How to optimize your PTO in 2026
because!! fuck!! working!!
The best performing post I wrote last year was the one I wrote on maximizing PTO. If you’re new here, I’d like to consider myself an expert on taking time off from corporate America and taking full advantage of PTO policies. Paid time off is designed to be used for a reason! Everyone needs a break, and as a society, we could benefit from cutting down on burnout! And yet, for some reason, not everyone squeezes all of the juice that they can out of their PTO.
Here’s what we’re not talking about enough: In 2024, around 50% of Americans left at least some of their PTO unused, and nearly a third of total vacation days went unused. Nearly a quarter of workers in the United States haven’t taken a single vacation day in the past year!
And the research is clear: taking time off obviously reduces burnout, improves mental health, and makes us better at our jobs when we return. And yet, the default American mindset is to treat PTO like it’s a luxury rather than what it actually is—something we’ve earned and are entitled to use! We could learn a thing or two from the French.
Thankfully, I don’t work a corporate job anymore, but when I did, I always took the maximum amount of time off that I possibly could. The last time I had a full-time job with an unlimited PTO policy, my manager had to pull me aside and very gently remind me that “unlimited” doesn’t actually mean “all the time.” The company ended up re-writing their PTO policy because of me (sorry I took 20 days off in one year!), but hey, don’t offer it if you don’t actually mean it…
I’m not saying get yourself in trouble, but if you want to turn the average 15 days of PTO into nearly seven weeks of bliss in 2026, you’re in good hands here! I’m going to show you how it’s done (without getting in trouble), along with recommendations on where to spend your time off. I’ve done the math, the location research, and the Google calendar gymnastics for you!
The rules of the PTO game
#1: Map it all out
Planning your time off in advance is the super special sauce to maximizing your days. Use this guide to identify the best windows for booking flights, hotels, and maybe even squeezing in that dream trip you’ve been fantasizing about for three years.
And remember: Everyone loves time off, especially during the holidays. So, put in your requests as soon as you’re done reading this. Not to be dramatic, but today isn’t too early.
#2: Be strategic with your days
What sounds better—three random days off scattered throughout the year, or a full nine-day stretch that actually feels like an intentional vacation? Exactly.
I’ll walk you through each federal holiday and show you how to maximize it, but if you’re working with limited PTO, go for those longer stretches first. They’re worth it!
Here’s the play-by-play for 2026:
January
New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1st
Take January 2nd off and—voilà!—you’ve got:
4 days off in a row
1 PTO day used
Where to go: Todos Santos, Mexico. Book a room at the magical Hotel San Cristobal and soak in the surf vibes and art galleries.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19th
Add Friday the 16th and you’ll have:
4 days off in a row
1 PTO day used
Where to go: Take a staycation, or jet down to Miami for a relaxed weekend at the 1 Hotel in South Beach.
February
Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 16th
Take Friday the 13th (lucky! it needs a rebrand) and Tuesday the 17th, for a Valentine’s Day long weekend:
5 days off in a row
2 PTO days used
Where to go: Take a romantic long weekend to Paris! Stay at one of the very romantic Mindholiday design-led approved hotels— La Fantaisie or Le Grand Mazarin. Hotel Providence (my clients love this spot) is also very sexy and a bit more budget friendly.
May
Memorial Day: Monday, May 25th
Take Friday the 22nd OR Tuesday the 26th:
4 days off in a row
1 PTO day used
Where to go: The extremely special and gorgeous Hotel Esencia in Mexico, which you can easily reach by flying into Cancun or Tulum.
June
Juneteenth: Friday, June 19th
Automatic three day weekend! Take Monday the 22nd for some extra sparkle:
4 days off in a row
1 PTO day used
Where to go: Mexico City! The best for when you need a food/art fix. Stay at La Valise, my favorite boutique hotel where some of the rooms are special and have beds and bathtubs that wheel out under the stars.
July
Independence Day: Saturday, July 4th
Bummer—it’s a weekend holiday, and there likely won’t be much of a reason to celebrate being American! But… the entire office will likely be out Friday the 3rd, and you can take July 6th off (Monday). You’ve got:
3 days off in a row (4 if no one is in office Friday)
1 PTO day used
Where to go: Escape America and head to Whistler for white water rafting, bear safaris, and the smell of evergreen trees. It’s easy to get to… just fly into Vancouver, and then it’s a 90 minute drive. Stay at the Fairmont (my clients love it here) or the Four Seasons, and you’ll be met with plenty of incredible on-site activities, such as landscape painting classes and beekeeping!
September
Labor Day: Monday, September 7th
3 days off in a row
0 PTO days used
Where to go: NYC, baby! It’s time for the US Open, and September is one of the best months to visit, weather wise. Stay at the Hoxton in Williamsburg for a more laid back vibe, excellent restaurants on site (Laser Wolf!), and dreamy views while also having easy access to Manhattan.
October
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Monday, October 12th
3 days off in a row
0 PTO days used :)
Where to go: Head to Montreal for excellent food and impeccable vintage/thrift shopping. The foliage should be prime, too. Stay at the Hotel Nelligan, where you can live out your dreams of sleeping in front of a fireplace naked.
November
Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11th
Take Nov 9, 10, 12, 13 off:
9 days off in a row
4 PTO days used
Where to go: This is the best time to take an extended vacation! Prices are generally lower than they are in December. For a warmer weather adventure vibe, might I suggest Argentina? Head to Buenos Aires and stay at the Park Hyatt, and then spend a few days in Eolo in Patagonia, a ten thousand acre, 17-room property where you can easily horseback ride, birdwatch, and hike to your content.
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26th
Take Friday the 27th off:
4 days off in a row
1 PTO day used
Where to go: Costa Rica! The best way to celebrate Thanksgiving? On a beach with the people you love most. Nekajui is the gorgeous Ritz Carlton resort that just opened, which is great for families. If you don’t mind more of an adventure, Hotel Nantipa in Santa Teresa is one of my all time favorite spots—the beach is spectacular!
December
Christmas: Friday, December 25th
Now here’s the jackpot: take Dec 21–24 off.
9 days off in a row
4 PTO days used
Where to go: If you want to lean into the holiday spirit and are looking for something unique, look no further than Finland. You’ll have a great chance to see the Northern Lights! Sauna culture is everywhere! You’ll likely see reindeer and you can go dog sledding. Spend a couple of days in Helsinki at Hotel Saint George, and then head to Rovaniemi to stay at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel or Octola, a very exclusive wilderness sanctuary.
The Grand Total
If you follow this guide, you’ll have turned 15 days of PTO into a gorgeous 49 days off in 2026. That’s almost 1.5 months of time to explore the world, rot at home, spend time with family, or do whatever the hell makes you feel alive.
No judgement on how you spend the time, unless you don’t take the PTO you’re so rightfully owed—then I’ll actually judge you!
Here’s the cheat sheet:
January: 8 days (2 PTO used)
February: 5 days (2 PTO used)
May: 4 days (1 PTO used)
June: 4 days (1 PTO used)
July: 3 days (1 PTO used)
September: 3 days (0 PTO used)
October: 3 days (0 PTO used)
November: 13 days (5 PTO used)
December: 9 days (4 PTO used)
Total = 49 days off (15 PTO used)
Good luck! Remember to get your requests in early and thank me later!
xx,
Bella
P.S. — Interested in booking a trip with me? See how the process works! I’m currently taking clients for 2026, and would love to make your travel dreams come true.
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This is the good kind of sorcery lol
Amazing! Great post!!! Eye opening for sure!