2 Weeks Vacation--how do you split it?
 

I guess it's common dilemma--I love to travel and yet I am crippled by the 2 week's vacation standard of US companies. I work in a field that is notorious for a high burnout rate (recruiting), yet, my company does not accommodate for longer time off. So, I seeking some advice and possible creative ideas on how to make the most of my 2 weeks. Also, any travel places suggestions also appreciated (been to Spain, London, Paris, Venice, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Anguilla).<BR><BR>Thanks a bunch!!<BR><BR>

You just have to ask yourself what kind of a traveler you are. I have known all my life that less is more in travel but others like to move all over the place.<BR><BR>Italy is my favorite place to visit outside of the U.S. I would take two weeks here. In two weeks you can visit the small towns as well as tourist spots like Venice. My favorite places in Italy are Siena, Como pretty much everywhere that is small. The big cities are nice but not usually what I am in the mood for coming from NYC.I have always wanted to explore Cinqua Terra you might want to look into this.<BR><BR>Live in London for a year visited Spain and Paris twice but I prefer Italy. I think if you only get to few places in your life this is certainly one of them.

I am lucky enough to receive three weeks paid vacation, plus two floating holidays and 12 paid holidays. It is still not enough. I find that two or three short trips per year (in the US, piggybacking on three-day weekends, if possible), plus one long international trip, does the trick. You could still do this with your two weeks. Take a four day weekend over Memorial Day and Labor Day, then go on a long trip departing Thanksgiving Day and staying through the entire next week. Those three trips would give you 19 days of travel/leisure while only using seven of your paid vacation days. Your other three paid days could be used as more three days weekends or a longer trip.

Just wanted to add I work in a very high pressured industry Cris and two weeks of relaxing in Hawaii every August has always worked for me. I only get two weeks after 4.5 years of employment.<BR><BR>I use to teach and was able to take 4-6 week vacations in Europe and the middle east. I just don't have that explorer energy by the time measly two weeks roles around. I do find by taking the weeks together I can unwind. So funny I know this year my office mates thought I &quot;got lucky&quot; if you know what I mean on my vacation they had never seen me so relaxed. Two weeks of hiking, sunning, kayaking and swimming and I was a changed person. <BR><BR>This was the first year in 3 years that I stayed exclusively on Kauai having become very familar I was not stressed in squessing in side trips and restaurants. OHHHH I don't think I can go this year and now you have me forelorn!

I agree with Sorry. If you study the calendar and pencil in your paid holidays, you can almost always stretch the standard two weeks vacation into 3 weeks. For example, take the four days after Memorial Day and the four after Labor Day and you've only used 8 of your 10 vacation days. You can then use your remaining two days and possibly a personal or floating holiday in combination with whatever days your company paid holidays are around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years or the Fourth of July, etc. (depending upon what days of the week they fall on). I now get 15 vacation days, plus 2 floating holidays, plus 7 company paid holidays and 6 sick days. It's not anywhere near enough, but that's life in America!

Lenore's advice is great and I imagine that you could get an extra week by following her plan. That is unless your employer is like my DH's. Vacation has to be taken in week increments. bummer huh? Upside? He's been there long enough to get 4 weeks now.

Cris, quit your job.