Weekend breaks are rare in these busy times but planning them need not be daunting or stressful. Remember that the goal of most weekend breaks is to give you time to relax and decompress.
The planning phase should be an enjoyable and relaxing pursuit. If you are one of the rare souls who do not really enjoy breaks, ask yourself: when was the last time you did something for the first time? Ease into the planning phase with joyful anticipation. To help you plan a snag-free break, here are some steps you can follow.
1) Pick a destination or activity.
Unlike the two-week or one-month break, a weekend break is a mere two to three-day whirlwind. You cannot afford to spend it on a cross-continental 26-hour flight to a remote village in an uncharted corner of the world. The place you pick should be accessible in two to three hours; four, if you are not averse to travelling a long distance. If you are travelling by plane, consider airport check-in and boarding times and assess if all that hassle is worth it.
To pick a destination, ask yourself: what do you need to get out of this break? Pure physical rest and relaxation? Do you need a change in scenery and soak in magnificent and gorgeous surroundings? Are you looking to try something adventurous and engage in physical activities? Is there a place that you’ve been longing to visit for the first time or go back to for a second whirl?
Do a quick search of hot destinations and jot down the list of places that satisfy the following criteria:
• proximity
• personal goals for the weekend
• budget or allocated funds for the break
Do research on the top offerings in your destination. Let yourself enjoy the anticipation of visiting a new place.
Remember that there is no shame in trying the trendy concept of “staycation.” Check into a nearby highly rated hotel, resort, or meditation camp. Book a six-hour head-to-toe pampering for your tired muscles and then spend a few calming minutes on a sensory deprivation flotation tank. Next, spend the weekend sleeping in thick, luxurious robes and knee socks, and then go out to eat and drink when you are finally tired of sleeping in. Rinse and repeat, until it’s time to go back to regular life.
2) Schedule and allocate a budget.
It is ideal to plan the break one to two months ahead of time and allocate a weekend break budget. Check your calendar and plot the best possible time to indulge. Some things to consider:
• Events that are happening in your destination that you would love to attend if any (examples: fairs, concerts, stage plays)
• Weather
Will rainy weather affect your enjoyment of the place?
• Workloads and deadlines
Choose a date when you expect to have some downtime from work or when you have just completed a tough deadline.
3) Arrange for transport, accommodation, and travel insurance.
As with everything, Google is your friend. Look for the best transport options online in terms of comfort, price, and availability. Evaluate whether it’s best to drive to your destination or if you can indulge in renting a chauffeured car to take you there. Some online tools such as Rome2Rio and Google Maps can help you plot the best possible routes to get to your destination.
If travelling by plane, you can use fare aggregator apps such as Skyscanner, Momondo, and AirTreks to help you compare prices and get dibs on the cheapest fares.
As for accommodations, take comfort in the fact that there are diverse options for accommodations. If you are the adventurous type, consider non-traditional accommodations such as luxury container homes, glamping sites, mobile homes, shepherd’s huts, luxury tree houses, or yachts for rent. Airbnb is not a multimillion-dollar company for nothing. Take advantage of its offerings, if merely to browse through what is available out there. Choose the accommodation that would maximize your enjoyment of the break.
Use popular online booking apps such as Airbnb to book your accommodation.
4) Plan your itinerary.
To help you plan your itinerary, use what’s widely available online. Here are a few:
• Wikitravel and TripAdvisor give a general outline of what’s worth seeing, eating, drinking, and activities that you can try when visiting a place
• The online apps Visit A City, and Google Trips can help you maximize sightseeing activities and help you plan how much time you can spend on a place
The basics of a good itinerary should always include good food. Ideally, your chosen accommodation should offer a hearty and well-curated breakfast buffet to set you off to a great start. Do not forget to plan your other meals by searching for perfect dining options that would suit your tastes.
5) Do not forget to relax.
The goal of most weekend breaks is to give you a quick recharge. Do not overcrowd your itinerary with sightseeing tours and activities. Schedule a quiet walk in the town centre, a visit to the shops, or a picnic at a nearby beach. Allot hours for downtime and self-care. You can schedule these before your return trip. Do not forget to book a luxuriating massage or a spa session and include it in your itinerary. The end goal would be to come back from your break refreshed and less tired than when you left.
These five steps can help you plan a quick break. Fight the urge to go overboard with the planning and packing. Take it easy once you’ve got the crucial aspects covered. Go have fun and indulge yourself.
