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Whenever our public holidays fall on a Monday or Friday, it’s just natural to start planning for a quick getaway or staycation during the long weekend.
But sometimes, these staycations can break the bank if you don’t plan them out properly and you might end up with an expensive holiday that’s more trouble than it’s worth!
To help spare you the headache of a bad staycation, we’ve compiled some tips that you can apply for the upcoming Hari Raya Haji holidays to make sure that you don’t go overboard with the spending.
Tip #1: Set your budget from the get-go
The most important decision you need to make first is deciding on the budget. That might sound scary to think that you might be constrained by a budget early on, but honestly, it will help you determine how much you can spend when going on a staycation.
Having a budget from the get-go can give you an idea of how much you can afford to spend and whether or not you will require to overspend or save up.
List all the things you would need to spend on, such as transportation, accommodation, food, and activities you might want to do, and calculate what it would cost you. Once you got a good of your finances, you can move on to the actual staycation planning itself.
When planning and setting your budget, it’s tempting to go for the most that you can spend. However, you should always be more realistic with your budget and set an amount that you really can afford.
For example, if you want to have an RM10,000 staycation experience but you can only set aside RM1,000, it’s best to plan your budget within the RM1,000 limit instead.
Tip #2: Choose your dates and destination early
Got your budget set? Now it’s time to settle on the date for the staycation itself so that you have a better idea of how long you intend to stay.
For example, this year’s Raya Haji falls on a Thursday. If you want to go on the day itself, you can stay from Thursday until Sunday for a 4-day staycation. If you want to avoid the rush, you might choose to go a day earlier which might extend your staycation to 5 days, which also increases your budget for accommodation.
Once you’ve decided on a date, it’s time to book the accommodation. This should be fairly straight forward but if you want to save extra cash on accommodations, it’s best to book it as early as possible to get better rates.
Tip #3: Pack meals, snacks, and drinks as well
Food is one of the biggest things that eat (no pun intended) into your budget. Eating at sit-down restaurants or at the hotel that you are staying in can be an easy way to balloon your budget.
The average cost of eating out in Malaysia can be up to RM63 per day per person, it can quickly add up when you have a big family or group of friends.
Now, you can just take advantage of complimentary breakfast/lunch/dinner packages that hotels often offer to keep your costs down. But, if you want to stretch out your budget, you can bring your snacks and drinks as well.
If you’re staying at a place with a kitchen or fridge, you can bring your meals by prepping ahead of time and just reheating or recooking them when you’re there.
Tip #4: Plan out your itinerary ahead of time
You’ve got your budget set, and you’ve chosen your destination and accommodation, the question now is, what will you do while you’re there?
When planning your itinerary, it’s always good to factor in how much it will add to the budget you’ve set. Prioritise activities that are based on your interest while still keeping within budget, but don’t be afraid to leave a little bit of room for spontaneity.
One thing you should check when staying at a hotel or any accommodations is to see if there are any free amenities available to you as a guest. Or better yet, plan for free or low-cost activities such as local parks, nearby hiking trails, or just a quick little scenic drive.
Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra (within reason)
This might sound contradictory when trying to stay within budget, but if you want to do something that will make you go a bit over budget, don’t be afraid to spend those extra few ringgits.
Assuming that it doesn’t affect your financials and that you can afford it, it’s okay if you end up spending a bit extra on a fancy dinner in the hotel or that spa session for you and your loved ones.
As long as you don’t go way over budget, then a little extra here and there wouldn’t hurt. Just keep an eye on your total and don’t go overboard!
Remember it’s a holiday, so don’t stress out
Freaking out over every minute detail of your staycation defeats the purpose of a staycation. Don’t stress out if you went a little over budget or maybe you’re not following your itinerary to the exact minute.
It’s still a vacation so enjoy it while you’re there. Plus, if you planned it out ahead of time, then you probably won’t have much to worry about once you’re there.
Want to know how many other long weekends there are left this year? Find out in our long weekend guide.
