[fullstackchris]

Agreed, in Switzerland this idea of "stretching" is common but I find it stupid. Weather going to be bad? Doesnt matter, I can stretch my total time off 3 days more!!! Total off season to where I am traveling to? Doesnt matter, I get that single extra "bridge" day! Man so cringe.

I don't know, seems much easier that if you dont want to work then don't!

I mean the tool OP posted recommended 2 weeks off at the end of March into April on the easter holiday (because of the friday and monday holiday)... who is honestly doing that?

This topic has always rubbed me the wrong way I think because its way too closely tied to the whole workaday / "work sucks" / ratrace / 9-5 mentality.

One other thing as I continue my rant, related, the whole "plan your holidays for the next year so we can figure out the resource planning, even if you move your holiday!" Ugh so depressing, I always am like "welp next year is planned already and its only November". Nothing spontaneous, nothing interesting.

Anyway, I realize also I am likely in the minority here, HN folks will do anything for a "hack".

[jagermo]

>>I mean the tool OP posted recommended 2 weeks off at the end of March into April on the easter holiday (because of the friday and monday holiday)... who is honestly doing that?

sad parents tied to school holidays noises.

[kleiba]

Sorry, I don't understand - why wouldn't you do that?

[Freak_NL]

Parent (heh) means they have no choice but to plan their holidays during the days off in the school roster. Tools like these are pretty much pointless if you can take a day off from work, but your kid is required to show up in school.

[Winse]

When I had younger children, we would just pull them from school on occasion. This did require a bit coordinating with homework, teachers etc, but they don't have to be in school. On a more serious note, schools are there to serve you, be assertive about your children being yours, they do not belong to the state (at least in the USA).

[Freak_NL]

Yeah, that doesn't work in a lot of countries. I can be assertive all I want, but if I pull my child out of school without permission, I risk getting a call from the local child protection services and/or getting fined.

[PenguinCoder]

_Whose_ permission is needed? You're their parent , that's all the "permissions" needed.

[j45]

If kids are performing academically there isn’t much grounds for the school to stand on.

[BrandoElFollito]

If I am driving 200 km/h but did not have an accident there isn't much grounds for police to fine me.

Law is not optional.

[generic92034]

> if you can take a day off from work, but your kid is required to show up in school.

Sounds like a real day off, though. ;)

[jagermo]

If I could go on a 4-day week, I think I would choose Wednesday, drop the kids off at school, head to the mountains for a hike or skiing in winter, and pick them back up in the afternoon. Now, that would be the perfect work week :)

[MikeTheGreat]

This sounds like a feature request / opportunity.

Like, can the tool be expanded to do:

1) Finding vacation time for a group of people (family? college friends?)

2) Can you include black-out days (school days for kids, whatever your specific job requires, etc)

I mean, as long as _I'm_ not responsible for making this thing I can make feature suggestions all day :)

[pc86]

When I was in my early 20s I had a few friends who were obsessed with traveling and would do stuff like this to maximize long blocks of time off, then they'd pick where to go because now they have 9 days instead of 4, and decide where to go backed on what time of year they had that longer block.

If your trying to maximize "contiguous days off" and you truly don't care when it is, a tool like this is super helpful.

[j45]

This is a great way to plan a travel window and even pick the best destination that presents itself then.

[matsemann]

> 2 weeks off at the end of March into April on the easter holiday (because of the friday and monday holiday)... who is honestly doing that?

It's like peak cross country season?! Still loads of snow, but nice weather. I skied in shorts and a tshirt for days this easter!

You know you don't have to do as the tool says? It just highlights one of many variables you can use when deciding when to take your time off. If you have other needs (as your weather thingy, or spontaneity, or when kids are off school), you are of course free to take that into account.

[svilen_dobrev]

> plan your holidays for the next year

i am absolutely lost in why anyone would do that. And on other side, resource planning is only lame excuse.

But AFAIK most of western europe goes that way.. which is a preliminary planned existance. Boring like hell. Where is Life?

[Freak_NL]

As soon as you have kids in the age range where school is mandatory you are pretty much confined to the school holiday roster for big trips. This means you pretty much have to get your planning going soon, if you want trips that are both interesting and possible.

Planning ahead is the only way to actually have some freedom. You can rent really nice cottages, get that night train reservation, etc., as long as you plan ahead.

I'd love it if it were possible to have elective days off for kids in school as well, but that's usually only possible for people in certain jobs who can't use the regular school holidays.

[j45]

I thought it was a bit much too until I learned that there can be benefits from a life management perspective to setup yearly traditions, as well as often being able to get beer value for some things planned out in advance