o you really need a getaway but you can't afford a vacation? Terrible week at work, but the kids have a birthday party on Sunday, and you can't take the whole weekend off? Consider a local escape -- one night at a nice hotel in town can be a great way to rejuvenate without excessive time or expense.

Find a place in town that fits your budget. Have the kids stay over with friends, or pay a babysitter to spend the night. Pack a small bag with toiletries for the night, and you're off. Twenty minutes later you're laying in a king-sized bed, watching movies and ordering room service.

Somehow when you're in a hotel you don't have the same responsibility. Even a modest establishment can feel luxurious after a stressful week of work.

The key is to relax. Shower, wear comfortable clothes, and create a nice atmosphere. Remember, you can afford to indulge. Even if you order that extra dessert, or have a massage in your room, or sneak something from the minibar, you're still likely to be saving over an out-of-town getaway.

Local getaways break up the routine; they place you in a new environment, which can be very effective in reducing stress. After a long week, a little goes a long way. Couples say that once they're in their room, everything changes; conversation flows, humor emerges, and a carefree sense of fun and adventure replace the well-rehearsed patterns of the workaday week.

In the morning, if you're up at 7, force yourself to linger. Have a nice breakfast. Read USA Today. Do things you wouldn't normally do at home. And when it's time to check out, you're just minutes away from a rested return to the life you left behind.

It may feel strange, or indulgent at first, but once you're there you'll be transported to a place of rest. Try it. You'll be amazed how restorative one night one mile away from home can be.

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