Terri Ramsey Beavers So, you have a few days off your busy schedule to relax, and you’re wondering if you can plan a fun-packed short vacation. Or, you have a small travel budget size that limits you to only a few days of travel, and you’re wondering how best to make the most of it. Either way, it’s possible to have a wonderful travel experience, even if it’s only for a couple of days. Plus, experts agree that shorter trips offer more mental health benefits than longer vacations. That said, here are a few ways to make the most of a short vacation.
1. Prepare your itinerary
Short vacations are always about quality and not quantity. The first step in ensuring that you experience quality fun during your trip is to prepare in advance. Decide on the things you want to do ahead of time, and list them in order of priority. If you intend to relax and recuperate, then ensure that you leave some free time, so you don’t need extra days to rest from your travel.
If you intend to have as much fun as you can, make your list, but be realistic about what you can achieve within this short period. It will help to pick a location that offers as many fun activities (that you enjoy) as possible and at the time you would be visiting.
2. Book in advance
You have limited time, so you want to book everything in advance to avoid wasting time, from your accommodation and transportation to the places or activities you want to experience. Thankfully, it’s possible to book most travel activities ahead of time, so take advantage of it. Also, it’s wiser to book your accommodations closer to the areas or activities you are interested in to shorten your commutes. You might consider commuting by bicycle instead of car to save time and money.
3. Make it extra special for your travel party
If you’re traveling with family or kids, it’s important to ensure that they also have fun. Factor their safety, comfort, and relaxation into your plans, and ensure that you book accommodations and activities that are age-appropriate and family-friendly. Fortunately, you shouldn’t struggle to find fun family and kid-friendly activities. This way, you can also have the peace of mind to enjoy your trip. And there are lots of such activities! This Alpine mountain coaster, for example, can be a great family activity for your family— as long as they are above 3 years old.
Traveling with an unsatisfied, grumpy, and constantly whining party will ruin your travel experience and waste precious time.
4. Factor in your destination time zone
Few travelers consider time zone differences, but it’s important if you want to make the most of a short stay. If there’s no time difference, your body wouldn’t need time to readjust upon arrival, as that may leave you feeling sluggish for some hours. Moreover, recovering from jet lag can take the same amount of time it does on long trips, which is why you want to factor in the time zone. If you’re traveling outside your time zone, grab as much sleep as you can on the plane, so you have enough energy to hit the ground running upon arriving.