Travelling outside of our local jurisdictions is tricky right now, so let\u2019s staycation-smart and dream big. Please check provincial and federal guidance as travel protocols continue to evolve. Find out what to expect and how to find flexible travel on the Expedia COVID-19 travel guide<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The outdoorsy day-trip<\/b><\/p>\n Escaping into the quietness of the outdoors can do wonders for our mental health, outlook, and overall wellness. With oceans, lakes, farmland, or mountains at our collective Canadian doorstep, determine what\u2019s nearby and take an inventory of your gear. Whether there\u2019s a ski piste, snowshoeing trail, hiking path, tobogganing hill, skating pond, or ocean to enjoy a stand-up paddle, the outdoorsy options here, above the 49th parallel, are brimming. If we allow ourselves to see the can-do possibilities around us, and head out on a close-to-home day-trip, the mind-shift that happens once we come back is palpable\u2014it\u2019s as if we\u2019ve taken a trip<\/a>.<\/p>\n The backyard bon voyage<\/b><\/p>\n If you\u2019re longing for a bon voyage moment in your own backyard, check what\u2019s available in your vicinity for cozy cabins<\/a>, beach houses<\/a>, lakeside cottages rentals<\/a>, or hotel room bookings<\/a>. Sometimes just a change of scenery, amenities, and routine can re-invigorate us in a way we never expected or imagined.<\/p>\n For rentals, dive deep into the filters to find options with extras such as personal hot tubs, gourmet kitchens, views, or proximity to a lake, beach, or ski hill. For hotels, take the same filtering strategy to determine what\u2019s right for your style of travel. Also know that several protocols are in place from obligatory mask-wearing, to extra sanitizing, to heightened room cleaning, to elevator distancing, to temperature checks, and pool and hot tub sign-up slots to ensure the safest-possible scenario.<\/p>\n The work-from-here staycation<\/b><\/p>\n Understanding the change that has taken place in where we work, as well as the remote work policy extensions companies are continuing well into 2021, Expedia has launched a \u201cWork From Here<\/a> (WFH)\u201d initiative to mix up your location beyond your desk, couch, and ever-changing Zoom background.<\/span><\/p>\n After all, who said we\u202f<\/span> have to\u202f<\/span> choose between work and play, anyway?\u202f<\/span>\u00a0Enter the workcation: part work, part play, all change of pace. According to Expedia\u2019s recent research, a blended workcation\u00a0helps to\u00a0increase\u00a0productivity and promote a happier work\/life balance.<\/p>\n Whether you love simple mountain cabins or posh hotel suites, the building blocks for a successful WFH-cation are the same. First, find a nearby stay with fast and reliable Wi-Fi. Second, seek a quiet space to aid with focus. Third, search for lodgings with views for inspiration. Fourth, book a locale with nature nearby to achieve the sweet spot in distanced work\/life balance.<\/p>\n The round-the-world take-out challenge<\/b><\/p>\n One tried-and-true method of experiencing another place is through its food, so why not put together a round-the-world take-out calendar. Here\u2019s how it works: make a list of your favourite foreign foods, slot a different country\u2019s dish into your calendar once a week (or more often, if that\u2019s how you roll), then gift yourself something tasty to look forward to.<\/p>\n Amp it up a notch by asking Alexa or Siri to play tunes from the country, or by pairing your cuisine with a complimentary wine or cocktail. Even dress up for the occasion (your nice clothes called: they want to be worn again!).<\/p>\n It’s a win-win. You and your tastebuds experience a moment of exotic escape, and your wallet supports a local businesses at the same time.<\/p>\n The resort-style wake-up<\/b><\/p>\n Bring your top hotel<\/a> experience home by creating a resort-style wake-up. Because is there anything better than a relaxed morning with breakfast in bed? To achieve this think of the top hotel wake-ups you\u2019ve experienced around the world. What stood out? What can you do to recreate this with food, mood, lighting, texture, and music?<\/p>\n For example, some of my top resort wake-ups have been the hot chocolate and shortbread rise-and-shine in the Masai Mara<\/a> (there are no alarm clocks, so this is what arrives at your tent to awaken you); the cappuccino and prosecco-a-plenty wake-up in Ischia, Italy<\/a> complete with burrata cheese, local tomatoes, and fresh bread; or the jugo verde<\/a> (a healthy green juice with a hint of sweetness) up and at ’em in Mexico.<\/p>\n The At-Home Beach<\/b><\/p>\n My in-laws are expert winter escape artists. Having grown up in one of the more frigid Canadian provinces, they determined early in their marriage they like sun more than snow. With this discovery, they got very skilled at booking trips to Mexico, Florida, California, and the Caribbean<\/a> when Canadian winter temperatures dip well, well below zero.<\/p>\n When they\u2019d return from a trip\u2014desperately missing the warmth\u2014they did something I\u2019ll never forget. They waited for a sunny day, donned their bathing suits, cracked open a door, and set-up their lounge chairs inside fronting a big window to luxuriate in the slice of paradise they\u2019d just created. It was their way of keeping the vacation sensation alive and well between trips.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like them\u2014keen for a dose of Vitamin D\u2014why not try the same bring-the-beach-home technique. Throw on some music, make yourself a bev, turn the heat up, set up a lounge chair in a sunny indoor spot, and voila, it’s like<\/em> you’re on a sandy swath of beach in the Dominican Republic<\/a>.<\/p>\n The self-care spa<\/b><\/p>\n With self-care being top-of-mind right now, a spa-themed staycation is a soothing option for those who find solace through pampering.<\/p>\n If you live in a postal code that allows spa visits, plan ahead and book a series of your favourite treatments in 2021\u2014think RMT, facials, massage, mani\/pedi, scrubs\u2014so you start the New Year off on a therapeutic note. Also, don\u2019t forget to look into outdoor spas<\/a>, or local spa getaways<\/a> with distancing practices in place to make it a day of indulgence.<\/p>\n On the home front, while most of us don\u2019t have medical-grade potions for fancy facials or high-end massage chairs for mani-pedis, we can do mini-sessions ourselves in the comfort of our own space. Some of my treasured home spa tricks are candlelit, epsom-salt detoxifying baths; regular face masks to brighten my skin (and spirits), requesting (read: begging) my partner give me a back massage with a lavender essential oil, and hanging a branch of eucalyptus in my shower so my bathroom is always in spa-mode.<\/p>\n The staycation box<\/b><\/p>\n Finally, for those of you wishing you could sip Kona coffee in Hawaii,<\/a> nosh on Camembert cheese in France<\/a>, or enjoy guac and chips on the beach in Mexico<\/a>, look no further than Staycation Boxes<\/a>, a British Columbia-based company offering destination-specific foodie boxes to those who are chomping at the bit to take a big trip soon!<\/p>\n In addition to locally-sourced food, accessories, and beverages, each box comes with tasting notes, music suggestions, and tips for how to best experience your country’s box. Plus, each box sold supports local food banks across Canada!<\/p>\n What are your go-to staycation ideas for winter 2020\/2021?<\/b><\/p>\n All photos by Trip Styler<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"http:\/\/expedia.blog.ca.local\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/D3DE34F6-E0B5-43CA-84CC-48F5D4780F9E_1_105_c.jpeg\")
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