5 Things You Need To Know When Booking a Self Care Staycation

We are officially at the anniversary of COVID and once COVID hit, the hospitality industry became impacted severely. People were not traveling as much as they could. Vacations were cancelled. Family reunions were postponed until further notice. Baecations snatched away and so much more!

But it didn’t take away the ability to have a staycation and that is what helped keep me sane during the pandemic, especially after losing my job indefinitely in hospitality.

If you aren’t aware, staycations are a vacation spent at home or nearby. They are the ultimate  way to either fall in love with your house, or the city you live in, all while strengthening your mental well-being. 

The past year have really taught me the importance of “getting away” for a self-care staycation.

Yes staycations are fun, but finding the right hotel to fit your self care vibe, requires a little bit of time and research to make your experience an enjoyable one. Here are 5 things you need to know when booking a self care staycation:

1.    Reviews-Google reviews, third party website reviews (I LOVE Hotels.com, they have amazing parkland rewards) influencer vlogs and blogs, and even a friend’s review are very helpful to getting an inside scope on the hotel you’re looking to stay at. I love reading reviews because I learn about bug problems, nasty customer service, dirty rooms, outdated furniture, etc. All of these play a major role in your relaxation and it’s best to find out about it from someone else’s experience rather than your own. 

2.    Food-You can’t enjoy a self-care staycation on an empty stomach, it’s not possible. You’ll want to make sure the hotel has good spots nearby so you can easily order takeout with no problem. Some hotels are still refraining from opening their kitchen, so you should either call ahead and find out, or make sure some good restaurants are close by. I stayed at one hotel and one of my favorite restaurants was walking distance from it, so I ended up taking a nice stroll to get my food.

3.    Amenities-check the hotel’s website to see what amenities they offer. Is there a spa that you can make an appointment at? Is there a fridge for you to store your food or drinks in? Is there a microwave? Are they offering any unique perks? I know the Westin hotels offered gym clothes for their guests in case they wanted to work out which was pretty cool, but I’m not sure if they all do that anymore with COVID. Also, if you live in Atlanta, the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead has this BEAUTIFUL garden that you can walk through and enjoy nature and I can’t wait to go back to it. In addition to this, the St. Regis Hotel offers a luxury afternoon tea experience for $65 a person which is on my self care bucket list. You’ll also, want to know if the room have showers only or bath tubs in case you want to take a candle lit herbal bath? Some people don’t use hotel bath tubs but if I’m sleeping in their bed, then I should be comfortable enough to take a bath in their bathtub, just bring some Lysol to help you feel comfortable. 

4.    Parking fees-whewwwww chile! Parking fees are something that can cause a headache if you don’t know about them upfront. Some of the most beautiful hotels have high parking fees (like $50 a night) and this can be a buzz kill when you didn’t expect to pay this. If you really want to stay at a certain hotel and don’t want to pay those extra parking fees, get someone to drop you off, you may come out cheaper.

 5.    Cozy robes-okay this one isn’t necessary, but it just helps set the tone for a bougie self care staycation. Not all hotels offer these and when they don’t, I just bring my own. You can’t deny that wrapping yourself in a cozy soft robe will ensure you reach peak relaxation, you just can’t.  

Bonus for dog moms: if you want to bring your pet with you, check the hotel to see if they allow pets. I recently stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott and they allow pets which was helpful because my dog needed to travel with me.

These 5 things are what you should be looking for no matter what budget you have. I promise it’ll help make your experience a great one! Check in next week for what to bring with you to ensure you have the ultimate staycation at home and at a hotel.