"Everybody's working for the weekend…"
So, why not get away more?
Americans don't use their vacation days as often as they should. In fact, more than half haven't had a week-long vacation in years-which is why people need to take more weekend getaways!
Whether it's a holiday weekend or just taking a Friday and or Monday off from work, it's time to maximize your weekends with more travel.
Hit the open road to neighboring states or big cities. Find a flight for a weekend in the summer or fall now and make plans for an epic weekend vacation.
Have a business trip? Extend your stay and explore the city without worrying about your meetings.
Love the beach or the mountains? A 3-day weekend getaway can do wonders for cleansing the soul.
Or if you have family in other parts of the country, hit them up for that free lodging and have some family time fun in a different city.
The point is, find ways to get out and travel. Explore something new on the weekends.
I love a good road trip and living in Georgia has me centrally located to some terrific destinations. I have plans to visit the Carolina's and Florida multiple times this year, and I'm hoping to find time to get up to Nashville because it's been too long since I've experienced the Music City.
Currently, I'm in Michigan this weekend for a family wedding. We flew in this time, but it's a drive I've done before. And even though it's a long one, we're driving up to Louisville for another family wedding this spring.
Setting the plans now has me excited for my weekends in 2019, and I know as the year progresses, I'll make plans for additional weekend getaways.
But what about you?
Where will you spend your weekends in 2019?
It's time to get away because travel does the body good.
Get Caught Up
In case you missed it this past week:
The first all-inclusive resort in the Florida Keys officially opened.
Disney Cruise Line announced the return of Star Wars and Marvel Day at Sea in 2020.
Ten new hotels joined the illustrious AAA Five Diamond list for 2019.
American Airlines is rolling out free Apple music streaming.
These are the most ethical places to travel in 2019.
Advice from an Agent
Cathleen Richards is a Luxury Travel Curator, an affiliate of SmartFlyer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She can be reached at [email protected]
When asked what advice she would give travelers seeking weekend getaway trips, Richards said:
"Be open to new destinations. With more secondary cities being served by non-traditional flight routings thanks to ULCCs and the competition they offer, you might be a nonstop flight away from a great weekend adventure in a new destination you hadn't considered before.
"Work with your travel advisor! He or she has insight into your destination and relationships with the hotels and resorts where you want to go, whether close to home or far away.
"Build in a buffer. If you've got a 9 a.m. meeting on Monday that decides the fate of your company, maybe don't opt for the redeye that lands at 7 a.m. Flight delays on the outbound or return can really color weekend trips in a negative manner since you have such a short amount of time in destination."
As for her advice to travel agents who want to sell more weekend getaways, Richards said:
"If you have clients concentrated in particular geographic areas, build relationships with the suppliers who are in destinations that make sense for those areas. Think resorts that are within driving distance and partner hotels that are at the other end of a short nonstop flight. While weekend trips might not have high commission payouts and might require a new amended payment structure, they can go a long way in furthering the relationship between agent and client. Isn't it nice to be top of mind between summer vacation and festive getaways?
"Many clients may have the attitude that they don't want to bother you for a couple of nights, or they don't want to pay a sizable trip design fee for a short getaway. I think it's important to make clients aware that you offer this service (perhaps consider a joint promo with one of those regional suppliers) through whichever medium works best for you.
"Web services you may have available to you can also simplify weekend bookings, such as Virtuoso's personalized booking portal that allows clients to search properties and submit a reservation request directly to their advisor.
"Lean into your niche. If you sell wellness, put together spa weekend packages and target marketing to your repeat wellness clients. This can be a great opportunity for those clients to invite friends or try a new property that might have seemed out of reach for a full week. If your clients are foodies, create a special itinerary for a destination. Sports? Suggest a weekend trip revolving around your home team's big game on the road. Give them something more than the flight and hotel that they can find with a few clicks."
Top Offers
Earn 15,000 bonus miles when you book your vacation with American Airlines Vacations.
Find savings of over $1,200 on Cuba cruise with Beyond Cruises.
Get 60 percent off the second guest plus kids sail free courtesy Royal Caribbean International.
Save up to 20 percent off your stay at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Don't miss this Valentine's Day offer from Marigot Bay Resort and Marina.
And as always, for all your travel offer needs be sure to bookmark www.travelpulse.com/deals.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
