2019 was a great year to highlight the benefits of weekend getaways. Listed consistently as one of the “Top Travel Trends,” weekend getaways became increasingly popular for travelers on a budget and tight on time.
Now, I’m sure some of you have rolled your eyes at the thought of taking such a “short” vacation. What could you possibly do? Would it be worth it? Or just cause more stress without having the same benefits of a longer vacation? Hear me out! There are so many benefits of weekend getaways!
Whether you’re a stay at home parent, university student, or working the 9-to-5 daily grind, weekend getaways fit everyone’s budget and schedule.
For those travelers in school, weekend getaways can be a well-deserved reward after a stressful week of homework, exams, and the never-beneficial group projects. Plus, taking a group of friends for a quick weekend break can strengthen friendship bonds.
For those stay at home parents, weekend getaways offer a respite from the daily routines and demands that drain your life and energy. Plus, it’s usually easier to find a sitter or drop the kids off at grandma and grandpa’s house for a weekend, rather than a week-long trip.
And for those of you who do the 9-to-5 shuffle, weekend getaways are perfect for getting out of town without having to dip into the limited bank of vacation days you might have.
Still need some convincing?
Don’t worry. I’m here to breakdown all of the major benefits of weekend getaways and why you should start planning for yours today!
Health Benefits of Weekend Getaways
Unplugging from daily stresses
Are you one of those people who likes to fuss about the daily pressures of life? Most of us aren’t but we find ourselves in a constant loop of worrying about this, fretting about that, even when it has nothing to do with us.
Getting someplace outside of your norm magically wipes most of our daily stress away. Instead of constantly thinking about your work tasks, laundry loads, or homework assignments, you’re thinking about the next adventure. That new view point you found. What you’ll eat next in your new spot.
Personal story: I had a colleague that I worked with for over 5 years. During that time, he only took ONE vacation, I kid you not. At work, he was increasingly moody, had the tell-tale dark circles under his eyes, and was getting really close to a full-on burn out situation. After that ONE vacation, the difference was staggering: happy, engaging, and displayed a lower stress level.
Unplugging from your daily stresses is a form of self-care. You’re not running away from responsibility: you’re recharging and refocusing!
Fresh air in a cleaner environment
Have you ever noticed that you tend to be happier and more peaceful when you escape to the beach, countryside, desert, or mountains? Do you know a big reason why this is?
Clean air! Especially for those of you who live in a city, did you know that the air outside of the city is generally cleaner? There are less people, cars, and factories outside of the major metropolis areas of the world.
When was the last time you exhaled all you could, and then took a really deep breath? When you filled your lungs to capacity? You know, the kind of deep breath that makes you smile as you exhale and sigh. Was it in the city, or up a mountain? At the beach? Along a back road in the countryside?
Improvement of focus and productivity
Research at the University of Illinois concluded that people who take short mental breaks, such as a weekend getaway, leads to having a more stress-free attitude, improve focus in productivity over time, and health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and lower stress hormones.
Think about it this way: when you use an electronic device for an extended period of time, what happens? The battery gets lower and lower until the device goes into low-power mode, eventually shutting down if not properly recharged. Our bodies and minds work the same way.
We propose that deactivating and reactivating your goals allows you to stay focused. It is best to impose brief breaks on yourself. Brief mental breaks will actually help you stay focused on your task.
Alejandro Lleras, lead author of the University of Illinois study
Cost Benefits of Weekend Getaways
Multiple modes of cheaper transportation
Depending on your location and destination, driving your vehicle might be a cheaper option than purchasing an expensive plane ticket. Especially if you have a vehicle that is amazing on mileage, you have a wider radius of options for a single tank of gas.
If you don’t have a vehicle, look into taking a shuttle or regional bus. Is there a train route that runs close by? Not only would you be able to experience an alternate mode of transportation, but half of the joy is in the journey itself!
Fewer days means less money spent
This should be obvious, but generally speaking, the shorter the trip, the less money you’ll have to shell out for accommodations, food, and activities. Now, if you’re the type of person who likes to go-big-or-go-home, this might not be the case for you. Everyone travels differently and has a different style.
A weekend away means you won’t be traveling too far, bringing those flight prices down. Of course, my point above, you might not even need to purchase a flight if you decide to go on a road trip!
Carry-on only!
Can I get a raise of hands for those of you who have had to wait for luggage to get unloaded, arrive after you do to the airport, or, even worse, have your luggage misplaced by the airline?
One of the benefits of weekend getaways is that you don’t need to take a lot of stuff with you, so using carry-on services is just perfect! Not only do you get one bag and one personal item for free with most airlines, but you usually get to keep them with you during your flight. Not only is it super convenient to have all of your items with you, but once you deplane, your vacation begins!
Time Benefits of Weekend Getaways
You prioritize your activities
Since you’re on a strict time limit during a weekend getaway, you’d be surprised how efficiently you organize your activities and adventures. You will find yourself only doing activities that are highest on your bucket list and almost guaranteed to be the best the location has to offer you. By packing as many activities as you can into your schedule, your weekend getaway can seem longer in a good way.
And if your goal for your weekend getaway is to relax and recharge, you’ll probably maximize the amount of time you spend relaxing before getting jerked back into reality!
No PTO needed
For those of you working stiffs like me, paid time off (PTO) is a precious commodity. One of the cool benefits of weekend getaways is the fact that you don’t need to use any PTO. Leave after work on Friday, return Sunday (or extremely early Monday morning) and get back into the grind.
If you have a boss that is flexible and workable, see if they’ll let you front-load your week so you can leave a little earlier on Friday, thus starting your weekend getaway a few hours earlier to maximize your time. Plus, you won’t feel guilty about missing work!
I was notorious for doing this: I would work an extra hour Monday-Thursday and leave just after noon on Friday. If you’re unsure if your boss would be amenable to this arrangement, it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Pro tip: plan your weekend getaway for those 3-day holiday weekends, giving yourself an extra day!
Organizing sitters is easier for shorter periods of time
If you have kids or fur babies, trying to find or organize a sitting situation is a LOT easier for weekend getaways.
Or you can also travel with your kids and pets, if that’s more your jam!
Related: How to Road Trip with a Dog
Social Benefits of Weekend Getaways
Easier to find travel companions
How many stories have we heard about people planning grandiose trips with friends, only have everyone bail along the way? Happened to me.
Longer trips mean more planning, more time off, and more money. It can be hard to find people to join you (if you don’t want to go solo) for those longer adventures. Weekend getaways are easier for others to join in, help plan, and usually fit better into their budget.
And on the plus side, if you find a travel companion to go with you for the weekend and you realize that you’re not compatible travelers, it’ll be over soon. Remember: just because you’re friends doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to travel together!
Pro tip: use weekend getaways to find your ideal travel partner. Travel with different people each time so you can figure out who you might want to go on a longer adventure with.
Road trips with friends
Road trips are amazing. I think they’re one of the best ways to vacation, if I’m being completely honest. Who doesn’t love cruising down the highway, windows down, radio playing your favorite song as you belt out the lyrics?
One of the benefits of weekend getaways is the ability to go on a road trip with your friends. Build those friendships. Pack on the memories.
Imagine taking a short weekend road trip once a month, every month for a year. Not only are you going to be able to check out 12 new places that you probably wouldn’t have otherwise, but you’ll still be close to home if you need to get back for whatever reason.
Related: The ULTIMATE Road Trips Guide
Have you ever taken an amazing weekend getaway? What did you do? Where did you go? What benefits of weekend getaways would you add?
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