Blog post by Eliza Barrett-Holman, GEC PR Account Executive

In the midst of the January lockdown, my family and I booked a late May Bank Holiday staycation to Devon to coincide with my younger brother’s 21^st birthday celebrations. Not quite the big trip to the USA that we were hoping for, but it certainly gave us something to look forward to whilst at home.

Thankfully with the UK’s lockdown restrictions easing, we spent an extremely sunny long weekend walking the cliffs of Ladram Bay and along the nearby country paths of Otterton, eating fish and chips beside the sea and in my case doing morning yoga-flows on the outside garden terrace as the sun rose across the bay.

With many UK travellers planning to spend a summer exploring home soil this year, I wanted to share the benefits of a staycation for those international travel enthusiasts still on the fence about domestic travel and to help eager staycationers get excited about a summer spent discovering the thrills on our doorstep.

• Staycations are the perfect way to rest and recharge – With the pressures of lockdown taking their toll, UK staycations are ideal for a refreshing change of scenery to recuperate the mind. I found that time spent outside, filled with fun family time was just the medicine I needed after a winter cooped up at home.
• Fun for all the family – We’re big on family trips in my house and UK staycations are endlessly versatile when it comes to destinations that suit everyone’s needs, provide dining options for everyone to enjoy and exciting multi-generational activities.
• Less travel time = more time to make memories – One benefit of holidaying at home is waving goodbye to early mornings spent running through the airport, hours sitting on the plane and the jet lag that sometimes comes from travelling abroad. Instead, enjoy the extra moments to make more memories with friends and family thanks to time saved from travelling by car or train, and et voila – holiday success!
• You still get the buzz of planning a holiday – Ask me a year ago if I ever thought I would get an overwhelming sense of excitement when planning a trip to Devon and I would have laughed. If this has taught me anything, it’s that you still get the same buzz and sense of satisfaction from planning a staycation as you do from an international trip.
• There’s so much of the UK to explore – I’m guilty of having travelled extensively around the globe but never in my own backyard. This year is the perfect time for travellers to explore beautiful corners of the UK whilst we wait for international travel to return. I certainly hope to discover more hidden gems around the UK this summer.