Whether you’re stomping the kaleidoscopic streets of Lisbon with a pastel de nata in hand, mooching down a fairytale Cotswolds lane, or sipping a Guinness while a local band belts The Wild Rover in a Galway pub, there is nothing quite like a long weekend trip. But there are some key travel tips that make a short trip much more enjoyable.
A perfect long weekend trip is less about how far you go and more about how well you use your time. With just a few days to escape the routine, the key is striking the right balance between planning and spontaneity, activity and relaxation. A thoughtfully planned short getaway can feel just as refreshing and memorable as a longer holiday, if not more.
Forget long-haul
This may sound obvious, but if you’re only going to be away for two to four days, don’t waste half of your time commuting. Aim for three to four hours of total travel, whether it’s a UK staycation or a direct, short-haul flight or train ride.
“For me, the perfect long weekend starts with a smooth journey,” says Traveller‘s Chloe Laws. “Short, sweet and fuss-free. My golden rule is to keep it under three hours. Although trains are not always reliable, a quick Eurostar jaunt to Brussels is a good place to start – I recently hopped on for a trip to Ghent, and arrived feeling fresh, like I’d barely even travelled. Staycations are bigger than ever, and this summer I’ve planned trips to North Norfolk, the Highlands, and the Sussex coast.”
Travel light
You don’t want to waste time waiting for hold luggage or lugging around a heavy bag. Keep it light and easy to carry around – if you can fit everything you need in a backpack or small carry-on case, even better.
Leave early
Getting away as early as possible will make your trip feel longer, calmer, and more enjoyable. Travelling between peak times – such as Thursday evening or very early Friday morning – helps avoid heavy traffic, crowded trains, delayed flights, and the stress that often comes with rushed departures. Arriving earlier also means you have time to settle in, explore, and enjoy your first evening, rather than spending it travelling or recovering from the journey.
Don’t automatically look to bank holidays
The lure of booking a long weekend trip over a bank holiday weekend is obvious: you don’t need to sacrifice any annual leave. But arguably, the benefit of saving a single day’s holiday doesn’t outweigh the many disadvantages, including: flights and train fares at peak prices; accommodation booked early and costing more; and airports, roads, pubs, beaches, and attractions being far busier. For a cheaper long weekend, look outside of bank holidays and school holidays.
Start with the hotel
“It’s not just ‘a place to sleep’,” says Traveller’s Sarah Bannerman. “Nowadays, hotels can be just as much of a reason to visit a destination as its food scene or culture. Choose well, and you’ll get to experience elements of the local area, aesthetic and cuisine all before you’ve so much as set foot out the door. I have a wish list of hotels I’d love to stay at one day, and I let that guide where I go. Whether it’s a secluded spot in the Tuscan hills that I don’t plan to leave, a farm stay just outside of Stockholm that I can tag onto a night in the city or a bolthole in Seville with rooftop views, where I stay is always my starting point.”
