If you’re already excited about all that blissful time off next year spent fanning yourself on a beach or trekking through Europe, then you’re in the right place. Here at Contiki we’re all about going on holiday and living our lives up abroad – duh. So, of course, we have all the solutions when it comes to making the most of your limited time off!
Don’t worry, we’ve done all that horrible math for you, all you have to do to figure out how to make your paid time off work for you is to use the easy peasy PTO Hacker below! You’ll get a personalized calendar, and then you can read one for some special tips on exactly when, and even where, you should go!
See below for an example of your public holidays and weekend extenders so you can fully take advantage of the system. And if you’re a student reading this, how about some inspiration before jetting off for spring break?
Image source:Contiki
February – Presidents’ Day
A long weekend so we can all keep hibernating until Spring comes. Make the most of Presidents’ Day on February 19th by lounging around over the long weekend and curling up with a cup of hot cocoa and a seasonal movie. Groundhog Day maybe…
You’ll have these weekends off for some extra me-time:
- Saturday, February 17th
- Sunday, February 18th
Or, if you want to move some of our suggested days around, take a week off in Feb and head over into the Asian sun on Contiki’s Thai Island Hopper West. You can curl up with a fruity drink in a coconut shell surrounded by sparkling sand and seas.
Image source:Contiki
May – Memorial Day
In need of some sun and beaches and maybe even a few sips of Aperol? Italy, Spain, and France, are calling your name, and if you take the following days off, you can bag yourself a full 9 days there! Kick start your Euro Summer 2024 right.
- Tuesday, May 28th
- Wednesday, May 29th
- Thursday, May 30th
- Friday, May 31st
Monday the 27th is free for Memorial Day, and you’ve got the weekends hugging either side!
Tour Rome and the French Riviera on foot, explore glitzy and glamorous Monaco, marvel at Cinque Terre’s colourful coast, and finish it all off in Barcelona with flamenco dance and La Sagrada Familia on Contiki’s Rome to Barcelona by Train. Sounds like heaven if you ask us…
Image source:Florian Wehde / unsplash
June – Juneteenth
Juneteenth hits us smack in the middle of June in the glorious early days of summer, promising an immaculate time off. It falls on a Wednesday this year, and on the 19th like every year, so you can either opt to take 2 days off for a cozy 5 day weekend, or you can go for the big one and take 4 days off on either side for a dazzling 9 days off in total!
- Monday, June 17th
- Tuesday, June 19th
&
- Thursday, June 20th
- Friday, June 21st
With both weekends on the side.
To celebrate, why not hop over to Latin America for glorious sunshine, tropical forests, and beachside bliss. Discover waterfalls and rainforests on Contiki’s Viva Costa Rica, and experience both awe and adventure as you walk over rope bridges, soak in hot springs, and enjoy the world’s best coffee tasting.
Image source:Contiki
July – 4th of July babyyy
It’s everyone’s favorite bright and twinkly festival of red, white, and blue. The 4th of July hits us on a Thursday in 2024, so we recommend booking the 4 days around it off so you can maximize your time to celebrate.
- Monday, July 1st
- Tuesday, July 2nd
- Wednesday, July 3rd
&
- Friday, July 5th
With both weekends on either side (but you know the drill by now).
That’s an awesome 9 days that you can spend lying by the pool with friends and family, sipping on themed drinks and grilling all-American goods. Do you put ketchup or mustard on your hotdog? Get really patriotic with it and soar through the States like a bald eagle on Contiki’s New York Uncovered and LA Explorer. You and your new friends will be chanting “U. S. A! U. S. A!” all the way.
Image source:Contiki
September, October, November – Long weekends galore
Three more long weekends coming your way for you to fully take advantage of and relax. We’re about halfway through the year now, with a big break on the horizon, some enjoy those last rays of summer and plan for the fall and chill ahead.
The first is Labor Day on Monday, September 2nd, the second is Monday, October 14th to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, and the third is Monday, 11th of November for us to honor all our Veterans.
November – Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, Turkey Day, whatever you want to call it, it’s the big one that comes just in time to give us a much needed break before December’s sparkling holiday season. You’ll get Thursday, November 28th off automatically, and in most states Black Friday will also be given to you for free! So you just need to book 3 days of PTO for you to fully enjoy.
- Monday, November 25th
- Tuesday, November 26th
- Wednesday, November 27th
And… the weekends! You guessed it.
It’s a delicious 9 days that you can spend making new memories on Contiki with new friends and new experiences under your belt that’ll make you feel all the more special! Consider travelling abroad, maybe to some Thai Islands. You may not be treated to the traditional turkey, but you’ll get your fill of sticky mango rice – we promise it’s just as mouth watering.
Image source:Contiki
December – Christmas
Rounding off the year, it’s Christmas of course, and you’ll be getting Wednesday 25th off so you can huddle around the Christmas tree, exchange gifts with your loved ones, and dig into a delicious dinner altogether. Take this time to reflect on your year of travel and all your PTO well-spent, and get excited for 2025…
