Summer Stay-Cation in Your Plans? You’re not alone.

Staycations get a bad rap. Images of being stuck in your neighbourhood trapped by the routine, ho-hum of every day doesn’t quite get the juices going as fast as a beach vacation in the Caribbean might.

But could it be that you’re stay-cationing wrong?

The truth is staying “home” doesn’t have to be boring and it definitely doesn’t have to mean being at your home.

A recent study from Tangerine confirms that more and more Canadians are looking at their budgets and reconsidering how a stay-cation might help.

The study found that 81% of Canadians plan to spend the long weekend at home this year. Most (69%) credit the fluctuating value of the Canadian dollar for their stay-cation plans.

And as families tee up their summer plans, a quarter of Canadians surveyed said they won’t be getting away at all! 58 per cent said they’ll travel within Canada or their home province and only nine per cent are planning to travel to the US. Even fewer than that (8%) plan to travel internationally.

It’s probably of no surprise to most of us Canadians that, of those surveyed, more than one quarter (27 per cent) of Canadians said they changed their plans and no longer plan to travel to the US this summer because of the Canadian dollar.

If you’re among the Canadians who’ve decided a stay-cation is in your future. Take heart. There are a few things you can do to keep the vacation in your stay-cation.

Have a Plan

Doing laundry, weeding the garden and washing the car are not vacation activities but you can find yourself doing them if you haven’t made other plans. Instead, create an itinerary for your days off in the same way you would if you were on vacation. Trips to the park, seeing local sites or planning a picnic can all get you out of the house. While it might seem counter-intuitive to plan the fun, it’s too easy when you’re home to fall into your everyday routines if you don’t.

Leave your hood

Maybe you can’t afford to travel far this year but strongly consider a trip within your province or country. Whether it’s a drive out to a neighbouring area or a flight to a new-to-you province, exploring Canada is a great way to get both an exciting getaway and a budget-friendly experience.

Tip: Not sure of where to go? If they could take a vacation anywhere in Canada, one-third (33%) of Canadians surveyed said they would choose the east coast/Atlantic Canada as their destination of choice, followed by British Columbia (25%), Ontario (16%), and Quebec (16%).

Consider travel options that keep costs low

Hotel accommodations, flights and restaurant costs can be budget-blowers. To keep your costs in-check consider ways to keep those costs low.

“Whether staying with friends at an Airbnb® or hostel, or just hitting the road in your car, there are many ways to ensure you stay within your budget while you travel,” says Cait Flanders, author of the personal finance blog, Blonde on a Budget®. “My favourite way to save on travel is taking a ‘staycation’ and exploring areas close to home, which can be an eye-opening experience and cost much less. Canada is one of the most beautiful places in the world and we should all spend more time exploring it.”

I wholeheartedly agree.

For more information on the study and its results visit tangerine.ca