I love our school schedules not coinciding with Florida's. It gives us those wonderful off-season rates. We took advantage of the October break and then this really unplanned trip. The rate was just too good to pass up. I hate to fly too but I hate to drive 8 hours each way more...
I know what you mean about taking a week off at work. Every year I go through the issue of "Can I be gone for a week?" However, a few years ago, I finally made a decision that either I had to trust those that I had placed in the manager positions working for me or admit I had made wrong decisions then change them.
So for the last five years I've taken one single week each year where I do not take a BlackBerry, I don't check e-mail and my cell phone is not with me in the parks. If the place burns down, I guess I'll figure it out when I arrive and there's no building to put my key into. This isn't my only vacation each year but it is the only one where I don't respond to every little crisis at work.