The mumcation I never knew I needed.

A few days ago, I was feeling utterly exhausted. I went back to bed for 6 hours.

My body ached. I kept falling asleep. I had no energy. I had no motivation to get up.

I did a Covid test. Negative. Thought surely there must be a reason for my symptoms.

Turns out I just needed a holiday.

A mumcation.
By myself.

I booked myself a staycation in my lovely hometown of Adelaide. I researched hotels with a pool.

I’d previously stayed at the Crowne Plaza and it was fabulous. I found a good deal on Booking.com (though admittedly realised I could get 20% off by booking directly with the hotel).

CashRewards had a 10% cashback deal which adds up on big purchases.

What did I do?

• Op shopping. A lot of op shopping. I went to five. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t buy new. I bought four dresses, one jacket, one Kathmandu vest, one R.M. Williams top, work-out tops (including a Lorna Jane), pants and a Cancer Council hat. I may or may not have sent a number of bags home with my friend so I wouldn’t have to look extra awkward on the bus.

• Went shopping at the Myer Centre. Found two pairs of sneakers in the clearance bins. ($59 for Adidas and $79 for Sketchers.

• Found a pair of white sneakers at Rebel Sport. Wanted some for ages. My black ones have holes and I feel so embarrassed. They were $200, on sale for $100. I bought a gift card using our Entertainment Book App to get 10% off (paid $90 for a $100 gift card). When I purchased, I had $9 on my account to use, bringing the total amount to $81. I was stoked with that. (The Entertainment App costs us $70 annually but is well worth the savings on eating out, admission prices and gift vouchers.)

• I had a one-hour remedial massage at Chi in the Myer Centre. Scanning my health insurance card reduced the cost by $25.

• Brought coffee sachets, decaf tea and coffee and milk for cheap drinks in my room. When buying coffees, I often went to Hungry Jacks (a medium coffee is $2.50 and every fifth is free when using their app).

• I bought cheap sparkling wine from BWS and snacks from Woolworths so I wouldn’t be tempted to use the mini bar (that stuff is crazy expensive, right?). It was nice to be able to host friends in my room for a drink before we headed out for dinner. We were happy with tap water during our meals, which saved money on alcohol.

• I used our Entertainment Book App to save money on meals out with friends. Frustratingly, on my last night I searched to see if our restaurant was in there. It was glitching and not searching properly. Once we had left, it popped up. We could have saved 25% on our meals, equalling around $50 for our table in lost savings. My friends kindly told me they would never let me live that down.

• I wasn’t able to finish my dinners so took a takeaway container with me for leftovers for lunch the next day. Amusingly, I did have to sign a waiver, promising not to sue if I got food poisoning as a result of using the hotel microwave.

• I pretended I knew what I was doing at the hotel gym, then came back to my room to finish off a chocolate Easter bunny. Life’s all about balance.

• Attempted the outdoor pool but lasted 20 seconds. I was disappointed in myself.

• Enjoyed walking around the Botanic Gardens. It was simply stunning.

What were the facilities like?

My time at the Crowne Plaza was amazing. I spent three nights.

• Spacious room with stunning views.

• Super comfy bed. Maybe the most comfortable ever. Huge, soft pillows. I had it all to myself too. Bliss.

• Modern bathroom with deliciously hot water. I won’t tell you how many showers I had during my mumcation.

• Great gym. Wasn’t huge but was everything I needed.

• A gorgeous outdoor pool. It was a tad cold but some children braved it. Was a perfect spot to laze about and read a book.

• Classy foyer with a bar. Was spoiled with complimentary drinks. The view from the tenth floor was impressive.

Would I do it again?

Absolutely. I plan to do it every year, if not more often.

I really needed this. I really needed a break.
I am grateful for my husband who stayed home with our boys.

I love going away with friends but did need a break by myself this time. I was craving silence. I was craving solitude.

Thank you, Crowne Plaza, for making my mumcation everything I needed and more.

If you’re exhausted and need a break too, consider booking your own #mumcation. It’s tricky when you have little ones. Wish I’d gone for just a night when I was sleep deprived and utterly exhausted.

It would have made the world of difference for my sanity.

I can’t change the past but I can change how I do motherhood moving forward.

Everyone benefits when mums look after themselves.

No one is going to advocate for you and your needs as well as you.
Sometimes it takes a frank conversation to admit that you need a break.
It can take energy to research and find the money and get the best deal and book.

I promise that you’ll come home feeling refreshed and energised, ready to face all that motherhood entails.

Search your city for a good deal. Keep IHGhotels Cashrewards and Shopback in mind.

If you’re in Adelaide, The Crowne Plaza Adelaide will look after you! Let them know I sent you (maybe they’ll shout me a cheeky night away…!).

Would you ever book a holiday by yourself, even a night away?

Perhaps this is the little push you need to make it happen. You won’t regret it.

Need some #mumcation inspiration? Look here.

Melanie Wegener

Please note, this is an unsponsored post. I paid full price for my stay at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide, except for the good deal and cashback I found. They looked after me beautifully and I would definitely stay again!