Winter break is here: Vacation or staycation – which is better?
Viewpoints on the pros and cons of travelling within and outside the UAE
Dubai: Dubai-based Indian expats Sadhana and Vijay Tandon just love to travel. In the last one year alone, the couple, who run a trading business, have travelled to London and Scotland, Baku in Azerbhaijan; Delhi, Varanasi, Jaipur and Kashmir over multiple trips to India; Jordon; and Oman three-four times.
At the drop of hat, they also take off on short getaways within the UAE, their favourite destinations being Bani Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Hatta Fort and Fujaiarh, Dibba and Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah.
Although they thoroughly savour their overseas holidays, they say it’s the staycations that are becoming more frequent.
“They are more convenient with no hassle of planning too much. We get to travel light and of course, can rush back to Dubai if something urgent comes up on the work front,” says Sadhana, who loves to explore all that the UAE offers in terms of adventure tourism.
British expat Giselle Onanian feels quite the same.
Mother of two children, aged six and three, she says, “As a family, we do one big vacation overseas every year, and two-three staycations within the UAE. Staycations are so much easier as they are more budget-friendly without the expense on flights. In any case, there’s so much to see and do within the UAE.”
Vacation or staycation, holidaying is a must for most residents. As the winter break gets underway and airfares skyrocket, shorter trips, whether close to the UAE or within the country, seem to be the preferred options among holidayers this season.
Rashida Zahid, Vice-President Operations, at musafir.com, says, “The winter holiday season in the past few years has changed from VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) holidays to leisure holidays, with bookings rising steadily. We are seeing a 27 per cent increase in demand for quick getaways like destinations offering easy visa processes as well a grown demand in staycations and seacations.”
While Europe continues to attract UAE travelers, she says they are also choosing destinations with more convenient visa processes, such as e-visa or visa-on-arrival countries including Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, etc. along with nearby GCC countries like Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, for short getaways combining adventure and relaxation.
She says bookings for staycations within the UAE have been overwhelming. “With the cooler weather, there has been a significant rise in demand, especially for resorts offering family-friendly amenities, outdoor activities and luxury experiences.”
According to her, staycations have become a preferred choice for residents looking for quick and convenient getaways, leading to a noticeable increase in bookings across popular destinations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Expedia’s recent Winter Travel Outlook also shows a trend towards close-to-home destinations, with UAE residents looking to make the most of their remaining annual leave.
Among the top five destinations UAE travellers are visiting over the festive period, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah (+295 per cent) ranked in the top five destinations, all proving more than twice as popular as last year.
For New Year’s Eve specifically, the UAE has a lot to offer from spectacular firework displays overlooking the Burj Khalifa to the serenity of mountain views at the top of Jebel Jais, the highest mountain peak in the UAE, where temperatures are 10 degrees lower than the sea level. Deemed “the best time of the year,” Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah are the most popular hotspots to see in 2025 and continue to appeal to residents, as they increase in popularity by 120 per cent and 240 per cent, respectively, according to Expedia.
But what are merits of a stacation vis-a-vis a vacation?
Although both provide people a break, an expert puts the oft-asked question about which is better in perspective.
“An ideal vacation provides a change of pace and environment, which can be powerful for resetting both the mind and body. Physically getting away can help create a sense of distance from work and responsibilities. For some people, this mental and physical break is easier to achieve when traveling abroad, as it forces them to disconnect,” says Anna White, Director of Corporate and Workplace Services & Mental Health First Aid UAE, The LightHouse Arabia.
“On the other hand, staycations can be equally refreshing if you set boundaries around work and commitments. The challenge with staying local is that it’s easier to slip into your usual habits like answering emails or taking on tasks making it harder to fully switch off,” she cautions.
Stress of course is subjective, but uncertainty tends to be a common trigger.
“For vacations, things like delayed flights, lost luggage, or managing kids on the journey can throw people off. For staycations, the challenge is often resisting the urge to ‘just get one more thing done’, whether it’s work or chores,” she says.
According to her, stress arises when things don’t go as planned like bad weather on the trip or an unexpected hotel mix-up. “Learning to sit with some discomfort and go with the flow can help reduce stress during both vacations and staycations,” she advises.