No packing, travel delays or turbulence – just chill time.
Good food, good drink, good friends – at its essence, a party is a timeless combination of these elements, brought to life by the individual touch that hosts and guests contribute to the occasion. To help you pull off your best and most fun-filled gathering yet, our Dan’s Daily Blueprints are a set of guidelines with everything you need to know to host whatever event is next on your hit list.
Has 2025 has done a number on you? If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and in dire need of a month-long stay at a fancy Swiss retreat but don’t have the energy or funds to pull it off, this blueprint is for you. You need to relax, regroup, reset and keep your savings where they are, so we’re going all in on the staycation at home.
But this isn’t just about laying low or doing more of the same – there are some key mental (and physical) shifts needed to really be present and make sure your staycay feels like an actual holiday. Chiefly, cancel all plans and appointments for this time period, put on your OOO and, for the love of Piña Coladas, turn off your phone. This is an old-school holiday. No phone signal.
Ahead, we lay out every detail for the best staycation at home, analysed and optimised, so you can book that leave and plan your best holiday yet.
What to drink
1. Happy Hour is here:
Most resorts and neighbouring bars hold a happy hour, so it should feature on your staycation, too. The members of your household could take turns mixing up their fave cocktail each night, or you could try something new from The Dan’s Cocktail Book. Start with the Brown Butter and Sage Sour. It has a few extra steps, but hey, you’ve got the time. You’ll just need a bottle of the Triple G Gin Australian Dry Gin and Noilly Prat Original French Dry Vermouth, which will present plenty of options for other gin Martini variations, too.
Click image to shop
Click image to shop
2. The “we’re on holidays” fancy bubbles
Champagne always feels like a treat, so we’re reaching for the Monopole Blue Top NV. It feels a bit revolutionary, and not just because Heidsieck & Co Monopole was founded right before the 18th-century French Revolution. This is the original Heidsieck house and fourth-oldest Champagne house in the world. So, when you’re toasting to the revelation that staying home might just be the best way to vacay, do it with the lesser-known, older, wiser bottle that really knows what it’s doing, complete with a peachy aroma.
3. Something that screams summer
The El Jimador Tequila Spritz Lime is the kind of drink that would define a vacation. You know how it goes – one person tries it on the first night, then it gets bought for everyone in a round, and the next thing you know, no one’s even asking what people want to drink because the answer is clear: this tequila Spritz. It’s so easy, fresh, zesty and good to go from the can, but you can also dress it up in a fancy glass with ice, too.
Click image to shop
Click image to shop
4. The easy-drinking beer
Remember, you’re on holiday, so you don’t need anything too complicated when it comes to your beer of choice. That’s where the Brick Lane Zero Carb Japanese Lager comes in. This is a delicious, crisp, easy-drinking lager that really nails the easy-going brief – all without any carbs, too.
