Pro Tips for a Great Weekend Getaway (Includes a Sample Itinerary!)
Planning a weekend getaway for two or more people is more art than science, but there are a few preparatory responsibilities that I hold sacred. This blog post is about arguably the most essential duty of all: you MUST create an itinerary.
In addition to clarifying the logistical flow, a well-crafted itinerary can illustrate that participant needs and feedback have been incorporated into the planning! Here are a few pro tips to ensure your plan enables joy and peace of mind (rather than oppression and resentment):
1. Focus on experiences, not sights! If you really can get the gist of a thing through photos on the internet (e.g., the Washington Monument), do not spend any precious getaway time on that thing. You want the participants to create memories, not a list of places they visited.
2. Include flexible/free time, but have activity options available! No one wants to feel over-scheduled. You have to create a little breathing room for people, but even that space should feel supported. Offer a few ideas for how people might use that time as individuals or subgroups. In general, I try to foster a “no judgment” ethos – it’s okay if people want to opt-out of planned or suggested activities to do their own thing!
3. Book core activities based on your judgment, get feedback from participants on other pieces! As the trip planner, you need the basic skeleton of the trip locked down as soon as possible so that you can start searching for unique and meaningful experiences to build out the time. So, instead of inviting your friends to go on a trip to DC, invite them to go on a trip to DC to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture!
4. Support small and local businesses! Supporting an entrepreneur in the place you are visiting is, in my opinion, the best way to contribute to the ongoing creativity and uniqueness of that community. I personally try to include a black-owned business in every itinerary I plan.
Below you will find an itinerary from a recent weekend trip to DC with friends! My friends felt the trip was incredibly successful. Why? Because of all of the reasons above! Note that I removed the hotel name because we didn’t love it and I don’t want to promote them.
If you’d like to see actual photos from this adventure, click on the links to my Instagram embedded in the itinerary! Also, stay tuned for a video later this month with more tips on how to ensure a successful weekend getaway!
Cheers,
Genia, The Free Time Aficionado
Two Days in Washington, DC
Friday
6:30 Depart NYC for DC
>4 hour drive, plus stop for dinner along the way<
11:00 Arrive at Blah Blah Hotel
100 Blah Blah Street, NW, Washington, DC 20003
- Already notified front desk of late arrival time
- Hotel Parking is $27/day. Other Parking Garages available nearby, street parking might be tough.
Saturday
10:40 Depart Hotel for Brunch
>15 min cab ride <
11:00 Brunch with Local Friends at Smith Commons 📷
1245 H Street NE, Washington DC, 20002
- Reservation in my name
- four DC-area friends already confirmed to join, let me know if you confirm additional attendees
1:00 – 5:00 Flexible Window
- Feel free to return to the hotel to enjoy their amenities like the pool or spa
- Consider a visit to a tourist attraction like the MLK or Lincoln memorial
- Great opportunity to visit local friends and family
6:00 –? Enjoy The Caribbean Crawl DC 📷
Provision 14, 2100 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
>7 min cab ride back to hotel<
Sunday
10:45 Check out of Hotel, Check luggage with concierge
>20 min walk or 5 min cab ride <
11:15 Arrive at Dupont Circle Italian Food Tour, 3 hour duration @11:30 – 2:30 📷
La Tomate, 1701 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
>10 min cab ride <
1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560
5:30 Depart Museum and head to Hotel to grab luggage
>20 min cab ride <
6:00 Depart DC for NYC
>4-hour drive, plus stop for dinner<
10:30 Arrive in NYC
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