When I travel to a restful destination, it usually takes about 48 hours for me to truly unwind and start to enjoy the relaxing island pace.

How long does it take you to synchronize with island time? If you're only staying a week, it's not good if it takes 2 or 3 days to settle in because you then only have a short time in which to enjoy the new you.

It takes me 4 to 5 days to decompress and you're right when you only have a week it's a bummer.

For me 24 hours tops, a good nights rest after the long day of travel and I'm good to go. When you only have a week, have to make the most of it. I have a very stressful job (medical profession) and can't waste days of my vacation trying to de-stress. Leave it home when you go. The same problms will be there when you go back

Usually, I start unwinding the next day. Waking up in the Carribean, having morning coffee on the balcony and spending the 1st full day just relaxing on the beach does it for me.

It all depends. If it's just the hubby and me, by the end of the 1st full day, I'm 100% relaxed. The view of the sea, sound of the sea, the smell of the sea, the laid back atmosphere, the food... they all do it for me.
If we're with our toddler, I'm definitely happier and maybe 90% relaxed. How can I be totally relaxed with a little one??

I start to unwind after a day or so, but I don't truly feel like I am "there" until after the 3rd or 4th day. Unfortunately, I believe it takes that long both physically and mentally for one to realize they are in paradise and all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Sometimes it feels as though right when you really begin to be "one" with island time, its time to go home. Our cure: we found a way to tack on a couple extra days to our week vacation!

I'm lucky - as soon as I step off the plane and feel that Caribbean air, I'm on island time. Unfortunately, my husband takes 3 or 4 days to get into the swing of things, so I now try to schedule ten days rather than a week.