How to Plan a Successful Microvacation

Additionally, to maximize your time away, there should be “minimal friction in your schedule,” Herszberg says. He advises against choosing transportation options that involve “deathly early wake-ups” or flying into an airport that requires a long drive to get to your final destination.

Consider a centrally located destination for your microvacation. A trip to the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Rio Grande provides access to the beach and El Yunque National Forest.

Courtesy Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve, Puerto Rico

Select one spot as your home base and stay there

No matter how you get to your destination, Salas-Guevara recommends staying in one spot for your entire trip.

Because time is precious on microvacations, staying in a central location where you can “arrive, unpack and start exploring quickly” is key, Herszberg explains. “If you are going to a city, stay in the central area of the city to be able to walk to museums, markets, or cafés,” Salas-Guevara says. “If it is a nature destination, stay close to the trails or the beach location so you can just step outside.” 

Choosing lodging close to key attractions and staying there for your entire trip will not only save you time but also give you more opportunities to explore more or relax, Fish says. 

Don’t expect to do everything on a microvacation. Plan one activity a day, such as birdwatching, and leave the rest of the day open.

Pedro Paulo Ferreira/Courtesy Intrepid Travel

Don’t try to do it all

During a microvacation, you won’t have time to see and do everything. “Focus on quality over quantity,” Barnes says.

Salas-Guevara recommends focusing on one activity each day. That could be a guided walk through a town, a visit to a local market or a special meal, he says. By leaving the rest of the day open, you will have time to relax or be spontaneous. “The combination of one planned event and unstructured time allows the whole experience to feel rich without being rushed,” he says.

When Salas-Guevara plans microvacations, he often chooses a specific theme for the trip, so he doesn’t get overwhelmed. “Sometimes it is a beach and horseback-riding holiday, or bird-watching, or a wildlife viewing getaway or maybe even a city escape to take in some art or culture,” he says. Fish takes a different approach. When she took a microvacation to Miami, she didn’t plan anything to do other than sit on the beach. “I needed toes in sand, and I didn’t want to overplan,” she says.

Booking experiences in advance can also help you maximize your time, says Madison Pietrowski, head of brand US at GetYourGuide, a travel platform for booking tours, attractions, excursions and other activities. “Skip-the-line tours can save precious hours and ensure you are experiencing the best of what the location has to offer,” she says.

Prioritize comfort

Although some people plan microvacations to save money, Salas-Guevara warns not to sacrifice comfort. “Comfort is also important here,” he says. “A good location of the hotel, easy and efficient transfers and good meals can make even the shortest trips restful,” he explains.

Fish advises travelers to use “smart tools” to help keep microvacations affordable. For example, when she booked her microvacation to Miami, she found a great deal on a bundle that offered a discount for booking a flight and hotel together.

Fish also recommends using price-tracking tools to monitor when flight and hotel prices drop, searching for last-minute deals and leveraging travel award programs to save money. Staying open to new destinations that may be more affordable and traveling during off-peak times can also help keep costs manageable, she says.

Although a few days away may not seem like enough time for a great vacation, “even in a short time, unique adventures or discoveries create lasting memories,” Barnes says.