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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Long Haul for 7 nights

32 replies

askeywy · 17/05/2023 09:56

Would I be crazy to go long haul for 7 nights?

Want to go away somewhere tropical like the Maldives or the Caribbean, but only have 7 nights off work.

OP posts:
jackstini · 17/05/2023 09:57

Do it. Just sleep on the plane!
Plenty of people do New York for a long weekend. I've done California for 4 nights!

WildFlowerBees · 17/05/2023 10:04

Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia are closest 9 hours or just under. If you take an early morning flight out and a later flight on the way back you'll not lose too much time but really it's probably going to be a 5 day break. If you're able to withstand the travel time etc do it. Find a hammock a book and a nice drink and have a fab time!

Mamadothehump · 17/05/2023 10:05

Do it! We went to the Caribbean for 7 nights with children age 12, 10 & 8 at the time and all had a great time. Definitely worth it.

Hadenough2022 · 17/05/2023 10:24

We went to Mexico for a week the online issue was jet lag on Monday morning was a bit much for me

BitOutOfPractice · 17/05/2023 10:25

Perfectly doable. Have a lovely time!

Bluesclues1 · 17/05/2023 10:27

Completely doable. I’ve done Vegas for 3 nights before. Lots of people I know get off a long haul flight and go straight into work the morning they land (from holiday, not a business trip)

You just have to try and not let the jet lag get the better of you!

Chypre · 17/05/2023 10:30

Mauritius is 12h non-stop flight yet only 3hrs time difference so no jet lag. Maldives are 4hrs difference, but Mauritius can be much more affordable.

cattygorically · 17/05/2023 10:31

We do Mauritius for a week every year.

Just done 6 nights in Brazil too. Small time difference and direct flights make it much much easier

TeapotCollection · 17/05/2023 10:35

Some friends of ours went to the Maldives earlier in the year and door to door the journey was 21 hours so you might want to avoid that, unless you can get a direct flight (they couldn’t, went via Turkey)

Silkierabbit · 17/05/2023 10:44

It's definitely doable and if that's all the time you have would go for it. We did Maldives for 8 nights last year, direct flights with BA though you then need a boat or seaplane to resort but both are scenic and more like part of holiday. Maldives is very resort based and personally found 8 nights enough.

Sd352 · 17/05/2023 10:48

It’s fine — I have had to go to the US for weddings just for the weekend multiple times, long weekends to india to see family, and back to work immediately. 7 nights is great!

Wakemeup17 · 17/05/2023 10:51

I had to do East Coast for two nights in the middle of the working week. Seven nights will be OK :)

UnaLaguna · 17/05/2023 10:55

I wouldn't personally, I've done West Coast Canada for 7 days for work and I just spend half the time feeling grotty. Your mileage might vary. It depends as much on time difference as well as travel time imo.

maranella · 17/05/2023 11:21

It's perfectly doable OP. I'd keep the time difference to a minimum, if you can, but it honestly doesn't matter if you're planning a relaxing holiday when you get there. A lot of people travel over the Atlantic for work or personal reasons for only 2 or 3 nights and if that's okay (I've done it myself several times) then 7 nights would be a breeze!

meatbaseddessert · 17/05/2023 11:41

Why not. Just be disciplined about sleep times so keep to your destination bed times and wake times.

I've been to SFO many times for a long weekend and a friend recently flew to Australia for three days for a wedding!

I'm a regular flier between NZ and London and as long as I stay awake for a proper bed time at my destination I'm totally fine next day.

suburbophobe · 17/05/2023 11:46

I've been to Jamaica for a week several times.

Feels like I've been away for a month! Love it.

yoga4meinthemorning · 17/05/2023 11:48

Go to South Africa so you don't have a time difference

DaniFar · 17/05/2023 11:51

We're going to Orlando for a week so yeah I'd definitely do it

Lcb123 · 17/05/2023 11:51

We went to Mauritius last year, and no jet leg as only few hours difference. Might be good option as also direct flights (overnight) so you can get back to work without suffering!

aprilshowers2015 · 17/05/2023 11:57

Cape Verde could be a good compromise, the weather and resorts are all comparable with the Carribean but it's a 5/6 hour flight and a 2 hour time difference

Passerillage · 17/05/2023 12:00

It'll be fine. Just be prepared for a grim day when you get back!

We're going long haul for half term to visit DH's family and we're not going to try to regulate our jetlag too much when we're there, and we accept that Monday is going to be absolutely appalling (we depart Sunday night, land at Heathrow on Monday morning). I think we have more like 9 nights because we're skipping the Friday and Monday of school.

xelous · 17/05/2023 12:06

Do it! We're going to the Maldives next year for 6 nights and plan to do the Caribbean the year after for 7/8!

Ihavekids · 17/05/2023 12:11

Depends when you're going and whether or not you can get what you want closer to home? If it's June or Sept for example the beaches in northern Sardinia are just as beautiful as the Caribbean... when are you going?

Also, long haul flights eat up more budget than short ones, I'd always prefer cash to go on sweet hotel rather than flights... if budget is a consideration of course!

coolnice · 17/05/2023 12:16

We're going to the Bahamas for 7 days which is a 9 hour flight and not worried, our plan is to mostly chill the whole time anyway

We did LA for 7 days a few years ago and was fine.
Took off from London 8am and Landed at about 2/4pm LA time iirc . I Was very tired by ten pm but normal the next day. Felt a bit rough the day after we came home but nothing too bad

Then a few year ls later we went to New York for just 5 days and was fine - did not have any jet lag

Do it !

eurochick · 17/05/2023 14:39

We've done the Maldives for a week four times. It's very different to travelling for work as you don't have a timetable when you get there.

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