The solution for parents who just can’t seem to get away
My husband, the newly, self appointed “Boss of the Money,” doesn't let me go anywhere anymore. Before having Henry, we’d spend money willy-nilly without a thought to future homes, education or toys for our offspring or ourselves. Now, all that’s changed. The time’s come to grow up, save and plan, and in the process those dreamy getaways have become just that: a dream. And, while I accept the fact that Henry’s needs trump my own (namely that he gets a college fund BEFORE I get a plane ticket to sunnier climes), I continue to lament the loss of those quick but costly getaways to Thailand when I’d spend the day between spa treatments, refreshing dips, languorous naps and reading page after page of trashy mags.

So, what's a frazzled mom-on-a-budget to do when the need to escape becomes overwhelming? In all my years in Beijing, I’ve always said, "We should spend a weekend at (fill-in luxury hotel here),” but never have...until now. While the Money Nazi said "nope" to my pleas to jet off somewhere in my maniacal quest to get out of town and our child-free friends scooted off to Bali, Italy and … whatever, I hate them, I went ahead and booked a package deal for Valentine’s Day at the JW Marriott, asked our fabulous ayi if she would stay the night with Henry, and informed my husband that we were off for one night of baby-less R&R.

Talk about a great idea! The package, fittingly called "Escape", was truly an escape during an otherwise ordinary holiday. For less than USD300, we received a gorgeous room, dinner at the exquisite Asia Bistro (seafood for DAYS) and breakfast. We divided our time between two hours of muscle-melting bliss at the Quan Spa, hitting the gym, lounging by the pool, stuffing ourselves with crab legs and tropical fruit and sleeping like babies. It was divine, especially knowing that as we indulged in our hedonistic urges, our boy was just 20 minutes away.

It was, all in all, the perfect, plane-free holiday. So next time you need to get away for a day or two, do yourself a favor and book a Hometown Escape and enjoy what Beijing has to offer right in your own backyard. You’d really be surprised.

Kristen Billings