Captured Travel Returning home from an overseas holiday is often the least glamorous part of any trip. Between jet lag, unpacking, laundry and the looming return to work, many travellers find themselves needing a recovery plan almost as much as they needed the holiday itself.
New research from travel insurer Insure&Go suggests Australians are becoming increasingly strategic about easing back into everyday life after long-haul travel, with buffer days, sleep-focused routines and carefully timed return flights emerging as some of the country’s favourite post-holiday recovery hacks.
The survey of 1,000 Australians found that more than half of travellers now build an extra day into their schedule after returning home from an overseas trip, allowing time to adjust before diving back into work, school or daily responsibilities.
Far from being a luxury, the recovery day is becoming a standard part of travel planning, particularly among younger Australians. More than 60 per cent of travellers under 35 deliberately schedule a buffer day, compared with 55 per cent of those aged 35 to 54 and 41 per cent of travellers aged over 55.
Why the Friday flight home is becoming a favourite
Timing, it seems, can make all the difference.
Almost four in 10 Australians now plan their return journey to arrive home on a Friday, giving themselves an entire weekend to recover before Monday arrives. For many, those extra two days provide valuable breathing room to unpack, catch up on sleep and settle back into normal routines.
Sleep itself has become a key part of many travellers’ recovery strategies. More than one-third of respondents said prioritising rest either before boarding their flight home or immediately after arrival was their most effective way to reset.
The survey also revealed that nearly three-quarters of Australians continue feeling the effects of long-haul travel for several days after landing. More than half require two to three days to fully readjust, while almost one-quarter need four days or longer before feeling back to normal.
Small rituals that make a big difference
While some recovery habits are practical, others are focused on comfort and wellbeing.
One in six Australians now complete their laundry before flying home, allowing them to return to a clean wardrobe and avoid adding another task to an already busy first week back. Others incorporate exercise into their recovery routine, with walking, stretching or light workouts helping to ease the physical effects of long flights.
A smaller group is taking relaxation a step further, squeezing in a spa treatment before boarding their flight home in an effort to arrive feeling refreshed rather than exhausted.
The findings also reveal clear generational differences. Younger travellers were consistently more proactive across almost every recovery strategy measured, while older Australians were more likely to simply push through the fatigue and deal with the consequences later.
Planning the return journey matters too
Travel planning often focuses on flights, accommodation and sightseeing, but the research suggests the journey home deserves just as much attention.
According to Insure&Go spokesperson Madhvi Mishra, travellers should think about recovery before they even leave for the airport.
“Planning before you fly home is just as important as the planning you do before you fly out,” she said.
With Australians continuing to embrace long-haul travel in record numbers, these simple habits may help transform the often-dreaded post-holiday slump into a smoother transition back to everyday life.
Whether it’s booking a buffer day, choosing a Friday arrival, prioritising sleep or simply getting the laundry done before heading to the airport, the message is clear: a great holiday doesn’t have to end the moment the plane touches down.