What recession? Las Vegans find ways to relax at home

By now, you're probably sick of hearing how high gasoline prices and a weak economy are causing people to cut back on their traveling.

You're tired of hearing about it because you're probably living it. According to Rand McNally's annual Great American Road Trip survey in May, 57 percent of drivers said that fuel prices have caused them to shorten their summer vacation road trips while about 10 percent canceled them altogether. The Department of Transportation reported the largest decrease in driving recorded since it started keeping track, with Americans driving 11 billion fewer miles in March -- the latest month for which figures are available -- compared with the same time last year.

Those who decide to change their vacation plans to save money don't have to sit at home with the summertime blues; instead, turn the penny-pinching into a "staycation."

That's a term a lot of people are using lately to refer to their plans to vacation at, or around, home. People are taking advantage of cheap rates at local hotels or turning their own homes into summer retreats. In fact, shoppers are buying more outdoor living furniture because they want to lounge and eat outside, says Robin Wright, general manager of Mr. Pool & Mrs. Patio.

"Gas prices are a reason to stay close to home," says Las Vegan Susan Kostrinsky.

She and her husband plan to continue a tradition this summer of checking into a local resort for an adult getaway. They like the JW Marriott because it's close -- three miles away -- has affordable rates and gives them the true vacation feel. They plan to take the kids for a separate family getaway, too.

"We love the spa and at night, we love to just hang out at that Irish pub," she says. "They have that gorgeous pool, the kids love it. We've gotten a cabana out there and stayed by the pool all day. Everybody feels like they're on vacation."

About 10 percent of JW Marriott's leisure guests are locals, says Carmen Rubino Jr., the resort's director of sales and marketing. The hotel has always offered a locals rate -- between $129 and $155 a night, depending on occupancy -- but it just recently started offering a locals package. The resort hopes to attract those locals who want to vacation but don't want to spend the money on traveling. For $279, locals can get one night at the resort and one round of golf.

But you don't have to spend a lot of money or even leave the house to have a vacation, says Jaki Baskow, founder of event-planning firm Baskow and Associates.

Backyard movies, potluck barbecues and video games are just a few ways to turn the house into a staycation resort. Include your family, friends and neighbors and you expand your options.

For instance, the video game "Rock Band," for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, provides all the equipment necessary to start a rock band in your own living room, Baskow notes. The game enables players to perform in virtual bands playing either lead guitar, bass guitar, drums or lead singer. The game retails for about $180; if you need to purchase a console, that will cost another $350. But the cost could be a lot less than the traditional family vacation.

Get an outdoor movie screen (Wal-Mart, $200) and a projector (Wal-Mart, $600) and host outdoor movie nights for the neighborhood. If $800 is too much for your wallet to handle, split the cost with friends and share.

Your neighborhood can provide lots of opportunities for staycations, Baskow says, from block parties to game nights.

Baskow has participated in dine-arounds with her neighbors. One family hosts the appetizer, another the entree, and so on, until you eat an entire meal. Neighbors visit a house, eat the food course then move on to the next house for the next course.

"I love that neighborhood dine-around," Baskow says. "If people don't want to participate you go to the next house."

You can spend as little as $20 by purchasing food trays or desserts at Costco and other stores, she says. It also brings neighbors together, which can improve a neighborhood's safety. The slumping economy and high prices give people the chance to get to know their neighbors better, something Las Vegans don't often do, Baskow says.

Another way to enlist the neighbors: potluck barbecues and community flea markets.

Baskow's neighborhood once hosted a flea market. Homeowners displayed their goods, served food and drinks, and mingled. It was a lot of fun and cheap, too, she says.

"One person's junk is another's treasures," Baskow says.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.