Plotting a weekend break in the company of a few close friends? A little bit of forethought and planning can help you to make the most of the limited time you have available, and to avoid unnecessary stress and conflict. But exactly how might we go about forging our plans?
Decide what you want from your weekend away
Exactly how are you going to be spending your time? This will depend on your personal preferences, along with uncontrollable factors like the weather. Think about the time of year, and how that might narrow your options. Make sure that you talk to the other people who are going, and get as many opinions as you can. That way, you’ll be able to keep everyone happy – or, as happy as possible.
What’s your budget?
Another important consideration is the amount of money you all have available. Set this out, ideally on paper, before you start to look at potential destinations. Make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the budget. You don’t want to oblige anyone to spend more than they really feel comfortable with.
Split your budget between travel, accommodation and spending money. The figure should be all-inclusive. If you forget your spending money when you first form your plans, or leave it as an afterthought, then you’ll almost certainly overspend.
Choose your destination
Having decided what you want to do and how much you’d like to spend, you can think about picking out a destination. It should ideally be accessible to everyone. If you live in different destinations across the UK, then this might be an opportunity to get together somewhere a little bit different. Pick somewhere with good transport links, and which offers a uniquely appealing character.
In the UK, the coast is a fairly safe bet. You can easily get a train down to Brighton, especially if you’re already based in the south. Come up with a plan for how you’re going to spend the days you have available, while still leaving a little bit of room for spontaneity.
What to pack
If you’re only going to be away for a few days, then you can get away with packing light. That means one outfit per day, some practical shoes, and a few extra layers so that you can adapt to any unforeseen changes in the weather. If you want to go a little bit further, with evening wear, then you’ll want to make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to how you’re going to be spending the evening. If you’re not going to be going out, there’s no point packing evening wear.