Etymology:
– Portmanteau of “stay” and “vacation”
– Term “daycation” also used
– Coined by Canadian comedian Brent Butt in TV show “Corner Gas”
– Term first widely used in the U.S. in May 2008
– Added to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in 2009
Benefits:
– Likely less costly than traveling vacations
– Avoids stress like jet lag and long drives
– Economic benefit to local businesses
– Average North American vacation costs $244 per day for two people
– Tourism bureaus promoted staycations during the financial crisis
Risks:
– Staycationers may spend unplanned money
– Risk of feeling unsatisfied due to daily monotony
– May include household tasks and errands, reducing relaxation
– Advertisers may tempt staycationers to spend more
– Potential loss of excitement compared to traditional vacations
See Also:
– Day trip
– Domestic tourism
– Tourism
References:
– Beware of Hong Kong hotels staycation traps
– Definition of Staycation by English Oxford Living Dictionaries
– Rallying call for UK staycation by BBC News
– UK holidaymakers opt for a staycation in Britain by The Guardian
– Staycation definition and meaning by Collins English Dictionary
A staycation (a portmanteau of "stay" and "vacation"), or holistay (a portmanteau of "holiday" and "stay"), is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within day trip distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation. In British English, the term has increasingly come to refer to domestic tourism: taking a holiday in one's own country as opposed to traveling abroad.
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Common activities of a staycation include the use of a backyard pool, visits to local parks and museums, and attendance at local festivals and amusement parks. Some staycationers also like to follow a set of rules, such as setting a start and end date, planning ahead, and avoiding routine, with the goal of creating the feel of a traditional vacation.
Staycations achieved popularity in the U.S. during the financial crisis of 2007–2010. In 2020 staycations became common due to the COVID-19 pandemic.