Escape your routine without leaving home — why a staycation might be the reset you desperately need

Planning a vacation can be difficult on a limited budget — but certainly not impossible. Here’s the good news: you can still have fun and save money by taking a vacation at home.

While planning the perfect vacation staycation requires a little more creativity, it’s also a cheaper alternative to booking that idyllic resort on the Italian coast. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best staycation ideas that you and your family can still enjoy — while saving money that you can put towards a future trip!

Create a spa experience at home

Booking a spa day not in the budget? Transform your living space into a spa-like sanctuary for some much-needed pampering. Take a long soak in your tub infused with essential oils or a handful of bath salts, or give yourself a DIY facial with a few luxury products. Follow it up with an at-home mani and pedi, and for extra indulgence, make yourself a special meal. There’s no better excuse to spend the day in your robe!

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Book into a local hotel

If you’re craving a change of scenery but don’t want to travel far, consider booking a night or weekend at a local hotel. A staycation can give you the break you need — fresh sheets, room service, a pool or spa, and the feeling of being “away” without the cost or hassle of airports and long drives.

Many Canadian hotels now offer resident-only discounts, off-season promotions, spa packages, and bundled dining credits that make a short stay surprisingly affordable. You can also check hotel websites directly for loyalty-free deals, or use major travel platforms to compare rates and amenities in your area.

If you collect travel rewards through your credit card or loyalty programs, this can be a great time to redeem points toward your stay — but even without points, a local hotel getaway is an easy, refreshing way to reset without breaking your budget.

Organize a fun games night

The family that plays together, stays together, right? So why not plan a fun night playing board games with your home bubble? While you can’t beat classics like Risk, Clue and Scrabble, there is a world of games out there to explore. Exploding Kittens, anyone?

If you’re in a dramatic mood, why not play a murder mystery party game with friends? There's a range of murder mystery games available, like Murder at Mardi Gras or The Champagne Murders. What makes it even more fun is dressing up as one of the devious suspects (sinister moustache required).

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Go camping in your own backyard

Because of a lack of funds, the great Canadian tradition of camping may be off the table this year. If that’s the case, who says you can’t camp at home? This is a great staycation idea if you’ve got kids and a backyard. Pitch a tent, toast s’mores over a fire pit and re-tell classic ghost stories. And check a reputable meteor-shower calendar — such as the American Meteor Society’s yearly schedule (1) or Algonquin Park’s guide to the best meteor showers (2) — to see if a celestial event is on the horizon.

Tour a museum virtually

Many museums now offer parts of their collections online for a virtual visit. Using your tablet or computer, you can dive into the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) popular Great Whales: Up Close and Personal virtual exhibition (3), explore the Canadian Museum of History’s digital resources (4), or browse tens of thousands of works in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ online collection (5) — all from your couch. And if you still want to venture farther, major institutions like the British Museum (6) and the Louvre (7) continue to offer free virtual tours, so you can wander world-class galleries without the airfare or the crowds.

Plan a wine or craft beer tasting at home

A trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake or the Okanagan Valley may not be in cards, but you can still plan a wine or craft beer tasting at home. Many Canadian wineries and microbreweries offer home delivery, and with the click of a mouse, you can curate a tasting flight of your favourite Canadian wines and beer. Pick between three and six varieties and don’t forget the snacks.

Take a virtual cooking class

One of the best things about travel is sampling the local cuisine. While you may not be able to dig into a plate of street Pad Thai in Bangkok, you can still indulge in international dishes from your own kitchen. Chefs across Canada offer cooking classes online – from Calgary’s Chef Joey (8) who will teach you to make Spanish Tapas, to learning to make Veal Saltimbocca with Montreal’s Ateliers & saveurs (9), to Toronto-based Mardi Michels (10) who offers French cooking classes for parents and kids.

Hike the local trails

Money woes got you down? Canadian psychologists now point to a growing body of research (11) showing that time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood and even help with anxiety and depression. A short walk in a nearby park or forest trail can make a measurable difference to your mental health.

Not sure where to venture? Check out Parks Canada (12) for inspiration on Canada’s natural jewels, or explore sections of the Trans Canada Trail, which now stretches more than 28,000 kilometres across every province and territory. Pack a picnic and spend the day immersed in the Canadian wilderness or your closest urban green space — both count.

Host your own film festival

Who needs Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) tickets or the Cannes film festival when you’ve got your own backyard or balcony? Create a night under the stars and host your own film festival outdoors. To DIY your own outdoor movie theatre, all you need is a backyard, a projector and a white sheet, along with a few cozy blankets and cushions. Make it a movie marathon by screening a film series (like The Godfather or the Lord of the Rings trilogy) or pick a theme and go with it. Movie snacks, like popcorn laced with dye-free Smarties, are a given.

Experience another city virtually

Want to learn how to make the perfect pisco sour and ceviche in Peru, or take part in a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony — without leaving your kitchen? You still can, no passport required.

Platforms like Airbnb Experiences (13) and independent Canadian chefs now offer live, online cooking and cultural classes that connect you with hosts around the world. You can book a small-group class over video, receive your ingredient list in advance and then cook or sip along in real time as your host shares recipes, stories and local tips.

Many virtual cooking and cultural experiences start around $20 to $50 per person (14), depending on the length of the class and the host’s expertise, which can be cheaper than a restaurant meal out — and you still end up with a great dish at the end. For a more local twist, look for Canadian chefs and culinary schools that offer online classes focused on regional cuisine, from East Coast seafood to Prairie comfort food and Pacific Northwest-inspired menus.

The last word

Just because you’re not leaving the country or even your own city, doesn't mean you can't still have fun at home with your peeps. Spend some time relaxing, exploring and playfully learning new skills and your staycation may end up being the best time spent with family and friends.

— with files from Romana King

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

American Meteor Society (1); Algonquin Park (2); Royal Ontario Museum (3); Canadian History Museum (4); Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (5); British Museum (6); Louvre (7); Chef Joey (8); Ateliers & saveurs (9); Mardi Michels (10); Canadian Psychological Association (11); Parks Canada (12); AirBnB (13); The Kitchn (14)