Picture this: It’s Friday afternoon, you and your loved ones have no plans for the weekend and suddenly a flash of inspiration hits: Let’s get out of town! Many great vacation movies (and indeed, many great vacations) were born from a combination of impulsivity and a sense of adventure. Our handy guide will be all the preparation you need for your hassle-free, light-on-luggage vacay.
The Great Escape: The Ultimate Last-Minute Vacation Guide
Where the heck do we go?
Heading on a last-minute trip with pals or your family means adopting a carefree attitude. Don’t get hung up on one or two particular destinations, say experts. Think creatively, such as booking a trip to a ski resort in the summertime. For an even cheaper retreat, look for something closer and drive or take the train to a destination only a few hours away. You don’t have to go far to get that "getaway" feeling.
How do we get there?
Quickie holiday planning can be stress-free if you look to both traditional and online sources. That means talking to travel agencies such as Flight Centre or CAA, because sometimes last-minute flights can actually be more expensive. And, of course, check out a variety of sites specializing in these sorts of vacations, such as lastminutetravel.com, Red Tag Deals, or YOW deals. If you’re taking the whole family on a last-minute sojourn, take personalities and preferences into account. That means not heading to a crowded city if your kids tend to like wide-open spaces, and avoiding hot, humid climes if it makes Grandma uncomfortable.
What do we take?
No matter if you’re travelling with your buddies or your wife and kids, there are two key words: pare down. Consider the basics, like a medical kit (keep fever medication in your carry-on), umbrellas, the right shoes for the destination and some fresh toys or apps for any meltdown moments during your trip. Many frequent travellers also recommend going without checked baggage. It means quicker exits from the airport to the place you really want to be, whether it’s the beach or a music festival.
How do we have a great time?
This might not be obvious, but now’s the time for research. After you’ve booked your quickie escape, ensure you’ve downloaded relevant apps, loaded up the Kindle with guidebooks and bookmarked maps on your iPhone. The time from now to your destination should be, at least partially, spent coming up with some sort of a plan. Otherwise you will lose precious hours on your spontaneous holiday doing some not-so-spontaneous wandering. Let the kids take part too. If you’ve only got a week, what are the top three museums they’d want to visit? Highlight one or two top restaurants you’ve just got to try, and let others be fun discoveries. Be in the moment and once you leave yourself open to new experiences and ways of thinking, you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.