When you run your own business, taking a break isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. If you don’t recharge your batteries, you can’t function as effectively.

My favourite place to run away to is Naples, Florida. With its big, beautiful, sweeping beaches, wonderful climate, child friendly surrounds and welcoming community it’s always top of my list. The fact that you can hire luxurious villa’s with pools just yards from the beach for less than you can in Europe, makes it an erstwhile favourite.

But there are drawbacks too; the travel, the cost, the time it actually takes to get there … mosquitos!

So this year, I am choosing to stay home and here are my 5 reasons why:

1. WHITSTABLE

Yes, Im sure those of you who know me or follow my blog or tweets will know that I am slightly obsessed with this magical little Kentish town (that’s it above) I’m also lucky to have a house there. The truth is I’ve genuinely never found anywhere that makes me feel so peaceful. There is so much to do without ever getting into the car. Swimming; in the sea or in the pool, bowling, tennis, sailing, art courses, photography courses, cinema … or just doing nothing! Not to mention the best restaurants I have ever found anywhere. An hour from London, but a lifetime away.

2. MORE TIME HOLIDAYING, LESS TIME TRAVELLING

When you add it all up, you can easily spend the best part of 2 days just getting to your destination and back again. Its not just the travel time itself, its getting to the airport, queuing, delays … and so on and so on.

A staycation means you can jump in your car or on a train and within a couple of hours arrive at your destination and leave all your troubles behind.

3. WE LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

Im fortunate that I get to travel across the country quite a lot. This means that I see much of our glorious countryside; from Edinburgh to Falmouth, Harrogate to Canterbury, Bury St Edmonds to Stratford Upon Avon. We have some of the most beautiful countryside you could ever wish for; yet we rarely take the time to explore it. There is so much to do, so much to see; why not make this the year that you actual do it?

4. CANAL BOATS, HOTELS, COUNTRY COTTAGES …

On a staycation, there are so many choices. You could do a week on a canal boat followed by a luxury city break. Or a remote country cottage followed by a gastronomic tour of Kent.

5. THE WEATHER

Yes, our weather can be crap. There’s no question that sunshine makes everything seem better and warm weather even more so. So use the best time we’ve got – April – October to explore our truly wonderful countryside and leave the foreign climes to Winter ….