---
title: "Travellers Are Swapping Weekend Breaks for Longer Stays: 6 Ways to Travel Slower and Rest Better"
description: Why longer stays restore you more than weekend breaks, and six ways to plan slower trips, from rail and coach journeys to unscheduled days.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-10-30T16:51:53.450Z
updated: 2026-10-30T16:52:45.638Z
canonical: https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/slow-travel-6-ways-to-take-fewer-longer-trips
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-7938364.webp
categories: Mindful Travel
content_type: Feature
publication: Rich Travel Magazine
access: members
schema_type: Article
---

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](https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/men-unplugged-how-a-sabbatical-can-change-everything), 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

---

*This article is only available to registered readers. Visit the article URL to read the full piece.*