(MONEY Magazine) – Fast trips to slow down No question. We are getting away more, staying less and liking it better. Mini-vacations -- from two to five days -- are up 25% over the past 10 years, according to the US Travel Data Center. And no wonder: leaving Thursday and returning Tuesday has obvious advantages for busy execs. But the four-day trip has a rhythm all its own. To make one as invigorating as two weeks away, try these strategies: Take your vacation temperature before taking off. The idea is renewal and restoration, but only you know what'll work. Would you rather play tennis or curl up with Tom Clancy's latest? Pick one, and then make your plans accordingly. Don't plan too much. Leave your Filofax and all it represents at home. Travel no more than five hours. Think flying time, not bargains, and opt for a change of environment -- trees, a river, a sandy beach.

Expect minis to cost more. Figure around $250 a day per couple, or at least $150 a day if you're using frequent-flier or corporate discounts. Take advantage of business tag-ons. Most cities are within an hour or two of scenic areas. For example, prepare for a Monday meeting in Houston with a weekend at a Victorian inn, 150 miles away, on Galveston Island. Experiment. Mini-vacations are ideal for trying new experiences -- a craft class, a tennis clinic, a health spa, a catered kayak trip or an extravagant resort. Pack everything you'll need. But try to fit it all into a carry-on bag. As annoying as lost luggage is on long trips, it is a disaster on short ones. Stay for at least three nights. Even if it means arriving late on Friday night or getting up at dawn on Monday.