By Douglas Trattner

Start your staycation with a relaxing spa treatment.

Anybody who has tried to cram some relaxation into the typical vacation knows it's tough to take it easy and travel. With gasoline topping $4 per gallon, airfares going sky-high and everything from hotels to meals costing more, many are opting to spend their vacations close to home. It's called a staycation, and it's becoming a popular alternative to pricey travel.

"With a little creativity and planning we can duplicate that feeling of relaxation without ever leaving our hometown," says Lisa Oppenheimer, a Boston-based travel writer. Here’s how to make your staycation a success:

1. Grab a guidebook.
Buy or borrow a guidebook for the city where you live, and follow a one-, two- or three-day itinerary. If you research your city the same way you would a place outside your hometown, Oppenheimer says, not only will you find things that you haven't done before, but you'll also discover things you didn't know existed. Another invaluable source, she says, is your local convention and visitors bureau. In addition to providing information on local attractions, current events and museum exhibits, the CVB typically offers money-saving coupons.

2. Get a room.
You don't have to get off an airplane to stay at a hotel. Head downtown for glamour or in the opposite direction for value, but either way, room service is little more than a phone call away. "My kids can bring me breakfast in bed," Oppenheimer says. "But it's just not the same as being able to pick up the phone and have someone deliver it." If kids are in the picture, select a hotel with a pool. "You'll be a hero," she says.

3. Splurge at a spa.
A full-service pampering at a day spa is certain to leave you breezy, buoyant and in bliss. Oppenheimer recommends springing for a full-day package of services, but even a pedicure and a champagne lunch can do wonders. Partners should consider signing up for a couple's massage and a healthful spa dinner.

4. Sample the local winery.
Napa Valley doesn't hold a monopoly on wineries. Seek out a couple of nearby wineries for tours and tastings. "It is so rare to go looking for this type of activity at home," Oppenheimer says. "That makes it an ideal stay-at-home vacation activity." Don't forget to buy a bottle or two. No grapes nearby? Plan a tour and a tasting at a local microbrewery.

5. Take a guided city tour.
Walking tours, trolley tours and river tours provide home vacationers with a novel point of view on their hometown. Tour guides offer their twist on the area's sights, history and trivia. "I took a trolley tour of Boston, my hometown," Oppenheimer says. "It was one of the kitschiest things I've ever done. But it was so much fun that I'd do it again." Remember to bring a camera.

6. Leave the cooking to the pros.
"Cooking while on vacation at home is such a bad idea," Oppenheimer says. "But you also don't want to eat every meal away from home." Instead, consider hiring a personal chef to prepare a staycation's worth of meals in advance. Better yet, hire that chef to prepare a candle-lit dinner for two at home.

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