Jane Gets Vexed Via Vocabulary

Posted by Jane

Two new terms have entered the vacation vernacular of late. One is "stay-cation" and the other is "girlfriend getaways." Jane is not a fan of either term. In Jane's HO, stay-cation is simply an oxymoron of the most annoying sort, while girlfriend getaways sounds a tad condescending. Let's discuss.

It's amazing how fast girlfriend getaways has become a staple in the travel marketing vernacular. Even the company that is signing Jane's paycheck uses it. Jane wonders, though, why the term has become such a big hit. Admittedly, sometimes girlfriends do travel together. In fact, they do so in far greater numbers than male friends. There is, by the way, a term for the latter as well. It is man-cations. Somehow, that term hasn't caught on like girlfriend getaways, perhaps because it sounds too much like man-scaping, and well, much as metrosexuals may partake in said ritual, it's unlikely they enjoy it. Equating vacationing with getting a chest wax--well, Jane can understand why her male friends haven't bought into the man-cation concept. But Jane digresses. She can't exactly put her well-manicured finger on it, but the term girlfriend getaways does irk her. Perhaps it's because the male gender doesn't receive a similarly diminutive treatment in the man-cation marketing message. After all, the travel industry doesn't call vacations for men "boyfriend getaways" (can you imagine?) or "boy-cations."

Stay-cation, on the other hand, is simply, as previously noted, an oxymoron. One goes on vacation to get away from the stresses of everyday life. Yes, one can hang out at home and have fun. But staying at home is not a vacation. Vacation = to vacate, no? Indeed, a vacation, in Jane's HO, is the chance to leave behind the hum-drum of daily existence. If you are surrounded by your stuff, if your regular grocery store and dry cleaner and bank are all within striking distance, if your home office is footsteps away, how can you truly get into the vacation mindset? After all, if you are at home, there's always an errand to be run, a desk to be dusted, a meal to cook, an e-mail to send.

Jane realizes that times are hard for many, so staying home for a week may seem the only vacation option this year. But don't give up the ship. At least break up a week at home with a night or two at a hotel. Believe Jane when she says that a two-day stay at a nice hotel will provide far more vacation pleasure than seven days at home. Consider Wyndham's Unwind Specials - Some packages offer free nights, some offer discounts, and others offer extra rooms. All are excellent ways to avoid the stay-cation syndrome that is plaguing this country, while saving money at the same time.