How to Make the Most of a Weekend Getaway
My husband and I just celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary.
And, guys, if I do say so myself, we did things up right.
Because 10 years is a long time! While we couldn’t get away for, like, a full week-long vacation, we did get away for the night (first time our kiddo stayed overnight with the grandparents!) to The Elms Hotel & Spa. And we did a few things that made it feel like we really, really got away — like, vacation-level getaway — even though it was a short amount of time.
Here are a few secrets of how we did that — and how you can do the same for the next time you’re celebrating something or just need to get away but don’t have the time or funds to do a full trip!
9 Tips to Make the Most of a Weekend Getaway
1. Set an intention while you pack. This may sound cheesy, but seriously, think about what you want this weekend getaway to do for you. How do you want to feel during it … after it? What can you do now to begin feeling that way?
2. Go far … but not too far. You want to get far enough from home that you feel like you’re “away” without having to travel so far that you eat up all your time in transit. For us, it was a 45-minute drive north of Kansas City that put us into a much more rural and tree-filled area. We popped on some good tunes and arrived, ready to relax, in no time.
3. Don’t over-schedule yourself. It’s easy to try to cram as much fun stuff as you can into a weekend getaway, but if you’re only gone for a night or two, then you have to prioritize. Again, think about the intention you set. If you want to relax, do your planned activities support that? Or will you be rushing from one thing to another? (We actually cancelled dinner reservations out and opted to eat in the hotel for exactly these reasons — and it led to a fantastic, relaxing dinner in front of a huge beautiful fireplace.)
4. Treat yourself. Since you’re not spending a whole week somewhere, it’s a good opportunity to splurge in another way. Maybe it’s by getting a massage (we had a fantastic one in The Elms Spa, which they invited us to try on behalf of Fit Bottomed Zen) or ordering a rich dessert or getting that fancy latte. Do what feels special to you.
5. Save money by bringing something good in. That said, if you are on a budget, you can save a lot of money by bringing some of your own favorite snacks and wine in. We brought our own fancy wine glasses and a bottle of bubbly to have in the room. (Now that says celebration, right?!)
6. Do something a little unexpected. Order a food you’ve never had before. Ask for a different cocktail. Get a different spa treatment. Do something outside of your norm. In addition to the couples massage, my husband and I also got a chocolate facial on the house — which, he was a bit hesitant about trying — but it ended up being really fun and our skin looked FABULOUS after.
7. Order room service. Is there anything more special than breakfast and coffee in bed? Nope.
8. But don’t order it too early. Remember, sleep is important. And it’s vacation …. give yourself permission to sleep in!
9. End it with gratitude. It can be easy to feel a bit blue after a great weekend getaway or mini vacation. After all, you had so much fun! Take a few minutes to reflect on your favorite parts of the trip and what you’re most grateful for. How can you keep those good getaway vibes going when you get home? Make a plan to do that.
Then … maybe start planning your next one.
Planning any weekend getaways? Where to? My birthday is in January and now I’m wondering what fun getaway we can do for that! —Jenn