Statistics say that the worst holiday takers are Americans. Almost half of employees in the US admit that they do not plan to use all of their allocated paid time off provided by their employer. Not to mention, it is also one of the few countries that does not require employers to provide paid vacation leave. British workers are only slightly better. In a survey from 2026, almost one third of workers in the United Kingdom stated that they left at least 15 paid vacation days unused. On the other hand, people in France, Spain, Germany, Austria, and Sweden tend to enjoy their vacations to the fullest, rarely leaving even a single day unused. Overall, employees in Europe are generally well informed about their workplace benefits and tend to make full use of them.
Of course, there are many cultural reasons why people do not take all of their vacation days, but we know the risks associated with it, such as burnout and depression. However, we’ll leave that topic for another time. Today, let’s look at what you can do to maximize your vacation.
1. Create Bridge Days
The simplest strategy, and the very reason LongVacation.eu was created, is to help you avoid missing bridge-day opportunities. Simply put, if Thursday is a public holiday, take Friday off and voilà - you have a four-day mini vacation. That’s already something! You can travel somewhere nearby or simply stay at home and enjoy doing nothing.
2. Turn a Business Trip into a Vacation
If your employer sends you on a business trip to an attractive destination, don’t hesitate to stay a couple of extra days if your company allows it. This way, your employer covers the cost of getting you there, you save money on flights, and you get to enjoy a vacation at the same time.
3. Look for Additional PTO Days
Some companies, and even some countries, provide additional paid leave on top of your standard vacation allowance. In Spain, for example, if you move your primary residence within the same region, you are entitled to one day of paid leave. If you move to a different region, you get two days. Likewise, if you get married, you are entitled to 15 calendar days of paid leave (including weekends and public holidays) to enjoy your wedding and honeymoon. Isn’t that great?
The truth is that, in most cases, you need to find this information yourself. It is not served to you on the silver plate. The rules differ from one country to another and from one employer to another.
In summary, take your vacation and enjoy your long vacation. Your future self will thank you.
Want concrete dates for your country? See our 2027 US vacation-planning guide and open the planner to turn these strategies into a real calendar of breaks.