Staycations? Forget ’Em— It’s Time to Leave Home
The term staycation entered our travel vocabulary in 2009 because
of high gas prices and a bad economy. But deals abound these days,
so if you’re sick of staying home, now’s the time to line up a vacation
to remember. Try one of these staycation alternatives
LEI-
CATIONS
DAVE G. HOUSER/HOUSERSTOCK; ILLUSTRATIONS BY PENELOPE DULLAGHAN
• IF YOUR TUSH can tolerate six hours a day in the saddle, try an
equestrian getaway. You can gallop
along Ireland’s beaches, trot through
Spain, France, or Argentina, and
even take an equi-safari in Kenya
or Botswana. Operators Equitours
(800-545-0019; ridingtours.com)
NEIGH-
CATIONS
and Hidden Trails (888-987-2457;
hiddentrails.com) match riders to
horseback-riding holidays on six
continents. Typical tours start at
$1,300 to $1,500 a week, including
lodging, meals, guides, horse, and
gear. Closer to home, Holiday on
Horseback (800-661-8352; horse
back.com) runs pack trips into the
mountains of Canada’s Banff
National Park; two-day trips start
at $488 CDN; six-day trips, $1,243
CDN (tent) or $1,406 CDN (lodge).
•BELIEVE IT OR NOT, you can find bargains in Hawaii. For packages
especially, competition among destinations is hotter than an erupting
volcano. Pick your hotel, resort, or
condo and expect to score value-added deals; some perks are free bonus nights, food and beverage credits, and golf and spa discounts. The
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
(800-464-2924; gohawaii.com/
vacation) provides links to partners
offering package deals. We found
one from Classic Vacations that trims
up to $500 off the airfare. Locally
based Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
