Planning on a weekend getaway? The following tips may help you enjoy the short trip to the fullest and come back home content and energized…

Choose direct flights
Yes, some of the flights with multiple connections are temptingly cheap, but mind the connecting time in between. Some short flight of 2 hours can be stretched so long as 12 hours because of the connection. Don’t try to save money but waste a whole bunch of time on the ways. Besides, there are always direct flights at low prices to popular city destinations like Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, London, etc. Check out KLM and Transavia.com for instance.

Pack light
Though determined to only bring one handbag on short trips of 2 to 3 days, I always ended up dragging a suitcase, predicting all the possible occasions. Oh, a pair of trainer to go hiking, a pair of high heels to go clubbing, etc, etc, which always turned out to be unnecessary. Just bring the basic items, as two days fly quickly and you can survive without many things.

Prioritize the must see & do’s
Call it greedy, but I want to see them all! But for a weekend getaway of 2 to 4 days, it’s simply impractical to try to grab all the must see and do’s in one pack. Instead prioritize one or two major locations and enjoy them to the fullest. For better or worse, they can be the highlights of your trip.

Be smart with the organized tours
You might despise the idea of joining an organized tour, because you are a free-spirited, self-organized traveler. But to be on the fair side, some organized tours have really good itineraries, so maybe you can borrow their itineraries but go on your own by rental car or public transport.

Chill on the last day of staying
If your trip is action packed, involving outdoor activities like rock climbing, diving, hiking, then plan them in the first 2 days when your energy is high, and leave the last day relaxing, such as visiting the theater, shopping.

Have a good night sleep before heading back
Most people need to get back to work right after the weekend getaway, which makes it important to have a good night sleep before heading home. I used to try to squeeze a short trip in merely two days, which means I needed to get back straight to work the next day after night train/bus or early flight. That was hell. My head went spinning and concentration was miserable. So either plan at least one day adjusting or have a good night sleep. Traveling is fun, but also energy consuming!