10 tips for planning the perfect staycation

1. Figure out what you want to do

Dannie Fountain, a marketing strategist and digital nomad who has visited nearly 100 countries in the past three years, believes that the key to a great staycation is first figuring out what you want to do, whether it's a spa getaway or a hiking adventure.

"Then, choose the 'where' based on the place near you that offers the best of the 'what,'" she told Business Insider.

2. Create a staycation budget

Kevin Gallegos, vice president at Freedom Financial Network, said that it's important to have a staycation budget in place.

"Just as you would (should) create a vacation budget, decide how much you can spend on your staycation," he told Business Insider via email. "Do not go into debt to take a vacation, at home or away."

However, Byron Ellis, a certified financial planner with United Capital and founder of "Doing Money Right," said that you should still splurge a little on your staycation.

"You have saved a great deal by not purchasing airline tickets, not sliding the credit card at the gas pump, and/or not paying for a room every night, so why not splurge a bit," he said. "In the end, though, you want to spend much less than if you had gone out of town, but you don’t have to make it feel like you are on a budget."

3. Use online resources

"Staycations are a great way to fall in love with your home city, and many websites offer discounted tickets to tours and events that are worth buying," Cory Sarrett, a consultant for La Galerie Hotel in New Orleans, La., told Business Insider.

If you need some staycation inspiration, there are plenty of apps that can help. For instance, Jetsetter not only has hotel deals, they also have trip tips and destination guides.

Depending on where you live, you can also get great ideas from TimeOut, Viator, and TripAdvisor. Then there are other sites, where you can get discounts on fun experiences and food, such as LivingSocial, Groupon, and Restaurant.com.

4. Rent a place, house-sit, or camp

If you're looking to escape from your home for a while, you can rent a place on Airbnb or through VacationRenter.

"A proper staycation is all about experiencing your city in a new light — and there is no better way to do that than staying in a unique vacation rental," David Kolodny, co-founder of VacationRenter, told Business Insider.

"From options like a modern loft in the heart of the city to a cozy condo in a lesser known neighborhood, you can find the perfect rental to make your staycation feel like an adventurous getaway," he said.

If you're trying to go the more economical route, you can house- or pet-sit for a friend. Or, you can do so for a stranger via TrustedHousesitters.com.

Camping makes for a fun, low-cost staycation, too. "Many state and national parks have cabins for rent at prices much lower than hotels, and you can always borrow or rent equipment," Ellis told Business Insider.

To save even more, he recommends visiting on one of the National Park Service free days. "Plus, the 'entertainment' is free: hiking, watching wildlife, picnicking, and counting stars," he said.

5. Check for credit card discounts

In addition to the points or miles you gain from your spending, many travel-focused credit cards also offer special and/or reduced admission to concerts, restaurants, and other events.

"They may help you discover a new restaurant, attraction, or perk, like a free extra night at a hotel," Annie Davis, president of Palm Beach Travel, told Business Insider.

6. Be a tourist in your own city

When's the last time you took a tour in your own city? From historical mobster tours in Chicago through Untouchable Tours to "museum-hack" tours by Unhighlights Tour in select cities, there's probably a tour out there you haven't tried.

"Open a map and pick out the places you want to go," Caroline Topperman of "Style on the Side" told Business Insider. "All too often, we stick to the main streets when sightseeing, but here's your chance to discover side streets, shops, and restaurants you might otherwise walk right past."

7. Try Airbnb Experiences

You can also look for an Airbnb Experience, where locals conduct everything from city tours to cooking lessons.

Maria Leonard Olsen, attorney and author of "50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life," told Business Insider that she goes to Airbnb for guided walking tours, cooking classes, and tastings at local markets when she travels.

"I tried a session in an artist's studio learning how to make prints that I very much enjoyed and would not have found if not for Airbnb," she said.

8. Try new experiences overall

Gallegos suggested switching up your ordinary mode of transportation by walking or biking instead of driving or taking public transit in your hometown.

"The 'new place' might be a historic walking tour of your own downtown, a hike to a nearby park instead of the typical drive, or a few hours on a bike to another part of town," he said.

9. Check Geotags on social media

Geotags, electronic tags that you can assign to social media posts to tie them to a particular location, are an easy way to get staycation ideas.

"This is particularly useful on Instagram, where you can actually search a location and have photos turn up in a place like 'Rochester, New York,'" Chris Clemens, chief exploring officer of "Exploring Upstate," told Business Insider.

10. Stay home

While your first choice may not be to staying at home, you can make it fun by surprising your partner or roommate with everything from an in-home massage from Zeel to food from a new restaurant they’ve been wanting to try.

"The perfect staycation involves pampering yourself," Maggie Berghoff, a licensed nurse practitioner and functional medicine clinician, told Business Insider. "Take a little time to relax, take a bath, or do a face mask. This will help you leave your staycation feeling refreshed and vibrant."