Quick Trip to Europe
 

I was just wondering what would be the shortest trip you would consider taking to Europe from the US? How long and where? I read an article in the local paper about the continued shrinkage in American vacation time and that prompted this question. I personally wouldn't go for less than 3 full days/nights and I'd stay put in one city. In fact, I have taken several trips of this duration (Paris, Rome, Vienna) when things were too hectic at work and home to get away longer.

No less than six weeks for me. [:D] Alice

I wouldn't go for less than 2 weeks. This is always a sticking point between Mrs. Fly and me. She likes shorter vacations--7 to 10 days or so.

We once took a "long weekend" trip to Paris from the East Coast--we were supposed to arrive on a Friday morning and come back on Monday, which theoretically gave us three full days in Paris (we had been there several times before, so we didn't need to work in all the first-line must-sees).

Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. . . As we were getting ready to leave, the airline called. Our flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem with the plane. Instead of a direct flight that got us in early in the morning, we were rerouted through Atlanta, where we had a long layover. We arrived in Paris late Friday afternoon, so we didn't even have much of the day left. So it was more like two days in Paris.

I won't do that again. Four days is the least I would do in Europe (just to give myself that contingency day) and even then it would have to be a destiation that I was not visiting for the first time.

My very short trips have been on business. I am assuming London, for other destinations, I would have to add at least a half a day because of flight times.

My shorest trips, and I have done several of these, is to fly on a Sunday night, hopefully get a few hours sleep on the fight

Day 1: get there in the morning, shower, change and spend the day in meetings. Have an "out of body" experience at about 3-4 pm that afternoon. Drink coffee until it goes away. Must have a glass of wine at 5pm to get second wind. Go out to dinner that night and get to bed about midnight

Day 2: Feel a bit out of it in the morning, but gather enthusiam as the day progresses. Dinner that night. Force myself to sleep at midnight

Day 3: Full day of meetings and then early drinks with pals. To the airport for the 9pm return flight. Do some duty free shopping at LHR. Watch movies, dine and, at some point between London and Greenland, fall asleep. Wake at 11:30pm Toronto time (4:30 London time) as we are preparing to land.

Next day: DON'T drive the car!

I have done a couple of trips where I flew out on the evening of day 2, but generally try to avoid those unless absolutely necessary.

In general, I like to have at least three nights. I do trips like that frequently and I relish the experiences. With no checked baggage and no learning curve to deal with in a place like Paris, I'm on my way into the city while most people are still waiting for their baggage.

Trying to carve out weeks at a time is far more disruptive and costly. Although we've done some of those trips in the past, the short duration mode is much easier to manage. It provides many wonderful "events" spread throughout the year, instead of just one or two long trips with long waits in between.

There are great benefits to frequent travel and after years of experience, our trips are based on an entirely different set of economics today than they were when we traveled less often. Contingencies? We hope for them! These seem to be more likely on the return trips and I provide for the possibility of things coming up. On several trips, we've been able to collect more in future travel benefits than the cost of the trip to begin with. Other times it has been greatly defrayed.

In summary, short duration trips to Europe make for an interesting lifestyle that can be very cost-effective for people who have a good understanding of recurring patterns and the impact of certain events in the travel industry. Knowing how the system works and how take the best advantage of opportunities can provide far more rich and rewarding experiences then many people may imagine. (You'll just have to get used to those incredulous looks from others who are holding themselves back, for whatever reasons they may have.)

Fortunately, I have tons of vacation time. I don't like to go for less than 10 days, anymore. 2 weeks is about perfect, 3 weeks is pushing it. (Simply because I know work is going to be AWFUL when I get back.) Lots of my business travel is a day, two max, and sometimes cross-country. On vacation, I want to relax and enjoy myself.)

Who's paying for it? If it's free, I'll go for three nights. But I don't want to buy the plane tickets or use up the FF miles for such a short trip. Two weeks is the shortest I've ever done, five months the longest (twice).

Real life example: Two weeks ago, I was returning from Paris on a $400 ticket for which I was getting more than 20K FF miles. I value FF miles at 1.5 cents each, so my net cost of airfare at that point is about $100 -- but I pick up a $300 credit off a three-hour bump on the last (domestic) leg. At that point, the question of "Who's paying for it?" becomes all but irrelevant. Even without the bump credit, it's not much of a luxury in terms of cost if a person intends to keep on traveling anyway.

I do mostly 2-week or 5- to 6-week trips, but have done a few long weekends and loved them. Especially to London from the East Coast. It's no worse than flying to California and so much more fun. So I would say four nights is my minimum. Less than that and I can't justify the airfare or the hassle of packing, about which I am somewhat obsessive.

Most of my trips to London and Paris have been long weekends (3 nights) from the East Coast. I have been able to do several 2 week trips to Europe and those were great (and hope to do another this June), but I have limited vacation time and can't spend it all in Europe. The long weekends have been a great way to be there without having to take much time off (sometimes just one day). I find that we can see and do a lot with three days in one city, and it is totally worth it to go for the short time.

My very best trips have been about 3 weeks long, but like uhohbusted, it's awful when I get home. I fall into a severe depression afterward!!

Then again, my next trip is to London & Paris--4 nights each. Although I have been to both places many times before, I am looking at my itinerary thinking, "This is kinda rushed!" So many restaurants, so little time. sigh.

We fly from the west coast so don't go for less than a week. It's a time thing.

When we get a deal, we'll go over for a week, but when we plan a "trip," we usually go for four to six weeks and I'd be happy to go for a couple months.

My shortest trips have been 4 nights in London (in addition to all night on plane) and 5 in Paris. Both worked out well; the shorter flight to London and only 5 hrs. time difference leaves me much less jet lagged than going to Paris, but that won't stop me from going to Paris! Five nights is probably the least I'd do, though.

I just recently went on two long weekend trips when I spent two nights each. (Arrived Saturday morning and left Monday.)

A bit tiring, but I'd do it again.

Back in the days of Aer Lingus $299 for air/hotel I'd go for long weekends to visit friends, leaving Boston on Thursday nights and returning Monday morning, quite frequently. I don't think I'd consider going anywhere for that short a time to places I'd never been before, but love doing so in cities I just need a quick fix of (Paris, Dublin, Edinburgh).

I'm taking my shortest trip next week - flying to Paris Wednesday and spending four nights. I'd definitely love to stay longer, but four nights in Paris is better than none!

From the east coast, with a direct flight, Paris, London, Ireland are easy for a quick 3 nighter. Of course, I would prefer spending a week, but my time off from work is limited. I have done the 3 I mentioned and Paris is by far the best.

The short trips I've taken were all off-season, last-minute, very cheap fares....usually leave Thursday...come back Monday.

I am getting ready for my 3rd trip to Europe in 5 months. Each vacation is 2 weeks since I have to travel from California. The shortest has been 6 days. I could go for 4 days without a problem. I am fortunate to earn 7 weeks of vacation per year. I really feel that we would better off with more vacation time. As soon as I get back from one vacation, I am planning the next one.

I've read similar articles about the lack of vacation time and also I have read about people who have vacation and don't take it!