How to Have a Staycation in Your Own State

Get out there without having to go too far.

This post is presented in partnership with YHA. Student Edge members get up to 20% off 40+ hostels around the country with YHA.

Locked behind borders and sick of the sight of your bedroom? You have options!

Why not get out of the four walls you’re so used to and take this opportunity to explore your local area—or even better—your local city? There are so many awesome things to do in cities all over Australia, you just have to look close enough (and maybe pretend you’re a tourist).

So, here’s why we reckon enjoying a holiday in your own city and meeting new people with YHA’s ‘City Stays’ is the option you should pick this summer.

Meet new people.

Staying at a YHA City Stay is a really great way to meet a bunch of exciting and friendly people from places you may not expect.

You will get to experience a really easy-going atmosphere at a YHA. With so many other people that could be staying in your hostel, or in a co-living room, you are sure to make some friends along the way.

You can, of course, choose to book a room all to yourself, but if you book to share, it’ll be even easier to meet new people (plus, where’s the fun in staying by yourself?).

Sure, you might come across people you already know or others also from your city. However, you may even meet people from other cities or towns all over the country, and hopefully when international travel becomes possible again (I’m keeping my fingers crossed), people from all over the world.

Hang out in the communal living areas, try out the swimming pools or chef it up with your new mates in the fully equipped kitchens or BBQs at your City Stay to make some connections and potential friends for life.

Discover city activities and locations.

You never know what you’ve been missing out on in your city until you start to explore it from a different perspective.

Head to your local city’s council website to find out what events are coming up near you and maybe give your city a good ol’ google to find out what hidden gems are available to try out.

You never know, you could come across rooftop/outdoor cinemas, mini golf, fun and interesting eats, ice skating, escape rooms, bowling, and a lot more exciting activities that you may not have tried before.

If you’ve got the eye for it, you could also uncover some awesome natural wonders or tourist attractions in your city.

Some cities are right by beautiful beaches, rivers and lakes or you might want to explore some local hills and walking trails. Join in on a tour or look up some local sights to see if there is anything that you might have missed, and don’t forget to pack your bathers!

Staying at a YHA City Stay and having the abundance of choice for activities that a city offers will mean that you never get bored.

Save money.

One of the best things about staying at a hostel is the super affordable price point. Not only will you not have to go far for a staycation in your city, but you won’t have to break the bank either.

Prices will depend on your location, date, and room type but with some of YHA’s hostel deals you could stay for as low as $18 to $29 a night. Save those dollars!

You can also sign up to be a YHA member to get some cheeky discounts with YHA and for some of those awesome activities you’ve been planning to try out.

YHA has partnered with golf clubs, bowling clubs, local restaurants and tour services—just to name a few—so you can have the best experience at the best price. You can also get up to 20% off your stay with Student Edge (exclusive to Student Edge members).

Be environmentally sustainable.

YHA is committed to responsible travel and sustainability, so if you’re wanting to have a staycation and stay environmentally conscious, YHA is where it’s at.

At YHA they have three sustainability pillars: social, environmental and economic. So, you can be confident that a trip with YHA has the earth in mind.

Every night you spend in a hostel creates an average of 9 kilograms of carbon emissions and the average daily water consumption is 340 litres per person in Australia (yikes). At YHA they make a difference with initiatives as small as energy-saving light bulbs and as large as solar hot water systems.

Besides having recycling stations and swap shelves at every hostel, YHA is always looking for other things to recycle—from composting to recycling whole buildings.

YHA also gives back to the communities that have helped welcomed them by being actively involved in local events and fundraising for various charities dedicated to reducing social inequalities.

And finally, YHA matches any donations you make to the Sustainable Hostels Fund. The SHF has helped fund major projects such as solar hot water systems, LED lighting upgrades and more.

So, overall it’s a win, win, win.

Stay COVID safe. 

Choosing a staycation in your home city is one of the best ways you can ensure that you stay safe while having a trip away from home, but YHA takes it a step further to make sure that all guests and staff are safe and comfortable, because who isn’t a fan of safety?

All of YHA’s hostels are following all relevant state and territory-based restrictions and regulations, so be sure to check out your local rules before packing your bags.

YHA is ensuring that all staff and guests are staying at least 1.5 metres physically distant around the hostel and high traffic areas are marked to remind both staff and guests.

To make you feel more comfortable you can choose a family or private room for your household. Right now, co-living rooms have reduced occupancy for safe distancing, so be sure to book ahead.         

There are extra cleaning protocols, especially in communal areas and on high-touch surfaces throughout the hostel. Additionally, hand sanitiser is at reception and soap can be found in all bathrooms and kitchens, so if you forget your own bottle, don’t stress.

So, what are you waiting for? A staycation with YHA is just calling your name!

Time to get on it! Student Edge members get up to 20% off 40+ hostels around the country with YHA.

Header Image: Morsa Images via Getty Images