get annoyed about staycation being used for a UK holiday as it's suggesting it's not really a holiday. If you're travelling from Scotland to the south of England OP you're not staying at home

That isn't true, though, is it? As PP have said, the definition changed (to the one I am familiar with) during the pandemic. I hadn't even heard the term before the pandemic, and I have only ever heard the term used to mean 'domestic holiday'. I'm not saying it doesn't mean 'stay in ones hometown' but it doesn't ONLY mean that, clearly.