Coolest Staycation Ideas Around The World

The Covid-19 Pandemic has totally scuppered so many people’s travel plans. For those people who live to travel and are always looking forward to their next trip, 2020 has been a very frustrating year. Closed borders, national lockdowns, and major travel restrictions have seen so many of us looking closer to home to satisfy our vacation needs. Cheap foreign vacations have only really become possible for most people in the last thirty or so years so staycations (vacationing your home country or local area) are not exactly a new concept. Many people are surprised when they realize how many incredible places there are on their own doorstep.

To help everyone who is looking to vacation close to home this year, here are the coolest staycation ideas around the world.

1. Check out the Local Beauty Sites

So many of us travel to other countries to visit the local beauty sites and attractions, but we totally overlook the ones that are right on our doorstep. Millions of Britons go abroad every summer, but there are so many incredible places to visit on the British Isles that are just a short car journey away. If you live in Scotland or the north of England, holidaying in Inverness is the perfect way to spend a week away and take in some of the amazing charms the local area has to offer. Situated in the Scottish Highlands, Inverness is a beautiful city with eighteenth and nineteenth-century architecture, which makes for a charming stay. Inverness Castle overlooks the River Ness, and just a short trip upriver lies the famous Loch Ness, where if you’re lucky, you might just get a glimpse of the legendary monster.

2. Support Your Local Restaurants

The Covid-19 Pandemic has been an incredibly difficult time for local businesses, and no more so than restaurants and other hospitality businesses. With local lockdowns starting to lift in many places, it is so important to get out and support restaurants in your area. There are so many hidden gems in every town and city that you may not have had time to get to before. Look online for the top-rated restaurants nearby and speak to foodie friends and family members for recommendations. Many restaurants throughout Australia and other countries are offering great discounts to get wary diners to venture out. Just make sure that you take all the necessary precautions when it comes to mask-wearing and ask the restaurant about their social distancing policies.

3. Explore the Local Beaches

There are so many incredible beaches which we often overlook to travel to more far-flung places. Wales has a breathtaking coastline, and there is an 870-mile long coastal path which was opened in 2012, which has given locals and visitors alike perfect access to all of the amazing scenery and beaches. The path is perfect for walkers, cyclists, and joggers and was the first path in the world to stretch the entire length of a country’s coastline. Some of the best beaches in Wales can be found in the South, including The Gower and Porthcawl Beach.

4. Get Back to Nature

So many of us have been locked away in our houses that just being out in nature again is just what is needed at the end of this difficult year. Local nature reserves and national parks in the US rely massively on financial support from visitors, which has been completely non-existent during the tightest lockdown restrictions. There is far less chance of virus transmission outside than there is inside, and so not only is going for a hike or just walking around the local park a great way to spend a staycation, it is also a safe way to enjoy your time.

5. Do the Touristy Stuff

It’s amazing how many people live in major cities but have never actually done the “touristy stuff”. Parisians are such busy people that a surprising number have never been up the Eiffel Tower or gone to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. In every city in the world, there are some iconic attractions, and with international tourism restricted in so many countries, there won’t be any of the usual crowds.

You don’t have to fly to some far off country to have a great vacation. No matter where you live, there will be some wonderful local places to visit as well as some incredible experiences which you never knew were right there on your doorstep. Try out some of these ideas, and you will have the best vacation ever without even having to go anywhere.