With Choice Hotels, not only can you earn points and find a great deal on an everyday hotel stay, we’ve also got a few time-off hacks to help you get the most out of your stay. Follow our maximizer guide and see how you can turn one vacation day into many using your company’s holiday closure schedule. Whether you’ve banked a bunch of days, or even just a few, we’ll show you how to maximize your vacation, so your hard-earned PTO is time well spent.
And if you need a little support in submitting your vacation days (and maybe some encouragement for your boss), you can use our Time Off Toolbox to build your own personalized time-off request! Don’t accrue PTO? You can still maximize your vacation without paid time off with more helpful, budget-friendly travel tips.
January – February
Whether you seek a warm holiday spot or a snowy wonderland vacation, late-winter travel usually means fewer crowds where budget-friendly fun comes easy!
The new year is here, and that means it’s time to plan for the vacation time you’ve carried over from last year. Discover budget-friendly destinations during an extended MLK Jr. Day holiday or take a long weekend road trip during the Presidents Day holiday weekend. There’s endless fun to be had when you maximize your vacation in late winter.
Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday
When: Monday, 01/20/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
This mid-winter holiday means more opportunities for time off (and to make easing into the new year a little, well, easier). Take the preceding Friday off for a four-day weekend, or the following Tuesday for a much shorter work week. Either way, you’ll maximize your time off by turning just one vacation day into four!
Holiday: Presidents Day
When: Monday, 02/17/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
Presidents Day (also known as Washington’s Birthday) kicks off the first shoulder season of the year, and that usually means you can find great deals on an extended weekend holiday. With just one vacation day on the Friday before (or Tuesday after), you can maximize your vacation, shorten your work weeks, and enjoy a little extra time off early in the year. Some state governments and private companies have opted to swap this day for Juneteenth (and some might break for both).
March – April
Springtime is prime time for a pre-summer break from the stress of life and work—and a great time to use your hard-earned PTO.
While there aren’t any federally-recognized holidays in the early spring, there’s still good reason to use your vacation days—especially if you didn’t take a break in the winter. If you have school-aged children, Spring Break offers the perfect excuse to take a trip. The exact dates, however, vary by school district and can depend on when Easter falls. Some schools may also break separately for Easter (this year on April 20th).
May – June
Late spring into early summer is when things really start to heat up and the potential for maximizing your vacation is high.
While it’s technically still springtime, May and June mark the end of school, the beginning of Summer Break, the arrival of warmer weather, and the kick-off to the most popular stretch of vacation time in the USA. You’ll want to book early and save on the hassle of last-minute travel woes. You’ll also find two potential opportunities to maximize your vacations days! The arrival of warmer weather, and the kick-off to the most popular stretch of vacation time in the USA. You’ll want to book early and save on the hassle of last-minute travel woes. You’ll also find two potential opportunities to maximize your vacations days!
Holiday: Memorial Day
When: Monday, 05/26/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
Memorial Day was designated a federal holiday in 1971 but has been celebrated in one form or another since 1868. Now, the last Monday in May offers a three-day weekend in what is often referred to as the “un-official” start to summer. By taking just one vacation day, either the Friday before or the Tuesday after, you can extend your start-of-summer celebrations for more time-off fun!
Holiday: Juneteenth
When: Thursday, 06/19/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day or Emancipation Day, is the newest federal holiday. Celebrated on the 19th of June, it commemorates the ending of slavery in the USA (though some states and private companies haven’t yet adopted this day as an official closing day). This year, it falls on a Thursday. Whether your company closes on the day of, or the following Friday, you’ll only need to use one vacation day for a four-day weekend.
July – August
There’s no better time to maximize your vacation than the summertime. Give yourself a much-deserved break without breaking the (PTO) bank!
According to most travel data, Americans are most likely to take a vacation when summer is in full swing—particularly in July. With many people planning trips around school breaks and holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, getting the most out of your trip doesn’t just mean booking early and planning ahead. You also have an opportunity to maximize your vacation time!
Holiday: Independence Day
When: Friday, 07/04/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
The Fourth of July marks the historic day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the nation. The time around it also marks one of the busiest travel times of the year. Whether you join in the celebrations in a new city, take a long-overdue road trip for some on-the-road adventure, or settle on a staycation, you can use the extra day beforehand to prepare (and party early). Or, keep the fun going a little longer with vacation day the following Monday. Either way, you can maximize your time off and turn one vacation day into four during the nation’s biggest summer bash.
September – October
Summer is ending and autumn approaches—the start of the second shoulder season offers some fantastic opportunities to maximize your vacation days!
The end of summer is arguably the best time of the year to travel—both domestically and internationally, as both hemispheres enjoy mostly mild and pleasantly warm weather. You’ll also see smaller crowds (the kids are back in school), more budget-friendly deals (most hotels see fewer travelers), and two big opportunities to maximize your vacation days! Plus, nothing can beat the breathtaking beauty of America in the fall.
Holiday: Labor Day
When: Monday, 09/01/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
Established in New York City by the Central labor Union way back in 1882 to advocate for shorter work hours, Labor Day is a celebration of you: the American worker. So, what better time is there to take a well-earned vacation? Take yours on the Friday before for an extended weekend, or on the Tuesday after to shorten the following work week. However you decide to celebrate your hard work, you’ll only need one vacation day to do it right!
Holiday: Columbus Day
When: Monday, 10/13/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
Columbus Day was made a national holiday in 1892 but was intended to be just a one-time celebration. It wasn’t until 1937 that it became an annual tradition. Some state governments and private companies have opted to swap this day for Juneteenth (and some might break for both). But if you do get to enjoy the holiday time off, the second Monday in October offers another opportunity to maximize your vacation with just one day of PTO on Friday or Tuesday.
November – December
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—and for a reason. From the colorful fall leaves to the white sparkle of snow, maximizing your vacation just adds to the magic of the season.
As the year closes, you’ll enjoy three opportunities to maximize your vacation time. Whether you travel to visit family on winter break, wish to experience the Thanksgiving holiday in a new town, or have your eyes set on a magical Christmas vacation in the big city, November and December is a truly popular time to travel. This season sees some of the busiest travel days of the year, so book early to ensure your vacation maximization goes off without a hitch.
Holiday: Veterans Day
When: Tuesday 11/11/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4 Days
Established as Armistice Day in 1919, what is now known as Veterans Day commemorates the WWI armistice signed on November 11, 1918, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Now, this federal holiday is often celebrated with time off (though most private companies don’t close). If you’re lucky enough to enjoy this day as a holiday, why not maximize your PTO by taking the Monday preceding for a four-day weekend!
Holiday: Thanksgiving Day
When: Thursday, 11/27/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4-5 Days
Some companies close for both Thanksgiving Day and the day after, giving employees a four-day weekend without needing to request extra time off. If you don’t get the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday, it’s the perfect opportunity to maximize your vacation days to ensure you enjoy a full four-day weekend. Or, if you do get the day after as a holiday, why not take it a step further by requesting PTO on the Wednesday before to turn one vacation day into five.
Holiday: Christmas Day
When: Thursday, 12/25/25
Vacation: 1 Day
Maximized: 4-5 Days
Since Christmas Day falls on a Thursday this year, some might be afforded a unique opportunity to maximize PTO days by taking just one day off. Just like the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a full four-day weekend. And if your company does close for both days, you can use that one vacation day on the Friday after and enjoy five days off for holiday fun!