To not bother booking a staycation this year

spanieleyes22 · 2024-05-30T17:04:40+00:00

I know I know plenty will come in and say just wear rain gear and wellies and get out whatever the weather. I just don't enjoy getting wet though! Haven't booked any annual leave yet this summer and can't bring myself to book any kind of staycation after last years week of rain in wales which ended up being pretty expensive as to make it bearable we had to go "in" to have a coffee or a snack or do something as weather was so rubbish. With the forecast this year I think I'm just going to stay at home. Actually feeling ok about it. I'll at least have my creature comforts

footgoldcycle · 30/05/2024 18:06

Book a week off and have a holiday from home. A week of your favourite meals, local restaurants, attractions.

We did it two years ago and it was lovely. We just had to have the mindset of "holiday"

Bjorkdidit · 30/05/2024 18:11

I don't understand. You say you're not going to bother with a staycation but then say you're doing just that.

But YABU to not bother doing it. You'll presumably have AL to use up so you're still benefitting from not going to work and then you don't have the hassle of packing to go away. You can still relax, treat yourself to nice food and drink. Go for days out in your own area, eat out and sleep in your own bed at night.

I tend to make sure I do this a couple of times over the summer, maybe a week off and also a long weekend.

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 30/05/2024 18:14

Going away within your home country is not a 'staycation'. It's a holiday. A staycation is when you don't go away from your house.

If you can afford it, book something - there will come a time in later life when you look back on that rainy week in Wales with fondness.

Original poster

spanieleyes22 · 30/05/2024 18:14

@Bjorkdidit yea I know but I always feel a bit on edge at home and I will take a week or so off. So many jobs to be done. Like I've taken tomorrow off and will be painting the hallway. When I'm at home I'm always doing things. It's hard to let it all build up and go into holiday mood !!

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Tophelleborine · 30/05/2024 18:15

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 30/05/2024 18:14

Going away within your home country is not a 'staycation'. It's a holiday. A staycation is when you don't go away from your house.

If you can afford it, book something - there will come a time in later life when you look back on that rainy week in Wales with fondness.

Thank you for saying it before I did!

TeaKitten · 30/05/2024 18:17

If you live in the UK and don’t want to/can’t afford to go abroad I’d book the holiday (which isn’t a staycation) and just crack on. This is British weather, this is what we get. I wonder if other countries moan about their own standard weather as much as we do.

If you do just book annual leave and stay home though then I hope you enjoy your staycation!

OpusGiemuJavlo · 30/05/2024 18:18

A staycation is a holiday staying at home. A holiday in the uk is a holiday not a staycation.

Original poster

spanieleyes22 · 30/05/2024 18:20

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 30/05/2024 18:14

Going away within your home country is not a 'staycation'. It's a holiday. A staycation is when you don't go away from your house.

If you can afford it, book something - there will come a time in later life when you look back on that rainy week in Wales with fondness.

Hmm I don't think the kids will be very keen ! They like their home comforts. And wondered why we didn't stay home last year. Just grown out of the novelty of a week away in wales I think

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Original poster

spanieleyes22 · 30/05/2024 18:21

OpusGiemuJavlo · 30/05/2024 18:18

A staycation is a holiday staying at home. A holiday in the uk is a holiday not a staycation.

Ah ok. Friends of mine all talk about a staycation meaning staying in UK

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UnctuousUnicorns · 30/05/2024 18:22

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 30/05/2024 18:14

Going away within your home country is not a 'staycation'. It's a holiday. A staycation is when you don't go away from your house.

If you can afford it, book something - there will come a time in later life when you look back on that rainy week in Wales with fondness.

This. By that reckoning I wouldn't have had a holiday since 2018, when in reality I've stayed away from home each Spring (excepting 2020) and Summer since then, for a week to ten days in Spring, and a fortnight in Summer. Plus numerous two and three night hotel breaks all over the country. I certainly don't feel deprived of holidays, or that I've only been having "staycations" all this time.

Chemenger · 30/05/2024 18:23

LongSinceGotUpAndGone · 30/05/2024 18:14

Going away within your home country is not a 'staycation'. It's a holiday. A staycation is when you don't go away from your house.

If you can afford it, book something - there will come a time in later life when you look back on that rainy week in Wales with fondness.

Yes, if you leave home you are on holiday, you stay at home on a staycation.

MermaidEyes · 30/05/2024 18:26

Can you compromise and book a long weekend somewhere instead of a full week? And not anywhere in Wales if the kids are sick of going there! Somewhere that appeals to everyone.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 30/05/2024 18:26

Thank you to those who have already said a UK holiday is a holiday; a staycation is when you are at home and do day trips. This drives me potty. I blame the BBC and other media for this misuse of the word.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 30/05/2024 18:28

But OP you are not unreasonable doing whatever you want.

I would rather be wet and cold by the sea then at home though.

GOTBrienne · 30/05/2024 18:28

Staycation means stay at home. Some people have only had holidays in the U.K., it’s still a holiday!

Honestly we don’t know what the weather will be like. It’s always a bit of a gamble but it can pay off when the weather is good. Sometimes it’s just nice to be away from home.

Tophelleborine · 30/05/2024 18:30

ElfAndSafetyBored · 30/05/2024 18:26

Thank you to those who have already said a UK holiday is a holiday; a staycation is when you are at home and do day trips. This drives me potty. I blame the BBC and other media for this misuse of the word.

I think it's been exacerbated by covid/brexit/cost of living crisis - suddenly loads of comparatively wealthy people who've always holidayed abroad have had to make do with uk holidays, but don't think they're real holidays.

Bjorkdidit · 30/05/2024 18:36

I'm not sure that's it. After all, many abroad holidays are cheaper than holidaying in the UK.

Compare the cost of driving to Cornwall to stay in a naice cottage, eat out in gastro pubs and pay to enter places like the Eden Project to get out of the rain with flying somewhere sunny in Europe where you can just relax in the sun and swim on the beach for free then eat and drink in seafront restaurants for half the cost.

Maybe if people don't want to risk the UK weather but don't want to go abroad each year, a staycation, ie staying at home in holiday mode alternated with going abroad is a good compromise. I don't know about others but I'm perfectly capable of ignoring 'jobs' and doing what I feel like if I'm supposed to be on holiday.

VerlynWebbe · 30/05/2024 18:38

You don't book a staycation, you literally stay at home and do day trips or whatever.

We are doing this, this summer, because all the holidays we might like to do in the UK look really shit now they're twice the price. So we've made a list of the things we've always meant to get around to seeing here. Quite looking forward to it if I'm honest.

CelesteCunningham · 30/05/2024 18:42

OpusGiemuJavlo · 30/05/2024 18:18

A staycation is a holiday staying at home. A holiday in the uk is a holiday not a staycation.

I might get this on my tombstone.

Along with "Caitlin is not pronounced Kate-lynn".

I know the battle has been lost on both fronts but I can't accept it.

OP, book the holiday. Make suitable plans. You might get lucky with the weather but plan for the worst. It's always worth getting away.

Jeannie88 · 30/05/2024 18:49

Just avoid camping! Going anywhere different, new sights, the feeling of being away on holiday is worth it! That excitement when you see a bit of sunshine 🌞 is the best, lol 😆 xx

Original poster

spanieleyes22 · 30/05/2024 18:50

Ah I think I'm just grumpy! I haven't been abroad since 2009 and would love to but although people say it's just as cheap to go to Spain it doesn't seem to be during school hols. Whereas as week in wales in the cheapest smallest far out air bnb I could find was a lot cheaper. And we only went out for coffees. Cooked from scratch every night. So pretty cheap. Anyway i feel like whatever anyone says im gonna be grumpy. Have been reading articles about how this is forecast to be the wettest summer since 1912

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WhereYouLeftIt · 30/05/2024 18:51

As others have said, an actual staycation is where you stay in your own home but behave as if you're on holiday. We did it a few years ago and had a marvellous time!

On holiday, I do not cook. Tea and toast at a push. So, you go out for lunch. Got a favourite cafe, or are there any you've always meant to go to? Then go to them for lunch. Evening meals were to our local Pizza Express, and other 'casual dining' restaurants. Yes it sounds like a lot, but basically the money you'd have spent on accommodation isn't getting spent, so use it to make your staycation a proper vacation. We even went out for breakfast a couple of times, a local cafe did coffee and a croissant for £5, money well spent. We went to the cinema. We went to nearby towns to play in their parks. We looked up what tourist attractions our town boasted and went to them (every town has something ...). It was all very relaxing because we were sleeping in our own beds, had all our 'stuff' (books, consoles, TV) right there - I really can recommend a real staying-in-your-own-home-vacation.

DrFoxtrot · 30/05/2024 19:01

@WhereYouLeftIt I can't believe I've never thought about having both lunch and dinner out while staying at home for a holiday 🙈. What a great idea, I'm definitely going to do this!

TeaKitten · 30/05/2024 19:03

spanieleyes22 · 30/05/2024 18:50

Ah I think I'm just grumpy! I haven't been abroad since 2009 and would love to but although people say it's just as cheap to go to Spain it doesn't seem to be during school hols. Whereas as week in wales in the cheapest smallest far out air bnb I could find was a lot cheaper. And we only went out for coffees. Cooked from scratch every night. So pretty cheap. Anyway i feel like whatever anyone says im gonna be grumpy. Have been reading articles about how this is forecast to be the wettest summer since 1912

Take the kids out of school for a holiday to Spain! It won’t kill them and if they’ve never been abroad it’s worth missing school for.

Original poster

spanieleyes22 · 30/05/2024 19:04

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/05/2024 18:51

As others have said, an actual staycation is where you stay in your own home but behave as if you're on holiday. We did it a few years ago and had a marvellous time!

On holiday, I do not cook. Tea and toast at a push. So, you go out for lunch. Got a favourite cafe, or are there any you've always meant to go to? Then go to them for lunch. Evening meals were to our local Pizza Express, and other 'casual dining' restaurants. Yes it sounds like a lot, but basically the money you'd have spent on accommodation isn't getting spent, so use it to make your staycation a proper vacation. We even went out for breakfast a couple of times, a local cafe did coffee and a croissant for £5, money well spent. We went to the cinema. We went to nearby towns to play in their parks. We looked up what tourist attractions our town boasted and went to them (every town has something ...). It was all very relaxing because we were sleeping in our own beds, had all our 'stuff' (books, consoles, TV) right there - I really can recommend a real staying-in-your-own-home-vacation.

That sounds great ! I always balk at the cost of eating out but like you say you are "saving" overall

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