Hello First name / friend!

 

Writing this week from snowy and picture perfect Boulder Colorado.  

 

Connor can't get home for the holidays, so I came to see him and finally do some holiday shopping that does not involve Amazon.  Pearle Street is all decked out for the holidays, the stores are amazing, so my AMEX is getting a work out.   

 

So-- let's get back to PTO.  I love writing about this every December. 

 

Did you know more than half of U.S. workers don’t use all their PTO each year? 

That’s a whole lot of unused vacation days..

 

Sam was terrible about this. AND he used to lie to me (imagine that) and say he had no PTO left because he KNEW what would happen.

 

I would book a trip. (I am of the “ask for forgiveness later” camp. )

 

I finally figured out what he was up to when Christmas would roll around and I would notice that he had been hanging out at home for two weeks.      

 

If you ask me, two weeks of PTO (on average) is already too little to see the world the way you deserve, so letting any of it go to waste is a tragedy. 

 

The good news? With a little strategy, you can stretch those days further by pairing them with holidays for bonus-long breaks. 

More time off = more time to rest, recharge, and explore.

 

This week let's walk through how to max your 2026 PTO with U.S. holidays, so you’ve always got an escape on the calendar 

 

Some are federal, some aren’t, and this isn’t the full list — but it’s enough to get you started.   

The new year is the perfect excuse to pack your bags. January and February can be bleak, and staring at gray skies (or the inside of your cubicle) isn’t exactly a mood booster. Federal holidays are your golden ticket to trade slush puddles for ski slopes or sunshine.

→ Domestic: Skiing.  Breckenridge, Park City, Aspen. 
→ International: Anguilla

Spring is the season of fresh starts — and let’s face it, by April you’re probably ready to freshen up more than just your closet. While Easter isn’t a federal holiday, it’s a prime excuse for a quick escape. Pair it with Memorial Day and you’ve got two chances to turn “meh” weekends into “best trip ever” material.

→ Domestic: Wine your way through Sonoma or Napa
→ International: Spain, before it gets too hot.

Between fireworks, parades, and that “I am dying in this heat” moment, July through September are begging you to take off. Trade a boring BBQ weekend into something way more fun.

→ Domestic: Dude ranch or, if you’re on the West Coast, head to Hawaii.
→ International: Quick hop to Bermuda for East Coasters. 

Cooler temps and festive vibes make fall and winter some of the best times to plan longer breaks. And if nothing else, a getaway helps you dodge your uncle’s annual current-events rant at the holiday table. With Thanksgiving and Christmas landing on prime PTO-stretching dates, you’ve got two golden chances to swap family drama for memory-making adventures.

 

→ Domestic: Escape the chill with a desert getaway or a reset in Southern California?  Amangiri anyone? 
→ International: Europe’s Christmas markets!  I am eyeing 2026 and 2027 Christmas Market river cruises, want to go with me?!  Hit reply! 

 P.S. Your PTO days are too precious to waste — let’s turn them into plane tickets.