Most people get a travel card because they want to vacation across the world. The dream is to rack up bonus Miles and escape the mundane. But did you know that a travel credit card is good for more than just international travel expenses?
Enter the staycation: an inexpensive and fun way to escape from your daily life without the hassle of a more traditional vacation. Staycations allow you to explore the wonders right here in the United States within your city and surrounding areas. A staycation could consist of anything from a day trip to a local resort or a hike through your closest national park.
What are Different Staycation Ideas?
Last Updated: June 5, 2024
6 min read
Key points about: favorite staycation ideas
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A staycation can be a fun way to take time off and save money.
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With the right travel card, like Discover it® Miles travel credit card, you don’t have to be a super-savvy points guy to earn travel rewards here in the United States.
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The best credit cards for travel give you flexible ways to redeem your rewards and save some extra money.
Did you know?
When you use your travel rewards card from Discover® for your mini-break purchases, you can easily redeem Miles as a statement credit for travel purchases or get cash1 without ever leaving your local area.
Collect Discover Miles with these staycation ideas
A travel rewards card from Discover® lets you earn rewards on all your credit card purchases, whether they’re related to travel or not. With your Discover it® Miles travel credit card, you can earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on travel purchases and all your everyday purchases.
Here are some fun ways to earn rewards during your staycation:
- Play an arcade or arena game: Laser tag, mini golf, trampolines, roller skating, bowling—let your inner child free and have some fun. When you use your Miles credit card to pay for admission, rental equipment, and snacks, you’re stockpiling rewards to use later.
- Make mealtime exciting: You could try that new local restaurant and earn rewards with your Discover it® Miles credit card. Or, if you’re watching your spending, make your kitchen “vacation meal central.” Find some unusual recipes online and have fun shopping for the ingredients. The groceries you purchase with your travel credit card also earn Miles. And getting the family together to make an unusual meal will be almost as fun as eating it.
- Catch a live event: Sporting events, musical performances, festival or fair, live theater, comedy or stand-up…you might be surprised by the entertainment options within driving distance from your home. Purchase your tickets with your travel credit card to earn Miles during your staycation.
- Visit a museum, aquarium, or zoo: Use your Discover credit card to buy tickets, snacks, and gift shop items commemorate your staycation, and earn Miles with every purchase. These also make great solo staycation ideas.
- Change your surroundings: Another great staycation idea is that you can use your rewards to transform your home. Candles, decorative pillows, new bedding, or even funky lampshades can be a fun thing to do to make your home feel out-of-the-ordinary.
You don’t have to travel far to enjoy your Discover® travel card. You can start to enjoy your benefits right away with account opening. Every purchase earns 1.5x Miles. We’ll automatically match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year.2
Earn miles on every purchase with a Discover travel credit card.
Five fantastic ways to redeem your Miles on staycation
Miles are a great way to have a perfect staycation on a budget. Just use your Discover it® Miles card to turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.1
- Get a hotel room or home rental: Stay at a vacation rental, hotel room, bed and breakfast, or other unique lodging to make it feel like you’re far away from home. Stay on the other side of town, or someplace that has amenities (steam shower and sauna, anyone?) that you don’t have at your place. Pay for your lodging with your Discover it® Miles Card and then easily redeem Miles as a statement credit for travel purchases or get cash.1 However you redeem, Miles have the same value.1
- Rent a “splurge” car: If you don’t usually drive, or if you want a unique car for your staycation, rent a vehicle to make getting around your hometown feel special. (Plus, you can redeem Miles for the rental AND for gas.)
- (or) Take a break from driving: Rideshares, commuter transportation, car rental, taxis…there are many ways to get around your own town that are eligible travel expenses.
- Buy things for your trip: With the Miles you’ve accumulated on your Discover Card, you can order items for a spa day, game night, craft-a-thon, or anything else. With the Discover it® Miles travel credit card, 100 Miles = $1 to spend.3
- Take out cash for spontaneous fun: Feel like going with the flow? Easily redeem Miles as a statement credit for travel purchases or get cash.1 You can deposit the rewards from your Miles card into your bank account, and you can use them for expenses that come up as you enjoy whatever fun activity you come up with.
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With no harm to your credit score4
Fun ways to staycation for free
Sometimes not spending any money at all can be the ultimate reward! If you decide not to use your travel card to earn or redeem rewards, you can try these free activities instead:
- Camp out (or in!): You don’t need fancy gear, bug repellant, or even a backyard to go camping. You can build a pillow fort, stream nature sounds on your smart home device, and cook up some classic camping food. Suddenly the indoors becomes a great outdoors adventure.
- Hold a cook-off: Can your family make meals using just the ingredients that you already have? Peanut butter and pasta? Ketchup and lettuce? Who knows what (hopefully) edible creations you cook up.
- Toss your schedule: One of the best things about vacation is the break from normal. Your staycation can do the same! Sleep in, turn off your devices, have breakfast for dinner—see what kind of fun you can have when you take a break from your routines.
- Become a tourist in your own neighborhood: Get some fresh air and switch up your daily routine. Instead of your favorite local park or walking route, consider switching it up by exploring another part of town. Who knows what you’ll encounter if you take the long way home.
- Give back: Whether you donate unused items to local charities or get involved with volunteer activities in your community, your staycation can be the perfect time to connect with organizations in your area.
If you’re ready for a vacation without the hassle of coordinating schedules and planning a trip, a staycation is an excellent choice. And you don’t have to sacrifice your ability to earn and redeem travel rewards just because you stay home. The Discover it® Miles credit card gives you flexibility with no annual fee. So, you can enjoy time away without having to go away.
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Redeem Miles: Starting at 1 Mile, you can redeem your Miles as a credit to your account to pay for all or part of your bill, for cash as an electronic deposit to your bank account, or for a credit for Travel Purchases made on your statement within the last 180 days. Each Mile is equal to $0.01. Miles cannot be redeemed directly with a specific airline carrier. Travel Purchases include airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, travel agents, online travel sites, commuter transportation, restaurants and gas stations. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Gas Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Even if a travel purchase on your statement appears to fit in a Travel Purchase category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in a Travel Purchase category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not be eligible for credit redemption if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. See Terms and Conditions for more information.
- Discover Match®: We'll match all the Miles rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You've earned Miles rewards only when they're processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This promotional offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.
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$1 Cash Back = $1 to Redeem: You earn rewards, called Miles, which are stored in your rewards balance and must be redeemed in order to spend. Miles can be redeemed via travel credit, statement credit, electronic deposit to a linked account, or paying at select merchants.
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There is no hard inquiry to your credit report to check if you’re pre-approved. If you’re pre-approved, and you move forward with submitting an application for the credit card, it will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit score. Receiving a pre-approval offer does not guarantee approval. Applicants applying without a social security number are not eligible to receive pre-approval offers. Card applicants cannot be pre-approved for the NHL Discover Card.
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Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.