When your holiday only lasts for a long weekend, or a few short days, it can seem like there isn’t enough time to get much done. That is not true. This is how to make the most of a short holiday.

• Be prepared 
• Unplug
• Consider your hotel location
• Prioritize 
• Hire a guide
• Try something new
• Wake up early
• Live like a local
•  Be aware of time zones 
• Give yourself time to relax

Be prepared

The key to any successful holiday is being prepared, but when you know you have a limited amount of time the need to prepare is heightened. To adequately prepare for your holiday, you first need to establish what type of holiday you want. Do you simply want to relax by the pool or on the beach? Or are you looking for more of an adventure, exploring a new city or town? After you’ve established the holiday you want, you can start researching what is available for you to do- guided tours, activities, restaurants in the local area, etc. Once you’ve done your research, set a loose itinerary for your holiday. You don’t want to put yourself under pressure by scheduling in too much in a small amount of time, but creating a loose itinerary as a guide will ensure that you see and experience all of your bucket-list things. 

Unplug

Holidays are all about escaping from your everyday reality. When on a short holiday, it’s best to soak up every moment of not being in your everyday surroundings. The best way to do this is to completely unplug. Keep your phone available and fully-charged just in case of an emergency, but don’t constantly be checking it. Leave the technology behind, and embrace the feeling of being outside of your normal routine. Before you know it, you’ll be back at work, so you need to enjoy your well-deserved time-off whilst you can. 

Consider your hotel location

Short holidays mean less time to explore, however that doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on the excitement of exploring a new place. When booking your hotel, look at what is in the immediate surrounding area and what is close by. Choose hotels close to the city or beach, depending on your holiday preference. Make sure that there are good transport links if you want to go on a day-trip further afield. Check the local bars and restaurants in the area. Make sure that you pick a hotel that will allow you to do everything you want to do in the time frame you have. 

Prioritise 

If you like adventurous holidays then there is probably a long list of things that you would like to achieve whilst away. That being said, on short holiday’s you won’t have the time to experience everything. Make a bucket-list of the top 5 or 10 things you want to see and/or do whilst your on holiday and prioritise your top 3. Doing this will ensure that, even though you may not see everything you want to see on your holiday, you will at least see the most important things you wanted to. 

Hire a guide

The best way to see a location in a short period of time is by taking a guided tour. Guided tours will take you around a city or a certain area of a country, and explain the history and cultural significance of it. Whether it’s an open-top bus tour or a walking tour, investing in a guide is a great way to see the highlights of a place in a short amount of time. 

Try something new

Part of the thrill of going on holiday is experiencing something new. Whether that is a new country, a new destination, or even a new way of living. Whilst on your short holiday, push yourself to try a new experience. It could be anything from a new cuisine, to just talking to a new person. Being on holiday is the perfect opportunity to explore new experiences you would never try in your everyday life, no matter how long your holiday is. 

Wake up early

If you have a long list of experiences that you want to try whilst on your short holiday, it’s best to wake up early. Some people enjoy relaxing and not having to set an alarm whilst on holiday, however, if you know that there’s a lot you want to achieve, it’s best to start your day early. Don’t force yourself to wake up early every day though, remember that you are also on holiday to relax. 

Live like a local 

If you’re holidaying in a country you have never explored before it can be exciting to spend your time living like a local. Before heading on your holiday, do some research into bars, restaurants, and general places where locals will go. When on your holiday, engage a local in general conversation and show a willingness to get to know about their culture and way of life. You will get a much more authentic experience out of a country if you spend, even a day, living like a local. 

Be aware of time zones 

When travelling outside of your home country it’s best to remember if there is a time difference. Depending on where you are travelling to and from in the world could depend on whether you get an extra few hours on holiday or not. If you are aware of the time zones you are travelling to and from prior to your trip, you can easily plan around it. 

Give yourself time to relax

The most important thing to remember when going on holiday, no matter its length, is to relax. You are going on holiday to escape your normal life, have a new experience, and unwind. Remember to enjoy your time off and not stress yourself out if you don’t see or do everything you wanted to. 

Don’t worry about the post-holiday washing, leave it to us to pick-up, dry clean, iron, and re-deliver to you. You can even pre-book your laundry pick-up up to two weeks in advance. Simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.