(WDRB/InvestigateTV) — A new WalletHub survey finds high gas prices are reshaping summer travel for a majority of Americans, with 59 percent saying transportation costs have affected their plans and 51 percent planning to spend less than last year.
John Kiernan, managing editor at WalletHub, said the three biggest vacation expenses — lodging, travel and dining out — can largely be eliminated by staying closer to home.
Kiernan said the key to a successful staycation is approaching it with the same mindset as a traditional vacation.
"You want to treat it like a vacation kind of mentally," Kiernan said. "You want to take steps and make plans to really not fall into your same old routines. You want to try to turn off notifications on your electronics, try to disengage from email and things like that."
He said another approach is to explore the local area as if visiting for the first time — seeking out free events and places not typically visited.
Kiernan said a staycation does not require eliminating all spending.
"You don’t have to stay home and spend zero money," Kiernan said. "You can still spend some money and save a lot relative to an actual vacation. Maybe you decided to have one big activity during your staycation, and you go to an amusement park or water park, or you actually decide to have one night in the hotel."
Kiernan said the goal is to stay on budget while still making the time feel special. He said researching local options can help families find activities that fit their budget before the end of August.
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