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How to maximize your vacation days in 2025 in the US

Contiki travellers in Thailand Photo: Contiki

I don’t know about you, but I find that one of the best ways to live your life is to always have something to look forward to. And is there anything better to look forward to than a warm and relaxing vacation away? Here at Contiki we care about your vacation time more than you know, and that’s why we’ve decided to help you out and tell you how you can stretch your yearly PTO allowance waaay past what you thought was possible. 

If you’re a little bit confused or skeptical – don’t be! Just input your allotted amount of PTO into our snazzy calendar tool below, and you will be gifted with a fully customized schedule (which you can download right into your calendar!) telling you when exactly in the year you should book your vacation by making use of Federal Holidays and using them to your advantage.  

For example, if you have an allowance of 15 days of PTO, you can turn that into 51 days of vacation! Magic, right? 

You’ve got your calendar now, you’ve taken those days off, but the question remains: where should I go? There’s no point looking forward to a vacation if you don’t even know the destination yet. Luckily for you, we, the travel experts, have curated a list of some of the perfect and most desirable 2025 destinations so you can take your shiny new 51 days of vacation, and relax. 

Let’s get into it.  

Image source:Contiki

January – New Year’s Day & Martin Luther King Day

January starts off pretty well with not one, but two federal holidays, gifting you two fabulous long weekends to relax. You could take some extra PTO around New Year’s Day (January 1st), or around MLK Day (January 20th), but we think it’s better not to go too crazy too fast.

After all, you’re probably still coming off that festive season high, so take some time for yourself and stay home. Though, if you are itching to get away for MLK Day, a city break might not be a bad idea! 

Head out on an LA Explorer for some winter sun. The seasons don’t really change here (though do pack a sweater), so you can enjoy the beach and the crashing of the waves year round, and get yourself excited for those big summer breaks later in the year. 

February – Presidents’ Day

Alright, now we’re a little further into the year and in need of a break. Lucky for you, Presidents’ Day falls on the third Monday of each February (the 17th in 2025), and this marks the perfect time for you to take advantage of the snow for a wintery wonderland. 

There’s plenty of places to ski, but none quite as jaw-dropping as Austria. For the purest snow and the most heart-thumping slopes, we recommend you hit up the Alps on our Austria Ski trip. Starry skies, pine trees galore, and many opportunities for some Après drinks – it doesn’t get much better than this.   

All you have to do is book 4 days of PTO from the 18th to the 21st, and with the two weekends surrounding that, you’ve got yourself a 9 day adventure!  

skiing in Canada

Image source:Contiki

May – Memorial Day

With May comes spring and the arrival of cherry blossoms in Washington D.C., warm sunny days spent in various National Parks, and of course, Memorial Day Weekend (May 26th). In our opinion, the best way to celebrate MDW is by having an early summer bash with your closest friends and family! Think BBQ vibes, think beach weekend, think party.

Spend a 3-day weekend away beaching it up in the Outer Banks and Cape Cod, or head south to Texas or even Mexico for a bright and spicy getaway. Check out our top Memorial Day weekend break ideas for some inspiration on how best to celebrate.  

Best Memorial Day weekend getaways to kickstart your summer!

Best Memorial Day weekend getaways to kickstart your summer!

Charlie Fabre
by Charlie Fabre Apr 30, 2024

June – Juneteenth

Now the summer is really kicking off and it’s lucky that June 19th is here to give you a whole week off. Book 4 days of PTO on the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 20th to complete the week, and bask in the glory of 9 days (with the weekends on either side) that are totally and completely up to you! 

The weather is sunny and golden practically everywhere this time of year, so the world is your oyster. Fancy an international escapade? Soak up South Africa and plenty of safari and wildlife tours on our Garden Route & Addo trip, or head up to Europe instead, and spend a romantic few days strolling through the classic streets of Florence and shoveling fresh pasta in your face on our Tuscan Escape

Or, if you want to experience something really different from home, why not hop on the Thai Island Hopper East which will take you to turquoise bays and white sandy beaches for a full week in paradise.

thailand with Contiki

Image source:Contiki

July – Independence Day

July 4th, Independence Day! You’ve probably already got your fireworks ready (as you should) and a whole recipe book for different star-spangled-banner-colored pies (my fav is cherry) – but do you have that week-long vacation planned?

When has there been a better time for a USA Road Trip than during 4th of July weekend (or week, with our hacks!). Take 4 days of PTO from June 30th to July 3rd, add the two weekends on either side, and you’ve got 9 days to drive. Explore the south with a road trip from Nashville to Dallas, stick to the diverse East Coast and head from New York to Miami, or catch some waves in LA.  

You could even spread that good old American cheer by enjoying a balmy Italian Escape or hitting up the London to Vienna trail (which you’ll want to book 2 extra days for the full ride), where you might be able to pick up some European roots along the way. 

September – Labour Day

Before the summer comes to an end, you’ve got a long weekend in September for Labor Day (the 1st). Soak up those last summer rays by heading to the coast for a beachy holiday, or, if you want to take an extra 3 days of PTO, you can tackle the life-changing and mysterious Inca Trail in Peru.  

Whether you spend Labor Day weekend chilling with a cocktail and a good book, or feeling light-headed from the incredible views (and high altitude), is totally up to you! 

machu picchu, peru

Image source:Contiki

October – Indigenous People’s Day

Indigenous People’s Day falls on October 13th, giving you yet another long weekend to relax before the next big break coming your way. This is the time of year when most of the States are burning a brilliant orange and red from the stunning fall colors taking over the trees – so why not indulge in some leaf peeping and head out to the East Coast where the leaves shine brightest? 

Or, if you’re ready to get in that spooky mood, you might hear the Pacific Northwest calling your name, inviting you to discover the many Twilight filming locations dotted around.  

Leaf peeping: a guide to spectacular fall foliage

Leaf peeping: a guide to spectacular fall foliage

Charlie Fabre
by Charlie Fabre Oct 17, 2023

November – Veterans Day & Thanksgiving

November comes in heavy with two federal holidays, much like January, and you get a day off for Veterans Day (Tuesday 11th), as well as, of course, a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving! You’ll be getting the 27th and 28th off for free, and to extend that into a beautiful 9 days off all you have to do is take 3 days of PTO between the 24th and 26th and voilà! Now you’re free to travel for a few days before making the trip home to see the family and eat some turkey. 

If you want to explore some different flavors this Thanksgiving, why not head to Malaysia and Singapore (for one day extra)? You may not get cranberry jelly, but the chili crab and nasi lemak are sure to thrill your taste buds just as much. Or, you could get a taste of another world with some of the most unique views and wildlife-spotting opportunities on our Nomadic Namibia trip

How you spend Turkey Day is up to you, so long as you fill it with good vibes, good people, and plenty of gratitude.  

Namibia desert, Africa

Image source:Contiki

December – Holidays

Finally, it’s the end of the year, and you’re probably all tuckered out from those amazing vacations you’ve been on. It’s the holiday season so all you have to do is hang out with your loved ones, eat until your belly’s about to burst, sleep through the night and wait for Santa (us) to gift you with extra PTO for 2026. What a perfect way to wrap up a perfect year!  

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