Topic
France — leave guides
France has 25 statutory paid days plus the 35-hour-week-derived RTT days, making it one of the most generous regimes in the world. The posts below cover statutory rules, RTT mechanics, the August shutdown convention, and how French public holidays shape spring and fall calendars.
30 articles
Articles in this topic
- Holiday Guide
2026 vs 2025 Holiday Alignment: Which Year Gives You More Time Off?
A side-by-side comparison of how public holidays fall in 2025 and 2026 across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. We scored each year's bridge potential to determine which calendar is better for leave optimization.
2026-08-2911 min - Holiday Guide
Three-Day Weekends by Country: Who Gets the Most in 2026?
Not every country guarantees the same number of three-day weekends. We counted guaranteed and bridgeable long weekends across 15 countries in 2026, and the gap between the best and worst is striking.
2026-08-2511 min - Strategy
Average PTO by Country: A Global Comparison
From Brazil's 30 statutory days to America's zero federal mandate, paid time off varies wildly across the globe. Here's the full ranking, the gap between law and reality, and what it means for your planning.
2026-08-1511 min - Holiday Guide
10 Countries With the Most Public Holidays in 2026
A ranked list of the countries with the most public holidays in 2026, plus analysis of how holiday count interacts with statutory leave, weekend collisions, and bridge planning potential.
2026-08-089 min - Strategy
Weekend Holidays: How Many Days Off Your Country Quietly Loses Each Year
When a public holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, some countries hand you a substitute day off — and some just let it vanish. This data piece compares the weekend-holiday rules of Korea, the US, the UK, Japan, and Germany, and estimates how many days off each system loses in an average year.
2026-07-2710 min - Travel Tips
Paris by Arrondissement: Where to Stay, Eat, and Day-Trip
A research-backed Paris guide built around the arrondissements: which districts to book for your first trip, where to eat by quarter, and how to fold Versailles and Giverny into day trips. Includes a sample budget table and approx. prices and hours - confirm before you book.
2026-07-249 min - Strategy
The Holiday Deserts: Which Months Have the Fewest Public Holidays — and How to Spend PTO There
A data look at which calendar months have the fewest public holidays in the US and South Korea, why April, July and August are 'holiday deserts,' and the PTO strategy that turns those empty months into your cheapest long weekends.
2026-07-229 min - Strategy
The Holiday Leverage Ratio: How Much Time Off Each Weekday Buys You
A data-driven look at the holiday leverage ratio -- how many days off each paid leave day buys you, ranked by the weekday a public holiday lands on. Includes a Korea vs. US comparison, a worked 15-day PTO example, and the exact bridge math.
2026-07-1910 min - Strategy
Accrual vs Lump Sum PTO: Which Is Better for Bridge Planning?
Your PTO delivery method determines when you can take time off. Here's how accrual and lump sum systems compare for bridge planning, and the strategy each one demands.
2026-07-1810 min - Holiday Guide
Le Pont: Why French Workers Master the Bridge Day
France's tradition of 'faire le pont' turns public holidays into extended breaks with cultural precision. Here's how 25 days of leave, RTT, 11 holidays, and deep social acceptance make France the world's bridge day capital.
2026-06-1813 min - Holiday Guide
Pont de Mai 2026: France's Bridge Day Season
May 2026 gives France four jours feries in a single month, with three falling on weekdays perfect for bridge days. Here's how to turn 5-7 PTO days into 20+ days off using the pont de mai strategy.
2026-06-1611 min - Travel Tips
Shoulder by Price vs Shoulder by Weather: When They Diverge (And Which to Chase)
'Shoulder season' means two different things. Weather shoulder is mild conditions and thin crowds. Price shoulder is crashed airfares and hotel rates. They usually overlap -- but often don't. Here's where they diverge.
2026-06-169 min - Holiday Guide
Annual Leave in France: 25 Days + RTT Explained
A complete guide to annual leave in France, covering conges payes, RTT days, the fractionnement bonus, public holidays in 2026, and how to maximise your total time off.
2026-06-1312 min - Travel Tips
Same Flight, Four Travelers: Why the Airport Math Is Different for Everyone
A solo traveler, a couple, a family of four, and a business traveler all book the same NYC-to-London trip. Four different airports win. Here's why.
2026-06-088 min - Travel Tips
Suvarnabhumi vs Don Mueang: Bangkok's Budget Airport Split Explained
Don Mueang's fares look lower, but the airport sits on the wrong side of Bangkok traffic. Here's when it genuinely saves money and when it wrecks your trip.
2026-06-019 min - Travel Tips
Narita vs Haneda: The Tokyo Airport Math for Western Travelers
Narita's ticket price often looks better. By the time you add the 75-minute train ride and the night-arrival surcharge, Haneda usually wins. Here's the real math.
2026-05-258 min - Strategy
IVF Leave in the UK and Europe: Where the Right Exists in 2026
European labor law treats fertility leave very differently from the US, and very differently from country to country. Here is where a statutory right actually exists, where it is implied, and where workers still rely on generic sick leave.
2026-05-1814 min - Travel Tips
LAX vs Burbank vs Long Beach vs Ontario: The LA Airport Math
LA has four usable airports and which one wins depends entirely on where you're actually going. Here's how to figure out the true cost for your LA trip.
2026-05-189 min - Travel Tips
Heathrow vs Gatwick vs Stansted: London's Airport Math Actually Matters
London has five airports and the wrong one can cost you 90 minutes and £60 extra. Here's the true-cost breakdown for Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted.
2026-05-118 min - Holiday Guide
UK vs US Leave: How the Two Systems Compare
A data-driven comparison of UK and US annual leave systems, covering statutory entitlements, public holidays, sick leave, and bridging strategies for workers on both sides of the Atlantic.
2026-05-0511 min - Travel Tips
JFK vs Newark vs LaGuardia: Which NYC Airport Actually Saves You Money?
Three airports, three commute times, three baggage realities. Here's the real math on which NYC airport saves you money after transport, time, and surge pricing.
2026-05-047 min - Strategy
Australia vs Canada: A Commonwealth Leave Face-Off
Both inherited the British system but diverged. Australia mandates 20 days; Canada starts at 10. Here's how the two Commonwealth cousins compare on time off.
2026-04-096 min - Strategy
France vs Germany: The European Leave Showdown
France gets 25 statutory days plus 11 public holidays. Germany gets 20 days plus 10-13 depending on your state. Who really wins the leave game?
2026-04-099 min - Strategy
Japan vs South Korea: Leave Policies in Asia's Work-Hard Cultures
Both countries have generous public holidays but famously low leave utilization. Japan: 16 holidays, ~55% usage. Korea: 15+ holidays, ~57% usage. Here's the full breakdown.
2026-04-096 min - Strategy
Singapore vs Hong Kong: Leave in Asia's Financial Hubs
Two global financial centers, both compact, both hard-working. Singapore mandates 7 days; Hong Kong mandates 7. But public holidays and bridge potential tell a different story.
2026-04-099 min - Strategy
UK vs US: Who Actually Gets More Time Off?
The UK mandates 5.6 weeks. The US mandates zero. But when you factor in public holidays, weekends, and bridge potential, the gap is even bigger than you think.
2026-04-097 min - Strategy
2026 vs 2027: Which Year Is Better for Taking Leave?
We compared how public holidays fall in 2026 and 2027 across major countries. Here's which year gives you more bang for your PTO buck.
2026-04-077 min - Holiday Guide
Leave Policy Cheat Sheet: Statutory Minimums for 20 Countries
How much annual leave are you legally entitled to? A quick-reference guide covering statutory minimums, carry-over rules, and cultural norms for 20 countries.
2026-04-077 min - Holiday Guide
The 2026 Long Weekend Index: Which Countries Get the Most Free Days Off?
We ranked 23 countries by how many free 3+ day weekends they get in 2026 -- no annual leave required. The gap between the best and worst is bigger than you'd think.
2026-04-078 min - Travel Tips
When Cheaper Flights Aren't Actually Cheaper
That $130 savings means nothing if you spend $60 on an Uber and 2 hours in traffic. Here's how to calculate the true cost of alternative airports.
2026-03-304 min
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