The Phenomena of Staycations

The economic hard times have had a huge impact on summer vacation travels, and since 2001 there has been a dramatic rise in vacationers either treating their own homes as a resort or taking short, local trips to lodging and resources their own cities and states have to offer. Wikipedia cites these important benefits to staycations:

1) Staycations are far less costly than a vacation involving traveling. There are no lodging costs and travel expenses are minimal. Costs may include transportation for local trips, dining, and local attractions. "The American Automobile Association said the average North American vacation will cost $244 per day for two people for lodging and meals... Add some kids and airfare, and a 10-day vacation could top $10,000".

2) Staycations do not have the stress associated with travel, such as packing, long drives, or waits at airports.

3) Indeed, a few people go as far as only leaving their home for their usual errands (such as food shopping). Those with backyard swimming pools have an advantage as they can spend more time swimming without leaving their property and sometimes have as much fun as they might have had going anywhere.

4) Staycations may be of economic benefit to some local businesses, who get customers from the area providing them with business. In 2008, the tourism bureaus of many U.S. cities also began promoting staycations for their residents to help replace the tourism dollars lost from a drop in out-of-town visitors.

The benefits are even greater if you live in a state that has great tourist features such as luxury resorts, nature sight-seeing attractions or amusement parks. In hot states such as Arizona many resorts offer wonderful summer rates because their occupancy rates tend to be low; it has been an alternative to simply closing up for the summer, as some still do here.

We have taken many weekend staycations over the last ten years in both Tucson and Phoenix; Hermosa Inn, Westward Look, The Phoenician, Miraval and Tubac, Marriott Dove Mountain and Starr Pass have all have been destinations for my family.

The rates are usually great, the accommodations and dining have been awesome, and it feels good to support attractions in our own back yard. Plus we can drive to all of these resorts with a 120 miles radius of our house. That mean drive time of two hours or less. The new Marriott Dove Mountain is a fabulous resort seven miles from our front doorstep. Why not patronize them.

The Wigwam Golf Resort has had a celebrated history in the West Valley area of Phoenix (Litchfield Park) since the 1950's. And recent refurbishments to the restaurants and rooms have been fantastic. I am not a golfer, but I do appreciate the four courses on this property, the first to be designed by Robert Trent Jones in Arizona. The Golf Course there is championship quality. All are beautiful!

This was not our first stay at the Wigwam. The last time we were there was a few years back. The smooth jazz saxophonist Kim Waters performed a concert there and we won a radio call in contest for a weekend stay. That was fabulous.

Our sojourn this weekend included a package of massages, manicures, pedicures and fine dining. Yes we pampered ourselves, but why not? With rewards points that Linda used from her work and the summer packages that were offered we were able to enjoy this resort all all of its amenities for about $200 a day. And at 109 miles from home, the travel was a snap!