Travel Planning for Busy Professionals

Kelsey Dziedzic
07.10.25 01:00 PM - Comment(s)

How to Get a Vacation Without Losing PTO or Patience

You know that feeling when you finally decide to take a vacation—but the second you start Googling flights, your browser has 47 tabs open and your motivation evaporates? Yeah. Same.


Here’s the truth: planning an incredible trip while juggling Slack notifications, back-to-back meetings, and that ever-expanding inbox is basically a full-time job. But that’s exactly why I exist.


At New Dawn Vacations, I help time-starved travelers trade overwhelm for champagne on the beach. Here’s how to reclaim your vacation sanity without burning PTO to plan it.


  • Stop Trying to DIY Everything: You don’t assemble your own furniture without instructions—why tackle a multi-destination itinerary solo? A travel advisor does all the comparing, coordinating, and confirming for you, so you can focus on choosing outfits instead of logistics.
  • Use “Decision Filters:” Instead of starting with “Where should I go?”, ask: “Do I want to relax, explore, or brag about this trip later?” (It’s okay to say all three.) This narrows your options from thousands to a few destinations that actually fit your vibe.
  • Outsource the Stress: Think of me as your vacation project manager. I handle the flights, transfers, insurance, special requests, and resort perks—so you just show up looking fabulous.
  • Treat PTO Like Gold: Even a four-day weekend can feel luxurious if it’s well planned. I’ll help you squeeze every ounce of joy from your limited time off.

Bottom Line: You deserve a break, not a second job planning it. Let’s turn your “someday” vacation into “this year, finally.”


2026 National Holidays for the US

    • New Year's Day: Thursday, January 1st, 2026

    • Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19th, 2026

    • Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16th, 2026

    • Memorial Day: Monday, May 25th, 2026

    • Juneteenth: Friday, June 19th, 2026

    • Independence Day: Saturday, July 4th, 2026

    • Labor Day: Monday, September 7th, 2026

    • Indigenous Peoples' Day: Monday, October 12th, 2026

    • Veteran's Day: Wednesday, November 11th, 2026

    • Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26th, 2026

    • Christmas Day: Friday, December 25th, 2026


Let's combine your PTO with these holidays to make the most of your time off in 2026


January: Take off Jan 2nd and Jan 20th to create two four-day weekends
February: Take of Feb 17th to create a four day weekend for Valentine's Day
May: Take off May 26th to create a four day Memorial Day weekend
June: Take off June 22nd to create a four day weekend
July: Take off July 3rd to create a four day weekend for 4th of July
September: Take of Sept 8th to create a four day weekend for Labor Day
November: Take off Nov 9th and 10th to create a five day break, and then take of Nov 27th to create a four day weekend
December: Take off Dec 24th to create a four day weekend

Using 11 PTO days creates 9 four day weekends and 1 five day break.

Ready to set your plans? Set up a time to chat!
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Kelsey Dziedzic