Lately, I've been on a series of three-night stays and the conclusion is this: It is the perfect trip length. (I'm also mortified it took me this long to figure it out.)
Three nights is the perfect amount of time for a short trip, because it gives folks one full day to unwind stress-free (and go crazy!), while keeping the trip interesting enough to keep from being boring.
Here's how a typical three-night itinerary would unfold:
Day 1: Arrive (usually after 3pm)
Day 2: One full day
Day 3: One full day, then packing the night before
Day 4: Last minute things (usually before 11am)
I was also reminded of this on a recent work trip for a conference in Washington D.C., where I opted for three nights instead of the typical two I would do. It wasn't until the day after the conference, on day three, that I realized I had left my work tablet at the venue (since the day before had been so packed).
Had I caught the next flight out immediately, I would have had no time to retrieve my very fancy $399 Norwegian tablet, which would have been an absolute nightmare. Instead, I was able to courier it over the next three hours and get it delivered to where I was staying.
This is compounded by the fact that the last night just never feels like it counts, because I'm often more worried about packing and making sure everything is ready to go the very next morning (so I can do whatever on the final morning and not rush).
To reiterate it, I've also been on one-night or two-stays recently, and it just reinforces how quick these are. One night is like saying hi and bye, and two nights is like coffee with a friend.
So do it. Three nights. Try it. It doesn't hurt, and it's totally worth it.
