7 Tips for a Short Vacation – A Little Break From Everyday Life
We get it: You work hard and need a break. But it’s several months before your next long holiday. What should you do? Relax with a short vacation! Check our tips before planning your little break from daily life.
Want to make the most out of your short vacation? Of course! We all do. Do you want relaxation or recreation? Maybe both? While there are several questions to consider when planning your next getaway, make sure to start with the basics.
Consider these three questions before your next great excursion:
- When Should I Schedule My Vacation?
- What’s the Purpose of My Short Vacation?
- Where Do You Want to Go on a Short Vacation?
1. When Should I Schedule My Vacation?
Long weekends can be an ideal time for your short vacation. Be sure to look into the dates of national holidays when you start the planning process, so you don’t have to take off as many days from work. This way you can easily extend a three day weekend into five, while only having to take two days off of work.
But remember, you won’t be the only ones with this idea. So flights and hotels could be a little bit more crowded and expensive during a long holiday weekend!
If cost is a factor, it might be a good idea to visit your intended destination during the off-season. Without as many tourists, hotels, airfare, and rental cars tend to be a little bit cheaper, and less crowded.
On the flip side, if you really want to see a specific event, like the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, you’ve got to go in April. This is the perfect time to pull out the Washington D.C. Search & Find Adventure card and check off the items as you walk through the city. While you might have to pay premium prices for accommodations, this experience can be worth it!
2. What’s the Purpose of My Short Vacation?
Entertainment, relaxation, or family visit? Once you’ve found the right time for your short break, think about what you want most.What do you enjoy and what helps you feel refreshed and relaxed? You want to recharge on a short break, so what helps you do that?Would you rather party in a big metropolis, such as New York or Chicago? Or would you prefer a short waterfront getaway in Virginia Beach? Maybe you want to surprise your family with an extended stay over Thanksgiving? If it’s something you love and won’t break your budget, go for it!
Can’t make a choice? Aim to take several short breaks over the year, if your schedule and wallet allow. Then you can make each one different: so beach one weekend, and two months later, visit your sister in the city. Whatever you do, enjoy your time away from the stresses of everyday life.
3. Where Do You Want to Go on a Short Vacation?
Two of the most important considerations for a short holiday are the travel time and distance to the destination.
If you have to travel a long way to your holiday destination, you may have less of a break. Especially when heavy traffic is involved! So you should first look for nearby options when you just have a couple of days away. Maybe you’re close to a beach or a nearby recreation area? Or is there a cultural center with different restaurants, interesting museum, or concert hall you could see?
It might be easier to forego a road trip altogether and fly to your destination. A flight can be a bit more expensive than a train ticket or road trip in your own car, but it saves you a lot of precious time. With a bit of luck, you might get last-minute tickets and save some money. Check online for special offers.
Extra Tips:
- If you’re a spontaneous, last-minute traveler, it can often be cheaper to book flights and hotels separately. Even if it’s not, doing so gives you greater flexibility and security so that you can really start your well-deserved short holiday without this worry.
- Even if you’re only gone for a few days, ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your house while you’re gone.
- Most hotels have a 24-hour cancellation policy, so you even if you have a room reserved, check again to see if a less expensive room becomes available in your destination of choice.
- Use the FamilyApp to plan out family vacations. You can coordinate your calendar and look for activities to do together. Be sure to share your photos here, too!
Happy travels!
What are some of your short vacation tips? Any favorite destinations? Share with us in the comments, or with your family on FamilyApp!
If you have planned a short vacation in Virginia Beach and it starts to rain, don’t be frustrated. Here we have lots of rainy day activities for you.
