Having a free Monday or Friday affixed to your weekend is a real treat. Not only will you get a three-day weekend, you’ll also get a four-day work week! As tempting as it is to pass the time in movie-marathon-induced lethargy, a weekend getaway will refresh you and give you memories to last a lifetime. Read on for 8 ways to help you fit a mini-vacation travel adventure into your next long weekend.
1. Plan Your Long Weekend In Advance
Taking a weekend trip is a lot like staying in bed until the last possible moment — the better you plan all your steps, the more likely it is to actually work. Know the moment you’re going to leave (check traffic trends!), book all your rooms long before you leave, and tie up all loose ends the day before your flight. These apps for business travelers might help you keep your getaway in line.
2. Don’t Aim Too High
While this won’t fly as general life advice, in the context of a weekend vacation it’s a good mantra to live by. As fun as soaking up the Bora Bora sun would be, the French Polynesian island isn’t particularly a feasible weekend getaway. While you don’t have to stay in your backyard, the less travel time your trip entails, the better. If your total one-way travel time is more than 5 hours (and even that’s a stretch), you’ll probably want to save that trip for a longer stretch.
3. Pack Light
Packing for a short trip can be a quandary. While you want to be prepared for as wide a range of possibilities as possible, be realistic. Strive to only take carry-on luggage with you — checking a bag adds more time to the travel process, time which would be better spent vacationing. Check the forecast for your destination, consider what you’re planning to do, and choose your apparel accordingly. As a general rule, strive to cut down on outerwear and pack extra underwear.
4. Leave as Early as You Can on Friday
Relaxing after a long week of work is ideal, but you should really get going as soon as your weekend starts. A Saturday of travel has a far different flavor when you wake up already at your destination. Spending any part of the day in transit makes it feel like an icky “travel day.” If you can manage to get an evening flight for your last workday of the week, your vacation time will feel vastly extended.
5. Have A Good Idea Of What You Want To Do
While we’re all for spur-of-the-moment exploration, weekend travel doesn’t leave much room for aimless adventuring. An itinerary is the best way to pack as much into a weekend, but it’s not exactly necessary. As long as you have a general idea of what your priority targets are and plan your days accordingly. It’s fun to explore a place organically, but combing Yelp ahead of time to gauge the restaurant scene will save you time. Every bit of it counts.
6. Travel Alone
This tip isn’t universally applicable — there are plenty of people who make fantastic travel partners. That said, being a lone wolf on a weekend away has a few benefits. The main merit is that the only person debating food choices will be you! The same goes for daily activities, what sights to see, how to spend evenings, etc. Getting away for the weekend is a lot less stressful (and a lot more satisfying) when you’re making decisions for yourself.
7. Stay Close To The Action
While it may be tempting to skimp on housing costs for the weekend, do yourself a favor and splurge on wherever you’ll be staying. Choose a location that’s close to what you want to see. The time and effort you’ll save getting to and from your daytime destinations will make your vacation seem a lot more like, well, a vacation.
8. Leave Plenty Of Time To Get Home
When Sunday rolls around and it’s time to trudge home, it’s best to not fly red-eye. Late travels can be a real buzzkill, and nothing’s quite as stressful as watching the last minutes of your weekend tick away as your flight gets delayed for the third time. Air travel is efficient, but it has its flaws. Give yourself enough time to try one last breakfast spot before you head to the airport. Having an hour or two to breathe at home is well worth losing some daylight at your destination.
Follow these tips and you should be a weekend road warrior in no time! Getting away for a long weekend is amazing for those times you feel the need to escape but have no vacation in sight. If you’re going to treat yourself to a mini-vacation, you should do yourself a favor and stay in a luxury vacation rental. With private and comfortable housing across the country, PC Housing provides a superior stay experience to hotels. Contact us today!