The smartest vacation trick

If you're a freelancer like me, then this doesn't apply to you. Sorry. Just click away quickly, otherwise you might get sad too. In paid employment? Good. Keep on reading.

You probably have 28 to 30 vacation days per year. If you go on vacation for three weeks, that immediately takes away 15, leaving you with 15 for the rest of the year. Some people can't even use them (I always wonder what kind of people those are), but for most people it applies: you can't have enough vacation days to spare.

‘Is it smart to take an afternoon off now or will I run into trouble with my days?’ You've probably thought this at some point. But there are tricks to circumvent that. In fact: this year there is a way to take four days off and then get twelve in return. I kid you not.

Now you're excited. I think. Here it comes: the secret lies in the end of the year. You already have quite a few days off around Christmas and New Year's, and if you handle that smartly, you can make the most of it. The days you take off: December 24, 27, 28, and January 2. Result? Just like that, 12 days of vacation.

If you're in a job where the biggest revenues are generated around the holidays, that might not be very convenient, but otherwise I would say: go for it. If you're still wondering what the best destinations are to celebrate New Year's : here you go.