I did something I have never ever done before, I took a stay-cation, and it was delightful! With just a small investment of time and money, I took a 25 minute drive downtown to the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE and 24 hours later I returned home relaxed, refreshed and fulfilled.

Here are 5 reasons to plan your very own staycation:

1. Immediacy.
Sometimes when you need a vacation, you need a vacation, and you need it NOW! No if ands or buts. The beauty of a staycation is that when you decide you need a break, you can actually take it hours later.  It’s never been easier thanks to mobile apps like Marriott’s. Marriott’s allows you to check in after 4 pm the day before your arrival and the app notifies you when your room is ready. Now between April 2-December 31, 2015, Marriott guests who check-in with the mobile app during their stay at a hotel in the US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have a chance to win a grand prize of one million Marriott Rewards points or monthly prizes of 100,000 Marriott Rewards points.  If you use the app be sure to enter the sweepstakes HERE – if you win you can staycation all the time or possibly be the next star in a surprise dance party video!

2. Hassle-free.
One of the most stressful parts of a vacation is the planning, preparation and the travel itself. Between getting the time off of work, booking traveling, agonizing over what to pack, dealing with the chaos of the airport and spending hours in transit, the stress of just getting there is overwhelming. Staycations are only a car ride away and with the right music playing, the drive can be a relaxing part of the adventure.

3. Savings.
Traveling can be expensive. It requires time and money. If you cut out the time off by staying somewhere locally and remove flights from the budget, you have saved yourself a nice chunk of change. Last week I booked a room at  the J.W. Marriott downtown on a whim, tossed a few necessities in an overnight bag, drove over and within two hours I was poolside with a drink in hand.

4. You time.
Not being on your phone, renting a movie in bed, napping, booking a massage, laying by the pool and/or reading are such great luxuries but for some reason, we often feel guilty when doing these things at home.  A staycation is an excuse to check out and recharge without feeling bad about it. It’s also a great time to explore that hobby you never seem to have time for: tennis, golf, knitting, etc.

5. Exploration.
So many of us have lists of things we want to do in our own cities. There are the lists of restaurants we want to try, museum exhibits we want to see, neighborhoods to explore, stores to pop into, hiking trails to conquer, etc. etc.  Instead of leaving these lists unchecked, a staycation allows you to invest in your town. On my trip downtown we spent the entire night bopping around Korea town. We went to a Roy Choi’s lecture, finally tried the Honeymee ice cream, went to late night kareokee and stopped by the flower mart. All things I’ve had on my to-do list for the last year. Check, check and check!