Why your itinerary needs rest days

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

On a long trip, a free day can feel like a waste. In practice, rest days make the rest of the holiday better.

Why rest matters

• Travel is tiring: early starts, new food, heat and constant decisions.
• Tired travellers enjoy less and argue more.
• Rest days absorb delays, weather problems and illness.

When to plan them

• After long flights or overnight journeys.
• Every four or five days on trips longer than a week.
• Before a big early start, such as a safari or a sunrise trek.
• At the end of the trip, before going home.

Where to place them

Rest days work best in a pleasant base with things to do nearby, such as a beach resort in Kovalam or Langkawi, a villa in Ubud or a lakeside town.

Make it enjoyable

• Sleep in.
• Visit a spa.
• Wander a market or a neighbourhood.
• Read by the pool.
• Do laundry, catch up on photos and plan the next days.

Rest for different travellers

• Families: a pool day keeps children happy.
• Seniors: an afternoon rest every day.
• Adventurers: a lighter day between treks or dives.

The difference

A trip with rest days feels like a holiday. A trip without them feels like work.

See How to pace a holiday itinerary so you actually enjoy it and our Long-stay holidays page.

How many?

One rest day per week is a good minimum for adults; more for families and seniors.