The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

staycation

UK getaways: Your must-pose questions

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For obvious reasons, staycations seem to be on the rise.

There are two types of staycations; the type where that you literally stay at home, and the type where you drive off to somewhere in your own country. As so many of us have engaged in the former over the last few months, today’s topic is going to look at the type where you galivant towards a UK destination of choice.

Suffice to say, the difference in a Mediterranean break are substantial to say the least. There’s unlikely to be much sea, little sand, and perhaps an even smaller amount of sun!

This is the reason we have penned today’s guide. We’ll now take a look at some questions that you simply must pose as you prep for your UK staycation.

Is your location weather dependent?

Some might suggest that this is almost a silly question when it comes to a UK vacation. After all, the country is renowned for perhaps every rain joke and quip in the book (and arguably, for good reason!).

However, it’s something that you should most definitely be posing. When you book your hotel, whether it is in Bournemouth or at the opposite side of the country, make sure it will safeguard you against the elements. In other words, if the week turns out to be a washout, you need to rest assured that there will be sufficient activities to keep you, and probably the family entertained.

This might mean ensuring that you are located near indoor attractions, or anything else that is not going to be spoiled if the conditions take a turn for the worse.

Have you thought about the traffic?

Quite often, UK staycations are spread across long weekends with one of the big reasons to save that precious annual leave. However, when taking the plunge to travel to your destination of choice on a Friday afternoon, you are of course dicing with the dreaded rush hour traffic.

If you haven’t read the news, there are some parts of the UK that are notoriously bad for this. When we say notoriously, we mean some of the worst in the world. If you’re not careful your staycation can be consumed by the car journey itself and clearly, this isn’t the type of break that anyone is looking for.

What about the local tourists?

On the subject of the crowds, never forget the local tourists. Particularly if you have planned your getaway in the peak of the school holidays, you’ll be surprised at how busy some attractions can get.

If your circumstances dictate that you must travel during these times, at least try and hit the more popular attractions during the week. This will limit the number of local tourists somewhat, and hopefully allow you to experience the area without hustling for space.

Remember, it’s not just the local attractions that can be blighted by crowds, but the roads as well. In a similar vein to the previous point mentioned, try and travel outside of the peak rush hours – even when you are taking a simple ride to a local attraction in the region you are staying.

How to Have the Perfect Staycation

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Source: Unsplash | Le Creuset

Although you might associate holidays with trips abroad, due to time allowances and your budget, this may not always be possible. However, this does not mean that you cannot have a fun and relaxing holiday in the UK. All the activities that many tourists enjoy abroad, such as sunbathing on the beach and sightseeing are available in the UK if you choose the right destination.

Choose Relaxing Accommodation

Firstly, the accommodation that you choose for your holiday can be the difference between the holiday of your dreams and wishing you had rather stayed at home. When searching for accommodation in the UK, there are many options to make your holiday feel just as special as if you had gone abroad, from resorts with lots of entertainment and activities to keep the kids occupied to camping if you want to get up close and personal to nature.

However, if you want a relaxing holiday to recharge for the next year of work, you should think about hiring a self-catered holiday home for the duration of your stay. Amberley House Cottage Holidays in Sussex are a great option for people looking for a staycation as they allow families to enjoy their holiday at their own pace at the same time as enjoying spectacular views and some of the best of the English countryside.

Pick a Dream Location

Although the UK is much smaller than many other countries that you have dreamed about exploring, the UK’s holiday destinations are vast, and each provides tourists with something different to enjoy. For instance, for a traditional beachside holiday where you can relax on the sand and take part in water sports, Devon and Cornwall are great options, but if you want to experience a new city, Liverpool, Chester and London are hubs of diverse and thrilling entertainment.

The UK is also home to many potential locations for island holidays where you can indulge in nature, such as the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Skye. If you have always wanted to visit somewhere in the UK but never got the chance, this is the perfect opportunity.

Consider Your Travel Options

You might be used to catching a plane to go on holiday, but holidaying in the UK gives you an array of options to choose from. This is especially important for individuals who go on holiday in the UK because of a fear of flying. Cars are the ideal vehicles to take around the UK, because the different places are within close proximity of each other, and these allow you to visit anywhere you want, including rural destinations, stopping off at spontaneous destinations and going at your own pace.

However, the UK also has great public transport options such as trains and coaches, which can take you all over the country to some of the most popular destinations like Brighton and Weymouth. Additionally, trains and coaches also have a wide range of travel cards available which may be able to reduce the cost.

Look Up Local Events

If you need an excuse to go away or are unsure which destination to choose, you should look up events nationally to find one which interests you. During the summer, the UK hosts many music and culture festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe and Hay on Wye Literature festival in which you can combine with exploring a new area.