We’ve talked about traveling for cheap, but flights can still be a few hundred bucks, plus hotel, plus… What if you’re really broke? You still deserve a vacation, a break from everyday life! There are endless ways to enjoy a vacation, even if you are on a tight budget.
Tour Your Own Town
Have you ever treated your own town like a tourist? We get so bogged down in day-to-day life, in an endless to-do list, in responsibilities, that we often forget there is plenty to see right where we live! I lived 30 minutes from Atlanta for five years, but didn’t visit it as a tourist until the month before I moved out of the area! Instead of researching your dream destinations, plan a staycation. Google your home town, then go do everything a visitor would do. Hit that museum you’ve been meaning to visit, or go to the zoo. You may be able to fill up a few days, and you’ll end up with a new appreciation for where you live.
Day Trip
When you’ve run out of ideas in your hometown, look around you. Anywhere within an hour or two is an easy day trip. When I lived in Augusta, that meant Savannah, Columbia, Athens, Atlanta – even Charleston was doable! So, pull up Google Maps and look at what’s near you – a new restaurant to try, a quaint Main Street to wander. You never know what you might find.
Go Camping
Sometimes, a little time in nature is just what you need to reset. Book a campsite and spend a few days in the woods. Most campgrounds have cabins, yurts, or Conestoga wagons if tent camping isn’t your thing. Read a book, take a hike, go fishing – just disconnect from the world. It’s inexpensive, and no matter where you live, there’s probably a campsite nearby.
Travel At Home
If you’re dying to see Paris but just can’t afford it this year, bring Paris to you. It won’t be quite the same, but you can get a taste of your travel bucket list without having to go to the airport. For Paris, pick up a croissant for breakfast to have with some espresso. Then take a virtual tour of the City Of Lights – since COVID, there are virtual tours for nearly every major destination. In the afternoon, take an online cooking class from Le Cuisine and make your own French dinner. Finish with a glass of wine, a copy of Le Petit Prince, and a French playlist in the background.
Get A Room
Sometimes you just need to relax. In my opinion, it’s not worth it to spend a lot on a hotel when you won’t spend much time there since you’re exploring. The converse of that is true, too – if your vacation dream is room service, fluffy robes, and a spa tub in your hotel room, stay home! Get a room in your town – you’ll still feel like you’re on vacation, but without the expense and time of flights. Pick a hotel with an indoor pool or spa and you can feel like it’s summer all year long. A night in a really swank hotel, eating steak in your pajamas can be perfect.
Spa Day
This is best done with a friend – it’s hard to give yourself a massage! Make your own spa for a fraction of the price at home. Put some new-age music on in the background, and stock up on supplies. Any beauty store nearby will have everything you need, from face masks to seaweed body wraps. You’ll also want to swing by the grocery store for some healthy ingredients – make buddha bowls, salad, or other spa-inspired dishes. Throw some cucumber slices in a pitcher of water, and you’ll feel like you’re at a spa getaway.
Home Swap
Call up your friends and family until you find someone who is also looking for a vacation, then plan to swap houses for a few days. Maybe it only gets you a few hours away, but a drive is still cheaper than flying to Thailand, and there are no hotel costs. Plus, it gives you a whole new city to explore!
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