1. Pick your travel companions. College friends are a good choice. Significant others are okay. If you have kids, plan on sneaking away while they're at school one day. Kids make vacations suck, let's be honest.

2. Decide where to go. Some criteria for choosing a destination include the access you'll have to luxuries like narcotics, toilets, hookers, and day spas.

3. Decide how to get there. Given the price of gas, go with mass transport. Trains if it's not too far; airplanes if it is. Old wisdom says book far in advance, but with all the last minute travel deals out there, you can get a steal if you've got a flexible schedule. If your job doesn't provide flexibility, hopefully it provides you with enough income to allow you to book tickets regardless of price. If it doesn't, quit.

4. Make sure not to tell anyone at work that you're going away, especially if you work in an office. Your co-workers will appreciate the drama and gossip you've fed them if you just disappear for a week, and upon your return, you're likely to be promoted because of your independence and spontaneity.

5. Pack as lightly as possible. Carrying heavy luggage it not fun. And don't fold your clothes when you pack them; as soon as you pull that shirt you want to wear out from the bottom of everything, your suitcase is a mess for the duration of the trip anyway, so don't waste your time.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Swift.
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