Getting away for the weekend, either with friends, a partner or even by yourself, is something that everyone should do from time to time. It’s a great way to reset your mind and soul, and it’s always good to explore new places. Before you go, you’ll need to make some plans to ensure the whole weekend is a great success.
Stay Where You Are
Before you start looking at long distance trips, why not consider staying local? If you’ve never taken the time to really explore where you live, to go for long walks and discover new places, this is the time to do it. Before you start your staycation, you should download some maps of the area and work out which places seem to be the most interesting. Plan an itinerary and make the time to visit attractions, parks, stores, and restaurants that you’ve never been to before. This can be a lot more exciting than going away somewhere, and it will save you a lot of money too.
If the idea of staying at home doesn’t appeal but neither do you have the budget or the time to travel too far away, a ‘closecation’ might work for you. You only have to drive or take a train or bus to a neighboring city or state and see what it has to offer. It can often be the case that we know places that are many hundreds or thousands of miles away much better than we know our own doorsteps, so this weekend away is the perfect opportunity to put that right.
Read Restaurant Reviews
Booking a good restaurant is something that is a definite must on your weekend away, no matter where you are. Yet finding that good restaurant can be difficult, and if you only have a limited amount of time in a place before you need to catch a plane or get back to work, you’ll need to make sure that restaurant is a great one.
Thanks to the internet it’s now possible to read restaurant reviews on the go. If you want to know what a certain place is like before you step inside, check it out online. You’ll have a whole range of opinions because, as mentioned above, what people enjoy is subjective, but by reading them you should be able to decipher what the restaurant is really like and whether you think you would like it in there. If you have no idea where to even start, that’s not a problem either. You can search for ‘the best steakhouse in New York,’ for example, and find the information you need that will help you make a decision. You can read more here for more details.
Book Your Flights
If you have chosen to take a flight to somewhere a little farther afield, you’ll need to book them well in advance to ensure that you get a good deal and that you get the flight you want when you want it. It is possible to get a better deal by waiting until the last minute, and if you are flexible with dates and times then you could try this option, but if you’re going for just the weekend, you’ll want everything to be in place well before your actual departure date. Search around for airlines offering good deals as well; this might help you choose the destination for your weekend getaway.
Invite The Guests
Assuming you’re not traveling alone (a fabulous idea that appeals to many people but that might not work for you – it’s your choice) you’ll need to invite the person or people you’re hoping to go with. If this is a romantic getaway them a romantic invitation is definitely a good idea. Surprise your partner with a good meal, some flowers, some romantic music, and then let them know you’ve got tickets to get away from it all for a couple of days, or that you’ve booked a room in a quaint bed and breakfast in the neighboring town.
If you’re asking friends, you can be less dramatic, but still, make it a nice invitation that they won’t forget or want to turn down.
Remember, not everyone is able to get away for a weekend due to work or family commitments, so make sure you either know their availability in advance, or you have a backup plan should they not be able to make it. A risky strategy could be to hold off booking anything until they’ve agreed, but if you leave it too long the great deal or last few seats may have gone.
Try Something New
One of the best ways to enjoy a fabulous weekend away is to open yourself up to new opportunities. Plan ahead for this by reading up on what is available and deciding what you do and don’t want to try out when you get there. Make a list of activities that you think you’ll enjoy and let your partner or friend do the same. It may be that you need to do these things separately, but that’s okay – you’ll have plenty to talk about over dinner later on.
Packing
You’re only going for a weekend away. That might mean you’re only away from home for one or two nights, three at the very most. You really aren’t going to need a lot of things when you pack. Take a small bag with a few changes of clothes in it otherwise; you will find it much easier to overpack and have to lug a heavy bag around. When you get the bag home again, most of the items won’t have even been worn. It’s good to have a choice, but on a short break away it really isn’t necessary.
Packing light has a number of other advantages. Firstly, the time taken to pack is shorter, so if you’re super busy at work, for example, you can throw a few things in an overnight bag just before you leave for the airport or get in the car. It also means that you can be more flexible. It’s far easier to carry a small bag around with you than a large suitcase, and that means you can choose where you go and what you do with ease.