Travellers Are Swapping Weekend Breaks for Longer Stays: 6 Ways to Travel Slower and Rest Better

The 48-hour city break defined travel for a generation: a cheap flight on Friday, two days of sightseeing and a dash to the airport on Sunday night. In 2026 the trend has turned towards duration, with fewer trips, longer stays and a revival of slower ways to travel, including the train and even the coach.

Your body has good reasons to prefer it. Recovering from work stress takes time, and the first days of any holiday go largely on winding down. In some studies, holiday wellbeing peaks around the eighth day. The boost tends to fade within a few weeks of coming home whatever the length of the trip, so a longer stay gives you more days at your rested best before you return. A weekend with an airport at each end can leave you more tired than when you left.

Swap three short breaks for one long stay