Micro trips are one of the fastest-growing trends in the travel industry. This trend provides the perfect opportunity for individuals with hectic-schedules to maximize their vacation plans with shorter, but still-exciting experiences when longer trips elude them.
Many people have the perspective that vacations have to cost thousands of dollars and a week away. A micro-trip can meet your desire for adventure with fewer days away and often with less expense. Traveling to new places—even if it’s just a short trip—can increase our well-being, give us a creative boost, and decrease stress, according to research.
Here are a few tips to help you plan the ultimate micro trip.
Plan in Advance
There is a time and a place for spontaneity in travel. However, to make the most of your micro trip, a little planning is necessary. Micro-trips are well-planned to maximize time exploring, minimize wasted time, and cut down on expenses with hotel and flight deals.
Flights
If you are looking at flights, look for something you can catch immediately after work and arrive shortly after you take off. Alternatively, consider an overnight flight that gets you to your destination in time to start your mini-trip with breakfast. If you can, book your flight to a destination West of your starting point, so you have more time to go exploring.
Accommodations
If you opt for a day trip for your micro-trip, then you get the bonus of not having to book a hotel. If you decide to book an overnight flight, sleeping on the plane will save you a night of hotel expenses. However, if you have to book a hotel, I highly recommend looking into HotelTonight for the best deals in the area. Use CNORTON70 to receive $25 off your first booking.
Use a Travel Agency
One of my favorite micro-trips I have taken was to Denver, Colorado with Pack Up + Go. Pack Up + Go is a surprise travel agency that plans a 3-day weekend trip for you. This company is perfect for those of us who love to plan our travels but are desperately in need of a little spontaneity. I have not stopped singing their praises since I returned and look forward to booking another trip with them soon.
Don’t Rule Out Your Hometown
Micro-travel doesn’t mean you have to leave your hometown. Think like a tourist and use this time to explore an area or do something you have never done before. The best way to get some ideas is through your hometown’s Facebook events or Trip Advisor page for your home town.
Tune into the Present
One of my favorite parts of micro trips is the ability to tune out day-to-day stressors. Exploring new places and meeting new people can help shake us out of our typical routine. If possible, try to disconnect and unplug as much as possible while on your micro-trip.
Micro Trip Ideas for the Southeastern US
Over half of global travelers (53 percent) report that they plan to take more weekend trips in 2019. Here are a couple of my favorite micro trip destinations:
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Anniston, Alabama
- Rome, Georgia
- Kinston, North Carolina
- Warm Springs, Georgia
Stay tuned for more Southern Experiences as I continue to explore my home region.
