Your work calendar may already have plenty of three-day weekends built into it, but it’s very difficult to truly enjoy a vacation in such a short span of time. Whether you want to relax by the seaside, go on a big adventure, or get a real taste of a new city (or two), here’s what you need to do. create More rest.
It sounds like magic, but even if you don’t have a lot of paid time off, you can still stack it up around long weekends and piggyback on federal holidays to give yourself a little more leeway on your next adventure. Some people call this PTO hacking or PTO maximization, but it’s really all about smart planning and a keen eye for understanding that you can stretch just two paid vacation days into five or six days of vacation, or nine days of vacation into 17 days of vacation.
Even better? While you can find a little extra time with PTO-maxxing, you can save a little money on your next vacation with the Spring Savecation event. Through March 9th, enjoy exclusive RMN discounts and increased cashback opportunities when you book hotels, flights, cruises, rental cars, tours, and more from top travel providers like Priceline, Expedia, Hotels.com, VRBO, Viator, and more.
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How to hack paid time off for a long vacation
Making the most of your paid time off allows you to take longer vacations so you can actually enjoy your days away from work and come home refreshed and filled with travel stories. (It’s so much better than just spending a random Monday off doing laundry!)
So how does it work? Let’s use Labor Day as an example. Your job has already given you Monday, September 7th off, making for a great three-day weekend. But if you take paid time off before and after, you can use your time off to get even more time out of having a baby. Tuesday through Friday (September 8-11) to help bridge the long weekend. another I get a total of 9 consecutive days off on weekends, but only 4 days of paid vacation.
Keep in mind that these paid leave requests should be submitted as soon as possible, as your co-workers may have the same idea. These travel dates also become more popular as more people jump on the trend of maximizing their paid vacation, so it’s a good idea to book your flights, hotels, and tours early. Like, right now Especially since the RMN Spring Savecation sale won’t last long, so be quick!
To help you, we’ve done the math, crunched the numbers, and looked at some of the best travel deals to maximize both your savings and paid time off in 2026. Read on to get inspired for your next vacation!
17 days in June and July
When to go: From June 19th to July 5th
Which holiday: juneteenth and independence day
Number of paid vacation days required: 9 PTO days (June 22-26 and June 29-July 2)
This is a hidden gem of the year, extending just 9 PTO days into 17 days of vacation. Sandwiched between two US-specific holidays, this time of year is a great time to take an international vacation, with fewer crowds than later in the summer season.
Long flights provide a great opportunity to travel to far-flung places, such as Japan or New Zealand, so you can better recover from the effects of jet lag from ultra-long-haul flights. However, June is the rainy season in Japan and winter in New Zealand. Instead, we recommend taking advantage of the long stretches of water and cruising the Mediterranean Sea and its surrounding waters. Adventure to dream destinations like Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Greece’s Santorini and Crete, the French Riviera, and Spain’s Barcelona. These areas tend to peak around July, so you’ll be able to get in before it gets too crowded.
Where to stay: There are many wonderful things cruise around the mediterraneanSo you can easily set up a long land trip around your sailing date. For example, this 7 nights Mediterranean and Aegean Sea From Rome, the cruise will stop at Santorini and Salerno. 7 nights on the Italian, Spanish and French Riviera Cruises departing from Barcelona stop in Nice and Naples. Depending on your starting point, you can start your trip to Europe in: Radisson Collection Hotel Rome Antica (pictured above) — in the heart of Rome, just off Piazza Venezia — or in Barcelona. Sercotel Hotel Roseron In the shadow of the breathtaking Sagrada Familia Basilica.
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What to do: The options are truly endless when it comes to tailoring your European vacation to your tastes, but highlights from across this vast coastal region include: Paella cooking class, market visit, tapas and sangria included Small groups in Barcelona Capri Blue Grotto Boat Tour sunset from Sorrento Wine adventure with tasting and tapas Santorini and Walking tour of Nice Old Town and Castle Hill On the French Riviera.
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9 days in September
When to go: From September 5th to 13th
Which holiday: labor day
PTO days: 4 PTO days (September 8-11)
Most people jump at the chance to extend Memorial Day weekend into a longer vacation. And it makes perfect sense if you want to start summer as soon as possible. But if you can hold out until Labor Day weekend, you can reap big benefits from your trip. At this point everyone else has already declared summer dead and buried as kids go back to school and PSL season rolls around, but most areas are still experiencing summer-like weather. This means you can enjoy a nice beach holiday in a small group and potentially even lower prices once the shoulder season starts.
The only problem? We’re in the middle of hurricane season, so it’s best to avoid the Caribbean, eastern Mexico, and the southeastern United States.
Instead, head to sunny San Diego. September is the perfect month to visit. The weather is still warm, but not sweltering, with average high temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. In fact, September tends to be warmer in San Diego than June or July. Additionally, the sea is still a perfect temperature for swimming and the summer crowds are starting to disperse.
Where to stay: Hotel Indigo San Diego – Gaslamp Quarter (pictured above) is located in the middle of the city’s entertainment hub, walking distance to shops, museums, restaurants and nightlife. Plus, we’re just a 5-minute walk from Petco Park, where you can catch an exciting late-season Padres baseball game. It is also a short drive from local beaches and has good transport links to the rest of the city. It’s the perfect place to explore everything the city (and coastline) has to offer.
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What to do: Perhaps America’s most famous san diego zoo I need to create a shortlist, whale watching cruise September is still the best time to see the giant blue whales that migrate through the area, so this is also a must-see. This small group returned to land san diego scenic tour See all of the city’s highlights, from historic Old Town San Diego to the top of Mount Soledad. When you want to taste the real taste of the city, San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour and A taste of San Diego’s Little Italy There are several great places to start.
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5 days in November
When to go: Whenever your calendar allows (for example, November 7-11)
Which holiday: Election Day, Veterans Day, or Thanksgiving
PTO days: 2 days paid vacation
There may be some options to extend the November weekend around common (but not necessarily required) holidays such as Election Day, Veterans Day, or the day after Thanksgiving. However, these are complete wildcards, so check your company’s calendar. Your mileage may vary.
If you can build around one of these holidays, it’s the perfect time for an outdoor adventure in the Southwest. Utah is an especially great place to enjoy its cool climate, lack of crowds, and collection of national parks to explore. The “Mighty Five” (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arch) are scattered throughout the southern part of the state. teeth It opens on Thanksgiving, if that’s the timeline you’re looking at. National park admission is also free on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, if it’s part of your trip.
Where to stay: While I can’t completely See the “Mighty 5” National Parks in just 5 days (Road trips are technically possible, but), you can enjoy both the Arch and Canyonlands from your home in Moab. Keep it simple with a “tiny house” cabin archies hat (pictured above), just minutes from the entrance to the iconic Arches National Park. Cabins are clean, comfortable, and convenient, with in-unit WiFi, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and kitchenettes, making it easy to “rough it out” in style.
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What to do: You can rent a car and explore the area on your own, or book a local tour for a deeper experience. Adventure seekers can join this Scenic off-road guided tour through Moab’s interiorexperience the thrill between the cliffs. moab rope swing Or build the Colorado River with this combo Rafting and Canyonlands 4X4 Tour. If you want to enjoy the exquisitely carved landscape from a different perspective, take a tour to see it from above. Canyonlands and Arches National Park Combo Airplane Tour Instead.
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Save 10% on experiences and earn 6% cashback with Viator
Find more ways to save on your next vacation at RMN’s Spring Savecation event.
The post “How to maximize your PTO (and money) with cashback and deals” first appeared on RetailMeNot’s The Real Deal.
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