THE YEAR OF STAYCATIONS

WRITTEN BY ROSHNI (GUEST WRITER)

We have the gorgeous Roshni sharing all about why 2021 is going to be the year of staycations and giving you a sneak peek into her STUNNING Dorset holiday home, that can be rented out on Air B&B.

Well hasn’t it been one heck of a year!? I remember this time last year we announced we were going to become a family of 4, we were over the moon (although very sick) and full of excitement spreading the news. I immediately jumped on the ‘let’s go on holiday before the baby gets here’ bandwagon as let’s face it, as magical as it is, it is so much hassle going on holiday with little ones; the luggage, nap times vs. taxi/flight times, the battle of getting them to eat dinner at the dinner table in a restaurant every night, it almost doesn’t feel like a holiday at times as it’s so much work. 

So, we started looking and Italy was first on the cards, we’ve been so many times but there’s always somewhere new and beautiful to discover and the food I think you’ll agree, simply DIVINE! I don’t know about you but when I was pregnant it was all about the carbs (and desserts!!). But then suddenly, we went from shouting from the rooftops about the pregnancy, looking at holidays, to then being classed as vulnerable, being sent to work from home indefinitely and then a nationwide lockdown- a huge turn of events. One way or another, everyone’s lives had changed and here we are, one year later, still in lockdown. 

We did manage to squeeze in a glorious summer though, how did you spend summer 2020? A lot of the UK flocked down here to the South Coast; I know this because in July we had just launched our very own Airbnb; Poole Retreat on the Green. Literally as lockdown was lifted and hospitality could resume, we thought it was all terrible timing with everything going on, but it worked out perfectly and we were fully booked. We gained 5-star reviews from all our guests making me an Airbnb Super Host! I can tell you it was a busy whirlwind of a summer. 

Going back to the first lockdown we did a full renovation of the property which is a detached house in Poole Dorset. The house is split into two flats, we started with upstairs whilst the mortgage was finalising on downstairs. Right from the very beginning I wanted it to be a home away from home, all the things we look for when going away as a couple and a family. Rewinding even more, we moved to Dorset in 2018, 2 weeks before I had my first baby, crazy and against all health advice given to pregnant women, I know! It was not easy, especially with my mental health being up and down, but the healing ocean made it the best decision yet. With all that in mind, I wanted to create a space for people to come and feel the connection I feel with the coast and the outdoors, somewhere to escape from the everyday rush, explore the surrounding beauty and recharge. 

Here at Poole Retreat on the Green we’ve gone for a ‘Scandi’ meets ‘Boho’ interior. The aesthetic opposites work beautifully in this space, giving a laid-back luxe vibe. A single, central walkway connects all the spaces; kitchen, bathroom, king size master bedroom, small double bedroom & living/dining area. With large windows across the front of the property, views of the green open space and glimmering blue of the sea in the distance, fills the space with light all day. We are moments away from the beautiful beaches along the Jurassic Coast, gorgeous coffee shops, endless walks in … you choose … the woods, forests, clifftops, sandy shores, you are literally spoilt for choice. It is simply the perfect getaway… at home, in England. 

I do love a good Airbnb, UK or abroad, that is what we have used for years. I always look for pretty interiors with hosts that have outstanding reviews. It can be daunting booking on Airbnb for the first time, there is so much on there, but using the right filters and reading the reviews always helps with the booking process. To be honest I find it better than hotels, here are some of my pros:

• • It’s more of a personal experience communicating directly with the host
  • There is the luxury of an entire property rather than a single room  
  • You can choose someone’s actual home or a property solely for holiday use 
  • It is so much more than a room booking;
    • You can find somewhere with a living space to relax together as a family
    • Have separate bedrooms to the kids (if they’re big enough of course)
    • Have a kitchen to make what you want when you want 
    • Come and go as you please
    • You don’t have to dread housekeeping walking in on your blissful lie in 
    • And most of all no rushing out your pyjamas and getting the kids dressed to make the breakfast cut off
    • Overall, you get so much more for your money!

So what are we going to do this summer? Right now, there’s a sense of fear of the unknown given the current situation and not knowing where we will be in a couple of months. With COVID rates, vaccine effects, what we will and will not be allowed to do, we’ve seen things change so drastically how are we meant to plan summer 2021? Even if we can travel again, will we want to? It is becoming apparent staycations are the next best thing to getting away. There’s less risk of financial loss due to no added costs of; flights, transfers, hotels, insurance etc and most places in the UK are doing 100% refundable cancellations. With all the travel restrictions in place, time and effort lost to isolation on either side of travelling, staying put sounds like a holiday on its own! But is that such a bad thing? 

There is so much beauty and positives for exploring right here at home in the UK;

• Gorgeous rolling hills of green in the countryside 
• Stunning beaches all around 
• We are a drive away from our homes
• We can travel in the comfort (& cleanliness) of our own cars
• Take as much as we see fit- just chuck it in the boot & under the seats!
• Support local, help build back the communities and businesses we once had 
• Reunite with the friends and families we haven’t seen over the year 

It sounds like it’s going to be the best summer yet, the year we can finally connect with our loved ones again – Summer 2021 – the year of staycations.

You can find Roshni’s gorgeous Air B&B rental by clicking here!

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