There’s nothing more frustrating than craving a holiday only to realise you don’t have many vacation days available. I’ve become somewhat of an expert in making the most of a restrictive work schedule, so you don’t need to write off a holiday if all you have is a spare weekend free. There are a few simple hacks you can implement to make the most of your limited holiday time and still make it really feel like a holiday. If you’re interested in making the most of a quick trip, check out my 4 holiday hacks when you’re short on time:
1. Go on a Road Trip
If you can find a destination that interests you and is only 3-4 hours away, you can easily make that into a fun weekend away. Get up early Saturday morning leaving as early as humanely possible without sacrificing your comfort and head off on your adventure. I personally like to time brunch or lunch to be somewhere fun along the way, aiming to arrive at the final destination no later than around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. That gives you a few decent sunlight hours to enjoy where you are and to do some fun activities. Wake up early in the morning, packing your room up so that you can be out all day. You can fill up your day with going to some museums or art galleries in the area, checking out the location attractions or even some shopping. Plan to head off in the early evening, so that you arrive home before it’s too dark.
If you want a really relaxing weekend away you could enjoy a cottage break. Maybe you’d like to take a few board games and a great book and spend most of the weekend curled up by the fire with your loved ones!
2. Consider a Staycation
Whenever I travel to a new place I am so much more curious than I am in my own home town. I guess it’s because I know time is limited and I feel the need to do as many things as possible. Staycations are a great idea for people who don’t really have the spare time to go somewhere further away. Basically the premise is that you stay somewhere else in your own town or city, and act like a tourist. Check out TripAdvisor and check out the top 10 list for your city. How many things have you ticked off? If you’ve managed to do everything already, go through the list until you find at least 3 or 4 things you’ve never done and go do them! It’s so refreshing to see where you live with fresh eyes and can be as fun as a foreign adventure.
3. Squeeze a Little Extra Time
Maybe you can’t have a couple of weeks off, but could you ask for a half day on Friday and the following Monday off? That means you could easily take a flight out on the Friday afternoon, fly back late on Monday and you’ll have a good 3 days to explore a new city or town. Talk to your boss and just see what options are available to you even if a larger holiday is not on the cards at the moment.
4. Turn a Business Trip into a Holiday
If you travel for business you should check out your calendar. Are you headed somewhere in the next few months? Is there any way you could shuffle some meetings around so you have a free weekend in a new place? Traveling for business can be exhausting, especially if you’re having to take a long flight or deal with a substantial time difference. As such, employers often want to give you a little bit of flexibility to enjoy your destination in order to make up for the inconveniences of business travel. You may be surprised by what’s possible if you just ask in advance!
Don’t let a lack of time put you off from having a holiday and a much deserved break! Use these tips to make the most of what time you do have available.