“Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved, and where we can love” -Marvin J. Ashton.

If you have been thinking of taking a little break without having to splurge so much on a vacation trip, you may want to go on a staycation.

In essence, a staycation is what many would consider a vacation sans the actual need to travel. This means staying in various hotel and resort rooms in your city or surrounding area. In some cases, you do not even need to book a hotel or resort room and just make use of an affordable condo in Nuvali they can find online. That said, there is absolutely no need to have a detailed itinerary just to have a blast on your weekend holiday.

Simply putting a little spin on your usual routine can already spice things up for your holiday stay. Just think of ways you can include an interesting and unique twist to what you and your family usually do on a regular weekend. In this way, you can have an enjoyable stay without going beyond your

budget. So, if you are thinking of things you can do during a condo staycation, take a look at the list below for some suggestions:

1.) Host a weekend barbecue

Put a spin on your usual Sunday brunch by hosting a barbecue lunch party for the family. If it is exceptionally bright and sunny outside, bring out the grill and enjoy your meals al fresco. Of course, make it a family affair that even your kids can enjoy by enlisting their help as well. While the adults are in charge of manning the grill, have the children prepare the juice, set and decorate the table, and maybe even the older kids can prepare the salad.

2.) Cool off by taking a dip in the pool

Make excellent use of your condo’s amenities by taking a dip in the pool. With the summer’s scorching heat, cool yourself off by soaking in your condo’s pool waters. Not everyone can go on a week-long holiday at the beach, so a swimming pool within your condo complex will have to do for now. Parents can go ahead and put their swimming skills to the test while their kids can play and splash around in the kiddie pool. Be sure to remind everyone about the pool’s safety regulations to avoid any accidents.

3.) Go stargazing

On a clear night, take your kids out to the balcony and just look up at the show mother nature has prepared for you. To make the activity more interesting, use a Sky Guide to help you identify constellations, planets, satellites, and other heavenly bodies. With the Sky Guide, all you need is to point your phone to the sky to get the information you need on the stars you are looking at.

Alternatively, you may want to stargaze without the assistance of apps and tablets. Do this by using binoculars—even a cheap pair will already do. Just make sure that the area is free from clutter if you are stargazing from the inside. Now, all you need to do is turn off the lights and get comfortable in your spot.

4.) Have a movie night

While cinemas are already in operation, you and your family may not feel too safe being in close contact with other people in the theater. Not to worry, you can plan a movie night in your home. More often than not, this kind of movie night is a lot more fun than the ones you typically enjoy at the mall, as you can rewatch all your movies in just one place. To make the activity more enjoyable, compile a list of movies that you will be watching ahead of time. You may also choose a single genre of film in order for your watchlist to have a unified theme. Just be sure to take the rest of the audiences’ movie preferences into account as well.

Arrange your space and make it look cozy. Lastly, do not forget the snacks! Nothing is better than watching movies with your favorite movie snacks, so be sure to have these prepared ahead of time.

5.) Schedule a virtual museum tour

Today, there is a myriad of museums you can visit from the comfort of your own homes and at your own pace. If you are not able to visit these museums in person just yet, you can check them out virtually. To start this activity, you may want to go local first and check out some of the local museum tours. With these virtual tours, you and your kids can discover the events that shaped the country’s culture today.

6.) Set up an outdoor eating area

Transform your balcony into a unique sanctuary and dedicate a portion of it as your picnic area. You and your kids can spend an entire afternoon planning and preparing snacks that you can eat and enjoy from the balcony. In this way, you can enjoy outdoor dining without actually having to leave your condo unit.

7.) Look back on your favorite travel memories

Traveling is primarily about making memories. In fact, some may even say that their best memories are of the ones wherein they were traveling or discovering new places. If you miss traveling but cannot find the time to do it just yet, check your old photos and videos from your previous trips. You can even take it a step further by turning your collection of photos and videos into a slideshow for each of the places you have visited in the past.

8.) Research on virtual activities

Today, you can do a lot of things virtually. Aside from watching your favorite TV shows, you can also watch live online concerts of your favorite artists. If you wish to pick up a new skill, you may opt to watch tutorials that can help you develop and refine a particular skill. If you are a fitness enthusiast, you may want to try different routines and attend virtual classes that specialize in fitness activities.

9.) Plan for next year’s travel itinerary

It has been said that anticipating a planned holiday makes one a lot happier than actually going on one. So, use your time in your condo wisely by researching your travel options for next year. Take the time to plan out next year’s vacation and check out prospective places you have been wanting to visit. While you are doing that, take a look at the activities you can do while you are there, scout hotels and restaurants, read reviews and compare prices.

BOTTOMLINE

To many, going on a staycation may seem rather dull and limiting. However, there are a lot of ways to make it fun and exciting—especially with the ideas listed above. Make your downtime more exciting and productive by doing any of the things suggested in the list. Enjoy your downtime, spend time with your family, and just appreciate life as it is.