When life and work get crazy busy, it’s important to take time and relax. Not everyone can afford to take a whole week off to go on a vacation, though. 

You’ve maybe got important projects at work, kids, and other obligations that can’t wait for your vacation. Luckily, recent research says that workers who take short weekend trips come back to work feeling more refreshed than coworkers who take weeklong trips. With summer just around the corner, there’s no better time to plan a quick getaway. 

Read Jetsetera, sign up for Living Social Escapes e-mails and browse Airfare Watchdog so you can snag a great deal when you see it or just get some inspiration for a trip. Here are some ideas on what you can do on a weekend getaway that won’t break the bank or take too many vacation days:

• Book a cruise. With all-inclusive pricing for food and on-ship activities, all you’re responsible for is packing your bags. Discount travel sites mean you can always find a great cruise at a price right for you. No matter what length cruise you’re looking for, you can find the best price cruise deals from sites like Cruise Now. Just don’t forget the bathing suit and sunscreen!
• Want to get out of the city but don’t have a car? Join ZipCar and snag a ride for a fun day trip out of the city. The summer is the perfect time to go exploring the backroads and quirky towns in your area. Check out some antiques, go tubing on a nearby river or just roll down the windows and enjoy some fresh air.
• Be one with nature and go camping. Local camping outfitters or adventure groups will have camping gear that you can borrow or rent, and you can find one of KOA’s 400+ campgrounds in almost every state in the U.S. Many campgrounds have amenities to make sure you don’t have to be a frontiersman to make it in the great outdoors. You’ll find great hiking/nature trails to enjoy, so be sure to pack comfortable shoes.
• Take a staycation. No matter how long you’ve lived in your town, there is bound to be fun things you haven’t done. Take a weekend to visit all the tourist hotspots of your own town. That sinkhole that is now a subterranean jungle. That diner that with burgers the size of your head. A local botanical garden. Find a quirky B&B in your hometown and make it a vacation away from home.
• Take a road trip and explore a music festival nearby. Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk, or Austin City Limits are just a few to check out. These can get pricey if you go alone, so grab some friends and hit the road!

This summer, you can find a ton of ways to take a relaxing trip without spending a fortune or burning up your valuable vacation time. Skip the stress of planning a big vacation and see the world on a budget.