The UK Staycation

Since August 2010 ‘staycation’ is now a recognised word recognised in the Oxford Dictionary of English.  Staycation means to spend a holiday staying at home.  Staycation became popular in 2009 as many Britain’s decided to spend their holidays in the UK rather than go abroad. 

History of the staycation

Firstly the banking crisis had just bitten with huge bail outs being required by leading banks in the UK.  The banking crisis lead to the credit crunch which meant that for many it was harder to get hold of money for holidays abroad etc.

Secondly, and directly related to the first reason was that the pound became weaker against other countries which made foreign holidays more expensive.

The staycation helped the UK domestic tourist market by making the booking of UK based holidays, such as self-catering holiday cottages, holiday caravans & lodges more popular.

Benefits of a staycation

The main benefits of a staycation or holiday in the UK are as follows:

• Travel costs are reduced
• No exchange rates to eat into your holiday money
• No language barriers
• Many people drive their own car to a holiday in the UK which eliminates the costs of car hire
• National Health Service – should anything happen while you are on holiday in the UK you know you will be able to get help via the NHS.
• Car Insurance – no expensive overseas cover for your car for accidents or breakdowns is needed
• Local knowledge
• Mobile phones work on home networks so there are no expensive roaming charges

Drawbacks of a staycation

There are a few risks and drawbacks with holidaying locally to where you live.  These include:

• Holidaying near your home and work means its psychologically harder to switch off  from work and there is always the temptation to pop in to work to check how things are going.
• The work blackberry or email device will work meaning that you can access all your work emails whilst on holiday.
• If you are basing your holiday at your home it often means your holiday is spent doing little jobs round the house which impede on it being a holiday.  Booking a holiday away from home, even if its not far, does help reduce the temptation of doing jobs rather than relaxing.

A holiday cottage, in many ways helps you get all the benefits of a staycation whilst reducing some of the drawbacks.  With over 12,000 cottages and lodges to choose from on cottages4holidays-uk.com you will have plenty of choice to meet all requirements and budgets.