If the press is to be believed, there’s a new phenomenon in the world of travel. It goes by the name of a weekend getaway, and in simple terms, it is slowly starting to take over some of the more traditional forms of holidays.
However, what works for these traditional holidays isn’t necessarily going to do the same for weekend breaks. It’s very easy to fall into some common traps, and this article is going to look at some of these in detail.
Mistake #1 – You Get Your Dates Wrong
It sounds cliché but trust us when we say that timing is everything when it comes to these weekend getaways.
Most of the time they are billed as “long weekends”, but it’s only that if you’re careful about how you put them together. If you go on a Friday night after work and come back on a Sunday, you’ve effectively only got one full day to play with particularly if you’re just heading off somewhere to enjoy a few rounds of golf.
So, start to play around with the dates. It might be classed as a long weekend, but if finances allow why not depart on the Thursday evening after work and at least give yourself as long as possible in your chosen destination? Or, plan your weekend away around the bank holiday and give yourself a whole extra day!
Mistake #2 – You Get Your Times Wrong
If we return back to the Friday evening example, you also happen to be hitting rush hour travel complications. This means that you can be cutting your vacation down by hours, which, in the grand scheme of things, is actually quite a large proportion of the weekend.
So, instead, try asking your boss for a half-day off and try hitting the road at lunchtime instead. This will let you get most, if not all, of your journey out of the way before the rush hour madness hits.
Mistake #3 – You Don’t Turn Your Phone Off
In truth, this next mistake is something that can impact any holiday – but long weekends seem to slip by the wayside a little more.
It might be because you are most probably closer to your place of work, or it could be because you are simply addicted to your phone. Nevertheless, try and resist the urge to keep checking those work emails by simply turning off your phone. This will work wonders for your holiday spirit and will help you feel more relaxed.
Again, for some reason, it’s much easier to do when you’re on one of these long weekends – even though you have far less time to waste!
Mistake #4 – You Cram Together A Packed Itinerary
As we have just alluded to, time is of the essence when it comes to these long weekend breaks. It means that many of us start to try and cram as many activities into the time when all this does is exhaust us.
As such, be shrewd when you put together your itinerary. Sure, you want to do as much as possible, but you’re only away for a couple of days, and you don’t want to feel as though you need another holiday as soon as you return home.
It means that you need to prioritise the attractions and work out what you really want to see in the short amount of time you have available.
If you are careful to avoid these common mistakes, you are much more likely to have a relaxing weekend break.
