Many venues can work for a Getaway with God. The essential component is space to be alone without interruptions. My first few years of taking retreats led me to a Catholic convent. Sadly, the convent eventually came down so new homes could be built. My friends and I still grieve the loss. Fortunately, other area convents and monasteries still exist and I visit most of them.

If you are on a tight budget, a convent or retreat facility usually fits the bill for anonymity and few distractions. Check the website or call ahead to see if they serve meals and if special requests can be accommodated. Do they have a fridge available for you to bring your own meals? Is there a place to walk? Is silence the norm? A Google search for "faith-based retreat centers" can provide many options..

Sometimes, you might feel more interested in a hotel-like environment. A dear friend of mine waits for the winter hotel specials in Chicago and plans her retreat for that time. I discovered a charming bed and breakfast about an hour’s train ride from my home that became my retreat venue for a few years. Silence was not to be had, but there was a lot of quiet.

For a no-cost retreat, consider asking a friend who is gone during the day if you can use her place or trade homes with a friend for a weekend. When my children were starting school in morning programs, I asked a neighbor from church if I could use her apartment for a morning retreat while she was downtown at work. I didn’t have the luxury of an overnight or even a full day but the change of venue and close proximity created just the place I needed. 

An outside retreat at a public garden, large park, or on the beach can work in the right kind of weather for a shorter retreat. Bring along something comfortable to sit on and create your own sacred space.

One word of caution: Staying home to retreat may seem like an ideal solution. But if possible, get out of your house. Too many distractions of undone chores, ringing phones, and chicken to thaw out for dinner can derail the best of plans. If you are curious about an at-home retreat, here is a guide I wrote that may be helpful: At-Home Retreat Guide by Letitia Suk