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13 Ways to Plan and Enjoy a Short Escape

Is it possible to plan a budget friendly short escape that truly feels like a vacation? With these 13 strategies, you can plan and enjoy a getaway that’s truly memorable.

Whether you’re craving a quick recharge or hoping to squeeze in as much as possible during your tip, these tips will set you up for a short vacay you won’t soon forget!

The boats of Dana Point Marina in Dana Point, CA.
Dana Point Marina

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Recently my son and I enjoyed a three-day getaway to Dana Point, California. Even though it was quick, we packed in a lot of fun and returned feeling rested and rejuvenated.

Some of my goals when we travel are to stretch our money, stay somewhere nice, maximize relaxation, and be as eco-friendly as possible. Here are 13 ways we made the most of our mini vacation.

Before the Trip

1. Plan (and Pay) Ahead of Time for Big Savings

I purchased our tickets on Southwest five months in advance. We enjoyed convenient travel times and the lowest “Wanna Get Away” fares from Denver to Orange County, along with Southwest’s free checked bags. I also booked a rental car at the same time. Surprisingly, Hertz had the best deal — providing I was willing to prepay the full fee in advance.

2. Read the Fine Print

In today’s price-driven market, many hotels publish a basic room rate and then tack on extra charges. It pays to check the fine print on the property’s website, read TripAdvisor reviews, and call the hotel to inquire about fees so you don’t have any surprises.

Watch out for the dreaded hidden “resort fee,” which was $35 a day at one hotel I looked at for use of the pool, business center and fitness room.

Parking is another common fee, and I once stayed at a property that automatically tacked on a 20% “service charge” of the entire bill for employee gratuities. If only I’d known that before tipping everyone in cash all week.

With accommodation services like AirBnb, watch out for credit card surcharges, cleaning fees, service fees, VAT fees, and damage deposits.

I’m a fan of hotels with local character, so we stayed at the Dana Point Marina Inn. It’s a mid-range hotel in a five-star location. 

I appreciate that the room rate for this property includes free parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast.

If you’re staying at a chain hotel, it might be worthwhile to join the company’s free loyalty program. These programs sometimes give members discounted rates, complimentary Wi-Fi and room upgrades.

Eucalyptus trees in Dana Point
The pretty view from the non-water side of the hotel

3. It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask…

I’d read on TripAdvisor that some rooms in our hotel had better views than others, so I e-mailed the hotel manager a few days before our stay and told him we were excited to stay at the property for the first time.

I mentioned that we were from land-locked Colorado and would love a quieter room with a direct view of the water. He kindly accommodated us, and we loved our room and patio overlooking the harbor.

4. Create a Master Packing List

If we remember to pack everything we need, we won’t have to run to the store for something like forgotten sunscreen. Packing right and bringing only what we need helps us pack lighter, too.

I keep a list on my mobile phone’s Notes app, but you could also use Evernote, Google Docs or any file sharing program — or even a good old analog notebook. If you realize you forgot something on your trip, add it right then to your list.

5. Check Out the Local Water

No need to buy bottled water if the local water is good, right? If you visit the Environmental Working Group’s website, you can input the zip code of the town you’re visiting to check out its tap water ratings. We brought a couple of lightweight water bottles for excursions during our short escape.

Doheny Beach in Dana Point

6. Pack Your Own Staples

For this trip I packed a small bag of my favorite fresh-ground organic Guatemalan coffee, round coffee filters (can be cut to size to fit the hotel coffeemaker), organic coconut sugar, granola, and roasted almonds to snack on.

7. Bring Your Own Pillow

A substandard mattress will be less miserable if you have your own comfy pillow. It helps to put a bright colored pillowcase on the pillow so you don’t accidentally leave it behind.

8. Pack a Pair of Good Earplugs

No matter how carefully we plan, we sometimes end up in a room by the ice machine or elevators. I like Hearos ear plugs because they are soft and expandable. They’re inexpensive and do a really good job of muffling noise.

Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea blooming on the foot path in Dana Point

During Your Getaway

9. Make Time for Really Relaxing

Dolce Far Niente is an Italian expression that means “sweet doing nothing.” If you’re a doer like me, you may have to consciously will yourself to set aside time to really unwind.

During this short escape, I took a walk early one morning and settled on a bench overlooking the harbor. I breathed in the glorious sea air, and watched the seagulls.

A breeze stirred the boats, and the gentle clanking of the metal masts sounded like wind chimes. The sun came out and warmed my back.

A man and a beagle stopped and greeted me. I walked down the pier, and a barnacle-encrusted baby whale rose up out of the water just thirty feet from me. That precious hour was one of my favorite moments during the trip.

10. Be on the Lookout for Eco-Friendly Features

At the time of this writing our hotel didn’t have many sustainable attributes, unfortunately. In our room, we discovered a special trash can with a recycling section under the sink that we brought out and used.

The hotel had a sign in the room with instructions to re-hang towels that didn’t need refreshing, which we did.

On the negative side, the breakfast area used disposable Styrofoam plates — an all-too-common practice in the hospitality industry.

When you consider that Styrofoam is a petroleum-based material that can take up to 400 years to decompose, and think of the sheer number of plates and cups thrown away by hotels, the effect is staggering.

11. Stock Up on Good Drinks and Snacks

Our hotel room had an in-room refrigerator, so I bought organic milk, juice, Greek yogurt, string cheese, crudites, crackers, Honeycrisp apples and fresh raspberries.

We also used the refrigerator to store leftover Asian food from our dinner Friday night. Needless to say, we were never hungry.

If your room doesn’t have a refrigerator, you can pack a soft insulated bag to fill with ice and keep snacks cold.

If you’re staying at an upscale hotel with a stocked minibar, tempting in-room snacks or bottled water, instruct your fellow travelers not to even touch the offerings or you might incur a charge.

Dana Point harbor
Kayaker in Dana Point Harbor

12. Join the Local Grocery Store’s Loyalty Program

It just takes a few minutes, and you’ll enjoy reduced prices on groceries. In a pinch, I politely ask the cashier if they have a card they might be willing to scan for the discount.

After the Trip

13. Provide Feedback

Because TripAdvisor’s reviews helped me plan this trip, I left a review of our experience at the hotel. 

I wrote the manager a short note a few days after our short escape and thanked him for our nice room.

I also mentioned that we’d love to see the property use a more environmentally conscious alternative to Styrofoam plates in the breakfast room, and shared some examples including a biodegradable disposable plate made from plants and wood fibers and a compostable product made fromĀ palm leaves. He promised to look into the options and said he appreciated the feedback.

Eliza Cross at Dan Point
A birthday selfie!

How About You?

How do you make the most of a short vacation? Do you have any travel tips to add to my list? I always love hearing your thoughts and ideas.

About Eliza Cross

Eliza Cross is the author of 17 books, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon. She shares ideas to simplify cooking, gardening, time and money. She is also the owner of Cross Media, Inc. and founder of the BENSA Bacon Lovers Society.

3 thoughts on “13 Ways to Plan and Enjoy a Short Escape”

  1. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. The view out the non-water side of the hotel is just as pretty!

    I have one tip: be mindful of the animals in the household. If I pack happily and gently, they don’t get stressed. If I’m not taking them with me, I try to drop them off at the kennel without being in a rush or tense. It makes for a calmer parting (talking about the critters, but for me, too!).

    Reply
    • Priscilla, I really appreciate your very compassionate and thoughtful tip. I am going to remember your wisdom and be more mindful and calm the next time I pack for a trip, as our dogs always seem to get nervous. Thank you so much for sharing this. xo

      Reply

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