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To ask what's the ideal amount of time you like to go away on holiday for

98 replies

ThreeDaysinJune · 24/05/2026 23:10

I've just read a post from a MNetter who is going to Egypt for 28 days in January <waves at BG2015 if she sees this> Now I'm sure she'll have a fab time but it got me thinking - what's the maximum time you like being away on holiday?

For me, it's five seven nights. After that, I get homesick and just want my own bed. Anyone else get homesick on holiday?

OP posts:
KnickerlessFlannel · 24/05/2026 23:11

10 nights in Europe
14 nights further afield
We've got 18 nights booked next year so will see how rhat goes!

LadyVioletBridgerton · 24/05/2026 23:12

We had a three week holiday last year (Florida) and it was fab. Now I’ve got that as a benchmark I’d say three weeks.

DramaAlpaca · 24/05/2026 23:13

For me, a week isn't quite long enough, two weeks is a bit too long. Ten days is perfect.

Savvysix1984 · 24/05/2026 23:14

We usually don’t go away for more than a week. Not that we don’t want to but we wouldn’t leave our dog for longer. We are lucky to be able to go on 4-5 week long holidays a year though.

WitsEnd694 · 24/05/2026 23:14

I went away for 5 weeks once. Had a fab time!
Typical we do a fortnight, but i feel that I'm only settling into holiday mode after the 2 weeks and could easily do a third 🤣

TheCurious0range · 24/05/2026 23:15

If I didn't have to work and had limitless funds the sky would be the limit. I love a two week holiday, you can really switch off and relax. I like to see plenty of things, explore etc but often come back more exhausted than I went with a week, trying to cram everything in, a fortnight is more leisurely and you don't feel like you're missing out if you spend a day laying on a beach because there's still plenty of time to do what you want

Crushed23 · 24/05/2026 23:16

To properly switch off and go into relaxation mode? 3 months minimum.

This is the length of time for which I would be able to hand my bastard work laptop and work phone in, as the time off would constitute a ‘sabbatical’ rather than annual leave.

I’m in a job where you’re expected to check work emails while away and reply for anything ‘urgent’ (and you’d be amazed at what some dickheads at my work consider urgent enough to disturb my holiday).

WitsEnd694 · 24/05/2026 23:19

Crushed23 · 24/05/2026 23:16

To properly switch off and go into relaxation mode? 3 months minimum.

This is the length of time for which I would be able to hand my bastard work laptop and work phone in, as the time off would constitute a ‘sabbatical’ rather than annual leave.

I’m in a job where you’re expected to check work emails while away and reply for anything ‘urgent’ (and you’d be amazed at what some dickheads at my work consider urgent enough to disturb my holiday).

Love the 3 months idea.

You need a new job though. That's ridiculous

PicknStick · 24/05/2026 23:38

Travelled for 10 months 20 years ago. Absolutely glorious!
Travelled Italy for 3 weeks with 2 kids under 11. Again, the best and most memorable family holiday we’ve had.

Used to always be a minimum of 2 weeks, but as costs have increased, we seem to have to make-do with 10 days :(

2chocolateoranges · 24/05/2026 23:42

Our summer holidays are normally a fortnight, I could stay longer but need to keep a a week of my holiday for some winter sun in December.

Penkie · 24/05/2026 23:46

Probably three weeks.

Two means you don't get to repeat the things you like a second or third time.

ReignOfError · 24/05/2026 23:51

Four to six weeks.

avignon1234 · 24/05/2026 23:56

Depends on so many things - long haul, not shorter than 14 otherwise there is too much plane to holiday ratio - . maybe up to 35 if moving around (insurance limits) I'd probably do a bit more ( I have done 7 weeks, missed home a bit eventually), short haul, 7 at min, 14 at most, 4-5 nights is OK for a "break". Depends on the person you are with. Also depends a bit on how many other holidays you are going to have (i.e if plenty, then shorter is OK). I am not sure that I would not knock around for a bit longer if I didn't have people that need me back home, but I think it takes a different mindset, it isn't a holiday anymore, it is travelling. I think there are grades of people that go away from 1) holiday-maker, thru 2) tourist, then 3) traveller, then a 4) more extreme version of traveller, then 5) expedition / pioneer type traveller. I know I will never be 5)

ThreeStripeQueen · 25/05/2026 00:05

It depends on the holiday, I don’t know how anyone goes to an AI type place for more than 5 nights. A week is bordering on too much for me.
However loads of people said we could ‘do’ New York in three nights, I’ve been twice, once for a week and again for ten nights and I’d go back for a month and still love it and could go again and again. I feel the same about lots of other cities.

tartyflette · 25/05/2026 00:15

We go to southern Spain every end December to end-January - away for four to five weeks and I absolutely love it.
i find January in England very difficult, it’s cold and very dark and even the very first signs of Spring are six to eight weeks away.
Spending the whole month plus a couple of days somewhere much lighter (an extra two to three hours of daylight each day) and warmer is wonderful. It’s usually quite dry too.
So for me an ideal holiday length is four weeks. But we are retired…

Lilyhatesjaz · 25/05/2026 00:19

3 or 4 days. But I quite like a city break and I like short breaks several times a year, any longer and I just want to go home.

user1471453601 · 25/05/2026 00:19

When I was fit and retired I would usually spend at least two months every year staying in a v small Greek island.

it felt less like a holiday and more just an alternative place to live

Besidemyselfwithworry · 25/05/2026 00:23

it Depends;
uk based holiday some sort of holiday park, either a long weekend or Monday to Friday or maybe a week depending on where it is

abroad in Europe - minimum 10 days as the bulk of the price is flights and 10 days isn’t much more than paying for 7 days!

further afield like Florida at least 2 weeks!

ThreeDaysinJune · 25/05/2026 01:00

Lilyhatesjaz · 25/05/2026 00:19

3 or 4 days. But I quite like a city break and I like short breaks several times a year, any longer and I just want to go home.

At last! A like minded soul 😊

OP posts:
ScullyD · 25/05/2026 01:03

Three week minimum

britinnyc · 25/05/2026 01:16

One week is enough for me, I much prefer multiple short trips to a long one but I am also not really a fan of a beach/resort holiday anymore.

SleepingStandingUp · 25/05/2026 01:25

Honedtly depends on the budget and the plan. 28 days exploring, chilling, swimming, sightseeing with DH and kids. Yes.
28 days lying on a sun bed, no.

I think 10 generally, two weekends and the week in the middle but I'd kill for 2 weeks somewhere sunny and interesting

MarchInHappiness · 25/05/2026 01:27

I am in New Zealand, so if I ever go back to Europe to visit family/holiday I go for a month to get my moneys worth out of flights but only do that every few years as I dont like being away for too long and saving all your annual leave is tough.

All other holidays I go on are about a week.

Whataflippincircus · 25/05/2026 01:35

We used to go to Spain for 12 weeks. I was always ready to come home, my DH would have stayed for longer.

Zanatdy · 25/05/2026 05:06

We did 21 days in Florida twice when kids were young and I loved being away for so long. These days 10 days is more than enough for me