How long of a drive (or vacation) is TOO long?

[ronandannette]

I'm surprised at how many posters said that 20 days was too long to be away from home. These are posters on a trip planning board.
Does no one take 3 week trips on a regular basis? Our trip to Florida last year was 19 nights. Yes we missed the dog when we were gone but we had a blast.

We sure don't. I get 5 weeks of paid vacation a year but in the 11 years I've worked for this company I've never taken more than 1 week at a time. A lot of it is a budget thing - we take a nice vacation every year but depending what and where, a 2-4K budget doesn't cover a very long trip. ( We went to Hawaii for 4 days!). We're going to Europe in May for 11 days, including a 7-day Med cruise. That will be the longest DH and I have ever been away together in our whole married life and we likely won't repeat it anytime soon.

 

[powellrj]

We drive straight through to Orlando and it's 1025 miles. We have done it many times. I think now that the kids are gone, we may start to do it more often.

 

[bellebud]

I'm surprised at how many posters said that 20 days was too long to be away from home. These are posters on a trip planning board.
Does no one take 3 week trips on a regular basis? Our trip to Florida last year was 19 nights. Yes we missed the dog when we were gone but we had a blast.

are you in the US?

 

[xlxo]

Follow-up tips... especially around Seattle and Vancouver.

• During the summer... you have daylight until 9:30pm. This means an incredible amount of time for driving.
• Think about having an early dinner especially around 3:30pm and 6:30pm. It no fun and very tiring trying to drive in commuter traffic.
• The Vancouver fireworks competition last 7 days.... are you staying in a hotel or with friends to save money?
• be aware the fireworks are a little later this year. Here's the competition dates and countries...
  http://hondacelebrationoflight.com/

3 adults sharing the driving duties will be easy.... especially with a GPS to flag all the rest stops for bio breaks.

 

[Patience]

My in-laws drove from NC to Alaska and back again. I don't think there is any road trip that is too long for them. They are retired and have the time.

Regarding taking a 3 week long vacation, nope. My husband has enough sick days and vacation days saved up to retire from his job more than a year early but he's not able to take 3 consecutive weeks off even though he is now in the upper echelon at his workplace. Actually, I suppose he could take the time off but it would be highly frowned upon and the clear expectation is that no one will take more than a one week vacation at a time, although an occasional 2 week vacation is ok (not every year). As for me, I get 3 weeks of vacation per year but due to the nature of my work, 3 consecutive weeks is just too long to be away.

 

[pryncess527]

Re: taking long vacations -- We are both in academia. That makes it much easier to take a long vacation during the summer. I'm in a staff position, so I do need the vacation time to use, but my husband, while he has research and other tasks to accomplish over the summer, can be anywhere.

Follow-up tips... especially around Seattle and Vancouver.

• During the summer... you have daylight until 9:30pm. This means an incredible amount of time for driving.
• Think about having an early dinner especially around 3:30pm and 6:30pm. It no fun and very tiring trying to drive in commuter traffic.
• The Vancouver fireworks competition last 7 days.... are you staying in a hotel or with friends to save money?
• be aware the fireworks are a little later this year. Here's the competition dates and countries...
  http://hondacelebrationoflight.com/

3 adults sharing the driving duties will be easy.... especially with a GPS to flag all the rest stops for bio breaks.

Good tips, thank you. And yeah, it is a long time in Vancouver!! Going to this is a lifelong dream for my FIL, so we are staying the entire time, in a hotel with a balcony overlooking the Bay. We honestly have no plans other than the fireworks, lol. I have no doubt we will come up with plenty to do though.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We sure don't. I get 5 weeks of paid vacation a year but in the 11 years I've worked for this company I've never taken more than 1 week at a time. A lot of it is a budget thing - we take a nice vacation every year but depending what and where, a 2-4K budget doesn't cover a very long trip. ( We went to Hawaii for 4 days!). We're going to Europe in May for 11 days, including a 7-day Med cruise. That will be the longest DH and I have ever been away together in our whole married life and we likely won't repeat it anytime soon.

I get 5 weeks paid vacation a year and we often take 2 weeks at a time even if we are just going to the lake.

are you in the US?

No. Why?

 

[bellebud]

I get 5 weeks paid vacation a year and we often take 2 weeks at a time even if we are just going to the lake.



No. Why?

You asked 'does no one take 3 week trips on a regular basis'...

Most people in the US don't get that kind of vacation time, or if they do, they don't take it all at the same time (probably a mix of don't want to, can't afford to, and aren't allowed to from work), and they don't 'go away' for all of it. I don't know anyone personally who even has taken a solid 2 weeks (we once took 3 weeks, but we are business owners so can do that). I think it's more common in other countries, and especially when visiting the US from other countries to make the long flight worth it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I get 5 weeks paid vacation a year and we often take 2 weeks at a time even if we are just going to the lake.

No. Why?

Cultures in this regard can be different from country to country and for many Americans it's not a norm for many people's companies to allow them to take a large chunk of time off at once. Exceptions would be short-term/long-term disability time but as far as vacation time (which can also include sick time) yeah many don't; that's not even counting if you have enough time given. Like I mentioned I had 19 days at my last job..that's 19 days for a total of 365 days and that includes sick days how could I take a long vacation with only that amount of time much less what my company allows.

The OP is in the education system where if the school isn't set up as year-round they have a decent amount of time during the summer to take vacation should they want to/be able to because school isn't in session.

Just as an example my husband can bank up to twice his yearly total of vacation time available. A few years ago his company rolled sick time into vacation time. He now has just about 10 weeks of vacation stored up. He can't have more than 10 weeks so once he hits that amount he just stops accruing vacation time. However, he's in the office and yeah a week off (meaning Sat- the next Sun or 5 days of vacation used) isn't such a big deal even adding a day or so (like a Friday or a Monday on the front or back end would be ok) but too much more than that and it becomes an issue. People rely on him being available; this includes people in Canada, people in France, people in Germany, people in the U.S.

 

[JHops]

We just did a 23 hour cross country drive, just short of yours. We had our 3 kids and dog with us. We stayed in Embassy Suites and Hampton Inns (Hilton Honors member rates). We took our time, and stayed 4 nights in hotels. We could have easily done it in 3, but decided to make a 2 day mini vacation in Nashville, which was a BLAST!! No regrets! Even seeing how the landscape changes from maintains to meadows, from farms to cities, different kinds of houses, different kinds of people and goods- gave us a wonderful appreciation for how beautiful the USA really is and how diverse we are. We've also done a 2.5 week long family vacation, and the second week was when we really finally felt relaxed. Another thing that leaves time for is each kid to have a whole day with just one parent and take turns with your spouse to do that. We're fortunate enough to travel with grandparents, so that also gave us time for a date day to ourselves. If you can do a 2 days in the parks, 1 day off pattern, you will be happy and enjoy yourselves! I say go for it!


PS Traveling with our 70 lb dog was easy, but she is not a barker or "cryer," . I can't recommend the Hilton chains enough. The Hanpton Inn even gives out puppy treats. We asked about leaving our pup, within her collapsible crate in the room, by herself , and were told it's ok as long as she is crated and we notified housekeeping not to enter or service the room, plus hang do not disturb tag on the door. They said if she carried on we would be called on our cellphone and would have to come back. We put her crate in the bathroom and used a white noise machine so she could not hear the hotel noise and she was fine. Embassy Suites have a fabulous free breakfast Do stay away from LaQuinta. Dog friendly but we found them gross, dirty. Also call the individual hotel not just 800 number to verify with hotel manager they take dogs, up to what weight, and any fees or deposits.

 

[CdnCarrie]

You asked 'does no one take 3 week trips on a regular basis'...

Most people in the US don't get that kind of vacation time, or if they do, they don't take it all at the same time (probably a mix of don't want to, can't afford to, and aren't allowed to from work), and they don't 'go away' for all of it. I don't know anyone personally who even has taken a solid 2 weeks (we once took 3 weeks, but we are business owners so can do that). I think it's more common in other countries, and especially when visiting the US from other countries to make the long flight worth it.

That's sad. Why is that?

 

[JHops]

Oh and in Orlando, there are pet sitters with private homes and fenced yards that will take your dog for a daily rate. My folks do that when they go to the parks with us because their dog is too old to hold it 8-9 hours. Another option for your park days. I don't know of any Disney Hotels that take dogs, though.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Re the 3 week trips, in the 13 years I've been in this job, only 3 coworkers have ever done that. The owner & his wife went to Europe for 3 weeks, and another coworker went to South Africa on someone else's dime LOL.

Most take a one-week vacation once per year. Most years, I take 7-8 consecutive working days off for our vacation, but sometimes less.

 

[xlxo]

And yeah, it is a long time in Vancouver!! Going to this is a lifelong dream for my FIL, so we are staying the entire time, in a hotel with a balcony overlooking the Bay. We honestly have no plans other than the fireworks, lol. I have no doubt we will come up with plenty to do though.

Some pre-lim ideas for a week long stay.... you'll notice I'm making suggestions for weekdays for a lot of things when roads and attractions are quieter.

• Jul 28, Friday » check-in one night early to secure that fav balcony spot! Hopefully they won't give it away for the big fireworks day.... especially if the balcony has great fireworks sight lines
• Jul 29, Saturday » 10pm show with Japan
• Jul 31, Monday » Squamish and possible overnight in Whistler
• Aug 1, Tuesday » Whistler
• Aug 2, Wednesday » Hop On shuttles to Granville Island, Gastown and Stanley Park, 10pm show with UK
• Aug 3, Thursday » Day trip to Victoria and possible overnight in Vancouver Island?
• Aug 4, Friday » Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Aug 5, Saturday » 10pm show with Canada
• Aug 6, Sunday » check for road closures around your hotel. You may need to check out at 8am to get away from the road closures and all afternoon congestion with Pride Festivities!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Re the 3 week trips, in the 13 years I've been in this job, only 3 coworkers have ever done that. The owner & his wife went to Europe for 3 weeks, and another coworker went to South Africa on someone else's dime LOL.

Most take a one-week vacation once per year. Most years, I take 7-8 consecutive working days off for our vacation, but sometimes less.

Sometimes I take a week. Sometimes I take 2. Rarely 3 weeks however I have combined it with holidays (last year Easter) and ended up gone for 2.5 weeks with 3 weekends in there.

 

[bellebud]

That's sad. Why is that?

Most people can't afford it, and jobs generally don't allow it. For instance, when I was a secretary, there was no one to take my place. So for my week's vacation, my boss would answer his own phone, and not get any letters typed up that week (over 20 years ago). It was ok for a week's time, but more than that wouldn't be fair to the rest of the people in the office.

 

[JHops]

It's more a United States work custom to take only one week. But considering levels of personal stress, burnout, depression, obesity, etc., a two week vacay is much more mentally and physically refreshing. Makes for more productivity. You don't have to pay for a 2 week Disney vacay to have that. But any 2-3 weeks of enjoying your family, leisure activities, rest, relaxation, fun, is better for you. First world issues, I know, as some work dawn to dusk just to feed their kids. But as for this thread, good for you! I would support a coworker who took the vacation time allotted however she so chose to take it. It's yours. Have fun!

 

[JHops]

That's sad. Why is that?

It's becoming less like that with more enlightened CEOs and better work life balance. It's still work hard, sometimes mandatory 50+ hour weeks for salaried employees, but play hard / longer vacations are not discouraged in many companies now. If you are lucky enough to have a highly sought tech degree with some experience, you will have more leeway. But long vacation times is not a given as it is in Europe and other more socially leaning countries. Here, your coworkers may resent you if you actually take the time all at once. Many people only get 2 weeks. At the former company, for instance, even in a foot of snow with a statewide emergency declared, you report to work, take a vacation day or make up the hours. If you took two weeks at once, other than for birth of child (as the spouse) or maybe a honeymoon, expect to be given less of performance based raise due to the inability to fully assess your work performance because of your extended absence. That is the reality of many workers in USA.

 

[22Tink]

Re: taking long vacations -- We are both in academia. That makes it much easier to take a long vacation during the summer. I'm in a staff position, so I do need the vacation time to use, but my husband, while he has research and other tasks to accomplish over the summer, can be anywhere.



Good tips, thank you. And yeah, it is a long time in Vancouver!! Going to this is a lifelong dream for my FIL, so we are staying the entire time, in a hotel with a balcony overlooking the Bay. We honestly have no plans other than the fireworks, lol. I have no doubt we will come up with plenty to do though.

If you like Soarin' you should do Flying over Canada! It's the same kind of ride but with a Canadian landscape film. We've done it twice and really enjoyed it. It's located right down in the waterfront area at Canada Place.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Most people can't afford it,

I doubt incomes are that different between Canada and the USA. I know lots of people who go on vacation for 2 weeks at a time whether it be camping or WDW.