Holiday for how long?

OR:WHAT’s THE IDEAL VACATION LENGTH?

At the end of this month, we’ll be celebrating 20 years of Vila do Ouro. So yes, we can confidently say we’ve gained quite a bit of experience with guests over the years. One thing we’ve noticed? Most people book stays of 7 nights, and in summer often 14 nights. That makes sense: our calendar weeks are built around 7 days, which fits neatly with school, work, and family schedules. Plus, the 7-day rhythm is deeply embedded in our psyche. Since the 1970s, package holidays have typically lasted 7 nights, which really only gives you 5 full vacation days. Many accommodations follow a Saturday-to-Saturday rental model, with Saturday as the changeover day. In the Algarve, that’s quite common. Fun fact: amusement parks and water parks tend to be quietest on Saturdays.

At Vila do Ouro, we do things differently. You can arrive and depart on any day, as long as it fits our planning and meets the minimum stay requirement. The advantage? You’re not tied to the 7-14-21 night strategy, and you can often find cheaper flights on weekdays. The downside? If you’re trying to coordinate with another accommodation, Saturday might not be available here. That’s why we don’t use an online booking system—we prefer to personally coordinate with our guests to find dates that work best for both sides.

So, what’s the best vacation length—psychologically speaking?

Here’s what we’ve observed: guests who stay 7 nights often don’t want to leave. Those who stay 14 nights frequently tell us the second week flew by just as they were settling into the holiday rhythm. And guests who stayed for 3 weeks? They were by far the most relaxed and rejuvenated.

We did a bit of research and came across an interesting study by Jessica de Bloom (occupational psychologist) and Jeroen Nawijn (tourism expert). Their findings:

• Day 8 is the peak: People are happiest on the eighth day of their vacation. After that, happiness levels remain stable but gradually decline toward the end.
• The ‘Holiday Happiness Curve’:
  • Travel phase: stress and restlessness at departure.
  • Core phase: maximum relaxation and joy.
  • Farewell phase: a slight dip as you realize it’s almost over.
  • Last day: a final boost as you try to make the most of it.
• 3 weeks is ideal: This allows you to move through all phases and truly recover.
• After returning home: The vacation feeling usually fades within a week. That’s why both researchers recommend not jumping straight back into work, give yourself a little extra time to ease back in.

Why does it work this way?

• Mental detachment: The first week is often spent unwinding from work stress.
• Recovery and reflection: Week two brings deep rest.
• Preparation for return: Week three helps you mentally gear up for going back.
• Sleep comparison: De Bloom compares vacation to sleep—you need an uninterrupted stretch to truly recharge.

So… maybe keep this in mind when planning your next trip 😉. Give yourself that extra week. Your body and mind will thank you.