Would you fly 11 hours for 7 nights?

[rear]

We want to do a Safari in Zimbabwe or Botswana. We have a week's annual leave, and are not particularly interested in hanging around after the safari. The bonus is that there is only 2 hours time difference.

So we are looking at flying into Johannesburg and doing the safari from there. At a max we can do 8 nights if we fly out late Friday and back over Sunday night into the Monday. We'd probably fly in premium rather than economy.

I went to LA for 5 nights last year, no problem. If you can sleep on a plane you'll be fine.

I would definately.

Bear in mind that most of the travel involves travelling to the airport, waiting to check in, waiting to board, waiting to get suitcase at other end and then transport to your destination. Thats where the bulk of the time is spent. Adding a few hours to the flight time makes hardly any difference - in fact, I've start going further afield on this very basis.

Have a lovely holiday.

Yes, of course. A week's stay is a week's stay, which is a decent amount of time.

I have done similar and more - 5 hours each way of my travel time occurs even if it's a short flight anyway (2 hours drive, an hour to park, find shuttle bus, get stuck in traffic, 2 hours check in the security) well if my local airport has the destination I can save a couple of hours as the car park is walking distance to terminal and it's only 40 minutes drive.

Anyway just because it's 10 hours makes less difference than you think but is more tiring

Well, I flew 7 hours a couple of weeks ago for 7 nights for work. Economy.

I did 11 hours plus a 90 minute connection to a previous 10 day work event (flew business when it was the older upright seats so equivalent of premium economy these days).

And have flown 7/8 hours a number of times for 6-14 nights on the North Atlantic continent (a mix of various US states and Canada) for holidays. Mostly economy, one leg business again just before the planes were upgraded . And 90 minute connection to an 11 hour economy flight to China for sports event for teen DC, 10 day trip.

All those were cutting straight across so time zone differences.

DH used to do Jo'burg frequently and always in economy - 2 weeks there and 2 here on rotation for 4 years. He found that much easier once he figured out sleeping on the plane than going sideways across timezones. Eye mask on and podcasts in headphones so at least properly resting even if not sleeping - 1 glass of wine to relax but otherwise drink water.

Of course! I know role who work between London and Joburg and do that trip twice a month. There isn’t even a big time difference.

I once did 5 nights in Tokyo and would do it again.

It is nice to stay longer but sometimes you just need to work with what you have got!

Yep, did 14 hours to Phuket over Christmas for 6 nights. Would happily do it again.

Generally no, but I would, and have done, if I was travelling to Southern Africa. It’s the jet lag that I struggle with so no issues when not changing time zones. Have a wonderful time.

I generally like to stay 1 night for every hour of flight time but in this case since there isn't much time difference, I'd do it.

I'd fly 11 hours for two nights of sun at the moment😆

Yes absolutely! Just pop a sleeping pill on the way over and you’ll be fine!

Yes, and there’s barely any time difference, so even better.

Because I’d just had a baby and didn’t want to leave her for too long, I went to LA for 2 nights, essentially one day for a wedding. Was fine, and that’s further with a lot of jet lag.

enjoy your trip!

Yep, and no time difference (I think), so easy for your body clock to cope and you don't miss a day sleeping

Yes absolutely! It’s not even like you have to worry about adjusting to local time either.

Definitely yes

No, we have a long haul rule - 3 weeks minimum. And short-haul, 1 week min.

Yes I would. Not with young children though! Enjoy op 😊

Only for something such as to visit a sick relative, or perhaps at a push to a similar timezone.

Last time I went to Phuket it was 12 hours (from London)?!

We flew to BC for skiing at half term...to Kelowna via Vancouver - think the LHR to Vancouver leg was about 10...so yes, and it was definitely worth it!

It was just my husband and me though - wouldn't have done it with small children.

Yes, especially as SA is a similar time zone to the UK.

Maybe for Africa where the time difference is minimal. Not to the Americas or Asia. I went to the US west coast for a week for work once and it was hell. I'd just got over 8 hours of jet-lag and then had to reverse it, and that was with somebody else paying.