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How to Plan a Last Minute Weekend Vacation

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By moneydoc
User-Submitted Article
(2 Ratings)
Be spontaneous and get some rest and relaxation with a last minute weekend vacation.
Be spontaneous and get some rest and relaxation with a last minute weekend vacation.

With Spring Break and summer right around the corner, it is time for you to start thinking about taking some time away from the daily grind to enjoy a nice vacation with family or friends. Sometimes just a quick weekend vacation trip is all that is needed to relieve stress and refresh your energy levels. This article will provide advice on how to plan a last minute weekend vacation so that you can just pack up your bags, jump in the car, and avoid some of the stress that can occur in planning long, detailed family megatrips. For your weekend vacation, you should plan on taking one to two days off from work to make it a well deserved, three or four day trip. These last minute weekend vacation suggestions are excellent for singles, couples, or families who are looking to take a break and are on a tight budget.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    First, to plan your last minute weekend vacation, you need to pull out a map of the United States. You will want to mark your home city and then draw a circle around your city that has a radius of 180 miles. This will help you narrow down potential getaway locations that are within a three to four hour drive. For weekend getaway vacations, dealing with an airport only creates unnecessary stress. Also, particularly when traveling with a family, driving saves significant money. After drawing your circle, pick two to three towns in the circle that look appealing to you for any special reason. If you do not have kids or will not be traveling with children, you can certainly extend the driving time to five hours each way (300 mile radius on map).

  2. Step 2

    Now that you have narrowed down your possible weekend vacation destinations, search for the town websites using Google. As you go through the town websites, try to get a feel for what makes the town unique and what you would enjoy about the location. If you enjoy amazing food, then look for a town with numerous restaurants. If you enjoy being around water, then look for a town that is built near a lake. If you enjoy hiking, then look for a town that is near a state park. Regardless, since this should be a very spontaneous trip, spend no more than thirty minutes researching the towns. At this point, you need to choose your favorite town from the two or three you researched.

  3. Step 3

    After you have chosen your weekend vacation destination, you now need to find a place to stay for a reasonable cost. In the resources section near the bottom of this article, you will find a direct link to "VRBO" which stand for Vacation Rentals by Owner. On this site you will be able to find weekend vacation rentals in many, many towns across America. You will also be pleasantly surprised at the cost compared to hotel lodging. Also, you can pack light, as most of the weekend vacation rental properties will supply you with kitchen items, linens, and other necessities. Some weekend vacation rentals also have luxuries like hot tubs and entertaining patios. Many of the rentals can be easily reserved on a last minute basis for your weekend vacation.

  4. Step 4

    After sifting through the weekend vacation rentals available in the town you chose, you will now need to complete your reservation on VRBO. Most of the reservations can be completed online. After completing the reservation for your weekend vacation, all you need to do is drive, relax, enjoy getting away from home, and then return home refreshed. Visiting small towns across America is a great way to find some unheard of yet excellent restaurants, experience unique festivals, and see beautiful views.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you take food with you to cook at your weekend vacation rental, you will save a large amount of money on eating costs.
  • You may want to call the Visitors Bureau of the town you will be visiting to see if there are any special events to consider during your weekend vacation.

Comments  

gerrie5044 said

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on 3/28/2009 Great tips on a weekend vacation! 5* and rec

McGMom said

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on 3/10/2009 I so want to take a weekend vacation! Thanks for the good tips on this one. 5*s

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