Taking a break every now and then is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle and be a happy person. That said, for one reason or the other, traditional vacations may not be suitable for some reasons, which is why some new trends are emerging for those who want to get their much-needed rest, such as staycations and sleepcations (thus this staycation vs sleepcation guide).

The question is; staycation vs sleepcation: which is better?

Short answer?

It depends.

Long answer?

Well, you’re about to read it in this staycation vs sleepcation comparison!

Staycation vs Sleepcation: Let’s Start with the First

What’s a Staycation?

The “Stay” part stands for – hey, surprise! – “Stay”. The “cation” part stands for “vacation”. So, a staycation is a vacation in which you either stay in your home or close vicinity of it. This phenomenon gained popularity during the economic crisis as people were trying to cut down their expenses from 2007 to 2010.

Why Staycation?

Saving Money – Obviously, you can save hundreds of dollars from opting for a staycation. You won’t have to travel much, meaning that you’ll save up on gas money or plane tickets. Benefit the Local Economy – instead of eating, shopping or dealing with out-of-town services, you’ll be interacting with your local shops and stores which will boost their businesses. No Need to Take Time off from Work – Seeing how you don’t have to travel much during a staycation, you won’t have to take time off of your work. Just book a hotel room and a babysitter, and enjoy your weekend away from stress. Easier to Plan – When you live in the area in which you’re planning to have a vacation, you don’t have to stress about doing a lot of research around the places to see and visit, eat in and stay in. You either already know what to do, or you’ll find it pretty easy to figure things out. More Time for Relaxation – A significant amount of time is dedicated to traveling by car or plane during a normal vacation. But with a staycation, you won’t have to waste any time on that, you’ll actually get to enjoy all the time you’ve got doing things you want to do.

Besides all the money you’ll save and the stress that you won’t have to go through, staycations are truly a great way to have a good time. After going through one, you can feel just as energized and satisfied as you’d do, coming out of a regular vacation.

Staycationing – Getting the Most Out of It:

Turn off your electronic devices. – It’s not really possible for anyone to not use their phone on a regular basis. But during a staycation, it is best to at least keep the usage of social media and email-checking to a minimum. Your goal, after all, is to relax and put the stress of work behind you. So, try to avoid all the related distractions as much as you can. Pack light – Staycations are usually very short, so there isn’t really any need for packing too many things. The less you pack, the less stressed you’ll feel. It gives you a sense of liberty. And just in case you forget to bring something of hyper importance, you can always head back home and get it. Plan, but don’t over-plan – You don’t have to tire yourself with unnecessary planning. Pick a number of places that you want to visit but don’t plan your entire day fully. Leave some room to breathe and do things at the moment depending on how you feel, whether it’s napping or reading a book or whatever. Just relax.

So, if you choose the staycation route, you can find several things to do in your town to have fun.

Staycation: What to Do and Where to Go:

Go to a local festival or free concert. Many towns around the world organize events and festivals on the weekends, so make sure to keep track of your city’s scheduled events. They’re usually free and don’t require any time commitment. Rent bikes and go for a ride. If you’re sanctioning near a river, a beach or a canal, then renting a bike could be a good way to go around these places, sightsee and get a good workout out of it. Take a nap. Why not? It’s rare that any of us can find the time to take a nap these days. If you feel like doing nothing and want to feel energized, then take a nap! Go to the drive-in theater. If you’ve got a drive-in theatre nearby and you’ve never been to it, then this may be a good opportunity to give it a try and enjoy a flick. Go shopping. This may seem unusual, but parents who try to go shopping with their kids know how tiresome it can get. If you plan to spend your staycation near a mall, you can take the opportunity to buy something that might interest you, something you want. Go to the beach or pool. Of course, when it comes to summer, there isn’t a better way to relax than being near the water. If you live near a beach or a lake, then you can go take a swim freely. But if you don’t, you can check out any local swimming pools. They’d be relatively cheap. Read a book. You may be too busy during the weekdays to find the time to read your favorite book. If you fit it in your staycation, you’ll be able to catch up on what you’ve been missing. Visit the local zoo. If you’re planning a whole family staycation, the zoo can be an affordable, educational and fun time for everyone. Play sports. Most of us can’t find the time to move our bodies anymore. So, grab a ball and play with your companions. See a show or visit a museum. Find out what your family is into and take them for a tour to see something interesting or watch an exciting show.

Not only is staycation a good way of saving yourself some money, but it also allows you to discover new areas in the town you live in. Do some digging and you’ll surely come across some magnificent places that you’ve never been to.

The Pros and Cons of Staycations:

STAYCATION PROS

It allows you to discover new local gems that you’ve never been to.

Going for an at-home staycation can save you a lot of money. You can put the hotel expenses in buying things you’ve been looking forward to getting.

The less you travel, the more time you’ll have for activities. So, it’s preferable to choose a close destination if you’re not staying at home.

You’ll probably get better sleep at home than at a hotel. It can be hard to adjust your sleeping necessities away from home and end up waking up in the middle of the night out of discomfort.

No need to pack anything as you’ll find everything you need just around you.

STAYCATION CONS

You won’t get the same sense of luxury of a hotel from your house. But you can do your best to recreate that feeling. Clean up your home and make it neat. Stay away from any rooms you won’t use and dedicate a specific space for relaxation. Throw in some music, candles, snacks, etc. and make it feel special.

You won’t be visiting a new place. If you’re looking to get away from all the familiar surroundings, then this may be bothersome. You can make up for it by going to restaurants and events that you’ve never been to.

Some people may not feel like it’s a true break as long as they’re still home. If you’re looking for a true change of scenery, consider trading houses with a friend of yours. That way, both of you get to experience something new, and you can go check out the attractions near their home.

A staycation is definitely something to consider. It’s a way to unwind without wasting too much time or money. And it might just reveal the beauty of your town that you haven’t experienced yet. All of that makes it a more-than-capable option in the staycation vs sleepcation debate.

Sleepcation vs Staycation: How Good Are Sleepcations?

What Is Sleepcation?

Just as the name suggests, there is no exaggeration here. This is a vacation that’s solely dedicated to resting and sleeping. We’re not talking about calling in sick and staying at home. People are actually booking rooms in luxurious places to sleep and only go out to grab some food. Some even opt for staying in and ordering room service.

It’s been gaining popularity in the west as it has skyrocketed back in 2018. It would be surprising if you haven’t heard about it before. And there is no surprise that it grew to become this popular. People spend around 6 hours sleeping, it’s the one thing we do without getting tired of.

Why Sleepcation?

Now you may be asking yourself the following question: Why can’t I just spend the weekend asleep at home? Well, studies indicate that changing the environment around you will boost your feeling of relaxation and allow you to sleep easily. When you’re out of your comfort zone (which is your home), you’ll feel more comfortable as you won’t have to deal with your daily chores. Everything around you will be taken care of by someone else. All you have to do is pack some comfy clothes, book a comfy room and sleep your weekend and stress away. While it may be a relatively new concept, it’s gaining traction from overworked people looking for a break.

How to Sleepcation: What to Consider:

There are a number of things to keep in mind if you’re planning on going for a sleepcation at the weekend, including:

Choice of pillows : Forget about those neck pillows for traveling. If you’re doing a sleepcation getaway, you’ll be doing it in a hotel that offers a variety of pillows at your disposal. We’re talking about water pillows, sleep apnea pillows, memory foam, etc. That’s the sleep-inducing solution for anyone looking for some serious shut-eye.

: Forget about those neck pillows for traveling. If you’re doing a sleepcation getaway, you’ll be doing it in a hotel that offers a variety of pillows at your disposal. We’re talking about water pillows, sleep apnea pillows, memory foam, etc. That’s the sleep-inducing solution for anyone looking for some serious shut-eye. Choice of mattress: Pillows are not the only things in which you get a variety of options. The mattress is just as important. What would you like? A water bed? An orthopedic mattress? Memory foam? Chances are you’re going to get what you want in the hotel you choose.

Pillows are not the only things in which you get a variety of options. The mattress is just as important. What would you like? A water bed? An orthopedic mattress? Memory foam? Chances are you’re going to get what you want in the hotel you choose. Spa treatments : You can never go wrong with a spa when it comes to relaxation. Rest your muscles and joints and go for a bath of warm water.

: You can never go wrong with a spa when it comes to relaxation. Rest your muscles and joints and go for a bath of warm water. Bedtime Bites : It can’t get any better than food at your bedside. Avoid high-fat snacks as they might influence your sleeping cycle. You’ll find some suitable bedtime menus in some hotels for the right kind of nighttime snacks.

: It can’t get any better than food at your bedside. Avoid high-fat snacks as they might influence your sleeping cycle. You’ll find some suitable bedtime menus in some hotels for the right kind of nighttime snacks. Yoga or exercise : Being in a sleepcation does not mean ditching workout. You have to stretch your muscles once in a while. It will only improve your sleep and boost your energy levels.

: Being in a sleepcation does not mean ditching workout. You have to stretch your muscles once in a while. It will only improve your sleep and boost your energy levels. Sleep expert: If you have serious sleep deprivation, then don’t worry, you can always reach out to a specialist that can help you overcome the problem.

Sleepcation: What to Do and Where to Go:

Find a Sleepcation Hotel/Resort

You’ll find all the sleep-inducing services in a sleepcation hotel. From mildly-lit rooms and dark capsules to pillow menus, sleep spas and massages.

Book an Inside Cabin on a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships, when chosen wisely can be a good way of relaxing and unwinding. Go for a cruise line that doesn’t come with a lot of unwanted distractions, such as the overwhelming presence of young children onboard, announcements and late-night parties. Being in the middle of the sea with the boat gently rocking your body as you rest can be very beneficial for your wellbeing.

If you choose an inside cabin, you won’t even be bothered by the sunlight entering through the windows. And being in the middle of the water, you won’t be needing your phone, so that’s one less distraction to worry about.

Eco-Tourism Retreat

You’ll find several spots around the world dedicated to escape from the distractions of life into the serenity of nature. Whether it’s a rustic village lacking technology or a high-tech green building, it’ll sure help you escape and focus on yourself.

Take a Vacation to an All-Inclusive Resort

Just as we mentioned with the cruise ship, you have to pick the right service to get the relaxing experience you want. Some resorts may focus on activities and sports that don’t exactly describe the sleepcation experience. But what’s great about all modern all-inclusive resorts is their amazing beds and air conditioning.

Go Camping Off the Grid

One of the main factors that hinder the sleeping experience for so many of us is the distraction of electronic devices in the bedroom. Phones, laptops, TVs and so on are not helping you get the ultimate resting experience at night. We suggest that you take some time off of these distractions and go so far off to a place that even your phone won’t be able to receive a signal in. It may be a scary idea, but in reality, it’s not. It’s actually quite liberating, and it’ll help you get the sleep that you deserve but have never experienced.

The Pros and Cons of Sleepcations

Sleepcation Pros

The comfort of a hotel bed is unmatchable

It goes without saying that the beds that you get to rest on which hotels provide offer unmatched comfort, that even the coziness of your own home can’t compare to. The comfort of hotel beds can even prevent you from going out of the room and doing any sort of activities. All you’ll want to do is sit around all day and enjoy the perks that come with the luxury of booking a hotel room. And when night time comes, your body will have the sleep that it never knew it needed. So, if comfort is what you’re after, sleepcations wins the staycation vs sleepcation debate.

You are free from your daily chores

Sit in your bed, watch your favorite show, eat your favorite snack, do nothing and get anything you need or want with one dial away thanks to room service. It’s really too good to be true, but we must be thankful that such services exist where one can feel like they’re being treated like royalty. You don’t have to worry about responsibilities and you don’t even need to get out of bed to have your household show up and listen to every command you give them.

In our modern times, we’re always in a hurry to keep up with our schedules and perform our daily tasks and chores. But from time to time, our bodies need to rest and rejuvenate, and a sleepcation would be worth every penny if it would allow our bodies a breath of fresh air. Going for a regular vacation may not be the best solution as they themselves come with a proper amount of stress during preparation. Some might even come back from a vacation wanting another vacation to recover from what they experienced. But a sleepcation is not about preparation, it’s about rest.

Sleepcation Cons

Sleepcations aren’t inherently bad or have any significant direct downsides about them. But it’s the contrast of the before, during and after a sleepcation that can be damaging to some. People who require a sleepcation are usually the ones that have been beaten down numerous times with stress and responsibility in their daily lives that they just need to let go of everything, close their eyes and rest. But if these people experience the taste of heaven that is a sleepcation only to be thrust back afterward to the same crushing routine, it might just be too much for them to handle once they know how unsatisfied they are with the nature of their lives.

Verdict: Staycation vs Sleepcation: Which Should You Pick?

Well, one thing’s for sure: there’s no clear winner in the staycation vs sleepcation debate. Each of those vacation types has its own merits and disadvantages, so make sure to determine your needs and budget before choosing what to do in your next time-off.