It’s almost time to start considering what you’re going to do for the upcoming season of holidays. From Thanksgiving break to winter break, you’re bound to enjoy some free time that will leave you wondering if you should travel. If you’re not up for hitting the open road or flying to your chosen destination, you might find yourself wondering how you can fill your time without losing your sense of holiday fun. These ten ideas will help you find the joy and familial connection while still giving yourself some space to enjoy life and find the relaxation that you need.
1. Video Chat with Loved Ones
There’s no doubt about it, for many, spending time with loved ones is what makes the holiday season great. However, if you find yourself unable to travel this year, you can still get the family connection you need. One of the best ways to do this is to utilize modern technology. A video chat can be done on just about any type of phone or laptop now, as long as both parties have a camera that works for audio and video. You can even video call multiple people at once, in many cases, so you can actually still enjoy family meals together even if everyone is homebound. You don’t have to constantly be chatting either as this can make calls awkward. Instead, enjoy a holiday movie together or simply have your family in the background as you sing carols, eat your meal and play games. This can help bring everyone together. These video chats are especially great for children that might not get bonding time with their grandparents and other family members. There are many insightful tricks to help kids warm up on camera, too, so you can get even more out of the calls.
2. Hit the Spa
Sometimes, traveling sounds like the last thing you want to do after working hard for months on end. So, instead of doing something for others, consider giving yourself a little treat. A spa day is a great way to take away the burden of work, so you can return feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. If you choose a local spa, you will also be helping out a local business during one of the toughest times of the year. You’d be surprised how much a few hours at the spa can help you when it comes to vacationing, so soak it up and remind yourself of all the long lines you’d have to endure if you did decide to travel.
3. Go to the Theater
You probably aren’t going to want to just stay at home while you’re on a break from work or school. That is why the theater offers an exciting opportunity for you to get out and enjoy yourself for a little while. There are lots of different options when it comes to the theater, too. You can stop by and see a blockbuster you’ve been wanting to see, or you can enjoy a thrifty movie at one of the big screens. Apart from the movie theater, you might find that there is a play or ballet that you might want to check out. Usually, ballets are pretty popular during the winter seasons, so you might still be able to enjoy the holiday buzz without traveling to other places to find it.
4. Stay in a Hotel
Sometimes, it’s just nice to get out of the house for a little while. This can be one of the greatest appeals to traveling. However, if you don’t have the money or the time to travel for the holidays then you might just consider staying in a hotel. Of course, this might not be easy if you live in a popular travel destination. If that is the case, then you might choose a hotel located a little further away. There are many great options when it comes to hotels though. If you just want to lounge around, then there are great bed and breakfasts to choose from. However, if entertainment is on your mind then you won’t be shy of options, either. Some hotels have indoor pools, gyms, and other amenities. On the other hand, you do have hotels that offer things like putt-putt golf, rollercoasters, arcades and so much more. So, plan efficiently to find what you need.
5. Explore Your Local Area
Even if you think you know your local area, you might be surprised by some of the changes you missed out on while you were busy with work. That’s why exploring your own area is a great travel alternative for the holiday season. Of course, your community will also change quite a bit during the holiday season anyway as many places will have decorations and festive deals for you to take in. You might consider checking out new businesses, eating at a new establishment or even walking through a park you haven’t seen in a while. It can be exhilarating to become reacquainted with a place we once loved, which is why you might fall in love with this travel alternative and make it a new tradition.
6. Visit People That Can’t Get Out
Sharing cheer is one of the main aspects of the holidays, so you might want to find someone that could use a little during your holiday break. Even though you might not be able to travel to visit your loved ones, you can still go out and share some love with those that are homebound. One of the best places to go to is a nursing home because many of the elderly there do not have visitors, which makes the holidays particularly depressing. Even if you don’t know the people you’re visiting, you might find that coming up with ways to entertain them can be a lot of fun. You might even make a good friend that you never expected you would have. Being someone’s family for the holiday season can be very rewarding, so don’t pass up on this beautiful travel alternative.
7. Take Advantage of Community Events
The holiday season is filled with holiday buzz in most communities, so you won’t be missing out if you choose to stay put. You will find everything from parades to holiday meals and crafts, which should keep you busy and satisfied during your time at home. The key to these events is staying in the loop though. You have to look up websites that will keep you up to date on what’s going on in the community, so you won’t miss a beat. Luckily, with social networking, you’ll be able to find a ton of things. You might even find a free holiday meal that will help bring you closer to your community.
8. Read Holiday Cards
If you’re feeling disconnected from your loved ones because you were unable to travel, then you might consider saving up all of your holiday cards. As you receive them, simply place them in a to-be-read pile. Then, when the holiday arrives, you’ll have an assortment of heartwarming messages to check out. This can be a great way to enjoy all of the amazing people you have in your life while also cutting down on the loneliness you feel during the season. If you’re still feeling down after reading your cards, then start giving out phone calls to thank each person for sending a card. You might find it surprising how easy it is to reconnect with some people.
9. Host at Your Home
Of course, if you can’t travel to other people then you might throw out the option of hosting the holiday celebration at your home. This will allow you to save on the cost of traveling while still getting to see some of your loved ones. Hosting does take a lot of work though, as you will primarily be responsible for food, shelter, and entertainment for the duration of the holiday stay. This, in itself, can be taxing, so make sure you’re ready for the commitment. If you can’t get a family to stop by though, you might consider asking some friends to enjoy the holiday with you, as hosting local friends might not be as much trouble but will certainly be beneficial.
10. Make Plans For Next Year
Even if your travel plans just didn’t pan out this year, you can always take the time to make a plan to travel next year. There is a huge variety of plans to help you save money if you’re looking to travel in a year’s time. So, you might start looking around for ideas now, so you can get a head start on planning out next year’s travels. If you begin your savings plan soon, you might be able to afford more than one trip during the holiday season, which can truly excite you and inspire you to save with ease.
Cutting back on travels during the holiday season doesn’t have to mean ruining the celebration. These ten tips should help you find a touch of fun and a bit of hope even if you are stuck at home. You might find that there is more joy to sticking around for the holidays as you might have imagined. Plus, it’ll save you a ton of money.
