Are you stuck with just TWO measly weeks of vacation time in 2025 but dreaming of jet-setting across the globe? I’m here to show you how to stretch those sad little two weeks into 31 glorious travel days. I’m a travel agent who’s been to 73 countries over the last 28 years. I LOVE helping you travel better, and smarter! So, grab a pen or just cheat off me, because I’ve cracked the 2025 calendar wide open. 

To help you maximize your paid time off I’m going to: 

1. Go month by month showing where you should ask for vacation days to get the 21 extra of travel days in 2025 

2. Then I will give you show you the best ways to plan your trip to help stretch your travel days even further 

January - Start strong! Take off January  21st and 22nd – right there are five travel days to kickstart 2025. Don’t get stuck in the  post-holiday blues; hit the slopes or chase some winter sun!   

February - There’s one federal holiday in February, the 17th. Take off the Friday before or the Monday after and get yourself a long weekend. Perfect for a quick city getaway or a little Valentine’s escape. 

March - March. Ugh. No holidays. Work through it, because you’ll need the PTO) for later! 

April - April 20th is Easter. If you’re lucky enough to get April 18th or 21st as banking holidays, take one more day off and voilà—five travel days. Hello, cherry blossoms in Japan or springtime in Europe! 

May - Memorial Day is May 26th. Take off May 23rd or 27th, and you’ve got a lovely four-day weekend. Perfect for a quick beach escape or some national park magic. 

June - Here’s the 411:  Juneteenth is still a ‘maybe’ holiday for some businesses including banks. If you get it, take two extra days and bask in a five-day summer vacay. Europe? Caribbean? Endless options! 

July - July 4th lands on a Friday. Add July 3rd or July 7th, and you’re looking at another four-day escape. Beach, mountains, or even a road trip—celebrate freedom your way! 

August - Nothing in August. Just embrace the heat, work hard, and dream of your next trip. We’ll make it up later, promise! 

September - Labor Day kicks off September. Take September 2nd if you’ve got a day to spare, and enjoy a long four-day weekend. Fall foliage trips, anyone? 

October - October 13th is Indigenous Peoples’ Day—or Columbus Day, depending on where you are. Another chance for a four-day weekend. Get creative with those fall vibes! 

November - November has some options, but let me break it down for you. November 27th is a federal holiday—yay, Thanksgiving! You could take the 28th off and score yourself a four-day break. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, take November 24th, 25th, and 26th for a full six-day getaway. 

BUT—and this is a big but—the week of Thanksgiving is chaos central. Airports are packed, flights are expensive, and honestly, you’re better off saving your PTO for cheaper, less stressful travel times. Trust me, skip the Thanksgiving rush and thank me later." 

December - Now let’s talk about December—the HOLY GRAIL of PTO hacks! Christmas Day falls on a Thursday this year. If you take December 26th, 29th, 30th, and 31st, you can turn four measly PTO days into eight whole travel days. That’s eight days to explore Christmas markets in Europe, chill on a tropical beach, or have an epic end-of-year adventure. If you have January 2, 2026, you can put together 11 days!!   What would YOU do with eight days? Let me know in the comments! 

General Travel Planning Tips 

Okay, we’ve got the dates locked in, but now let me sprinkle in some next-level tips to stretch your travel days even further! 

Tip #1: Visit multiple countries in one trip. 

Why fly all the way to Europe or Asia for just ONE country? Combine two or three! Trains, ferries, and even buses let you see more while you’re on the move. It’s like travel multitasking—efficient and fabulous. 

Tip #2: Take the redeye. 

Work all day, then hop on that overnight flight. You’ll wake up in a new destination ready to slay the day. And you did not burn vacation day staring ot the window of the plane. 

Tip #3: Play with time zones. 

Here’s a pro move: When flying internationally, pick routes that gain you time. For example, flying to Europe? You arrive the same day you leave. Or head west and live the same day twice. Time travel? Kinda! 

So, in my next blog, we’re diving into how to turn your travel dreams into real, bookable trips. I’ll show you how to set travel goals that actually inspire you, build a budget you can stick to, and plan your trips like a total boss. Spoiler alert: you CAN afford to travel more than you think, and I’ll show you how!