2023 - The Year of Staycations

We are now well underway in 2024, with January drawing to a close. It has been a little while since I’ve posted a blog. I just haven’t been inspired in penning down a travel memory, or for that matter any memory. The year 2023, was a tough one for many reasons, that I’m just not quite ready to delve into just yet. But what I would like to do, is do more of the things that rejuvenate me, like writing a blog. So, this blog will be on a type of travel (yes, I still classify this as travel), that I’ve never done before, and never thought about much, until that was an option for me to explore - Staycation.

The year 2022, was by far, the year of travel for me. I was on a plane to anywhere, almost every other month. As a result, it took a toll on my health - in both good ways and bad - but also a massive toll on my wallet. I had plans of laying my foundations, by taking a step further in becoming a home owner, and as much as I am grateful for all of the travel experiences in 2022, it meant purchasing a home was pushed by another year or two. I will still wholeheartedly say memories are priceless, so take that flight.

As a result of how much travel I did in 2022, I decided 2023 would be a no travel year. Dramatic, I know. By no travel year, I meant, no extravagant trips here, there, and everywhere. Just perhaps a couple of trips within New Zealand and that’s it. That’s exactly what it was. I did two personal trips, and three work trips. Not too shabby, huh. The destinations were as follows:

Dunedin (work)
Queenstown (leisure)
Wellington (work)
Seattle (leisure - but working remotely)
Christchurch (work)

I had not realised, how much not travelling would impact me, and complement me feeling lost, but I suppose it was something I needed to experience. I looked for ways to branch out and still get the feeling of being on a holiday, without being on a holiday. I thought about doing staycations previously, but it was something that never really appealed to me much in the beginning. I couldn’t quite comprehend the reason behind, leaving your nest, to go and stay in a hotel that’s in the same city as where you reside. I understand that there are some cities that are massive, and it makes sense to have a weekend in town, but Auckland isn’t big at all. However, having done two in the last year, I can gladly say that I’m a convert.

Hear me out, as to why I’m now a convert, and will wholeheartedly put the option of a staycation forward, in case I’m trying to find a quick escape from reality. Before I go on a trip, the little things excite me, like what movies are playing on the inflight entertainment, what food they will serve, what is the hotel where I’m staying like, what the rooms are like, and so much more. Believe me when I tell you if there are 8 months between now and getting on that plane, I will look at all of this on repeat every single day for the next 8 months and still be amazed at the experience when the time comes. As a matter of fact, I’m currently doing ‘research’ for my next trip, which is booked for later this year (another blog on all of that).

The two hotels, I stayed at for my staycation this year are:

Both of those stays were very unique in their own way. Perhaps, I’ll write blogs about those particular stays too. Would you want to read more about that?

Let me know if there are specific things you want to read about!

Until next time,

MiliG

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2023 - The Year of Staycations

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