When Should You Start Your Weekend Trip? Friday Evening or Saturday Morning?
Among weekenders, there is a debate going on…when is the right time to start a weekend trip? Some say Friday evening while others say Saturday morning. A few have even mentioned Thursday evening. In a poll I ran on Twitter (follow me @thethoughtcard) which consisted of 238 votes, 90% of people voted for a Friday evening departure over a Saturday departure. Which day do you prefer to start weekend travel?
In anticipation of my new book, Traveling With A Full-Time Job, I’m sharing excerpts that did not make it into the book. I hope you enjoy this article and if you do, order a copy. It would mean the world to me.
When To Start Weekend Travel
Karen Turner from Wanderlustingk.com says: “Depends on how far I’m going. If it’s far, I leave on Friday night to have all of Saturday. I prefer Saturday mornings for closer destinations (30 minutes to 2 hours away), assuming I’m in no rush to arrive. I avoid paying for a hotel on Friday night unless I need to.”
Jessica from TheFioneers.com says: “Depends where I’m going! Somewhere north or south of where I am, I prefer Saturday morning. Also, if I’m going to the west coast, I usually do Friday night. I figure if I’m crossing 3 or more time zones, I will be tired and jet-lagged. Might as well get there earlier.”
Paul of LaunchPersonalFinance.com says: “Friday evening because waking up at your destination Saturday morning makes it feel like a longer trip.”
Read Next: 6 Things To Pack For Weekend Getaways
My Personal Preference
For weekend getaways, I usually start my trip right after work on Friday evening. However, depending on the mode of transportation, and the time slots available, I may ask my boss to leave earlier so I can catch an earlier flight or train.
I’ve found leaving the office around 3:30 p.m. is less disruptive and works well for my team. I may do this a few times a year, but I do not make this a habit.
Helpful Tip: If you want to leave earlier in the day, make concessions. Tell your boss you will skip lunch or make up the time by coming in earlier. If you are available to respond to emails, let your team know.
I prefer to get to my destination late on Friday so I don’t have to wake up too early on Saturday. I don’t mind traveling late at night and I usually grab an Uber so I can get to my hotel as quickly as possible.
Also, if I can swing it, I don’t mind paying for the extra hotel night if that means getting a good night’s sleep. Making the most of my weekend breaks means sightseeing all day Saturday!
While I prefer to begin weekend travel right after work on Friday evenings, Kylie Neuhaus, author and travel blogger at Between England and Iowa and Essex Explored, prefers to fly out on Saturday mornings to avoid Friday rush hour traffic.
She says: “I feel more comfortable arriving at a new destination during the day time, rather than late at night. I tend to rely on public transport or walking, and I wouldn’t want to do that in the dark. It also saves on the cost of another night at a hotel by arriving first thing in the morning. I usually take the earliest flight on a Saturday morning (around 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.). That puts me in a new country by lunchtime. I can enjoy the local food for dinner, see some sites, and spend the majority of the second day exploring.”
When To End a Weekend Travel
Here’s another popular debate. Should you return from a weekend trip early on Sunday or late?
I usually end my trips early Sunday morning, but when I was younger, to extend the time, I took the latest flight or train back home Sunday evening or early Monday morning. However, I try not to do this anymore because it’s exhausting. I also realized the inconvenience it could cause if I run into delays.
A few years ago I booked a return red-eye flight from Oslo (Norway) to New York City set to arrive Monday morning. With a 6:00 a.m. arrival, I thought I had plenty of time to make it to work by 9 a.m. However, when my flight got delayed, I arrived later than expected. Luckily my manager was accommodating, but I got to work at 3:00 p.m. missing the majority of the workday. After that incident, I haven’t booked any return trips on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings.
Read Next: How Much Does a Four Day Trip To Oslo Cost?
Similar to the Friday evening or Saturday morning debate, people have differing opinions about this.
Lindsey Messenger of SevenDayWeekender.com says: “Depending on how far away I am, I usually return late Sunday afternoon between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. That way I can still see some things in the morning, and be home by dinner time (to save money by not eating out).”
Beatriz Reynoso, a teacher from New York City says: “I tend to start heading back Sunday morning or early afternoon in case of delays. I like to have time to rest and recharge after traveling, before heading to work the next day.”
Benefits of returning early Sunday:
- Time to unpack and relax.
- Mentally prepare for the work week ahead.
- Early morning flights on Sunday are usually less expensive.
Cons to returning early Sunday:
- Wake up early for departure.
Benefits of returning late Sunday:
- More time to explore a destination.
- Wake up later or sleep in.
Cons to returning late Sunday:
- Flights are more expensive during peak hours on Sunday.
- Less time to unpack and relax.
- Less time to prepare for the work week ahead.
While there is no right or wrong way to plan a weekend jaunt, I encourage you to experiment with starting your trip on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Start your journey back home late Sunday evening and next time try early Sunday morning. Be open to trying it all. All of this will help you figure out what’s right for you.
Did you enjoy this article?
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Want to continue the discussion? Share in the comments when you prefer to start weekend travel, Friday or Saturday?
Danielle Desir Corbett paid off $63,000 of student loan debt in 4 years, bought a house at 27, and has traveled to 27 countries, including her favorites, Iceland, China, and Bermuda. Go here to learn Danielle’s incredible story, from struggling financially and in debt to finding creative ways to earn more and live on her terms. Listen to The Thought Card Podcast, where Danielle shares how you can creatively travel more and build wealth regardless of your current financial situation. Reach out to Danielle by contacting: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
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This is a really awesome and helpful article for me this information has been very helpful, thank you.
It’s great that you talked about weekend trips and when’s the best day to leave for one. Recently, my wife and I decided we need a break from our busy lives. We want to get away for a couple of days and found a little cabin with a bonfire, so we’ll be sure to follow your advice on traveling. Thanks for the advice on leaving everything ready for our travel the day before.
We’ve been really enjoying weekend trips especially now that we work remotely. Also, I love the remote getaways out in the countryside, they are my favorite.
It’s awesome that you talked about how to enjoy more a weekend getaway, you should plan ahead. My girlfriend and I want to discover new places, and we thought we could travel on the weekends since neither of us works those days. That’s why we’re researching tips to make the most out of our trip, and we think your article will help us with it. We appreciate your information about how it’s better to start the trip right after work.
Hi Eli, thank you for your note. I hope you stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter and listening to my podcast for more helpful travel tips here: https://the-thought-card.ck.page/92f100127b