Looking ahead on the calendar you see a three-day weekend on the horizon.  You’ve been dying to get away from the scramble (and your neighbor’s barking dog) but feel a bit overwhelmed with planning while doing your everyday.  Don’t let the possibility slip past, grab that weekend and block it – you’re going away!

With our schedules it isn’t usually possible to take week-long vacations, especially with the kids in school.  However, I do try to plan 2 – 3 long weekend getaways annually, and along the way I’ve learned a lot about the best way to approach these shorter but incredibly valuable getaways.  I always return fresh and connected, but struggle with the rapid transition back into everything we left behind.

Today I’ll share my tips to plan a fantastic weekend getaway and how to get back to the grind with ease.

Plan strategically

As always, great travel starts with a great plan.  And, when planning a shorter trip, strategy is important.  You aren’t going to be able to see it all or do it all.  Ask yourself, for this brief weekend, what’s most important to me?

For a recent weekend trip we took, the most important thing for me was sleep.  Usually, we’re up late and up early trying to pack as much into our trip as possible.  But going into this vacation, I was emotionally and physically exhausted.  I wanted to sleep in and take naps and actually rest.

Maybe you need rest.  Maybe you want to breathe fresh air and see stunning vistas.  Maybe you want to laugh.  Or connect deeply with yourself or your travel partners.  Maybe you want exhilaration.  Whatever it is, starting with one central focus will help you both curate trip ideas that fit your needs, but to use your time wisely while away.

To help make this planning step easier, I’ve created a handy travel planning guide you can use to plan all your trips!  I use it when I’m brainstorming different locations and trying to choose between different options.  Once you’ve filled in the sheet, save it!  A trip you don’t take this time could be the perfect one for a few months (or years!) down the road.

Watch the budget

It can be shockingly easy to find yourself paying as much for 3 – 4 days away as an entire week.  Once you factor in transportation, lodging and all the vacation trimmings, a weekend getaway can easily overwhelm your vacation budget.

Look for strategic ways to manage the cost of your trip – can you visit a more affordable city?  Can you leverage cheap airfare from your local airport?  Can you choose more strategic dates?

My favorite budget and time management choice is to use a vacation rental over a hotel so we can make meals on our own.

Experience will help you understand how to manage all these options in a way that fits your style, but until you have a clear idea, I look for balance.

If you end up paying more for transportation, deliberately choose to cut expenses with food or lodging.  If you splurge on a luxury hotel (sometimes, so worth it!), use less expensive transportation or cut back on alcohol at meals.

Whatever you ultimately do, know what you expect (and are able) to spend before you book anything.

Build a flexible schedule

When time is short, I try to keep the schedule flexible so we can sub in things we discover on the way but didn’t know existed before we arrived.  Rather than cramming each day with ticketed attractions and tight timelines, I like to choose a specific location to explore from for each day.  I keep a couple of other options in my back pocket in case we’re looking for more to do.

For example, on our recent trip to the Traverse City area, we drove in a general direction each day, with 1 – 2 chosen stops along our lakeshore drive.  We discovered things we didn’t expect, found somethings less interested than we planned, and we had a relaxed and unhurried trip.

Unless you are visiting for some sought-after, high-demand attraction, I’d wait to purchase tickets until a couple of days before you leave.  This gives you flexibility with the weather, your mood, and unexpected things you discover along the way.

Before you leave, research local events that might be harder to find through tourism-type websites and curate a list of possible ideas – live bands, festivals, art offerings, or tastings at the local distillery.  Bring these ideas along and spend evenings with your partner and a cool beverage discussing options for the following day.

Use time wisely

On a shorter trip, time is your friend and enemy.  Be careful of ways you will lose or waste time on a short trip.  Driving saves you money but takes a lot of extra time.  Flying can suck a ton of time out of a trip as well – even if you don’t experience delays.

Restaurants are busy at specific times of the day and at certain spots you can spend up to an hour or two just waiting for a seat. 

Use your time the way you want.  Don’t let the circumstances of the situation hold you hostage.  Building a flexible trip schedule and having an adventurous attitude can help you minimize wasted vacation time. 

Try an unexpected spot for cocktails or grab a snack and a late dinner to manage restaurant delays.

When traveling by car, be careful of avoiding rush hour traffic jams as you move through your day.

Take it home with you

When taking bigger trips, we often emphasize capturing our trip to share with others back home.  Don’t forget to do the same with your weekend getaways!  You’ll love cherishing these memories and remembering your stolen weekend months and years to come.

Use photographs, keepsakes, and meaningful experiences from your trip to enrich your life back home.  Keep a travel journal to record your highs and lows of each day.

Back to the everyday

One of the downsides of a shorter trip is the lack of “transition day” before real life starts up again and the trip we just returned from.  I always recommend a transition day for a longer vacation, but this just isn’t possible when trying to maximize 3 or 4 precious days!

To get back to your real life without jarring your system, I embrace these goals:

• Leave the house in respectable order before you depart.
• Arrange for groceries to be delivered or picked up the day after you return.
• Use an hour the night you return to get prepped for the return to school and work.  Make a list and tackle the essentials.  Don’t forget to remind kids about their homework!
• Be patient and don’t panic!

Wrapping Up

Weekend trips are a great way to visit nearby, smaller, or budget destinations which make great use of limited time away.  They can be ideal for families loaded down with kid activities and limited time off work, or couples who just need to deeply connect.

To get the most out of your time and money, use these tips, and download my travel planning worksheet.  It helps you organize your travel ideas and over time, you’ll build a database of possible trips for your future self to enjoy.

Cheers!

Andrea