4 Easy Ways to De-stress and Getaway on a Budget!

Happy New Month! 😀 Are you craving a getaway, but your budget feels as thin as a shoe string? Not to worry! On today’s post, I share 4 simple ways to detach from the stress of daily living & getaway on a budget!

The way life is set up these days, we could all use an occasional retreat to recharge and refill our tanks. Whether you are working from home or commuting to work, the demands on our mental/emotional reserves have never been higher.

When you sit down and listen, you realize that people everywhere are going through a lot… So, a little bit of self-care taken in regular doses goes along way.

I hope that on this post, you’ll find something to make your budget getaway, to rejuvenate, possible. 🙂

4 Ways to De-stress and Getaway on a Budget!

Take Spontaneous Trips!

Planned trips are great, but sometimes all you need is to hit the open road, and go wherever it may lead. It doesn’t have to be fancy or costly…

Try taking a spontaneous road-trip to a new place you’ve not been to before. The key to this is- to keep it simple.

I once had a road-trip buddy who used to accompany me on the most random trips! 😀 It was always spontaneous and it didn’t matter whether we had lots of cash or not… Sometimes we’d board a bus or matatu and go to the very last stop. And once there, we would explore the new town, until we felt satisfied. This meant finding some cheap places to eat, checking out the markets… and whatever else tickled our fancy. It was fun, and each time we did this, I would come back feeling ready to face the world again.

Think about it… Have you been to every town in your city/country?

Travel doesn’t always need to be planned to the last detail…. Take spontaneous trips and discover the world around you while making some new memories.  

Check out this post on: 5 Ideas For a Fun Day Trip Out Of Nairobi

Immerse yourself in nature!

The easiest way to getaway on a budget is to take advantage of the most abundant resource we have: nature.

I remember one time my church family group happened to have an outdoors Sunday service at Karura. It was such a lovely experience! I could see the forest from where I was sitting while the service went on, and it felt like the trees were calling to me. 🙂

After the official part of the day was done, a couple of us then wandered into the forest for a leisurely, no-stress walk. The cool crisp air, the sounds of the leaves cracking beneath our feet & birds chirping happily… I can still remember the minty, pine scent of the trees hanging in the air. Oh so refreshing!

All in all, it was a beautiful and grounding experience. 🙂

Is there a park or forest around where you live? Are there daily activities that you can move around to make a getaway into nature possible? Perhaps you can plan to have your informal meetings at the park?

Consider visiting the gardens at Paradise Lost, the tea farms in Limuru, arboretum or any place that will give you an outdoorsy experience.

Check out this post: A Nairobi Safari Walk Romance

Try Swapping houses and Cities!

I know this is the kind of thing you’ve probably seen on American reality TV shows as a social experiment…. But who’s to say it can’t be done in real life? 😀

If you watched the 2006 film titled ‘The Holiday’, then you might have an idea of what this looks like. I know it’s an oldie, but bear with me here.

In the movie, two women who live in different parts of the world swap houses for the holidays. It ends up being an interesting change of pace & exactly what each woman needs.

Think about it… You probably have friends or family who live in a different town or city; a place that you’ve not had a chance to live and explore like a local before. So why not swap houses for a weekend?

The beauty of swapping houses is that it will cost you both next to nothing. Moreover, you can swap knowledge with your friends on the best (read cheapest) activities to do in each of your localities.

P.S. You might want to come up with a few guidelines (dos and don’ts) to ensure both parties are happy, when all is said and done. >>

Take the less-traveled paths

When thinking of a getaway on a budget, consider traveling off-the-beaten path.

Touristy places like Mombasa and the Mara will always have traffic, hence higher prices. However, there are other parts of the country like Kericho, Kakamega or Taveta with affordable getaway options and things to do.

Some of my favourite travel memories are in remote places like Grogan’s Castle and Lake Chala in Taveta.

For the entire duration of our trip, Wanjiku Thuo and I were the only guests there, plus without network coverage, you really get to switch off and retreat.

And with Airbnb, you can now find affordable places to stay in nearly every town under the sun! Go on and give yourself a chance. 🙂

Check out this post on: The Colors Of Kericho

Bonus: Travel during the Low Seasons

Sometimes, you actually just want to go on a proper getaway to a hotel with all the perks (read room service)! 😀

If you’re looking for a ‘proper’ getaway on a budget, then traveling in the low season is your best bet.

During the low season, you’ll get affordable flights & accommodation deals. Furthermore, you are less likely to run into crowds in some of the popular destinations.

I must acknowledge though, that the Covid-19 pandemic has done much to change our travel seasons. You might want to call your hotel or flight providers in advance to confirm the low seasons and associated rates. With this in mind, you’ll be better-positioned to make an informed decision on when to travel.

P.S. Remember to compare different providers and booking platforms before making your final purchase.

>>Check out this post on: Your Ultimate Holiday Travel Guide On A Budget

Photography Credits:

Wanjiku Thuo

&

Marion Mithamo

---

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this post! 😀

Are you inspired to getaway on a budget? I would love to hear from you… Drop a comment down below with your feedback or questions. And if you have inputs on what else we can add to our list, share, share, and share!

Until the next one….

<< Stay. Inspired. Always. >>