Do you prefer a Long-weekend or extended vacations?
 

I have 3 weeks of vacation a year, and wanted people's input on if it is better to do a long (2+ weeks) vacation each year, or do several 4-day weekends. I have always been a long-weekend type of guy, but want to know what others do.

I just got back from a 3-week vacation. Hadn't taken off more than 2-weeks at a time since I got back from maternity leave when I had my son (who just turned 20). Usually those 2-weeks were split between a week visiting grandparents, and a week real vacation. Sometimes we've done a week or 10 days, plus a number of long weekends. Anyway, since I got back to work, people have been telling me how relaxed and happy I look. Never heard that before. If you can do two or three weeks at a time, AND YOU MAKE IT A TRUE VACATION, it is well worth it. Projects actually got done while I was gone (usually someone says, wait..it'll keep 'til "ohoh" gets back). I still feel relaxed and I've been home now for two weeks. Of course a lot may have to do with the kids being grown up an on their own! We now remember WHY we got married in the first place.

Hey ohoh, I'm going to be celebrating my 20th anniversary soon. We'll be going away for 5 nights, no kids. Do you think we have a prayer of remembering why we got married after only 5 days? Our kids are under 12.

Phil, <BR> <BR>I suppose it depends on your intentions and circumstances. I definitely agree with ohoh and metoo that if your goal is to relax and de-stress, the more continuous time off the better--minimum 10 days. Also, if you are traveling to a place or region that demands/deserves more than a quick look, you'll obviously be more satisfied by taking a long vacation. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, if you love your job to the extent it's always a joy to be there, and you don't need any de-stressing--I can see where you might get more bang for your buck with a greater number of shorter vacations. <BR> <BR>As for me, I am still fantasizing about that elusive sabbatical--the mystical 3-6 MONTHS off.

Yes, the 6 month sabbatical is a goal for many of us. I enjoy my job enough to not always need the break, but I do noticed that I am not truly relaxed until about 3 days into my vacations.

I try to do both. We plan at least one week or 10 days that is truly a getaway. It can be a trip to the Carribean or a road trip but definitely involves travel and new sights. Then we do several long weekends. <BR>The extended vacation lets us see new sights and travel to a different area of the country/world. It also is truly a period of time away from work. <BR>The long weekends are more pick-me-ups. And sometimes they can me more relaxing than an extended trip because they're less stressful. Like a weekend near the lake or in a close city. <BR>They serve different purposes and I find both useful. <BR>I'd hate the idea of using all my vacation time in one fell swoop and then not having any time away for the rest of the year.

We like to do it both ways. The extended trips are generally reserved for family vacations, usually the three kids can not tolerate longer than two weeks. The long weekends, with a few exceptions, are generally just the two of us. I spent a month in Europe last summer--two weeks with my teenage duaghter and my husband and two younger sons joined us for another two weeks--that was waaay too long with kids.

Are you being paid to write an article for someone? this seems like you are doing research and I also wonder if you wrote the other post about vacations and how much to spend. Why don't you decide what type of vacation YOU prefer why do you care what strangers prefer for their vacation?!

Dear Wondering: Last time I checked, this was a public message board geared towards travel. I think my post was very appropriate. <BR> <BR>A tip for you. If you don't like a thread, simply move on to the next one and don't waste anyone's time. It works quite well.

What is the preoccupation on this site with people who think everyone is a writer, etc.? Who do they think these "writers" are going to credit these quotes to "[email protected] prefers two weeks of vacation while [email protected] loves to take long weekends"? Editors love that!

Phil--Since you asked. . .Like many folks, it's hard for me to decompress. The first two days I spend fretting about projects I left at work, and the last two days I spend anticipating the whirlwind that awaits when I return. It's those blessed days in the middle that are truly refreshing and relaxing, so the longer the better. Any extra days also provide time to just relax and kick back, after allowing for travel time and seeing the local sights. BTW, I envy your three weeks of vacation. I get two, and we're discouraged from taking *all* that time at once.

We like to do them both, but I preferably prefer long vacations at least 6-7 days off. Long weekends can be nice too. Maybe if you break it up, maybe save 1 week for long weekends and take the other 2 weeks as a extended vacation!

It all depends on where I am going. If flying, I will generally try to make it at least 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. If driving, I take mostly shorter trips to the beach, mountains, D.C, etc, but I did drive on a historic tour for nine days last year. For the most part, I try to use at least a week's vacation time to go Europe, Mexico, or some other far away place, and then I use the rest for either a long family vacation or shorter trips.

I agree with people not reading what doesn't interest them. I posted a question on another thread and was attacked, called names etc. If you don't like the question, don't read or reply! Speaking for myself I have answered many questions in the short time I have been visiting this site and feel I've earned the right to ask a few of my own. It's nice to read a thought provoking question. Also, it could be days before reading a question that is relevant to you! At least we can respond to questions that are relevent to everyone. Thank you Phil. <BR> <BR>To answer the question, I take as much as I can get, but have never been away longer than 12 days (on a business related trip). Its very difficult with my husband's job for him to get away from work. He has 5 weeks of vacation and typically uses only 1. In the past he has even flown home in the middle of vacation if he's in the middle of contract negotiations and it's awful! It's our dream to take a 2 week vacation and am looking forward to it someday. People I know who have done that and longer say that don't really, truly relax until the second week.