How To Get The Most Out Of Your Stay-At-Home Holiday

When I originally wrote this article in June 2020, we were in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Life as we knew it was on hold, and we weren’t sure if we would ever return to what we called normal. However, five years later, we have all survived. For many of us, the rising cost of living has forced us to cut back on our spending, and the holidays we once indulged in are on hold, at least for now. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a lovely stay-at-home holiday.

Isn’t it just a staycation?

I grew up with the term staycation, meaning you stayed at home, made day trips, took days out to the local park, and, if you lived close enough to a beach, then took a quick trip. Over the years, the terminology has changed, and staycations now mean staying in the UK. But whichever way you see it, a UK staycation is a good idea. Whether abroad, at home or in the UK, holidays will seem different, with many families deciding that it just won’t feel like a holiday if they don’t actually GO on holiday somewhere; this is obviously understandable.

Before we had our children, we often struggled to afford a holiday because of our mortgage and debts. As a result, we explored alternative options while being mindful of our finances. It can be easy to spend more on what might seem like a stay-at-home holiday.

Finances

When discussing finances, I think it’s important to clarify a few points. If you have an annual holiday budget, it still applies even if you decide to stay home. My husband and I typically allocate £100 a day for our summer holiday, which covers expenses for outings, snacks, and meals. We prefer not to cook much during our time off. We both dislike having to keep a close eye on our spending, so budgeting beforehand means we are less likely to overspend.

To stay on track, we plan out our spending by considering food (including dining out), activities, days out, and shopping. This helps us understand our available funds, and we always set aside some extra for emergencies.

Planning Stay-at-Home Holiday Activities

Before I begin, I want to point out the obvious. A stay-at-home holiday doesn’t mean Mum or Dad continue to work from home; big brother sits upstairs on his Xbox, and technology is life! I know! It’s hard for me to shut my laptop sometimes when I want five minutes, but this is a time to be spent as a family, enjoying each other, during a time that we may never get back.

So my first suggestion is to make a plan! But be flexible. If the weather is awful and that trip to the zoo is cancelled (British weather sucks), don’t stress, have a few rainy-day activities on standby. We used to visit the cinema as our rainy day activity or, with toddlers in tow, a play zone or a play cafe, which is always good for an hour or two. Only you know your family, but here are a few cost-effective ideas.

For a perfect staycation, consider renting a car from Discover Cars, the leading provider of online car hire reservations. A hire car makes it easy to explore nearby locations, delight in the extra room to move around and plan activities, or take a day trip. Don’t let being at home stop you from having an unforgettable holiday this year!

10 Stay-at-Home Holiday Activities

Picnic in the garden/park – Grab a blanket and icebox and head into the garden for some well-deserved time together or at a local park. In the UK, we enjoy a good picnic, with some great picnic spots to explore. If you are invested, you could make treats to take, like sausage rolls, cakes or cheese straws. Set the kids up with colouring books, audiobooks or puzzles and enjoy the great outdoors together.

Garden Camp Out – I’ve never been one for camping, but I owned a tent in my 20’s. It doesn’t have to be expensive; you could borrow a tent or some decent-sized ones on Amazon, as this four-person tent would fit in the average family garden. If, however, you fancy a tiny home from home, some companies offer glamping experiences. They come in, set up and leave you to your outdoor cookout or movie experience. Grab some popcorn and set up your very own outdoor movie theatre!

Water Fight: In the UK, we get the odd spell of hot weather, and we don’t all want to go to the beach, so why not get out of the pool, jet slide, buckets, or water guns and cool off? It could be just what you need to entertain those bored boys (I have one of those, but I am unsure if the husband counts). Just remember to have plenty of towels handy.

Local Attractions – I am grateful to live in an area with zoos, theme parks, aquariums, theatres, and museums, and if I want to, we can hop on a train to London within the hour. Only a few years ago, we discovered a nearby splash park. Sometimes, we forget what is right on our doorstep. Portsmouth is only a few miles away, so we often jump in the car to Southsea, enjoy Clarence Pier’s rides, and enjoy fish and chips afterwards. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but if you have kids who adore attractions or zoos, maybe invest in an annual pass for a local theme park or attraction. You usually save money, and there may be some excellent deals around.

Bug/Bear/Gruffalo Hunt – I live in an area with various woodland walks just a short car journey away and plenty of National Trust locations nearby to visit. They often offer activities and mini-adventures for the kids to enjoy, from quizzes to treasure hunts and more. You don’t have to stray too far. Print an activity sheet, head into some woods for a walk, and see what you can discover.

Family Bake Off – A rainy day can disrupt outdoor plans, but if your family has a budding baker, you could get out your aprons and make some simple treats. For the more adventurous, prepare a meal for the whole family. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t even have to bake. You could also make some tasty treats for a movie afternoon or an indoor picnic (I loved them as a kid).

Puzzles/Quizzes/Board Games – Who doesn’t love a good puzzle or board game? If you aren’t one for puzzles or board games, there are plenty of online quizzes and treasure hunt games to keep you busy.

Create a holiday scrapbook – I wish I had started earlier. It’s not complicated at all. All you need is a standard notebook or some plain paper, along with old photos from last year’s holidays or cute images you can print online. Assign each family member a page and see what you can create together. This could be a great way to encourage you to document your travels with your children. Please don’t wait until they’re older; they should be experiencing these moments now!

If making a scrapbook seems too complicated, I really enjoy creating digital photo books with Snapfish. They often have great offers, and currently, there’s a 50% discount! Our children love looking back through the many years of holidays we’ve shared.

Learn a New Language – Many websites and apps can assist with learning a new language. When I was 14, I decided to learn Spanish (not taught in school then), booked out a book and cassette (I am that old) from the library for the summer, and sat on the beach learning. I managed the basics, but I wish I’d continued. Helping my daughter with her French studies has inspired me to consider learning it again. It can be something you do as a family or individually, and I would suggest teaching colours or numbers first for younger kids.

Arts & Crafts – A list wouldn’t be complete without some time for arts and crafts. My husband has OCD, which makes crafts very difficult when the sight of paint makes him panic. So, over the years, we’ve never replaced our crafts box. However, homeschooling taught me that we do need it when our son’s school asks us to make masks, picture books, and felt animals. I do have a love of Hobbycraft!

Not Feeling Like a Holiday

So, here are a few ideas to get you started. There are plenty more sources on the Internet, and as mentioned, museums offer virtual tours if that interests you. These are to get you thinking about some things you could do. Maybe the staycation is becoming the new vacation?

There is this risk that being at home never feels like a holiday, but if you consider creating a summer holiday planner, it will keep you motivated and track what you have planned. You cook every night, the washing still needs doing, and there always seems to be a laundry pile waiting to be put in the machine. From the beginning, having the right mindset means that these ‘normal’ things don’t have to ruin your stay-at-home holiday. Order a cheeky take-out, get your shopping delivered to the house, and use a local company to bring an afternoon tea or a party pack to your home. It doesn’t have to feel like you aren’t ‘away’. Friends tell me how they are getting their houses’ holiday’ ready! One even described it as ‘hotel’ ready with new bed linen, and they also planned to have a holiday type of breakfast every morning. I’m not talking about buffets, but the perfect alfresco dining with the family.

However, you decide to spend your 2025 holiday, whether at home, in a beautiful holiday cottage, or jumping on a plane. It will be your holiday, and I hope that this post has inspired you to consider something different. Please let me know your plans for the summer in the comments below.

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