The Art of Stress-Free Travel: Why I Always Plan a Buffer Day

There was a time in my 20s when I could effortlessly hop over to Europe for a long weekend and return home on Sunday night, perfectly timed for the Monday morning grind. However, those days have faded into the past.

While I still travel often, including several visits to Europe each year, I now share these experiences with my wife and 3 daughters. Unlike my younger days, I can no longer return from a long weekend in Europe and seamlessly dive back into the daily hustle the next day. These days, I like to incorporate a buffer day into my travels to provide a much-needed respite before resuming my hectic schedule.

Here are 5 reasons why it’s imperative that I build a buffer day into all of my travel plans.

1. Defeat Jet Lag

I enjoy traveling and discovering places both near and far. In particular, I like to explore Europe with my family and take roughly 3 long-haul family vacations each year. Like many travelers, my family battles jet lag on the flight home because of the 6-hour time difference from the East Coast.

I intentionally plan our return flights for Friday (or Saturday) instead of Sunday, allowing us a day to acclimate to the time zone before heading back to work and school on Monday. This approach allows us to gradually return to our routines while accommodating any potential jet lag.

2. Ensure a Smooth Transition Into Real Life

While I’m not someone that particularly enjoys having a routine, it is essential to maintain one when managing 3 children alongside work obligations. Returning to a routine after a trip feels much smoother when you have a built-in day to ease into things before diving right back in.

I’ll also add a buffer day to domestic flights (when possible) to allow everyone to get ready for school or daycare without the stress of jumping immediately back into our routines.

If I can’t fit in a buffer day on a short weekend trip, I’ll choose an early flight for our return day instead. That way, we can handle things at home before returning to our responsibilities.

Returning a day early from vacation may cut the trip short, but it also gives me an extra day to handle household tasks such as laundry and personal responsibilities. This sets us up for a great week ahead.

3. Handle Unexpected Delays or Cancellations

Weather, mechanical issues, or other unexpected situations can sometimes affect flight plans. A buffer day allows me to adjust my travel plans if a flight gets canceled or delayed, ensuring I can still meet my commitments to work, school, or other activities without any stress. This approach has been helpful for me in the past.

When my twin daughters were quite young, we vacationed in Aruba. Unfortunately, our return flight was canceled due to an incident at our home airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

This incident resulted in the rerouting of all incoming flights, and every flight destined for Fort Lauderdale was canceled for the day. We had to rebook a flight home for the following day.

I was so lucky to have a buffer day to come home on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. It helped us stay on track, even with the little bump of a canceled Saturday flight.

We got home from Aruba on Sunday, just before the work week started. Thankfully, we didn’t have to call work on Monday to explain that we were still stuck flying home from Aruba.

4. Unpack With Ease

Upon returning home from a trip, travelers typically fall into 1 of 2 clear categories regarding their unpacking habits: the immediate unpacker and the procrastinator. I must confess, I often identify with the second group.

Unpacking and dealing with laundry after a trip is certainly not something I enjoy, whether it’s due to denial or a hint of laziness. For me, having a day between my return date and the start of the work week helps me transition back into normal life. It offers me extra time to do tasks such as unpacking and laundry after returning from a trip.

5. Maintain Parental Sanity

Nothing is more rewarding for me than traveling with my children. Traveling with kids can be quite an adventure, but it often comes with challenges that can leave parents feeling worn out by the end of the trip.

When traveling with young children, the saying “I need a vacation from this vacation” often holds true. That’s why I make it a point to include a buffer day before diving back into the weekday routine.

After a family vacation, my wife and I always enjoy some kid-free time, even if it’s just for an hour. That extra day allows me to carve out some time for myself, whether it’s enjoying some TV, sipping coffee on my pool deck, or scrolling through my phone, all of which help me feel more balanced and refreshed.

Final Thoughts

A key part of my travel planning is including a buffer day. It gives me an extra day to relax and prepare for the upcoming week, plus it allows for some flexibility if my travel plans change. This ensures I can adjust and get home in time for work and other commitments.