Jesse and I are currently planning a weekend escape to Norfolk Island and we decided now is the perfect time to share some of our top tips for a weekend getaway - or any vacation, really! But we just don't want to share our tips - we want you to share your tips, too! So be sure to let us know in the comments below!
ONE: Enjoy a Staycation or Head Somewhere New
Everyone can enjoy a weekend off, regardless of budget. Whether you're staying in a beautiful Boutique Hotel in Sydney or your own home (or someone elses!), some time away from your everyday routine is always a good idea.
If you're staying at home: Enjoy some time off without a schedule! Forget doing this or that by a certain time and go with the flow! Get out and explore your neighbourhood and experience things you might otherwise overlook. It may be a trip to a cafe you've never been to or a walk through a park you always forget about - or simply a lazy weekend at home!
If you're staying at home: Enjoy some time off without a schedule! Forget doing this or that by a certain time and go with the flow! Get out and explore your neighbourhood and experience things you might otherwise overlook. It may be a trip to a cafe you've never been to or a walk through a park you always forget about - or simply a lazy weekend at home!
TWO: Try Something New
One of the things we love to do when we have time off is try something new. Usually we aim to tick something off our bucket list - or try something that's totally unique to the area we're staying in.
Our suggestions: It could be something simple like playing laser tag or putt putt golf or something a little more extreme like hot air ballooning or sky diving (though I don't know why you'd want to jump out of a perfectly good plane :P) or even dining at a new restaurant and trying something you never would have thought of trying before!
THREE: Look out for Great Deals!
Often times you'll find cheap last minute flights online. If you're heading away just for the weekend, all you'll need is a carry on bag - meaning you can often score domestic flights for less than $100!
Often times you'll find cheap last minute flights online. If you're heading away just for the weekend, all you'll need is a carry on bag - meaning you can often score domestic flights for less than $100!
Our favourite weekend away from home: If you're in Sydney, try escaping to Melbourne for the weekend and stay in one of the many hotels in Melbourne. Melbourne is pretty much gluten free heaven - and heaven for foodies in general and there are so many great Melbourne CBD Hotels to stay at to suit every budget.
Check out websites for last minute flights or download apps like Virgin's Flight Specials for super cheap airfares. Also, download the Groupon App - we love their travel deals as well as their local deals. You can find everything from cheap rock climbing passes and massages to luxury car rentals!
FOUR: Switch Off
Turn off your phone, forget Facebook and enjoy some good old fashioned RELAXATION. Don't hyperventilate, friends! I promise Facebook will still be there when you get back - and you'll find you have so much more time on your hands when you're not aimlessly scrolling through memes, baby photos and angry rants.
Our tip: Switch off your cellular data and turn off your notifications. You may still want your phones to take any emergency calls (especially if you're away from your kids!), however, if your phone is constantly beeping at you with Facebook game requests or Instagram notifications, you're going to find yourself mindlessly scrolling in no time at all!
FIVE: Indulge in a Good Book or a Great Movie
I don't know about you, but I never have enough time to read - or watch movies. Whilst I do read every week, I feel like I don't have the time I want to simply sit down and soak up a good book. Whenever we're away on vacation or enjoying time off, I soak up every spare second with a good book.
I don't know about you, but I never have enough time to read - or watch movies. Whilst I do read every week, I feel like I don't have the time I want to simply sit down and soak up a good book. Whenever we're away on vacation or enjoying time off, I soak up every spare second with a good book.
My current book suggestion: Right now I'm reading Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson and it would make the best vacation read as it's ridiculously funny.
SIX: Plan for Fun
We often find if we don't plan to do things, nothing will happen (as we will quite happily sit around doing absolutely nothing). Whether you're at home or away, you should plan some fun things to do!
If you're on a budget, start by setting that budget and decide how much you're willing to spend on activities - and then look at what you can do where you are.
We often find if we don't plan to do things, nothing will happen (as we will quite happily sit around doing absolutely nothing). Whether you're at home or away, you should plan some fun things to do!
If you're on a budget, start by setting that budget and decide how much you're willing to spend on activities - and then look at what you can do where you are.
Our ideas: Whether it's a relaxing massage at a spa, a delicious dinner out or a day of golf or horse riding - the options are endless! If you're having trouble choosing what to do, why not try putting your ideas into a jar and then picking out what you're going to do each day (like our DIY Date Night Jar!)
SEVEN: Don't do too much!
Does it sound like I just contradicted myself? Yes, however, whilst you should plan for fun - you shouldn't plan too much or your vacation is going to feel like a chore!
Our tip: Try and plan one thing per day. You don't want to spend the morning having brunch then the day at the zoo and the afternoon at a massage parlour followed by dinner out and drinks at a club - by the time your weekend is over, you'll feel like you need another one! Give yourself some time to relax and your vacation will be so much more enjoyable!
Does it sound like I just contradicted myself? Yes, however, whilst you should plan for fun - you shouldn't plan too much or your vacation is going to feel like a chore!
Our tip: Try and plan one thing per day. You don't want to spend the morning having brunch then the day at the zoo and the afternoon at a massage parlour followed by dinner out and drinks at a club - by the time your weekend is over, you'll feel like you need another one! Give yourself some time to relax and your vacation will be so much more enjoyable!
EIGHT: Don't Talk About Work!
Nothing ruins time off more than thinking of or talking about work! Make it your goal to fill your weekend with lots of fun so you're not thinking about that looming deadline or annoying coworker you've got to face when you get back.
Better still! Try and plan your time away when it's a little quieter at work - that way you can really relax and not have to worry about playing catch up when you get back!
Our tip: Remember, work will still be there when you get back! Your taking the weekend off because you deserved a break - enjoy it!
NINE: Be Flexible!
This is super important if you want to have a great weekend. Whether you had specific plans or a certain route in mind for your weekend, you need to be flexible enough to change those plans in order to ensure you have a great time!
This is super important if you want to have a great weekend. Whether you had specific plans or a certain route in mind for your weekend, you need to be flexible enough to change those plans in order to ensure you have a great time!
Nothing ruins a holiday more than cranky holidayers. Relax and remember it will be what it will be!
Our tip: Plan for fun but be spontaneous too! Don't set concrete plans and see where the weekend takes you. You may be on your way to do one thing when you spot a gorgeous beach or a cute antique store on the way. Stop and enjoy what's around you - if you miss out on something, that only means you have an excuse to plan your next trip! ;)
TEN: Enjoy yourself!
Whatever you do, wherever you go; remember that your getaway is all about enjoying yourself! Do the things that make you happy - not what some travel magazine tells you everyone else is doing or what your Aunt Martha recommends.
Whatever you do, wherever you go; remember that your getaway is all about enjoying yourself! Do the things that make you happy - not what some travel magazine tells you everyone else is doing or what your Aunt Martha recommends.
But tell me, if you were to give one piece of advice to someone planning a weekend away; what would it be?
And where's your favourite place to escape to?
This post has been created in collaboration with Accor Hotels. Thank you for supporting us and the blog by reading this post!
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