Every year, employees all across the world consult their annual calendar to check when they can take their vacation days. However, did you know that nearly 700 million vacation days were not used in the United States alone in 2018? In other words, employees are not getting the most of their vacation time!
Planning a quick getaway or long weekend is one way to make the most of the remaining days, and we are here to offer some helpful travel advice.
Short trips or long weekends are great ways to unwind and get away from the work/home/life cycle you’re usually stuck in. Furthermore, you do not have to make significant time or financial sacrifices; you can even take many short vacations throughout the year. Long weekends are especially handy if you intend to travel on several occasions because they only consume one or two days of paid leave each time!
Printing out a calendar to see the available holidays throughout the year is an excellent method to manage your vacation days while trying to decide when would be the best to take a quick trip. This can help in selecting the ideal weekend for your quick getaway, and you may monitor for any price-hiking public or national holidays that might derail your plans or inexpensive vacation ideas!
Were we effective in convincing you to take a long weekend or short trip, but you’re still unsure of how to make the most of your time and travel? Well, the following are our tips for traveling and a step-by-step plan for organizing the first (of many) quick getaways and long weekend trips:
Choose Your Destination
Choosing where you want to go is crucial before packing your bags for a trip. Like most of us, you undoubtedly have hundreds of places on your bucket list. Making a travel decision can be challenging, but doing some research can help you decide and give you a more thorough grasp of the destination.
Your search should include sites to visit, excellent neighborhoods, places to stay, where to eat, and transport arrangements. For example, will you be able to walk to a location, or would you need to rent a car or depend on public transportation? This information is now at your fingertips, thanks to the magic of the internet.
Since most places worth visiting offer a lot to do, possibly too much for a long weekend, make a list of your must-dos and add it to your search.
Set A Budget
Your available budget will heavily influence where you travel and what you do. Because not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on each vacation, knowing your budget will give you access to specific sites and attractions. Naturally, you must only spend what you can comfortably afford.
Budgets can be challenging because they include factors such as travel plans, lodging, food, access to tourist sites, general funds, emergency cash, and much more. A good general rule for any long weekend or short trip is to travel not too far from home if you are on a limited budget (but you can still start ticking off those travel goals!)
Choose Your Transport
Once you’ve decided on a destination and a budget for a long weekend, the next step is to figure out how to get there. Driving was once a feasible alternative to flying since it was less expensive. However, airplanes have grown so economical in recent years that they should be one of your options for your means of transportation for a short trip or a long weekend.
The most evident benefit of flying is perhaps a practical one. Over a long weekend, you don’t have much free time, so you want to be there as soon as possible. It’s also important to keep in mind that if you want to travel abroad, your only choice is to fly. Driving is still viable if your destination is only a few hours away by car.
If you want to get the best deal, you must shop around for flights. Additionally, there are times when you can get tickets at a discount. Check flight aggregation websites periodically to see when tickets are the cheapest, often six to twelve weeks before the travel.
Check Your Travel Time
After figuring out how to get to your destination, the next step is determining how much time you have to get there. If you are going on a long weekend, you’re probably leaving on a Thursday evening and coming back on a Monday afternoon. If you are going on a short trip, you’ll most likely be leaving on a Friday and coming back on a Sunday. A destination like Africa or Asia is probably not an option if the trip is a four-day max.
Instead, if you’re flying, try to pick a destination that is no more than 5 hours from home, or if you’re driving, pick one that is 2 hours away. Fortunately, there are a ton of interesting places to see and things to do anywhere in the world with a 5-hour flight or two-hour drive.
Before scheduling time off of work, you must do the aforementioned preparations (deciding on a destination, establishing a budget, picking your mode of transportation, looking up any relevant government recommendations, and accounting for travel time).
Book Your Accommodation Early
Booking your hotel ahead of time is similar to booking a flight. Hotels, hostels, and services like Airbnb often charge less for lodging if reservations are made in advance. There is an ideal period for booking accommodation, just as for flights, so use online sites to get the cheapest hotels.
Find The Best Place To Eat
Deciding where to eat can take some time, especially if you’re traveling with people who have different preferences. And you know how it is when people are hungry and impatient. When researching your chosen destination, it’s always a good idea to get to know the local food scene to make early reservations and ensure that you have the best seat during your meal.
For example, if you’re going to be in Tiburon, California, you might want to check out Tiburon Tavern. This restaurant offers the best of everything in terms of food, service, and ambience. Known for its spectacular views, this restaurant is the perfect place for couples and families who desire exceptional dining experiences.
Takeaway
There you have it, our top tips to make sure you make the best of your vacation time, be it a long weekend or a short trip. If you’re considering taking a day trip to Tiburon, the tips above will surely be handy in ensuring that you have a great time here. We’re looking forward to serving you soon at Tiburon Tavern! You may book your reservations here.