Travelers looking to maximize their time off in 2027 can nearly double their vacation days by strategically planning around federal holidays, according to Claire Tobin, CEO of Wild Frontiers, an adventure travel company. This approach involves carefully selecting days off that fall adjacent to existing holidays, thereby creating longer stretches of leisure time without expending additional paid time off (PTO).
Tobin emphasizes that the most effective vacation planning starts with consulting a calendar before booking any travel. A federal holiday can transform a single PTO day into a four-day weekend. For instance, taking one day off around July 4th or Memorial Day can result in a nine or ten-day break when combined with the holiday and the weekend.
For individuals with a generous allotment of 24 PTO days in 2027, this strategy could potentially extend their vacation time to 55 days. This allows for more extensive travel, such as longer cruises or multi-city European tours. Even those with a more modest allocation of 10 vacation days, plus personal and sick days, can benefit, though perhaps not to the same extent.
Google searches for "next federal holiday" have reportedly seen a 900% increase as summer concludes, indicating a growing interest in leveraging holidays for extended breaks. The outlined strategy for 2027 suggests specific combinations: MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day can each yield nine-day breaks by using four PTO days. Thanksgiving and the Christmas/New Year's period offer opportunities for up to ten days off by utilizing a similar PTO strategy.
However, the article notes a potential drawback: some experts have previously cautioned that this method could be perceived as poor workplace etiquette, particularly if multiple holidays are strung together consecutively. The success of this strategy may depend on an individual's workplace culture and their willingness to potentially disregard collegial norms for extended time off.