Long holidays (2-3 weeks) feel like the default trip format. For some lives — especially busy professional ones — weekend trips spread across the year often produce more total enjoyment, more recovery, and less annual leave burned at once.
Why weekends work for many
Don't require extensive annual leave. Can be booked closer to last minute. Decompression isn't lost re-entering work after long absence. More frequency means more anticipation throughout the year. UK has many destinations 1-2 hours away with completely different feel.
Where long holidays still win
Long-haul destinations that need acclimatisation. Trips with elaborate logistics (multi-country, complex itineraries). Recovery from serious work stress (longer needed). Specific cultural immersion goals.
Mix both. A typical year of 4 weeks annual leave might be: 1 long holiday (10-14 days) + 4 long weekends + 2-3 work-from-home location swaps. Spreads the joy throughout the year.