6 ms·

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

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 2y ago
>>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 2y ago
  Sorry, I don't understand - why wouldn't you do that?
  - Freak_NL 2y ago
    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 2y ago
      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 2y ago
        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 2y ago
        _Whose_ permission is needed? You're their parent , that's all the "permissions" needed.
        l_h 2y ago
        In the Netherlands (and other countries), you have something called "leerplicht" or obligatory education law, and have to ask the school for permission. The school is allowed to make an exemption for a maximum of 10 days, above that you need to contact the school attendance officer. This can only be provided if the reason falls under some specific types. If you want to take your children on a holiday outside the national holidays, you have to provide proof that this only a possibility during term time. You can read more about this at https://www.government.nl/topics/compulsory-school-attendance/exemptions-from-compulsory-school-attendance https://www.government.nl/topics/compulsory-school-attendanc...
        kleiba 2y ago
        It's the same in Germany, plus home schooling is not permitted (except in some very specific circumstances).
matsemann 2y ago
> 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 2y ago
> 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 2y ago
  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.
  - FartyMcFarter 2y ago
    [flagged]
- j45 2y ago
  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
pc86 2y ago
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 2y ago
  This is a great way to plan a travel window and even pick the best destination that presents itself then.

jagermo 2y ago

>>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 2y ago
Sorry, I don't understand - why wouldn't you do that?
- Freak_NL 2y ago
  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 2y ago
    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 2y ago
      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 2y ago
        _Whose_ permission is needed? You're their parent , that's all the "permissions" needed.
        l_h 2y ago
        In the Netherlands (and other countries), you have something called "leerplicht" or obligatory education law, and have to ask the school for permission. The school is allowed to make an exemption for a maximum of 10 days, above that you need to contact the school attendance officer. This can only be provided if the reason falls under some specific types. If you want to take your children on a holiday outside the national holidays, you have to provide proof that this only a possibility during term time. You can read more about this at https://www.government.nl/topics/compulsory-school-attendance/exemptions-from-compulsory-school-attendance https://www.government.nl/topics/compulsory-school-attendanc...
        kleiba 2y ago
        It's the same in Germany, plus home schooling is not permitted (except in some very specific circumstances).

matsemann 2y ago

> 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 2y ago

> 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 2y ago
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.
- FartyMcFarter 2y ago
  [flagged]
j45 2y ago
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

pc86 2y ago

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 2y ago
This is a great way to plan a travel window and even pick the best destination that presents itself then.