We have reached the end of 2021. A little more than a month, and it’s hello 2022. What really happened this year? A portion of it was similar to the previous year – fear, caution and a lot of uncertainty. The end of this year has brought confidence and hope that is slowly building. ‘Slowly’ might seem misleading considering how people are up and about today, however, there are many like me who still believe that the road ahead is precarious which needs to be tread with caution. That is why the concept of travel getaways are still scary for me. In comes ‘staycation.’
It’s been, what, close to two years since I travelled outside the city. Whatever outing that happened was within city limits. And, that was minimal – restricted to essential shopping, doctor visits, few restaurants and a stayover at a friend’s place or a hotel. Wait, staying in a hotel in the city of your residence? How bizarre is that? Turns out, it was normal and not bad at all.
The concept of staycation grew to prominence in a Covid world. With inter-state and country travel restrictions, people found a way to leave their homes for a couple of days and yet stay confined following covid protocols. That’s where ‘staycation’ helped. A vacation where you ‘stayed in’. People had opted for staycations in the past as an option to relax and unwind in one place without the hassle of travelling around. This was a perfect fit for people who wished to have a change of environment for a short period of time. While some chose staycations to unwind, others booked staycations to work in a different environment. All you had to do was remotely login like you would in a work from home setup. Whatever the purpose, staycations got popular.
I tried a staycation after covid numbers started to lower (I know, late to the party). There were huge discounts running in luxury hotels. An attractive way to get people. To invite more customers they ran staycation packages that usually covered all meals and stay rates at an affordable price. So, I kind of jumped right in, to utilize it. Afterall, a safe environment with great stay and food. The concept of checking into a hotel and not doing anything apart from ‘chilling’ was definitely new for me. If you are a lone visitor, you’ll have lots of time and space to catch up on your pending tasks that require solitude. I visited with a friend and we had plenty of activities to do in the hotel. We did miss the swimming pool owing to covid restrictions but compensated it with a pampering experience at the spa. I enjoyed the indoor games – games that I had missed playing for years (much before Covid happened).
Resorts would have probably been an excellent choice for a staycation. Their sprawling campus location would provide a great space to explore. The one I stayed at, thankfully, had a good open space with a large garden where we could leisurely stroll around. That option is usually limited in hotels. In resorts, you’ll also have outdoor activities that can take up your time. Resorts are usually located a little away from the city, so the whole journey to get there might give the sense of a getaway. It will cover the ‘travel’ part that we are seeking under restricted times.
The idea of a staycation seems absolutely pointless to a lot of people. The ones who travel aimlessly and frivolously can never wrap their minds around the concept of confining themselves to a fixed space in the name of a vacation. For such people, perhaps, this concept may not be refreshing. But, then there are people who long for stepping out after months (and years) of not travelling. It could be restrictions, fear and caution but they too want some change. These are the ones who would appreciate such a concept, be grateful and accept whatever options are available. I am one of them and there are many like me. I can certainly say that staycations are here to stay.
