Presidents Day 2026 lands on Monday, February 16, which is exactly why it’s such a strong “quick Europe” travel moment. It’s a built-in long weekend, and people search fast because they want a plan that fits tight time windows.

Here’s the strategy: leave Friday night, land Saturday morning, live inside one city with zero friction, then fly back Monday (or late Sunday if you’re keeping it ultra-lean). Private aviation makes this work because you can choose airports that are purpose-built for business travel and avoid the usual commercial choke points.

Below are three 72-hour itineraries that feel ambitious but not exhausting: Paris, London, and Rome. Each one includes where to land, how to use your time, and how to keep the weekend from turning into a checklist.

Itinerary #1 – Paris (Le Bourget) in 72 hours

Why Paris works for Presidents Day weekend

Paris is the best “high reward per hour” city in Europe. You can do iconic experiences without spending half your weekend commuting across a massive metro footprint. The move is to pick one neighborhood to anchor and build everything around walking + short car hops.

This itinerary is designed for:

• first-timers who want the classics done right

• repeat visitors who care more about pace, shopping, and food than museums

Where you land: Paris-Le Bourget (LBG)

If you’re flying private, Paris-Le Bourget is the obvious landing choice. It’s positioned as the leading business airport in Europe and sits 7 km north of Paris, which is exactly what you want for a weekend sprint.

What that really means: you’re not negotiating “how do I get into the city?” You land close, you’re moving quickly, and your arrival doesn’t chew up your day.

Day 0 (Friday night): land late, still feel like you arrived

If you depart NYC Friday evening, you’ll usually land Saturday morning local time. But if your schedule pushes later and you arrive closer to midday, don’t panic. Paris still works.

Your Friday-night mindset:

• keep the first “plan” simple: check-in, shower, one great dinner

• don’t overbook reservations on the first night (jet lag + timing variability is real)

The anchor neighborhood approach (pick one):

• Right Bank (shopping + classic Paris energy): easy access to museums, boutiques, and a polished night out

• Left Bank (quieter, more romantic): café culture, bookstores, slower rhythm

• Le Marais (walkable + lively): galleries, concept stores, food that doesn’t feel touristy

Pro move: ask your driver to do a slow pass of the Seine and key landmarks on the way to the hotel. It takes 20 minutes, costs you almost nothing in energy, and immediately sets the tone.

Day 1 (Saturday): the classic Paris loop without the chaos

Saturday is your “big Paris” day. The trick is to structure it so you see the icons without spending your best hours standing in lines.

Morning (2-3 hours): one flagship museum or landmark
Pick one:

• Louvre

• Musée d’Orsay

• Eiffel/Trocadéro photos + walk

Don’t do multiple major museums in one day unless you love that pace. For most travelers, it’s diminishing returns.

Midday: a walkable lunch zone
Choose an area where lunch leads naturally into strolling:

• Palais Royal → Tuileries → Place Vendôme

• Saint-Germain → Luxembourg Gardens

• Le Marais → Île Saint-Louis

Afternoon: shopping or neighborhood wandering
If shopping matters, schedule it here. If it doesn’t, keep it simple: pick one neighborhood and let it unfold. Paris is best when you stop trying to “optimize.”

Evening: one proper dinner + one view
Paris nights are about the feeling, not the volume of stops. Do:

• a dinner reservation you’re excited about

• then a short “night Paris” drive (or a slow walk along the river)

Day 2 (Sunday): one big experience, then an easy departure

Sunday is where most people overreach. Don’t. You want to end the weekend feeling like you could stay another day.

Option A: Versailles morning (if you’ve never done it)
Go early, keep it contained, and don’t make it your entire day.

Option B: “Paris slow” day (my default recommendation)

• late breakfast

• one market or boutique stretch

• a long lunch

• one last landmark photo stop

Then build a soft landing into departure: back to hotel, pack, and go.

If you have Monday: the calm “bonus morning” plan

If you’re flying back Monday, you’ve got the best hidden advantage of Presidents Day weekend: a final quiet morning.

Do this:

• coffee + a short walk

• one last store stop (if shopping matters)

• depart mid-day

Paris-Le Bourget being close to the city is the reason this feels easy. You’re not budgeting for a full airport commute in the middle of your best hours.

Itinerary #2 – London (Farnborough / Biggin Hill) power weekend

Why London is the best “do a lot fast” city

London is built for efficient weekends. Neighborhoods are distinct, transit is fast, and you can stack experiences without feeling like you’re in constant motion.

This itinerary is designed for:

• business travelers who want a clean, premium weekend

• travelers who want variety: museums, shows, neighborhoods, shopping

Where you land: Farnborough vs London Biggin Hill

For private aviation into London, two names matter:

Farnborough Airport markets itself as the largest and most pre-eminent business aviation airport in the UK and a “business gateway to Europe.”
That’s a strong positioning signal: it’s built for business aviation flows.

London Biggin Hill Airport is even more direct: it states it is the only dedicated business aviation airport in London.
That “dedicated” part matters for weekend travelers. It’s about focus: fewer competing priorities, fewer commercial-airport compromises.

Practical rule:

• If your hotel plan is central and you want a straightforward premium arrival, pick the airport that best matches your ground logistics and slot availability.

• If you care most about “business aviation first,” Biggin Hill’s positioning is hard to ignore.

Day 0 (Friday night): check-in + one great night out

Land, check-in, and pick one evening win:

• a West End show

• a classic hotel bar moment

• a single standout dinner

Don’t try to do nightlife like you’re 22. A long weekend is short. Your goal is to wake up Saturday ready to go.

Day 1 (Saturday): museums, neighborhoods, and a proper dinner

London Saturday should be a “two pillar” day: one major cultural block + one neighborhood block.

Morning: one museum (pick one)

• British Museum

• National Gallery

• Victoria & Albert Museum

Midday: lunch in a neighborhood you actually want to walk

• Marylebone (calm, polished)

• Soho (buzz, energy)

• Notting Hill (stroll-friendly)

Afternoon: shopping or parks
If shopping matters, you can make it a mission. If it doesn’t, go to a park and slow the pace down for 45 minutes. That reset makes the evening better.

Evening: dinner + a view
If you want one “London is London” moment, do a night drive past landmarks. It sounds basic. It works.

Day 2 (Sunday): countryside reset or London-only mode

Sunday is your texture day. Two good options:

Option A: countryside reset
Go out, breathe, come back. You’ll feel like you had two trips in one.

Option B: London-only
If you prefer to stay in the city:

• late brunch

• a market stroll

• one last museum/gallery

• early dinner

Either way, set up Monday to be calm.

If you have Monday: shopping + depart without rush-hour pain

Monday morning is the perfect time for:

• a final shopping run

• a slow breakfast

• then depart while the day is still clean

This is where business aviation airports earn their keep. London Biggin Hill’s “dedicated business aviation” positioning is basically built for this kind of trip rhythm.

Itinerary #3 – Rome (Ciampino) classic 3-day reset

Why Rome is the most satisfying 72-hour itinerary

Rome is the best “story per step” city. You can do a lot, but you can also do very little and still feel like you lived inside something special.

This itinerary is designed for:

• travelers who want iconic history without turning the weekend into a march

• food-first travelers who want the city’s pace and vibe

Where you land: Rome Ciampino (CIA)

Rome Ciampino is officially Rome Ciampino G.B. Pastine Airport, operated under Aeroporti di Roma.
For a weekend itinerary, what matters is simple: you want an arrival plan that gets you into the city cleanly so you can start walking quickly.

Day 0 (Friday night): the walking dinner route

Rome’s best first night is a walking dinner. Keep it simple:

• check in

• choose one area with energy

• walk, eat, and don’t overplan

Your “Rome mood” neighborhoods:

• Trastevere for a lively first night

• Centro Storico for classic Rome atmosphere

• Monti for a slightly more local-feeling scene

Day 1 (Saturday): ancient Rome early, modern Rome late

Saturday is your core Rome day. The trick is to do ancient Rome early (before crowds and heat) and save the slower, vibe-heavy stuff for later.

Morning: ancient Rome block
Pick the anchors you care about and keep it focused. It’s better to do fewer things well than rush everything.

Midday: long lunch
Rome rewards long lunches. This is not the city for “grab and go” unless you’re intentionally speed-running.

Afternoon: the walk
Rome’s magic is walking between points. Build in time for that.

Evening: one elevated dinner
Rome is an easy city to eat well in. Pick one dinner where you sit, relax, and let the weekend breathe.

Day 2 (Sunday): Vatican strategy or “Rome your way”

Sunday comes down to one question: do you want Vatican City in this trip?

Option A: Vatican strategy

• go early

• keep it structured

• don’t try to do every room like it’s a scavenger hunt

Option B: Rome your way

• markets, small churches, neighborhoods

• a slow afternoon

• one final viewpoint at sunset

This is the day you’ll remember most if you let it be unforced.

If you have Monday: espresso, one last view, fly

Do not waste Monday on logistics stress. You want:

• espresso

• one last scenic stop

• then go

Ciampino being a “second airport” conceptually often means a more contained experience, and ADR’s official passenger info is where you’ll confirm operational details for your day.

Optional multi-city upgrade (Paris + London, or Paris + Rome)

The 2-city rule that keeps it fun

If you’re going to do two cities in a long weekend, follow one rule:

Two cities max. One transfer max. Two nights in one city.

That’s how you keep it feeling like luxury instead of logistics.

Paris + London: the cleanest combo

This is the best two-city pairing because it’s a classic: two iconic capitals, totally different energy, both built for fast itineraries.

A simple structure:

• Saturday + Sunday in Paris

• Monday morning London (or the reverse)

If you do the transfer on Sunday instead, keep Sunday light. Don’t schedule a museum + transfer + big dinner. Pick two.

Paris + Rome: the “two cultures” flex

Paris + Rome is higher contrast: fashion-city polish + ancient-city chaos (in the best way). It can be amazing if you do it with discipline.

Structure it like this:

• Two nights in one city

• One night in the other

• No heavy plans on transfer day

When a 2-city weekend is a bad idea

Don’t do it if:

• you’re traveling with kids and want it calm

• you’re arriving late Saturday

• you’re the kind of traveler who hates packing twice

If any of that is true, pick one city and do it properly. You’ll enjoy it more.

What it costs + how to book smart (without sounding salesy)

What actually drives price on a long-weekend charter

Weekend private jet pricing is not a single number. It’s a set of levers:

• aircraft category and availability

• repositioning (where the aircraft and crew are coming from)

• crew duty time (especially if you’re trying to compress the schedule)

• airport fees, handling, and overnight parking

• how many legs you’re doing (one city vs two cities matters)

The “smart” approach is to decide what you’re optimizing for: nonstop comfort, earliest arrival, latest departure, or best value.

The booking timeline that avoids last-minute compromises

For Presidents Day weekend, demand patterns are predictable: people try to book late because it’s “just a weekend,” then availability tightens.

The timeline that keeps options open:

• lock your weekend dates

• choose your city

• choose your airport pairing

• then pick the aircraft that matches the mission

Airport choice as a cost lever (and a sanity lever)

Airport selection affects:

• ground time

• transfers

• how much of your weekend you spend “in transit”

Paris–Le Bourget’s proximity and business aviation focus is why it’s so strong for a 72-hour Paris hit.
In London, you’re choosing between airports that explicitly position for business aviation travel (Farnborough and London Biggin Hill).
Those choices aren’t just “nice.” They protect your time.

How to ask for a quote so you get real options

If you want a quote that actually helps you decide, give this info upfront:

• passenger count

• desired departure windows (not just dates)

• one preferred city + one backup city

• whether you’ll do one city or two

• luggage estimate (especially if shopping is part of the weekend)

• your “must-have” (nonstop, specific cabin size, pet travel, etc.)

This is how you avoid the generic back-and-forth and get a set of options you can pick from.

Empty legs: when they help and when they distract

Empty legs can be useful if:

• your schedule is flexible

• you don’t mind a slightly different airport pairing

• you’re willing to move quickly when the opportunity appears

They’re a distraction if you’re trying to build a precise weekend plan around a deal that might disappear.

Packing + timing checklist (fast CTA section)

The timing model (so your weekend doesn’t feel rushed)

Use this and your weekend stops feeling compressed:

• Friday: depart NYC evening

• Saturday: land morning, do one big day

• Sunday: slow day, one highlight

• Monday: calm morning, depart

Presidents Day being on a Monday is the whole reason this works.

The packing list that fits the private-jet reality

Private travel doesn’t mean you should overpack. It means you should pack smarter.

• 2–3 outfits you can remix

• one elevated layer (dinner-ready without overthinking)

• comfortable walking shoes (non-negotiable)

• one “plane kit” (hydration, eye mask, skincare basics)

• chargers + international adapter

The “don’t forget” list (that saves trips)

• passport validity check

• any required entry/ETA steps (UK/EU rules can change; confirm before you fly)

• a printed or offline copy of key confirmations

• one spare credit card

• a buffer window on departure day (always)

If you want Jetswave to build this as a done-for-you weekend (aircraft + airport selection + drivers + itinerary pacing), this checklist is exactly what we operationalize behind the scenes.

FAQs

When is Presidents Day 2026?

Presidents Day 2026 is Monday, February 16, 2026.

Is Presidents Day a federal holiday?

Yes. It’s observed as a US federal holiday on the third Monday of February, and it’s scheduled on a Monday specifically to create a long weekend.

What’s the best European city for a 3-day private jet trip?

• Paris if you want the most iconic “weekend fantasy” with minimal planning friction.

• London if you want maximum variety and the ability to pack in culture + shopping + nightlife.

• Rome if you want the most emotional, story-rich trip with a slower, more romantic pace.

Paris vs London vs Rome for Presidents Day weekend: which is easiest?

Paris is easiest for “icons per hour.” London is easiest for variety and structure. Rome is easiest if you can relax into walking and don’t try to do everything.

Which airports are best for private jets in Paris, London, and Rome?

• Paris: Paris–Le Bourget, positioned as the leading business airport in Europe and 7 km north of Paris.

• London: Farnborough (prominent business aviation positioning) and London Biggin Hill (states it’s London’s only dedicated business aviation airport).

• Rome: Rome Ciampino G.B. Pastine is one of Rome’s main airports, with official passenger guidance provided by Aeroporti di Roma.

Can I do two cities in one long weekend by private jet?

Yes, but keep it disciplined: two cities max, one transfer max, and two nights in one city. If you try to “collect” cities, you’ll spend the weekend packing and moving instead of enjoying it.