Tip 1 for Great Weekend Getaways: Plan Ahead

If you plan your weekday or weekend getaways ahead of time you'll get better deals on travel and lodging. You'll also be able to schedule your time in advance so you can get caught up before you leave. I know that I'm far less likely to back out of a family getaway if I already have tickets, reservations, etc. Especially if I get penalized for canceling or rescheduling.

I really find it doesn't pay to be spontaneous when taking weekend getaways. As a home business owner, I can take an occasional day trip without planning, but anything more than a day or two and I'm going to want to be prepared. Otherwise, I'll constantly be worrying about what I need to do back home and if my clients are trying to reach me. By planning ahead I can prepare my clients for my brief absence, if necessary. Once you get to your getaway destination, you can be as spontaneous as you like.

Tip 2 for Great Weekend Getaways: Quit a Little Early the Day Before

If you follow Tip 1 and plan your weekday or weekend getaways ahead of time, you should also be able to allow yourself to quit early the day before your getaway, even if it's only an hour or two. After all, this is one of the benefits of being your own boss. If you're not your own boss yet, see if the boss will let you leave a little early.

Quitting early the day before your weekend getaways allows you to help your spouse or significant other pack and otherwise prepare for your trip. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy the excitement of the preparation and relieves your partner or family from having to do everything without you, which only fosters resentment and stress. Quitting early may also allow you to accomplish a task or two that you might otherwise put off until the day of your departure, which in turn only results in more stress.

Tip 3 for Great Weekend Getaways: Allow For Some Pampering

You've earned your time off. You're not taking the time or incurring the expense of an extended vacation - is there some way you can treat yourself, your partner, or your family during your weekend getaway?

After booking a hotel room for a recent weekend getaway I discovered the room didn't have a refrigerator just before we left on our trip. On our last few weekend getaways we've always had a refrigerator and a microwave in the room. A call to the hotel the day before we arrived allowed us to add the refrigerator for only $5 per night. When we arrived, the hotel told us that they upgraded us to a mini suite with a refrigerator at no extra charge. Sweet! And, as a business owner, I can tell you that I appreciated the gesture and will return to this hotel when I'm in the area again on a future getaway. I'll also highly recommend them to my friends and family.

Tip 4 for Great Weekend Getaways: Allow Plenty of Time to Get to Your Destination

If your travel will take most of one day, or if you have an event scheduled on the evening of your arrival, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination without rushing. Unexpected delays can hit you from out of nowhere. I learned my lesson the hard way on one of our weekend getaways when we got lost at our destination and couldn't find the hotel - despite a fistful of maps I printed from the Web. The first night turned out to be very hectic and rushed - especially because we were in town for an annual jazz fest and the traffic was incredibly backed up due to construction in the area. Additionally, if you're retreating to a popular spot on a weekend or planning to arrive on a Friday night around rush hour, you need to give yourself even more extra time.

By giving yourself a little extra time, you'll find that your weekend getaways are more enjoyable. If you're driving, you'll be less likely to have an accident on the way. If it means getting up a bit earlier on the day you leave, do it. Your mood will be much better for it. Your departure experiences can set the tone for your entire trip - don't spoil the mood before your weekend getaways even get started.