Vacation plans??

[Guylaine]

We're planning a trip to Ogunquit, Maine, for our vacations. Have you ever been there? Any tips on campgrounds, restaurants, things to do?

Where/What were your most wonderful vacations?

[Lt.Mac]

vacation? :rolleyes: vacation? What's that? ;)
You mean one of those things where you go far away for home for a certain number of days and that thing called fun? NO Never hard of it. :cool:

[appeace]

Went to Colorado once. 103 degrees in Texas--85 degrees in Colorado with snow and sleet in mountains. Boss had to send Troopers to fetch me back to work!!----AAAAAAAAccccccccccKKKKKKKKK:rolleyes: :cool:

[Dian Rainier]

I have a vacation -full 7 weeks - may be 2 weeks in the Old Mountain-I know one nice place,with mineral water....and 3 weeks at the seaside-In Bulgaria, or in Croatia - happiness and joy from beginning to the end:D

[Sam]

:confused: Vacation?? What's That?? Oh yeah Now I remember.:rolleyes: I've had quite a few short weekend trips but I haven't had a REAL vacation since my daughter was 6 months old. She's now 28. It was a month in Miami, Florida and it was awesome!!! Just be sure you bring your own water cause I hear it still looks and tastes like mud. Daughter and I do plan to take the Grandkids on one but it will probably be at the end of the year.

[Vernon Gaunt]

Agreed Cocoknight taking holidays when you've youngen's isn't always fun. And then there is the prioritising on where the money goes. Do you take a trip or do you buy that stuff you've needed for so long?

It's only been recent that the funds have enabled us to travel as much as we like. Although I have to admit being a paranoid flyer. So driving 4000 miles last year around France Spain and Portugal was OK by me. This year sees a trip to Greece for a total flop. Damned if they've got me in a plane again. I've come to the conclusion that if you don't do it now you might never do it. So breaks are the name of the game, even if it's a quiet weekend by the river near Oxford just chilling with friends we do it. Pssst we're going again in September and intend to take prisoners this time, LOL. Our weekends away usually turn out to be a riot!

[StephyC]

So breaks are the name of the game, even if it's a quiet weekend by the river near Oxford just chilling with friends we do it. Pssst we're going again in September and intend to take prisoners this time, LOL. Our weekends away usually turn out to be a riot!
Oh dear do you think Oxford and the Thames are ready for us again:confused: I don't think those poor people have recovered from our last rendering of "Mutiny on the Bounty" yet. Mind you we will have a bigger crew next time.
Better warn Peter to brush up on his 'synchronised bed diving' to!!:D

[KarenAnne]

I'm not taking any time off until the middle of October I'm not going anywhere this year which is fine with me! I get 20 days off now since I've been on my job 20 years!

[Tiny Duck]

Just out of curiosity...how does this work in the different countries we live in? Anybody starting a job here will be entitled to something like 24 days of annual leave besides the normal national feast days such as Easter, Christmas or Queensday. When you turn 25, you will be entitled to an extra day, then after 10 years one more and then every other 5 years an extra day.

I will not be traveling this year but will go camping in our national park, which is luckily only 1,5 hours drive away.

Love,
Tiny

[lyncol]

I would have to say without a doubt. My vacation plans involve going to the HLWW8 con in Vancouver,BC. in October.

lyncol

[Dian Rainier]

I would have to say without a doubt. My vacation plans involve going to the HLWW8 con in Vancouver,BC. in October.

lyncol

It,s great(((*Cared for, Fraught with envy*)))Have nice time,and share your pics friendly:D

[StephyC]

Just out of curiosity...how does this work in the different countries we live in? Anybody starting a job here will be entitled to something like 24 days of annual leave besides the normal national feast days such as Easter, Christmas or Queensday. When you turn 25, you will be entitled to an extra day, then after 10 years one more and then every other 5 years an extra day.

One of the few compensations that go along with my job is the vacation time schools get. Folks are always telling me I could earn a lot more working in I.T for industry but how many office jobs would give you 13 weeks vacation a year!!

By the way Tiny do you happen to have a friend called Marjon by any chance??

[najones]

I would have to say without a doubt. My vacation plans involve going to the HLWW8 con in Vancouver,BC. in October.


Hiya, lyncol! Me too -- definitely going to Vancouver for HLWW8 in Oct. Before that I will have been to St. Simon's Island, GA in Sept to participate in a choral festival, and to somewhere in the SW US, perhaps Santa Fe, NM, with hubby in late July (yes, we must get this trip planned soon, and whatever possessed him to want to visit an oven at the hottest part of the year?!?!?!)

I must be very frugal with my vacation time right now since I only get 15 days/year. The job I had before this one, I was up to 25 days/year.

Just out of curiosity...how does this work in the different countries we live in?

Hi Tiny! Haven't "seen" you for a long time. I hope you and yours have been well. I still remember you and my quick visit to your country fondly.

In the US, there are many different ways vacation time works. Some hourly paid jobs accrue one paid day off for working so many hours. Some salaried jobs get a certain number of vacation days per year, and they are given out on a particular day every year. Some of those salaried jobs are "better" than others. For example, the job I had before was with a public university, i.e. State government, so we had lots more vacation days. I'm now with a private company, and starting salaried workers get 10 vacation days per year. After 3 years, salaried workers get 15 days a year, and after 5 years, they get one more day per year until they max out at 20 per year after having been there 10 years.

Sick time is handled in different ways as well. Many hourly paid jobs allow you to call in and say you can't work because you are sick, but that time off is not paid. Salaried jobs usually accrue sick time (and usually at a lower rate than vacation time) and can be given out (put into the employee's "account") as accrued or in a lump sum yearly. For example, our vacation time is given out in a lump sum annually, but sick time is given out as accrued monthly, and IIRC, we get .6 days/mo of sick time regardless how long we've worked here.

"Vacation" time is usually understood to be separate from "sick" time, but in recent years, some companies (such as my husband's) have gone to "paid time off (PTO)" which is for both vacation and illness. Interestingly enough, they get fewer PTO days than the sum of vacation and sick days before. Doesn't quite seem fair or right. I think it is an attempt to stop people who would use sick time as extra vacation time, and as happens many times in many ways, everyone gets penalized for the offenses of a few who abuse the system. Oh well.

Also "vacation" time is usually understood to be separate from "holidays" -- similar to what you referred to as "feast" days. Often hourly paid jobs do not get paid holidays, but if they are scheduled to work those days, they might get paid time and a half or double time. Salaried workers usually will get paid holidays. How many and which paid holidays can vary from job to job. I believe we have 7, and my previous job had 10. Part of the larger number, IIRC, had to do with the university closing down between Christmas and New Year's Day. Just to see if I can remember all 7 of our paid holidays... Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day.

Of course others may have various other experiences regarding these things. These are just my experiences, having been in the US work force for the past 30-some years. (Yikes, now I feel old.:eek: )

:::Relinquishing the lectern::: (and audible sighs of relief were heard far and wide :o )

[scooby]

I'm a legal secretary in the UK. Mainly office staff are entitled to 20 days annual leave to take when you want to plus 10 Bank holidays (New Years Day, Xmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Monday, Whitsun, May Day & 2 Bank Holiday in August. When I first started I was only allowed 17 days but now that I've been there over 5 years I get an extra 5 days. I'm on a weeks holiday at the moment sorting out my gardens and settling in my new puppy Charlie

[Sam]

I have some lost time to make up for so I will be doing a little of this and that.THIS.. http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/cocoknight2004/Pretty%20Pics/gracielaughing.jpg with This_ http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/cocoknight2004/Pretty%20Pics/hangingwithhellokitty.jpg and a little of That_http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/cocoknight2004/tylerwithsoccertrophy.jpg with Thathttp://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/cocoknight2004/Pretty%20Pics/tyleratparade.jpg ]

[scooby]

I like the look of your this and that Cocoknight but theres not much relaxing going on there LOL - enjoy them while you can they grow so quickly.

[Sam]

Thanks Scooby. I'm kinda partial to this and that too. But I've spent the better part of three years on one hell of a rollercoaster ride then relaxing now IT'S PLAYTIME!!:D Pssst Tell Mom you want to go to the zoo! Dress the kids in camo and hats and it's an African Safari with a picnic lunch and ice cream. Pssst Tell Mom it's really hot and you wish you could go swimming but since we don't have a pool... And you"re off to "Wild Adventures" Theme park in Valdosta,Ga. for rides, water slides, a zoo and a concert!! Pssst Tell Grandpa you want to go to the race track with him!! Automatic day at the racetrack hanging out in the pits barbequing with the racers and their families/ watching drag racing, racing go-carts, and playing billiards. Not a Vacation? Grandma's tired. Day at the salon and spa!! Vacation?? OH YEAH!!! So I'm not enjoying champagne and caviar on a yacht watching the sunset over the coastline of Greece or a Gondola ride in Italy. Maybe I will do those things someday. Who knows?? But for right now I have my own little piece of Heaven and that's ALL I need.:cool: :D

[pepeperfume]

Looks like we will be visit the San Diego area again this summer--probably staying on Corando Island again. We just haven't decided whether to travel in July or August...

[pepeperfume]

Well, we had to scrap the San Diego/Coronado plans. Airline fare was really quite reasonable--but because of the delay in our plans the motel rooms are gonna run $369 a night--less if we stay in Imperial Beach or Chula Vista--$114, but the whole point of us going to Coronado Island is to be there, walkabout--absorb the place. We don't want to drive everywhere--especially in 5 to 6 lanes of traffic we're not use to dealing with....

We are leaving on that Jet Plane anyhow--flying this evening out of Madison and will be landing in Palm Springs. Will probably do some driving up into the high desert--Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree--Twentynine Palms---that's all good.

Will be back Saturday morning--just not sure I'll be in any shape to be online...