By Christina Schlegel, Bluetail Travel
We all need to take a break every once in a while. However, planning a vacation and taking off multiple, consecutive workdays can seem daunting. Research shows that American workers are among the worst when it comes to utilizing paid time off, but summer is a perfect time to use those stacked-up vacation days for an extended vacation or a short staycation.
Living in or around the DMV provides so many options for staycations - no need to book a flight or drive more than four hours to reach an exciting destination. Here are four easy tips on booking a mini staycation in the DMV if you're looking to plan a low-stress getaway this summer.
Living in or around the DMV provides so many options for staycations - no need to book a flight or drive more than four hours to reach an exciting destination. Here are four easy tips on booking a mini staycation in the DMV if you're looking to plan a low-stress getaway this summer.
1. Synch your calendars. Chances are, you already know when your next three-or-four-day weekend is. See if you can clear those days of obligations, or work around them. When I was booking my staycation, we had one item that couldn’t be moved: a kids’ birthday party. We left it on the calendar and just came back home for those couple of hours so our son could go to the party.
2. Decide where to go within about an hour’s drive. Don’t overthink this part and opt for closer rather than farther. This is a great opportunity to be a tourist in your own town and see the sights you never get around to on a regular weekend. My family and I decided to go to Washington, D.C. this time – about 15 minutes from our house.
3. Choose your accommodations. Select a property that offers luxury touches that makes you feel taken care of: this is your opportunity to relax and enjoy! Luxury means different things to different people, but the point is to take a break from the ordinary (and skip things like making the beds). We chose a hotel in Washington D.C., Georgetown, which I also wanted to check out for industry professional reasons.
4. Plan one must-do activity. The key here is not to overschedule: give yourself the space to unwind, sleep in, and enjoy the downtime. Long breakfasts? Yes! That said, it’s nice to have one special tour or activity that you’ll look forward to. We opted for a historic food tour of Georgetown.
Pro-tip: The secret to doing this right is to plan your mini getaway quickly and not overthink it. If you’re not working with your travel advisor to plan your staycation (you can probably fly solo on this one), book your hotel directly on the hotel’s own website. For luxury properties, your travel advisor may be able to offer additional amenities or perks, however, so it’s always worth checking.
While you’re on your staycation, take a moment to dream about what you want to experience on your next true vacation. It’s a great opportunity to slow down and think about what your travel goals are for making memories to last a lifetime. Once you’re back home, you can reach out to your professional travel advisor to make those dreams a reality.
That’s it! Now you’re ready to take a break from work, use your vacation days, and enjoy a much needed staycation close to home.
Christina Schlegel, CTA, is a luxury travel advisor and the founder of Bluetail Travel, specializing in luxury cruise journeys and custom itineraries for clients seeking distinctive travel experiences.
2. Decide where to go within about an hour’s drive. Don’t overthink this part and opt for closer rather than farther. This is a great opportunity to be a tourist in your own town and see the sights you never get around to on a regular weekend. My family and I decided to go to Washington, D.C. this time – about 15 minutes from our house.
3. Choose your accommodations. Select a property that offers luxury touches that makes you feel taken care of: this is your opportunity to relax and enjoy! Luxury means different things to different people, but the point is to take a break from the ordinary (and skip things like making the beds). We chose a hotel in Washington D.C., Georgetown, which I also wanted to check out for industry professional reasons.
4. Plan one must-do activity. The key here is not to overschedule: give yourself the space to unwind, sleep in, and enjoy the downtime. Long breakfasts? Yes! That said, it’s nice to have one special tour or activity that you’ll look forward to. We opted for a historic food tour of Georgetown.
Pro-tip: The secret to doing this right is to plan your mini getaway quickly and not overthink it. If you’re not working with your travel advisor to plan your staycation (you can probably fly solo on this one), book your hotel directly on the hotel’s own website. For luxury properties, your travel advisor may be able to offer additional amenities or perks, however, so it’s always worth checking.
While you’re on your staycation, take a moment to dream about what you want to experience on your next true vacation. It’s a great opportunity to slow down and think about what your travel goals are for making memories to last a lifetime. Once you’re back home, you can reach out to your professional travel advisor to make those dreams a reality.
That’s it! Now you’re ready to take a break from work, use your vacation days, and enjoy a much needed staycation close to home.
Christina Schlegel, CTA, is a luxury travel advisor and the founder of Bluetail Travel, specializing in luxury cruise journeys and custom itineraries for clients seeking distinctive travel experiences.
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