Travel/vacation question: do you prefer weekend getaways or long PTO burns?
Justin Johnson
12 replies
The pandemic was a temporary event but curious if the disruption it caused (i.e. remote work) has resulted in a permanent shift in how people think about vacations?
I've had some initial conversations with folks and found that people are taking more long weekend trips b/c they can work from wherever on Th and Fri then enjoy the destination over the weekend. Also way more affordable then 1-2 week vacations.
There's the big difference if you're going abroad but could this be a way to discover more domestic cities? If there was a tool that curates the best weekend getaways (talking hidden gems not tourist traps), would that make it easier / more appealing?
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Rich Watson@richw
weekend warrior
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Hello! I have to go on a 2-week trip next week and I want to take a break from life and the city. I love comfort, and with flights it is sometimes difficult. The business classes are expensive everywhere, but I got a good discount on this https://voyagu.com/destinations/... business class flights to ireland which made me happy. This site is a real find for me the best option, because now I can fly everywhere at a normal price
@emma_parker2 Thanks for the insight! Very interesting service here, havent heard of voyagu. Business is always nice but definitely agree it can get really expensive. Any other travel services you really like?
Both have their charms.
I wouldn't call short getaways a vacation, but they have been very important to break the routine and jump on little adventures. These usually involve exploring the nearby destinations and being more flexible / spontaneous. I love them because due to their short and unpredictable nature they are more about being here and now, enjoying the moment, seizing the opportunities. Some disadvantages could be that the commuting to the destination can take a relatively big portion of the whole trip as well as some sightseeings might not be operating at the time of arrival or that some great locations might not get discovered.
On the other hand, longer trips are usually better planned ahead with a better overview and execution of a whole program. Those allow you to relax more and emerce one deeper in the culture space of the destination. However after a certain time, staying in the same location can become too familiar and rub off the feeling of newness.
I personally find that 5 days is an optimal number for me as prolonged stays wear of freshness and excitement. So I would rather have 4 different trips a year than one or two long ones. Weekend getaways are still a great way to add to the overall sense of adventure. Once a month or any other months not to overdo it.
@santalo great perspective. The time to get somewhere definitely plays a role. Especially with planning. People don't want to spend four days planning a four day vacation.
One other interesting idea is the stress aspect. I've found that with weekend trips, I can go somewhere on a Thurs, taking some calls Friday then enjoy the weekend away. Without the backlog of emails and meetings that pile up with a longer trip. Granted, this requires the flexibility with work.
For me, it doesn’t matter how long the trip will be, the main thing is that it be comfortable, and now after the pandemic restrictions, I want to fly to Europe as much as possible, and business class tickets to europe are easily booked by agents with Business Class Consolidator at good prices, and thanks to this, I can plan more trips for the year.
@garry_lirk Good point. Comfort is a tricky word though because it means something different to everybody. Out of curiosity, how would you define it as it relates to travel? Business class is a good example.
I love different trips. I recently vacationed in Palma de Mallorca. When I arrived at the airport, I had to use the map https://palmaairportpmi.com/map because I'm not very good with the terrain. Thanks to her, I found all the places I needed, such as currency exchange and places to eat
@jessica_milligan Airport maps are a new thing to think about. I always just wander around until I find what I'm looking for but having an easily accessible map native in an app I'm already using...interesting! Thanks