We’re missing seeing happy faces and enjoying friendly chats. I’m sure you’re missing getting away too. There’s something special about having a holiday to look forward to and escaping from normality for a while. We were upset when we had to take that away from you by cancelling bookings due to Covid-19.
Of course, what we classed as normality no longer exists, at least not for now. We’re all trying to work out how to move forward so we can start enjoying holidays again – us as a host and you as a holiday maker.
We can’t say when, or if, things will get back to how they were pre-Covid-19, but we do think that staycations will be more important than ever in giving people a well-deserved—and much needed—break.
That’s not to say staycations aren’t already important. They are. More than two-thirds of people planned their summer break in the UK last year, enjoying benefits like not having to worry about passports, currency or flights, being able to travel by car to come and go as you please and taking your accessibility equipment and pets with you.
But coming out of the other side of a global pandemic, holidaying at home will be the first choice for most people.
“Tourism recovery typically begins locally.”
That’s a quote we saw recently by TripAdvisor’s Elizabeth Monahan.
“Travelers tend to first venture out closer to home, and visit their local eateries, stay local for a weekend getaway or travel domestically before a robust demand for international travel returns,” she added.
Even when lockdown ends, it’s likely that restrictions such as the two-week quarantine when arriving into a country will stick around for a while. Then there’s the worry of another wave of infections, which is off-putting for a lot of holiday makers.
Holidaying at home where you’re familiar with rules around social distancing to protect yourself and others, and where you have the benefit of the NHS should you (God forbid) become unwell, does seem like a safer bet, certainly until a vaccine is available.
Tightening the purse strings
When compared with cheap holidays to Spain or Turkey, staycations haven’t always been the cheapest option, but what they do offer is the flexibility to fit with what you can afford.
The UK is a small enough island that, even if you don’t have the budget to travel far, you can find beautiful coastline, sprawling countryside and magnificent heritage within an hour of your home. And if a week-long hotel stay is a stretch financially, there are campsites and holiday lets up and down the country that offer cheap stays with fun and entertainment for everyone.
With incomes squeezed, the variety of options available at home means you can enjoy a getaway without breaking the bank and without having to plan too far ahead.
Supporting the local economy
Covid-19 has hit us all hard financially, particularly small local businesses and the hospitality sector where income has been wiped out.
VisitBritain estimates that domestic tourism spending could be down by as much as £22bn this year. Staycations are a way for you to support the local economy and, in some cases, keep businesses afloat.
For example, a family staying with us for a week-long break doesn’t just help us financially, it helps the shops, pubs, restaurants and attractions in nearby Barnard Castle or other towns in County Durham.
It works the same way wherever you stay in the UK. When you holiday at home, you help local businesses.
Then there’s the environment.
Keeping up the good work we’ve done for the environment
Have you heard the birdsong lately? The birds seem louder and chirpier than ever, don’t they? There’s more of them too. The trees surrounding our cottages also seem greener and the farm is buzzing with wildlife.
Lockdown hasn’t been great for us but it seems to have done wonders for the environment.
Apparently, daily global carbon emissions could decline by as much as 8% by the end of 2020. It’s disappointing that these reductions have come in the current circumstances when we’ve all been forced to change our behaviour, but it’s a good thing that more people are taking notice of their surroundings and appreciating the environment.
Staycations are a way to keep up with these positive changes – driving to your destination rather than flying or, even better, using public transport.
And the UK has so many wonderful places to walk and explore nature. We’re lucky enough to have the Lake District, Northumberland, the Durham Dales, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors close by.
And then there are the hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline, from the Scottish border town of Berwick to the birdwatchers paradise of Lindisfarne and Holy Island to the bustling fishing town of Whitby.
Everything you need is right here...
A big trip abroad might be off the cards for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean you should put a pin in your holiday plans. Because when the time comes that it’s safe to enjoy a week away, Britain has everything you need. And, boy, are we looking forward to seeing you here at Mellwaters Barn Cottages again soon!
