The Cheapest Summer Vacation You Have Ever Had

With Christmas well and truly over, the tree already losing its needles and the presents becoming"normal" for the children, it's time to plan the Summer holidays again. I know, you're still taking Prozac because these Yule-tidings are not a unbridled pleasure for all of you, especially not for your wallet.
However, thinking of the summer might cheer you up. Taking a holiday in the sun, preferably with exotic palm trees somewhere, the kids playing in the pool. Going out for dinner every evening, sightseeing every day. Going to museums to lap up some art, going for bike-rides.

"Hold on" you are saying, "This is going to cost me an arm and a leg, I can't afford all that. I have a family and a dog and a cat." Yes, I know, but there is a chance you'll have all that, for a lot less.

We were driving through the city this afternoon. The Sale is on and so we needed to do some shopping. To our surprise we found parking-space, in the middle of town, for free. This was unusual enough but when we walked through town, there was hardly anyone around. At first we thought that all the shops were closed, but to our surprise they were all open. All the restaurants, pubs and lunchrooms were open too. Then it came to me: everybody is on holidays! This was great news, because we had the whole town to ourselves. And all the holidaymakers were probably queuing somewhere else. In an expensive holiday-resort or hotel, or camping.

So, why not stay at home this summer? Before the whole family freaks out I will explain. First of all: there are services that will cater for every need: cleaning, gardening, take-aways who deliver food. There are people who can wash your car, wash the house or the dog. Ironing, window-washing etc. can also be done by a service. Look in your local phone-book and you'll be surprised how much can be done for you, and for a lot less than a hotel would charge you. Also: have you ever noticed what activities your local town offers? Have you ever been to the local museum, swimming-pool, golf-course, tennis club, zoo etc.? Perhaps not. This might well be the best holiday you're ever going to have. No long drive, no airports, no stress with packing, no pet-sitter to arrange.And you stay in your nice comfy home, where you have all things dear around you, like the washing-machine and dishwasher. The kids have their toys, your teen-ager her boyfriend, the dog the Frisbee. In the evenings you can dine out; in a place where you know you won't contract a nasty virus. And if you do, at least the doctor in the hospital speaks your language, so you don't have to do a mime-act and hope for the best.

Of course I don't know where you live, and how your circumstances are. Perhaps your desire will be too great to "escape". These are just suggestions for people who want to do it differently this summer.