A quick guide to weekend getaways

Spontaneous decisions can often be the best ideas and having a spur of the moment attitude can transform a mundane weekend into an adventure. There is always an opportunity to capture new experiences and memories, so why not grab your essentials, pack them up and transform an upcoming weekend into a short holiday? Here are some things you need to think about.

Planning

Even though it sounds rather romantic just to throw your stuff in the boot and drive into the night on a Friday, some planning needs to be done beforehand. Depending on where you are going, make sure you have all the essentials covered.

Create a checklist for the most important things, take care of tickets and research the places you will be visiting. As the trip is likely to be planned on a whim, there is the potential for things to not go as scheduled, so have an open mind and ensure that you have contingencies in case something goes wrong.

Short getaways are a great way to take a break from your daily routine and learn things about yourself, such as how you act when you are in unfamiliar surroundings or when someone does not go as it was planned beforehand.

Where to go

Depending on how spontaneous you want your getaway to be and on what kind of experiences you want to capture, there are a variety of ways you can go with your destination. How about a camping trip a campsite in nearby countryside, or a two-night stay in a local city? You don’t have to get on a plane to travel, and a staycation can make for a perfect weekend.

You can also have an experience while you’re at it. You could rent a car and go on a road trip around the country with no particular destination or relax and rejuvenate on trip to a spa break. There are so many ways to unwind and enjoy, all you need to do is be open to new possibilities.

What to pack

The most important thing when packing is finding the right balance between necessity and practicality. You don’t need a lot for a short break, so don’t forget to keep things to a minimum so you can pack light. The rule of thumb we follow when getting ready for short trips is that everything should fit in a single holdall bag or a backpack.

While packing light is a priority, you don’t always know exactly what you’ll be getting up to, so having a versatile and classic set of clothing, accessories and right pair of shoes will keep you prepared for a variety of situations. There is a large variety of great weekender bags over at Equestrian Co. which are perfect for short trips. Plus a weekender bag is great for its versatility - once the trip is over it can be re-used as a gym bag, or to be styled as a casual daily bag.

If you are still cannot decide whether it is a good idea to leave for the next weekend, a study by the Journal of Happiness Studies found that short and frequent vacations are a great boost for one's overall productivity and wellbeing. So, what are you waiting for? Pick a weekend, pack your bags and have some fun!