Now, try not to read this headline too quickly, as I did, and confuse “thirst trip” with “thirst trap” because that is definitely not what we’re talking about here. Although if you choose to take a thirst trap on one of your trips, that is none of our business, so do you!

What is a “thirst trip” you ask? 

Essentially, they are short weekend getaways that fulfill travelers’ desires for time off, a warm destination, and particularly wherever an inground pool is. As the period between President’s Day and Memorial Day weekend approaches almost 100 days, Americans are about to enter the lengthiest stretch of the US calendar without an officially recognized day off and we’re losing our minds.

The latest Hotels.com data shows that searches for these poolside, 3-day weekend trips are spiking as of late. Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations, shared, “The trend is not waiting more than a quarter of the year to vacation. People are creating their own drought-breaking mini-vacations.”

In a deeper search, Hotels.com found that pool-related searches increased by at least 35% from February to April when compared to the beginning of last year. The first week of March saw the highest number of searches for hotels with pools, indicating that travelers are looking to make the most of the warm weather.

According to Hotels.com, there is a projection that brief and more frequent 2-3 day vacations will become more popular during the spring and summer months. Presently, most bookings are made within a week or even less of the travel date, with a surge in searches for long weekends.

When are some upcoming weekends to take a thirst trip?

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• March 3–5, as rates this weekend are expected to be the lowest

• March 17–19 for St. Patrick’s Day 

• April 7–9 for Easter Weekend

• May 12–14 for Mother’s Day 

If you’re looking for more weekend travel inspiration, consider our top picks for a glamping experience, or browse our travel destination guides on Next Stop. Any excuse to take a Friday off to scratch my travel itch is just what the travel agent prescribed to cure my anxious woes.