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Mimic an in-flight movie marathon -

You can do this at the beginning or on both ends of your staycation. Indulge in your favorite snacks (far better than pretzels), choose from a selection of movies (much wider than what a plane offers), and watch them as if there’s nothing else you can do for the next few hours.

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Go off the grid -

If you're answering work calls and emails, it won’t feel like much of a vacation at all. Create an out-of-office message for your email—your co-workers don’t need to know you’re at home.

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Go off the grid - Cover up all the clocks, turn off all access to social media, don’t even talk to friends or neighbors, and especially take a break from checking the news. It will all be there when you’re back to schedule.

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Have your meals made for you -

When you’re on vacation, you’re usually not cooking for yourself, so don’t do it now. Instead, have something delivered every night. If you can, get dressed up and go out to fancy restaurants!

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Have your meals made for you -

If you’re especially keen on splashing out, you can hire a chef to come to your house and cook you a five-course meal.

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Bring a destination to your belly -

If there is a food specific to the place you wanted to travel to, order some in and let your tastebuds do the traveling.

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Get a house cleaner -

Part of the pleasure of a vacation is coming back to your room and seeing the bed made, smelling the fresh towels, and not having to do any work yourself. Treat yourself to a cleaner, and it’ll have twice as much value because it’s your home.

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Indulge in luxury hotel accessories -

Get a plush white robe and wear it as much as possible. Slip it on in the morning for a cup of coffee (maybe delivered in with breakfast), and embrace the pampered feeling. 

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Get very high thread-count sheets -

Or just pillowcases if you’re on a budget.

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Hire a massage therapist -

Do some research and find a massage therapist who does house calls, and if you have a backyard, consider getting a rub in the outdoors, perhaps with an ocean soundtrack playing.

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DIY back massage -

If you don’t have any pre-existing problems and you’re trying to save money, lie on your back on an exercise mat and put tennis balls under points where you have pain or tension, then roll gently up and down, then side to side for 5-10 minutes.

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Get a babysitter -

Even better if you can organize a trade-off with other friends or neighbors with kids, where all the kids go to a designated house for an evening of organized fun, leaving the other parents free to enjoy a date night. You’ll save a ton of money!

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Relax outside by candlelight -

The romance of vacation can be recreated in your home with a little effort and a lot of candles.

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Go barefoot -

If you have rugs, roll them up and stash them away so your bare feet can enjoy a beach-house feeling of walking on cool floors.

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Play a vacation soundtrack -

If you dreamed of spending your vacation on the beaches of Bahia in Brazil, for example, put on some bossa nova to set the mood.

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Pick out your vacation reading list -

Just as you might on vacation, indulge in a reading binge accompanied by a tall glass of your beverage of choice. Reading helps your mind travel to all sorts of worlds and adventures, making it perfect for a staycation.

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Get rustic in the backyard -

Many people search for a dose of nature on their vacations, and you can mimic a camping feeling by setting up a tent in the backyard, packing drinks and snacks, flashlights, and loads of comfortable pillows you wouldn't be able to bring to real wilderness.

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Have a water game day -

Acquire a kiddie pool, turn on the sprinklers, unravel the hose, and fill up as many spray bottles, buckets, water guns, and balloons as possible. Spend the day in a swimsuit!

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Turn your bathroom into an aromatherapy spa -

Pick out a selection of essential oils in scents you like, draw a steamy bath with them, and enjoy a deep soak.

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Give yourself a full beauty day -

We’re talking facials, manicures, pedicures, hair masks—the whole works!

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Make hydration luxurious -

You know those pretty pitchers of water they have at resorts and hotels with lemon, orange, cucumber, and other colorful infusions? Go the extra mile for yourself.

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Bring the yoga retreat to your living room -

It’s all about relieving tension and relaxing, not pushing yourself into contortions! There are many online classes, and you’ll find that they help you get that deep vacation sleep as well.

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A week’s subscription to a fancy workout class -

On vacations, there are often free tennis lessons, tai chi classes, or kickboxing sessions, so treat yourself to a week’s subscription to something new or that you typically can't afford on a regular basis.

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Have nightly turndown service -

If you’re staycationing with others, buy some luxurious chocolates and get each person to take turns folding back blankets, smoothing sheets, and leaving a sweet on each pillow every night.

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Go for a touristy drive -

It may sound silly, but being a tourist in your own town can give you those same feelings of exploration and help you uncover potential new favorite spots.

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Take a cooking class -

On vacation, many take a class to cook the local cuisine of their destination, and there’s no reason you can’t try this at home! You can choose any cuisine in the world, and it can conveniently be a virtual lesson as well.

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Consider renting a house -

If your own home is definitely not going to be sufficient for your staycation, you can rent a place or try house sitting. You’ll experience your city in a new way, from a modern loft or cozy condo.

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Have a set budget -

Even though you can splash out extra since you’re not taking any flights, be mindful of your budget so that you don’t “return” to normal life in debt and with more stress than when you left.

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Don’t stress about getting it right -

So much on vacations tends to go wrong, so at least rejoice in the comforts of being in the familiar.

See also: Embarrassing things we all do on vacation.

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