Stretch & Take Flight

In a world where paid time off (PTO) and money are hard to come by, a 4-night trip is all you need for a perfect vacation.

It’s no secret. I am a traveler. There’s nothing I love more than exploring new places, new food, and new cultures. I am often asked by my friends and family ‘When or where is your next trip?’ People ask me travel questions all the time. Even though I am not the most well-traveled person in the world by a long shot, I have picked up a few things in my decade of travel.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned about travel? You only need 4 nights away from home to truly enjoy a trip.

My personal idea of a vacation is at least seven nights. I need to have forgotten my work passwords by the time I get back. For places I visit regularly like Miami, Las Vegas, or Atlanta, two easy nights work for me. I’ve already done all of the tourists traps in those cities so now when I visit, I can relax and enjoy the real city.

It’s no secret that Americans live to work and barely get health insurance, let alone days off work. Through my years in corporate, I’ve learned to get crafty with my PTO. I’ve strategized holiday weekends, summer Friday’s, and even sick hours to make sure I’m compensated while enjoying my time away.

It took years of experience and learning how to effectively travel before I was able to get to this conclusion. So why is a four night vacation the ideal length?

It feels longer than a weekend

You ever went on a weekend trip and it feels like you never left? There is nothing worse to me than a three night trip. Going to the airport, spending hours on a flight, only to turn around three days later. You can barely relax on the beach before you have to pack your things and come home. Having that additional night makes the trip 10x better.

you can accomplish a complete travel agenda

Have you ever tried to fit a million activities in one trip? Its hard! That’s because the elements of a great trip are: time to relax, time for excursions, great food, and the option to just do nothing. In a weekend trip, you’re literally so stressed about doing everything on the agenda, you don’t get to relax. But having four nights allows for multiple days of relaxation, and fun.

if you’re not enjoying yourself, you’re not stuck there

There are actually people in the world who don’t like being away from home for long. While I personally can’t relate, I’ve heard it happens. A four day trip means you can enjoy your time away without feeling like you can’t wait to get back home. You don’t have to worry about your food going bad, being away from your pets and your kids too long, or just being off your regular schedule. You’ll be back before no time.

I’m the biggest proponent for people taking their PTO. I have friends that will only use their PTO in emergencies and one trip a year. Absolutely not.

The way the world is today, you need time to decompress from the news, work, family obligations, and just the daily stressors in life. It’s particular necessary if you’re don’t have a wellness regimen like therapy, exercising, yoga, breathwork, and the list goes on. You also need time to explore. The best thing about travel is going places you’ve never been, learning about different cultures, and trying new foods.

The good thing is you can do all of those things on a four night vacation.