How to Take Epic Vacations Without Burning All of Your PTO

With just one day off, it's possible to get three days and three nights away. The trick is to pack Wednesday night and then head out straight from the office on Thursday. Plus, this way you'll skip the mass exodus Friday-night traffic.

Understanding the finer points of your company's sick and personal days policy can really come in handy when you need to get away. Use them creatively to your advantage—because an actual fever shouldn't be the only justification for taking a wellness day. Remember, you don't need to have a crisis to take a day for yourself, and you don't need to justify it to your higher-ups either.

Even if you're not a natural planner, it's worth taking care of every detail before your time off starts. Plan each leg of travel carefully, set up activities close to one another to minimize lost time, but always be sure to block off a few hours for spontaneous digressions—they're part of the fun, too.

Follow the herd, and you'll become part it. Instead, forgo the standard weekend getaway return of slogging back to the city through traffic on Sunday night by working remotely on Monday. You'll be able to fully enjoy Sunday and spend less time wasted in behind the wheel. Can't swing working remotely? Save the drive for the crack of dawn on Monday morning and head right into the office.

As nice as it is to hightail it to a far-flung tropical destination, rejuvenating getaways don't require plane tickets and passports. Take out the map and find some unexplored green space close to home, or visit a nearby town you've always passed by.

When holidays line up on a Monday or Friday, tack a vacation day on either end to extend your time off. Suddenly, a three-day weekend turns into a four-day vacation with enough time to venture further from home. Just be sure to request for this added day off well in advance—you won't be the only one to think of this, so beating your coworkers to the ask will be key to making it happen.

You can also fall back on the add-a-day strategy if you're traveling for work. A bonus day in the city can be used to explore neighborhoods instead of whichever office building or conference center you've been cooped up in, and getting there and back is already covered. All you need is a sense of adventure—and funds to cover an extra night at a hotel.

Whether you're a road warrior or a business travel novice, getting out of the office is a great way to quell wanderlust without burning days off. If your work travel schedule is looking stark, drum up business travel ideas and start pitching.

Looking to multiply your days off by two? Try taking a vacation day and splitting it up into two half-days off. Working in the morning opens up the afternoon and evening to short getaways or a stay-cation. For an even more advanced take on the half-day, try working remotely for the work portion of your getaway.

File this one under self-interested altruism. Many companies offer a certain number of days off for volunteering or community service. Find a cause that aligns with your interests or hobbies to make the most of this time. If your company doesn't have a service policy, it might be time to start lobbying for one.