Summary

To make a holiday seem longer, it's recommended to book at least two different accommodations to create varied experiences that prevent the brain from adapting quickly to a routine.

Abstract

The article suggests that to extend the perceived duration of a holiday, travelers should introduce change by staying in multiple locations. This strategy leverages the brain's tendency to perceive time more slowly during periods of change and novelty, as opposed to monotonous routines where time seems to pass more quickly. By moving between different types of accommodations, such as a hotel and an Airbnb, or exploring different areas within a destination, one can create distinct experiences that enrich the trip and make it seem longer. Although this approach involves additional logistics, it is presented as a worthwhile trade-off for a more memorable and fulfilling vacation.

Opinions

The author believes that staying in the same place during a holiday can lead to rapid adaptation, causing time to seem to speed up.
Changing accommodations and locations during a trip is seen as an effective method to slow down the perception of time and enhance the travel experience.
The article posits that the effort of planning multiple stays and dealing with logistics is justified by the benefit of making holidays feel longer and more interesting.
The author shares personal experience, suggesting that varying accommodations has made their trips more engaging and seemingly longer.
It is implied that the monotony of adulthood contributes to time seeming to pass more quickly, whereas the novelty of changing environments on holiday can counteract this effect.

The Best Tip to Make Your Holiday Seem to Last Longer

Trick your brain

Who doesn’t want their holidays to last longer?

We’ve all been in this situation. We leave for a two-week trip to a beautiful place. We get there, eager to relax and enjoy the change in scenery. And, before we know it, we’re on the plane back home, wondering where the time has gone.

One reason for that might be because you’re staying at the same place the whole time.

Our brains are highly adaptable

If you think back on your life, you’ll probably find periods where a few months seemed to have lasted years while during others, years seemed to flash by in no time.

If you compare these periods, you’ll probably find that the periods where time sped up were monotonous. Nothing changed. Your job, your partner, and your routines were the same. Your brain was on auto-pilot.

By comparison, periods of change seem to last longer. Your brain has to learn a lot of new things. It takes some time to get back to auto-pilot.

This is one of the reasons why time seems to speed up in adulthood. Childhood is a series of changes. Every year, you go up a grade, make new friends, and learn new things. A lot less changes once you reach adulthood and find a job.

Adaptation to change happens very fast.

Therefore, on holidays, even if you are someplace entirely new, if you stay in the same place, you build routines and your brain adapts.

Time seems to speed up.

Book two different accommodations

There is a simple way to trick your brain. To stop it from adapting too fast and speeding time up.

You need to bring some change into your holidays.

The easiest way to do that is to book at least two different places to stay. If you have to move to a new place during your vacation, you’ll come back home feeling like it lasted longer and you got more done.

This works even better if you move to a place that is completely different. Maybe another island in an archipelago. Or a different city within the country you are visiting. At least a different part of the city.

It also helps if the second accommodation is different from the first. Maybe you stay in a hotel at first and move on to an Airbnb. Or you spend a couple of nights at a campsite to break up your trip.

Pros and cons

Breaking up your trip into different sections does come with a bit more logistics. You’ll have to research several locations. You’ll need to repack your suitcases in the middle of your trip. And you’ll have to find a way to get from one hotel to the next.

However, not only does it make your trip seem to last longer, you’ll get to discover a new area, and a different way of traveling. You’ll have at least two distinct experiences in that place. It’ll make your trip more interesting and rich.

Final thoughts

You might shrug at the idea that booking two different accommodations will make a difference.

It won’t increase the amount of time you spend traveling. You’ll have to deal with the logistics of moving between two or more different places. Is it really worth it?

The only way you’ll know is by trying. In my experience, I have found that it made trips more interesting and that they seemed to last longer.

Learn to trick your brain to get more out of your trips.

Happy traveling!