Finding the Best Staycations
Discover the gems of your own area and cultivate a newfound appreciation for local scenery with the art of staycations.
One of the most difficult things I have struggled with as an emerging travel blogger and as someone who is in school, is affording travel. Regardless of travel deals and packages, travel is still a significant cost. I feel this particularly applies when you want to travel safely and fully enjoy your time, indulging in the pleasures of diverse landscapes without restraint. Personally, I rather save my money and wait it out so I don’t have to sleep on top of a cold hard bed in Cancun as the humidity suffocates me to sleep with the sound of rabid dog barking outside for a touch of white noise. The beaches are beautiful, but my budget constantly reminded me of the sacrifices I had to make to be there :’). At the end of the day, I’m still in school and it’s not easy out here😅 (especially in this economy eek). That is why I am here to help other people in similar situations!
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Desperate times leading to creative solutions
Now, I’m not one to not explore at all, but sadly due to my current temporary “situation”, I have been almost forced to learn how to find staycations near me that are just as fun and enjoyable as other travels but at a lesser price. Now, you can’t expect pearls from oysters- OKAY. So NO, a local float trip won’t be like cascading down a river in Spain, but it can be just as memorable. It’s all about what you make of it!! I want to set this expectation and you should too or else you’ll disappoint yourself.
I want to also preface I live in Texas, a very large land mass with a few different climates and many very unique cities. I am honestly very grateful for this because there’s so much I haven’t explored (if you know you know).
So, what is a staycation…
Ultimately, this is up to you. My very first staycation was in Fort Worth when I lived in the suburbs of Dallas. I was…12? and I had never explored downtown near the Stockyards. To set the scene, my mom rented a room at the Renaissance for the whole family, and we spent the weekend exploring local shops, going to the Cattle Drive, and eating greasy food. I still think about this as one of my favorite trips because I felt like I was unlocking a secret world so close to home.
My definition of a staycation involves exploring a new or familiar place that is somewhat accessible locally. It offers a cost-effective and convenient alternative to more distant destinations that require significant time and expense to reach. Essentially it is a trip that takes more effort to get there than you would usually expend but not so much where you must plan months in advance just to wear 10 layers of clothes because your suitcase is too heavy (sigh).
Getting there
I have found depending on the state, to access staycations in your nearest downtown area or in a city nearby, obviously the easiest way to get there is by car.
For my non-driving babes (me included), I would recommend bus or train depending on where you live. In Texas there is train but there are few and far between departure times, so I do not love that option. However, in California, the Amtrack from Los Angeles to San Diego- chefs kiss. A little pricier than bus but the views are gorgeous, and there is no traffic, so your arrival time is usually exact. Do your local research and check if the departure times work for you, if so, train can be a great way to go. Some trains are cleaner than others; my main issue with trains in Texas is the location of the stations are often in crappy areas with high crime.
There are pros and cons to train vs bus. Now for bus, I would recommend Flixbus. They used to be dirt cheap pre-covid (15 dollars Dallas to Houston and now it’s 81 each way :’), but they are SO MUCH BETTER than Greyhound. Whatever you do, DO NOT TAKE GREYHOUND PLEASE. I was transferred to a Greyhound bus once because my Flixbus was canceled and it was located in Downtown Dallas (super dangerous), the station was overcrowded and stinky, it was delayed, and the bus driver was so rude. Most importantly, I did not feel safe.
I wouldn’t say FlixBus has nice drivers either, but they are generally on time, usually pick up is at a nice local gas station (I know that may sound strange), mall or hotel so you only deal with the crowd on your bus, not 5+ buses; plus, the buses are cleaner and less crowded.
If you want to spend a bit more and do not think the train is worth it or maybe the times do not work out and you aren’t comfortable with a bus, here’s another option. There are luxury bus services with snacks like Vonlane. I have not used them because I am okay with the “cheap” (what a joke) price of $81, but I have heard great reviews about them especially for Houston to Austin.
So level of price and quality goes up to down-
+ Vonlane/luxury bus lines
+ Flixbus
+ Greyhound (PLS DO NOT TAKE GREYHOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Fun fact, I have been taking FlixBus since 2020 and people do not give it enough credit. My family and friends think very negatively about them but the thoughts they have need to be directed to Greyhound. They are not the same, and I as of 2024, am a Flixbus promoter (not sponsored).
Here is where you wait for the Flixbus (public parking lot like gas station, hotel, mall etc)…
VS. where you are forced to wait for the Greyhound bus….
There is no wrong way, but a car is superb if you have that option because you can bring unlimited things and it makes moving around your destination a lot easier. On top of that, you can get more done (in the US) when taking private transportation vs Uber or public transportation because that is how our infrastructure is built (*in most places but not all- yay). However, if you are for a green option, choose bus or train, and you won’t have to drive or parallel park in downtown areas. Weigh your options, cost, and how much time you are willing to spend traveling (train could be faster than a car depending on where you live, busses are generally slower because they do stop. For Dallas to Houston, they do stop halfway and herding that many people takes a hot minute). In conclusion, weigh your options, asses your priorities, and how much you want to spend.
What to do…
Depending on where you go, if you have never been there before, do the most popular things. I’m not saying go to a photoshoot museum or Instagram cafes but act as if you are flying in from another country with limited time in this city…think about what you would prioritize with that time.
For example, if I were coming to Houston, Texas on a layover here is what I would do (Houston is my expertise. I lived in Dallas longer but not as an adult and not near the city):
Houston Places-
- Bat Colony on Waugh Drive (sunset, be careful- awful parking)
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Museum of Natural Science
- The Guild Shop
- Hermann or Elanor Tinsley Park (downtown views, great for picnics, also awful parking)
- Smither park (if time allows)
- Dun Huang Plaza
* I love the outdoors; bonus points it’s free. Both museums are not necessary, pick which speaks to you more.
Houston Food-
- Burger Bodega (open late)
- Urban Harvest Farmers Market on Saturday (before noon, see pictures below).
- Hungry’s (their strawberry lemonade omgggg)
If you do come to Houston, check out my article on Free Things to Do in Houston!
Where to stay:
Ah so here’s the thing. When traveling your biggest expense will always be the flights and your place of stay. With staycations you cut out flight costs, but you cannot be homeless. Hostels are not as popular in America, I would say California has some really nice ones, but I cannot speak for Texas or other states because I have traveled more outside the US than in. So, there isn’t any secret sauce for this with staycations, finding where to stay will aways be a to-do, regardless of how far you are going.
UNLESS, if you are staying somewhere nearby, you might have family or you could do a day staycation (read that again lol), drive/arrive there early and leave late the same day. Honestly both are great options. I love spontaneous daycations. Life is what you make of it, it’s not always glamourous but staycations are some of my best memories. Plus, if you have to stay with Aunt Linda with 8 cats for a day or three, maybe more, personally, I’d do that over spending my dime. Additionally, it makes it even cheaper so that’s a plus!
Why bother?
Easy, it’s cheap, fun and can be chaotic. Staycations provide a more accessible way to escape the day-to-day routine without the need for extensive travel and expense.
BONUS- you can use the same skills needed for staycation for future big trips. For example, there are many day trips and staycations you can do in Europe when staying well, in any major city anywhere near a train.
When?
Anytime duh, that’s the beauty of a staycation. You don’t have to worry about taking off from work a week or more, coordinating a detailed itinerary, worrying about flight times, off season, delays, work or school, just pack up and go on a weekend (holiday weekend? even better!).
To Wrap Up
Staycations are priceless (literally sometimes) and they force you to get creative and learn your local landscape better than you knew, so go out there and make what you will of it!
– good luck and safe travels<3!
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