amyb

I get 20 days of vacation, 10 sick/personal and the usual holidays. I almost never take vacation time unless I'm actually going somewhere. Last year it was 8 days for Amsterdam and 8 days for Rome. The other 4 days I took to go away to a family wedding and the day after Thanksgiving. I use sick/personal for sick/personal/emergency reasons, not vacation. I'll do the same this year, with Paris/Vienna in April and ???? in the fall.

chepar

Having been with my firm for 5 years, I now receive 15 days vacation plus state and federal holidays. Prior to that it was 10 days per year.

My sick days are separate from my vacation.

I usually take my vacation all at once if it's a "big" trip. I always use all of my vacation, and sometimes have to take some days off without pay on top of it.

SharonG

I get 20 vacation days, plus 12 federal holidays and 13 sick days per year. I can accumulate as much sick time as I earn, currently have about 500 hours. I can only "carry over" 240 hours of vacation year to year but rarely have that much to carry over because I believe in using my vacation days. Usually a trip to Europe once a year or every two years and then visits to family around the country and an annual jaunt to Chicago with some girlfriends.

zohngalt

After 20 years service we get 4 weeks (20 days) of annual vacation. Schedule is 1 week after 1 year; 2 after 3 and 3 after 5 years. Used to be the question was "what do you get after 10 years?" and the answer was "disappointed".

Being a small company and I'm the only one in my department so I can't generally take long blocks of time. In 2005 we did take 5 days for trip to Paris, and this spring we plan 7 days (11 counting weekends) in Germany/Austria.

Otherwise I take a day here and there when the weather is nice or to work on home projects. Occasional long weekend to visit the children.

Almost always have 3-5 days left over at the end of the year not taken.

SeaUrchin

I have 25 paid vacation days, 9 company holidays and three personal days off.

I used to take long involved trips lasting 3-4 weeks and more but now I have scaled back and take a 2 week trip twice a year and then long weekend trips in between.

When I took the month long vacations it was because I was secure in my work position and knew my job would be there on my return and I would be welcomed back, now, not so much.....

misty_in_stl

I get 28 days a year, state and federal holidays and sick time. Generally my husband and I will plan one extend trip where we're off at least 7-10 days at a time, and always the week between Christmas and New Year's. The other days are used to extend holiday weekends into longer stretches.

plafield

I'm self-employed so get as many days of as I like, but if I don' work, I don't earn anything and my clients aren't too happy (I'm a psychotherapist.)

My husband works a corporate job and gets 21 vacation days, two "floating" holidays and 6 regular holidays. He also gets plenty of sick days that can be used for family sick or funeral but not for vacation.

WE generally take all of his allowed days. We go to a lake in Maine most summers for 2 weeks (using 10 or so of his days) and another 10 day-2 week trip (This year we're going to Paris in May for 12 days)using up the rest. The floaters get used for long weekends away for us and he occasionally uses a sick day (naughty boy!)for us to travel to visit his folks for a long weekend.

agilepagile

I had 9 weeks vacation and 10 sick days and other regular holidays per year. I have always taken a week per month Feb - Oct. We were not allowed to take vacation Nov-Jan. One year, for my first trip to Europe, I took all my vacation at once. Never again! Working every day for almost a year with no more time off. Never again. I retired from 31 years at a slimey parcel delivery company last year, and now am on permanent vacation. My wife and I now go to Europe twice a year, every year.

flygirl

In 2007 I had almost 30 days of vacation plus personal/sick days - I had carried over a week.

I took my Mom to Italy for two weeks in May, spent a week in Colorado/NM in October, a week in Portugal in November, and two weeks in Italy, straddling the end of December/beginning of January, with friends.

Plus days here and there - home to visit family, a few long weekends, extra time around the 4th of July, that sort of thing.

In 2008 I have 5 less days than 2007 because I'm starting out "fresh" - no carryover. I already used 3 days of it (but got a week out of it - New Years week), and am planning a two week vacation in June-ish. I stretch my vacation time when I can by planning around holidays. Portugal over Thanksgiving worked so well it's a consideration for this year too. The weather is still decent in Lisbon!

travel2live2

I am a homemaker and pretty flexible. My DH has worked his way to 30 days a year plus holidays. However, he works tons and tons of OT during tax season.

We try to do two three-week European holidays a year (spring and fall) and camp weekends in the summer (albeit a short summer!).

We live in Canada.

GreenDragon

I work for a public firm like TexasAggie does. We get 16 days of PTO, which could be sick time, vacation time, whatever, plus one 'floating holiday' on years where they can't find 11 holidays to take off.

I refuse to be sick so I can take the three weeks (14 days plus 1 holiday day) in June/July to go to Scotland. I would rather save it all up in big chunks since it takes so long to travel to Europe - might as well do as much as I can while I'm there!

Once I'm here 5 years (2 more to go) I will get 5 extra days - 21.

Lia

I've been with my company for 10+ years so I get 5 weeks' vacation plus 10 paid holidays. In 2007, I took six weeks off and toured Asia. Since I was able to use frequent flyer miles, it was an inexpensive way to visit a lot of countries all in one trip but pretty exhausting. In 2008, I plan to spread out vacation days, mainly because of the vastly different destinations:
1. 2-week vacations to Scandinavia (summer) and Morocco (winter).
2. Long weekends in Vancouver (summer) and San Miguel de Allende (winter).

Katie_H

6 weeks! Sounds great---like a sabbatical.

My brother-in-law works for a company that grants its employees an extremely flexible vacation policy; I don't think there's even a quota for instance. I think he can take as many days as he needs/wants (within reason) as long as he stays on top of his work. I'm willing to bet that this approach doesn't acutally result in much abuse.

I'm curious if there are similar policies in Europe?

Jake1

I'm in the USA and get 27 days of paid vacation a year--so a bit over 5 weeks. Plus all the Federal holidays and 14 days of sick leave. In addition our company gives us the option of taking money or additional leave time for overtime work, and I usually pick up another 2 weeks or so leave from that.

I use all of the leave except sick leave every year on a combination of long weekends and 2 to 3 week vacations.

StCirq

I run my own company, and can work from anywhere in the world, so I take as many days as I feel like taking.

Course, I'm never really "on vacation,
but I sure do travel a lot.

mrsgilly

We always splurge on a Boat trip for a week somewhere - so far in Europe. After that, we will rent an apartment wherever the boat drops us off. Usually for five days to a week...Use HomeAway.com as they have given us some good buys. We live like the locals and only eat out at lunch time...take public transportation and trains or buses...We even start the year before trying to learn a little of the local language so we can get by in the shops. Before getting on the boat we will spend three to four days in the city where the boat takes off from. Helps get rid of jet lag and we are in great ship when time to get on the boat. If we can find an apartment hotel we do that. So far there hasn't been a problem...we always books months in advance and look for the best rates.

roeann

I work PT (4 days per wk) and get 3weeks off per year. No carry over. I have no other benefits by the way! PT is usually that way here in the states, well if you work for a small company it is. Last year I used 8 days (two weeks) to go to Italy..the rest I took here and there. When I had PTO time (which was for 23 years!) I would do a week or two long vacation somewhere...and then break up the rest. Now, I beleive in mini vacations. I try to scheduled them in now (since I turned 50, I am now 55!) at least once every two months!! even if I just go to an indian casino that has a spa and stay overnight one night!. I make my ownvacations....always.I would love to have the same vacation time as the Italians do!! As our group leader said when I was in Italy, "Italians weren't born lazy, just tired" That's me!!!! When we landed at the fumucio airport they were on strike! lol I heard when they don't want to work they call a strike. Now that's one I totally agree with...lol

lauraallais

I work in the U.S. I get about 20 days of paid time off a year. Plus it accrues up to the cap, so I have a ton of days saved. No, I have never used it all.

I took off four weeks in 2006 for my wedding and honeymoon. You should have seen the shock on my coworkers' faces about that! This year, I'm taking off two weeks to go to France.

This is pretty extravagent for most of the people who work with me. The partners of the firm, especially, may only take a week off and feel like they've been gone to long!

katek013

My firm starts us out at 15 days with plus personal days. We also have the option of purchasing an extra week. So I usually end up with 25 days of vacation a year. They also give us three four day weekends: Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, so we don't have to use vacation.

I usually use a week here and there, but I always take a big vacation the first couple of weeks of September. Taking advantage of the Labor Day weekend holiday, I go to Greece for two weeks and then London for four to five days.

Except this year. My best friend is turning 50, so we are going to do a three to four week holiday starting mid-December touring Egypt (including a cruise down the Nile). Can't wait.

Believe me ... I take every day of my vacation. I more than earn it.

palette

I get four weeks (been in my job 18 years)and take every second of it. I am retirement age and besides the paycheck, the next major reason I haven't retired is that I get paid to go on vacation. I usually take two vacations per year - one for 10-14 days in Paris and another with a tour group to some less expensive area. And I use anything left to attend painting workshops in my home area. Sometimes, the charitable grandmother in me has actually spent my vacation watching my g-kids so their parents can have some time to themselves. Full time vacation (retirement) is becoming more and more attractive though.