What's your optimal vacation strategy?

[Aimless]

We've been trying to figure out the best way to use our vacation time. Most of our colleagues tend to take two week-long vacations during the year, with a few extra days used to prolong weekends that are close to major (bank) holidays, and then take 3-4 weeks in the summer. This is a setup particularly favored by those who have kids because of spring and autumn breaks from school. I've usually taken out all of my vacation time at once, whereas the ginger saves a week of hers for the start of the hunting season.

But now I'm beginning to think I'm doing it wrong. I've discovered that I really enjoy working during the summer months, esp. June and July, when the weather is either rubbish (in which it doesn't matter that I'm at work) or wonderful (in which case I have very enjoyable days before/after work) and work is much more relaxed. I've also come to hate November and April more and more for every year. So now I'm thinking that perhaps it would be better to split up our vacation time, so that most of it is in the summer but we get some reprieve during the darkest most soul-crushing days of November and April.

I'm not sure yet whether it's ever a good idea to take just one week off at a time, because I need at least half a week to get into vacation mode. I've heard that the most effective and efficient length of vacation time, from a psychological perspective, with a view towards relaxation and satisfaction, is about two weeks. But I've also heard the opposite. I think it's safe to say that research on this subject is inconclusive and useless

So what's your vacation strategy? Multiple short vacations or one long one?

[Ominous Gamer]

I cash mine out. With 4 kids now a quiet library is the vacation. Even with cashing out a week a year I still have almost a month saved that work is trying to pressure me into taking.

but... I'm actually on a 2 week vacation right now. "baby bonding" its called. I love it. Short vacations tend to get completely consumed with an itinerary or tasks that you've been putting off. You end up needing a vacation for your vacation. But a two week vacation is just to many days for me to completely fill, so I get to relax and not have to worry about shit, aside from baby shit.

[GGT]

It probably depends if we get 2 or 4 weeks paid vacation each year, and if or how any unused vacation time can be 'banked'. Sounds like you get 6 weeks paid vacation time, minx. That's a benefit most Americans don't have, so consider yourself lucky.

My sister officially retires tomorrow, and her employer didn't require all vacation time be used within each calendar year. And since she's like most Americans (who are reluctant to take time off because it's often used to prevent promotions) she had tons of banked vacation pay....plus unused sick days.

[Flixy]

I'm taking my vacation after summer too. It will be cheaper, and i don't have to go in summer as I don't have kids.

Also how can you have unused sick days

[Hazir]

I'm taking my vacation after summer too. It will be cheaper, and i don't have to go in summer as I don't have kids.

Also how can you have unused sick days

As I don't work one week out of every four, I don't think too much about it. Only things I consider when I make my plans are that I am not in Istanbul during the Ramadan or the hottest time of the year.

[Flixy]

One week in four

I have 25 days off per year. planing to take a week or two in late September and around Christmas, and the odd day off and long weekend when i have something to do.

[Timbuk2]

28 days pa, excl public holidays.

Working in the banking sector, we are forced to take 10 days of that leave as a 'core period' for anti-fraud reasons, where no contact with the office is allowed. Which is good as it does force you to be away for two weeks so you do have a period of shut down.

Other half tends to prefer quieter vacations; beach holidays which involve reading trashy novels by the beach sipping cocktails, a spot of sight-seeing, and little more. I prefer more active vacations, travelling to more exotic locations, hiking, travelling, skiing, diving, hang-gliding, motorboats, etc etc.

So to satisfy both of us we tend to have different vacations year-to-year. In 3 weeks time we've booked a place near Palma, overlooking a beautiful bay, adults only so no kids running around. My other half's choice naturally, but i'll get some diving and waterskiing in, and we'll hire a car and cruise around the place sightseeing.

This winter we'll be off skiing, most likely in the Dolomites, with friends.

~

Minxy, aren't you in London town this month? Should hook up, my office is on the South Bank behind the Globe Theatre. We can go for overpriced drinks somewhere nearby if you're touristing in the area.

[Loki]

I'm required to be on campus about 130 days a year. I still have a good 40 hours of work a week the rest of the time, but there's a lot of flexibility as to when I do it (seems like 8 PM to 2 AM most of the summer). It kind of makes the concept of a vacation obsolete. I do enjoy going to places on a weekday afternoon. No traffic. No people. Peace and quiet.

[Aimless]

Sounds like you get 6 weeks paid vacation time, minx. That's a benefit most Americans don't have, so consider yourself lucky.

I get 25 weekdays of vacation time plus comp time for working on call (1.5 - 2x multiplier) and, yes, I'm well aware I'm #blessed. I used to take my comp time out in cash but I've become more inclined to take it out in time off instead, which can in some years add up to about a month or so a per year.

As I don't work one week out of every four

Sonofa...

Minxy, aren't you in London town this month? Should hook up, my office is on the South Bank behind the Globe Theatre. We can go for overpriced drinks somewhere nearby if you're touristing in the area.

Yes and yes We might be in that area to see a play, but if we're not we might pop over anyway But it'd be more fun if all of us, better halves and all, could meet up, including Spawnie and that mysterious LoR. I'll give a heads up either way.

I'm required to be on campus about 130 days a year. I still have a good 40 hours of work a week the rest of the time, but there's a lot of flexibility as to when I do it (seems like 8 PM to 2 AM most of the summer). It kind of makes the concept of a vacation obsolete. I do enjoy going to places on a weekday afternoon. No traffic. No people. Peace and quiet.

This is the one good thing about the weeks when I work every other night

All in all, I'm a little conflicted about how I should set up my schedule. I could opt for shorter days, but I've found that the work isn't really suited to short days. I could opt to work 3 weeks out of 4, but that would reduce my vacation days significantly and not match up with my wife's schedule. I might do that anyway and take out my comp time during the summers in order to spare our future kids the horror of Swedish daycare/kindergarten.

This is my first week of vacation and I have already emptied my mind of most work-related thoughts. It's quite pleasant.