Staycations: the best of your backyard
Nothing beats quality time with friends and family, accessible for everyone.
Zero fuss, maximum fun
Let’s be honest, there’s nothing relaxing about packing your gear into more and more restrictive suitcase sizes, gathering your crew (be it family or mates), corralling everyone into the right place at the right time for flights and ferries, and struggling to order a well-earned drink when you arrive at your far-flung destination!
When it comes to comfort, value for money, and peace of mind, we are great believers in the staycation. The best definition we could find is as follows: “staycation /steɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ noun: a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.”
Simple pleasures: early morning coffee with the great outdoors for company.
What is a staycation?
The truth is, there as many different types of staycation as there are travellers to make the best of the beautiful spaces (inside and out) of the British Isles. From fancy boutique hotels and country inns to our favourite camping spots, there is always something new to discover just around the corner.
The UK is revered the world over for its music and arts scene, and the range of festivals that take place every summer reflects this incredible cultural treasure. From superfests like Glasto and Download to the stimulating and unusual Hay-on-Wye literature festival and traveling Chilli Festival appearing near you, there’s something for everyone.
City break or rural escape
The UK is a sometimes strange mix of cultures, customs, dialects, cuisines, architecture, senses of humour… the list goes on! You can’t go wrong with a city break to the beautiful capitals of mainland Britain; from the priceless collections at Edinburgh’s stunning art galleries, Welsh National Opera in Cardiff (with Welsh subtitles, of course), and the street art and buzz at London’s Southbank Skatepark. A short car ferry to Northern Ireland (or the other way to see the attractions above!) can get you to Belfast’s incredible Titanic experience, despite not being an ideal prelude to your sea voyage home!
Keep it local, your furry friends will thank you!
For many of us, holidays mean a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and spend some quality time in the great outdoors. As vanlifers we are hardly impartial, but there is nothing like the tranquillity and value of a good campsite. For families we recommend walking, cycling, and getting around the beautiful countryside by any means necessary. The only variable you can’t always count on is the weather, but with a well-equipped van or tent setup there’s always the prospect of a cosy night!
Low fuss, low impact
If beautiful surroundings, great value for money and ease of access aren’t sufficient to convince you of the benefits of a staycation, local holidaying can also be a hugely effective way to cut down on your carbon footprint. With directories of eco-friendly holiday lets and destinations, you can kick back and relax safe in the knowledge that you are doing the bit for the planet.