Updated March 2020 – If you think your holidays should be longer then you’re definitely in the majority. Read on to find out how it can benefit your health.
Taking more holidays can prolong your life!
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Well here’s the news we’ve been waiting for! It’s now official that holidays do us more good than a healthy diet and exercise when it comes to relieving stress. Yes folks, holidays should be longer!! Put me on a plane somewhere warm and sunny and in a couple of days my aches and pains are a distant memory.
And what’s even better news is that we need at least 3 weeks a year. Most of us take a fortnight at a time given that we get 4 weeks statutory holiday. But don’t you find that fortnight goes all too quickly? And have you considered taking more than two weeks in one go?
Long stay holidays are perfect for retirees and being able to take term time holidays means your budget goes further.
Take some extra time for your holidays
Your ideal Winter break is probably the whole six month escape and if you already have a property abroad then why not? If, like us you don’t have that luxury, then accommodation costs will dictate the length of your stay. We keep an open schedule through the Winter months so we have the travel freedom we’ve always longed for. This allows us to tag on an extra week or month or two when we can afford it. We are now converts to the longer holiday.
Don’t get me wrong, a fortnight is great, especially if you’re still working but when you break it down it means only one clear weekend. Most people begin their journey on a Saturday and travel home on a Saturday. This means the moment that first stress free full weekend has passed you’re already on a countdown to the end. Extending your stay, even to just three or four weeks gives you a flavor of what it’s like to live like a local.
Where to find long stay holidays
More and more holiday companies such as Jet2 and Tui are beginning to cater for long stay holidays. Popular winter destinations being the Canary Islands and long haul hotspots such as the Caribbean and Florida. For the over fifties Saga are a popular choice but by no means the only one. Just Google ‘long stay holidays’ and you’re spoilt for choice.
If you’re feeling a little more confident you can do the research yourself and book independently. Many long stay vacationers prefer the privacy of an apartment or villa so they can live like a local, booking your flights separately. The most valuable resource available at this stage is TripAdvisor. It’s a mine of information wherever you’re planning to go. It has lots of reviews from other travellers so you can make a more informed decision.
There are global websites where you can choose your own accommodation. One of the more popular and well known sites is HomeAway along with Airbnb. There is a whole host of independent rental sites and if South West Florida is on your list, then we can recommend the service we received from Dallas at Secret-Places.com and Michael at LVCC Luxury Villas for higher end homes. They both offer villas that are clean, comfortable and luxurious but again, most villas will likely have an honest review on TripAdvisor.
Cruise lines are old hands at the extended holiday offering durations that range from a couple of days with Fred Olsen Cruises to Cunards staggering 107 night world cruise. So if you’re a fan of the open seas and want to experience different cultures then this is the option for you. (Take a look at our article here to see how we got an upgrade with Cunard).
The Evidence
In a recent 40 year study, the University of Helsinki found that people who take less than three weeks annual holiday are more likely to die young than those who take more.
As advocates of the longer holiday we found that even three weeks was so much more relaxing than two. And those extra days away sent us back home feeling more refreshed and ready to take on the world.
The study, which began in the 1970s, involved 1,222 middle-aged men born between 1919 and 1934 who were at risk of heart disease – due to factors such as high blood pressure, smoking or being overweight.
- Half were given instructions to exercise, eat healthily, achieve a healthy weight and stop smoking, while the others were given no extra advice.
- The research, presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Munich, found those given advice were more likely to die young – with experts suggesting interventions may have added extra stress to their lives.
- Among the same group, those who took less than three weeks off each year were 37% more likely to die young over the next 30 years.
Professor Strandberg from the University of Helsinki calculates that “the harm you cause by the intensive lifestyle regime is concentrated in a subgroup of men with shorter yearly vacation time.
“In our study, men with shorter vacations worked more and slept less than those who took longer vacations.”
Give it a Try
So there we have it. It’s official and the figures are out there to prove it. And it’s now a fact that some of the long stay winter holidays abroad can work out cheaper than staying at home and turning up the heating. Being retired doesn’t mean you don’t need a holiday anymore, quite the opposite.
This is our golden time when we’re free of ties and constraints. When we can take time to breathe and enjoy and fulfil our travel dreams. No one ever imagines a retirement spent huddled over the fire trying to keep warm.
Overall Opinion
There’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. Tag an extra week or two onto your holiday whenever you can. And if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous you can make a month or two (or three). The cost is a little more in food and accommodation and no extra cost on flights. You don’t need an excuse anymore, you’re already there so why not make the most of it? Just think of long stay holidays as the healthy option!
Happy Holidays!
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