With Christmas and New Year out the way, thoughts might be turning to the summer months and booking a holiday to get away from it all and recharge your batteries. The truth is that the cost of living is going up, and holidays perhaps aren’t quite as affordable as they once were.

A lot of Brits are opting to tighten the purse strings and go for a staycation in the UK instead. There are plenty of places to choose from, and cutting out the stress of dealing with air travel at the height of summer makes it an even more attractive proposition. If you're thinking about staying closer to home this summer, here are a few things to start thinking about.

Where To Visit

If you are happy to travel by car or train, you’re not limited to where in the UK you can go. A ferry trip is the only option if you're heading from the mainland to the likes of the Scottish Islands, Belfast or the Isle of Man, etc. 

A lot has been written about the hot places to visit in 2019, and holidaymakers will be spoilt for choice. London, Edinburgh, Bath, Inverness, and Cardiff all offer a different experience, whether you’re in the market for a relaxing city break or an outdoor adventure holiday.

Looking Beyond the Beaten Track

While using some of the aforementioned articles on hot UK destinations can help you to narrow down your search, it’s also worth thinking outside the box. If your holiday time is restricted by the school holidays, you’re likely to find that the popular destinations will be much busier with tourists than they otherwise would at a different time of year.

Looking further afield will reveal all kinds of different destinations that you might not have otherwise considered. If you investigate somewhere like the Midlands, you'll find luxury hotels like the Belfry Hotel and Resort that offer a world-class experience that you don't have to travel half the world away to discover.

Taking a Mini-Tour

Another element of planning a staycation that many holidaymakers won't initially consider is that you can break your holiday up with a number of different destinations within an area in the country. Many people might be tempted to try combining a city break to somewhere like Windsor, then heading off to the countryside in the Cotswolds to experience some fresh air and pleasant walks.

More recently in Scotland, the North Coast 500 has gained a widespread reputation for those who want to take a driving holiday around the 500-mile loop of highland roads that starts in the pretty town of Inverness. Whatever type of holiday you’re thinking about going for, just remember that you don’t have to be limited to staying in one destination for the entirety of your trip.

A lot of us feel pressure to book an extravagant holiday abroad when summer comes around. The reality is that there are all kinds of amazing holidays on offer right on your doorstep. With a bit of research, you can have a truly unforgettable experience without breaking the bank.