Why 14-night holidays are better for you

Find out why a two-week holiday beats a one-week break.

Shorter holidays are a great way to pack in some time away on a limited schedule. However, while short breaks remain popular, the benefits of a long holiday shouldn’t be overlooked. One study from the University of California found that a minimum of six days are required to reduce work-related tension. So, if you’re looking to relax and reduce that stress cycle you find yourself caught in, take a look at our long-break deals and be inspired by our suggestions below.

Let go of everything and relax

It can take a long time to properly switch off from routine, stress and everyday life – especially when you’ve only got a few days to explore a new city. A 14-night holiday, however, provides the perfect amount of time to remind your mind and body that it’s ok to relax. You’ll find that you’re also likely to care less about the trivial aspects of our life and let go. After all, you’re on holiday – it’s what you came for, right? Prolonging this attitude for as long as possible enables you to recharge and slip into a new routine consisting of pool, beach, sleep. Even better, if you choose a spa hotel, you’ll have a huge treatment menu to pick from to help you forget any worries. TUI BLUE Sensatori Akra Fethiye, for example, is nestled away in a forest setting and comes complete with a peaceful spa that offers a range of massages and a Turkish bath. There are also five pools to dip into, including an adults-only number and a children's splash pool.

Master a new skill

Learning a new skill is said to take 20 hours. A 14-night holiday, then, gives you plenty of time to become a pro – whether it’s perfecting your tennis swing or mastering your windsurfing stance. Or, you might just want to have enough time to try a bit of everything. ROBINSON clubs offer over 50 weekly activity classes that cover everything from sports to cookery and art. We’ve got top instructors on hand too, so you’ll have all the tips you need. ROBINSON Khao Lak, for instance, not only has an on-the-beach postcode, but offers up a host of archery, badminton, paddle-boarding and water polo to keep you busy.

Give yourself more time to explore

When you’ve flown all the way to a new destination, it’s worth putting aside enough time to get to know it properly, and tick off everything on your must-see list. Places like Thailand, Mexico and Costa Rica offer so much more than beaches, so you’ll need a few weeks to cover them off. If you do want to squeeze some relaxation in, though, why not put the first week aside for chilling at the pool and pencil any activities in for the second week? A perfect place to experience the best of both worlds is Vietnam. Explore its famous rice terraced paddies, buzzing street markets and colour-popping temples for a week, before spending the next seven days with your feet up on some of the world’s most stunning beaches in Phu Quoc with a Multi-Destination holiday.

Make it worth the long-haul flight

Some people are pros at beating jet lag. Others, not so much. If you fall into the latter group, going away for 14 nights gives you more time to recover before going out and about to explore your destination. Touch down in St Lucia, for instance, and you’ll have plenty of time to sail around the Piton Mountains, swim with turtles, dip in the Diamond waterfalls and laze about on tropical sands.

Feeling inspired?

Check out the best places for beach and culture, or brush up on the best summer holiday destinations in Europe.

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Author: Lucy Perrin

Last updated: 28.07.2022