How to get the most out of a UK staycation

UK staycation
  • Save
Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Travelling anywhere can be a bit of a nightmare. When going abroad, there are plane arrangements, transport to a hotel in a place you aren’t familiar with where no one speaks your language. For some, it makes more sense to travel within the UK. There’s no language barrier, and you aren’t paying a million for a drink. In 2021, UK booking increased by 300%. But even staying in Britain is fraught with obstacles, and there are some things you need to remember when surviving a UK staycation.

Check the Weather

Since you are booking a stay in the UK, let’s face it, you are held hostage by the weather. The British climate is notoriously unpredictable. All over the UK, the best forecast weather can change without warning. Fortunately, news outlets like the BBC provide hour by hour weather updates. Keeping an eye on predicted forecasts means your sunny coastal holiday with Park Holidays UK won’t turn into a tempestuous nightmare. Therefore, no matter what the forecast says, take all precautions and pack your wellies and waterproofs anyway.

Book Early and Strategically

Like most holiday planning, you can take advantage of certain offers by booking early and strategically. Transport such as trains and coaches typically charge less for advanced bookings. Additionally, you can save money by booking your holiday at specific times of the year. For example, a September holiday at Center Parcs might be half the price as a stay in June when the locations are more popular. Go through each week of every month to see when you get the best deal. 

Stay as Close to Activities as You Can

When going on a holiday, especially with the kids, you don’t want to travel everywhere. Travelling too much is boring for everyone and is a considerable additional expense. And with petrol prices currently at an all-time high, you don’t need that hassle. Fortunately, most UK villages, towns and cities have excellent public transportation systems usually linked to popular areas. However, you might be better served by staying as close to local amenities as you can. Be aware, though, the closer you are to activities, the more lodgings might charge.

See the Sights

Of course, the whole point of visiting somewhere is to take it all in. You will do yourself a great disservice if you see a historically significant place like Edinburgh without getting to know the city’s unique past. Most UK city break towns offer various tours, such as the obligatory open-top bus routes. Other famous cities, such as Liverpool, offer special bus rides like The Beatles Tour. All over the UK, there are treasures to be found around every corner. A great place to start a city’s official website. But the most fun way is to get out there and see what you can find.

Sample Famous Foods

Everywhere you go, Britain is full of excellent local foods and delicacies. The North has Lancashire Hotpot, the South has Cornish Pasties. The West has variations of Liverpool’s “Scouse” dish, and the East is famous for its Whitby-caught seafood. Of course, no matter where you go, you will find fish & chips. But even each town and city is home to popular dishes. For instance, you will be hard-pushed to find better Asian food than that of Bradford or better scampi than you will find in Whitby. 

Mix with the Locals

The one advantage you have by staying in the UK is that everyone speaks your language. Although it can be a little difficult to understand local dialects such as a local Liverpudlian or a friendly Geordie. Yet we all speak English and use the same money. That’s two of the most significant barriers out of the way. Further, no matter where you go in Britain, almost everyone is typically friendly, especially towards tourists and out-of-towners. Small towns and villages such as those in the Lake District welcome visitors all year round.

Budget for Extras

If you are familiar with holidays, then you know how quickly money can drain from your account. When visiting somewhere new and exciting, it’s all too easy to splurge on every attraction you see when you see it. This is all part of the fun. However, things can get really expensive, really quickly, especially in the UK. Therefore, you should plan for extra expenses such as an impromptu theatre visit or a new city tour that wasn’t there the last time you visited. Additionally, cities all over the UK cater more than ever to children with adventure parks, min golf and family bowling arcades.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.