There are so many new terms we have all come to adopt this year from furlough and key worker to pandemic and flattening the curve, we have all had to learn and adapt. Staycations used to mean a day trip within your home county, usually within driving distance away. This past year a staycation has come to mean something quite different: being able to enjoy a retreat within our own country and being able to holiday even though international travel isn’t on the cards.

However this surge in staycationing, even since the new roadmap outline on travel, has meant that domestic holiday options have seen an all-out mass booking frenzy like nothing we have seen before. This has left many scrambling to try and find options from hotels and cottages to camping and caravans. 

We wanted to put together a guide to hopefully arm you with your best chance to get a booking in the UK this year:

1. Don’t Hang About

Although there are some properties and dates left for 2021 we would recommend trying to secure something as soon as possible. Despite the new roadmap announcements and possibility of international travel becoming an option once more we are still seeing incredibly high booking rates so would recommend booking something as soon as possible.

2. Think Outside the Box

As you would expect the most popular and highly sought after destinations have been the fastest to become booked up. Our top tip would be to look at alternatives you may not have considered before. Maybe checking off some of the following in your filter: 

• An area you haven’t considered before – we will be regularly featuring these on our channels so make sure you’re signed up to hear more about our focus destinations
• Different sized properties – can you increase or decrease your party to widen your search criteria
• Flexibility on dates – can you possibly book outside of busy dates like Easter or school holidays

3. Plan Ahead

If you have been disappointed in 2021 then don’t waste any time in looking for your dream escape in 2022. The trend appears to be continuing for bookings well into next year and beyond so we would suggest getting a booking in for next year and potentially even the year after.

4. Winter Escapes

There has never been a better year to escape the winter hibernation in new surroundings than this. With better availability left outside the sunshine and school holiday months it’s a good time to search through some of our favourite properties. We also have filters that allow you to look for those all important winter extras like open fires and log burners in properties made for blissful winter retreats.

5. Stay in the loop

We are constantly refreshing our availability – whether new properties are being added or cancellations going back onto the site. Although we can’t send out notifications for every cancellation or individual new property we will be highlighting more tips on destinations with higher availability and our favourite properties with dates still left. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter and following our social for the latest. 

We really hope that following some of the above helps you get booked up and don’t forget if you’re really struggling you can always drop us a line and we will do what we can to help. 

Happy Staycationing.