The Plan for the Weekend Vacation (...when you just need to get away)

     There are sometimes after a long work week that you just need to get away. It's hard to (unless you are really financially well off) buy a plane ticket and take off to tropical island and take a week off on a spur of the moment. But there are ways to be able to get away for a short period of time and still have a little break. Road trips allow for the chance to just hop in the car and take off to somewhere without spending a lot of money. It's easy to find different places near your home that can offer you a chance away from home.

     For a simple weekend getaway, a distance to base the trip around is no more than maybe two hours away or 100 miles away. Something that can be traveled in a short amount of time so that you can enjoy the location without having to worry about trying to drive recklessly to get home after the trip. The idea of the weekend getaway is to achieve as much enjoyment and relaxation in a very short amount of time.

    Some of things that you can do is to plan a vacation around an event, like a concert; a location like a theme park, national park, or shopping mall; or simple over a scenic location with a nice hotel and a great place to eat. My wife and I frequently plan weekend road trips near a small destination area with a shopping mall and great restaurants around and look for the best deal for a hotel. (I'll talk about ways to look for great hotel deals in another post.) Most of the time we choose a location about two hours away (because who wants to be in the car that long if the whole purpose is to get a chance to recover in a quick getaway). We tend to look for great deals on hotels (we don't have a lot of money, but we still find a way to afford Hilton properties.) We also try to find new restaurants and things to see and do. Most of these vacations start on a Friday right after work and last until Sunday night. It really does become the perfect getaway.

     Certain rules in all road trips apply but change in little ways depending on the distance and time needed for a vacation. When it comes to weekend getaways, consider these points when planning:



First and foremost (and just to maintain your vehicles health), regular maintenance guarantees your car will generally always be ready for a weekend getaway.
Pack only what you need for the weekend. When it comes to longer vacations, most people try to pack for every single circumstance. Being only about two hours away from home, any emergency can be handled by simply going home. You really only need the basics for the weekend.
Don't forget any of the important things, like medications or medical equipment you may need. It's easy to get over excited with the idea of jumping in the car and running away for the weekend that you may forget the important things. For me, my CPAP machine is my life (and my wife's sanity for when we sleep). Forgetting that leads to a sleepless night and a day destined for exhaustion.
When it comes to traveling anywhere, bring a backup battery charger, or a camera to document memories of the vacation. Just because your going away for a weekend, doesn't mean you won't create good memories.
    The most important thing about a weekend vacation is not to go overboard with planning. The idea of the weekend getaway is to choose a location, find stuff to do, enjoy yourself, and relax. Keep that in mind when getting away after working or a lot of stress and you'll come home refreshed (or may decide to return for a longer trip... or maybe not want to come back).