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European holidays, are you a one week or a two week fan?

47 replies

iCod · 05/08/2026 12:52

Of course, any short haul holiday the answer is 10 days, but with this not really widely available in a package set up (aware you can do your own thing), which do you prefer? I love day six of a holiday and you're all relaxed ready to go home.

The idea of staying for two weeks strikes me is a little bit boring but I am very easily bored.
I think in my six week teacher holidays, I'd rather do two weeks of holiday/activities/trips rather than one solid two weeks stretch.

(I haven't got any kids at home anymore.)

OP posts:
minipie · 05/08/2026 12:53

I like two weeks but not in the same place. Change of scene half way through.

WallaceinAnderland · 05/08/2026 12:59

10 days is enough for me and most packages are flexible enough to allow this now.

(edited as hit post too soon)

LemonSnail · 05/08/2026 13:02

I usually do a week to nine days. When my DC were younger we’d often go on a stay and cruise or cruise and stay holiday and they were perfect for us. So a few days in Rome then 10 days on a ship or a week cruise and a week in a hotel in Turkey etc.
I think I’ve only done two fortnight holidays in the same place, one in Corfu and one in Egypt both with lots of excursions.
With Tui etc you can book the exact number of nights you want with most of their accommodation.

ginasevern · 05/08/2026 15:28

Two weeks without doubt. In fact I never want to come home from holiday. The thought of returning to a routine fills me with overwhelming dread. Having said that I did try to cut short my stay in Torremolinos in 1982 (I could write a short story about that). And I actually did cut short my holiday in Malta circa 1985 and got a ferry to Sicily after 5 days.

TheOctopus · 05/08/2026 15:36

With Jet2 and TUI you can choose any number of nights to most destinations.
We used to do two weeks but once DC were teens that became too long and we mostly did 10 days unless it was a two centre trip.
I don't like early morning flights so often do 8 nights on an afternoon flight. Instead of staying at an airport hotel my first night is at resort.

stackhead · 05/08/2026 15:39

Depends on the holiday!

5 nights is perfect for me on an all inclusive fly-and-flop holiday.

2 nights is good for a city break.

6-8 nights for something more active or for a mixture of fly-and-flop & city.

Two weeks is too long for me, i'd rather do 2, 1 week breaks.

Cuppachuchu · 05/08/2026 15:40

My optimum is 5 nights. Jet2 let you do this.
Any longer and I get bored/backache/sick of the food.

Sartre · 05/08/2026 15:40

Depends what you’re doing. City breaks are best over 4-7 days ime. Some cities are genuinely small enough to see everything in 4 days like Prague definitely was and Krakow. Lovely places but no need to be there any longer than that.

Happymchappyface · 05/08/2026 15:41

I like 2 weeks but we have a cat who HATES us going away. Starts to refuse food :( so we limit ourselves to one week.

craicandcats · 05/08/2026 15:43

10 days is the best I think, enough time to fully settle in and enjoy yourself but not too long that you get bored

WorstPaceScenario · 05/08/2026 15:43

Two weeks, with the caveat that we don't remain in the same place for the entire fortnight. Also, I'm not a pool/beach holiday person so there's generally a lot of trips and activities to keep me busy

MsRubee · 05/08/2026 15:44

2 weeks. More if possible!

ffsgloria · 05/08/2026 15:44

10 days is good for us. You can specify number of nights on package holidays we've been on.

Itiswhysofew · 05/08/2026 15:45

I've Just done 3 nights in Amsterdam, which was more than enough for me. I get very twitchy and just want to go home. I can manage a week in a more sedate location, but am always glad to leave.

Overtheatlantic · 05/08/2026 15:46

We have a cat and we don’t go anywhere for more than 6 days. I couldn’t bear the stress.

HelenHywater · 05/08/2026 15:47

I like 3 but I don't go to just one place. I always go and travel around somewhere. If I go to just one place then the longest I do is 4-5 days over a weekend usually. (and even then might do 2 different locations) . I can't imagine staying 7 days in one location tbh.

BlackBean2023 · 05/08/2026 15:48

I’m on day 6 of a week - we come home tomorrow and it’s been just the right length for us.

we normally do 10 days and it’s too long for me.

I’d love to be able to a week away, a week at home and then another week away - maybe next year!

MeAndMyGhost · 05/08/2026 15:50

One week because I like to try out multiple places and two weeks+ uses up all my leave.

FloneTank · 05/08/2026 15:50

"one place" - 1 week
"Multiple places" - 2 weeks

Twiglets1 · 05/08/2026 15:52

I like 9 or 10 days and it's often possible to pick.

2 weeks is too long unless long haul.

1 week is too short, unless we're with other people in which case it's long enough!

FloneTank · 05/08/2026 15:54

DS did a friend holiday to a place we later did a family holiday to the next month. He feels he's completed that city now

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 05/08/2026 16:02

My fave is 5&5 - a 5 day city break followed by 5 days AI. Barcelona followed by an "internal" £9 flight to Tenerife was the best!

IdentifyingAsAWoollyMammoth · 05/08/2026 16:06

I'm 52 and never had more than a week on holiday. Work (mine or a partner's) or finances (ditto) never allowed for it. I'd love to do ten days but suspect two weeks I'd be bored unless it was twin-centred (say, one week sightseeing and one week beach). As probably not having any holiday this year now, I'd settle for 5 days in a beach!

TheAnnoyingSatsuma · 05/08/2026 16:07

I’m partial to 3-weeks. A few days slow travel to destination, 10-14 days in one place or with side trips, then head home by a fast routing.
If you are paying a lot to actual travel somewhere, better make it worthwhile.

Sgtmajormummy · 05/08/2026 16:14

I get tired easily so I’d rather stretch outings to every second day over 2 weeks.