November 2026 Double Feature: Veterans Day + Thanksgiving = 16 Days Off

Two Holidays, One Epic Month

November 2026 has something special: Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, and Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. They're exactly 15 days apart -- close enough to bridge into one extended break if you're willing to invest the PTO.

But even if you're not going for the mega-break, each holiday offers its own high-efficiency window.

Option 1: Veterans Day Mini-Break (2 PTO → 5 days)

Veterans Day lands mid-week on a Wednesday. Take Thursday and Friday off:

2 PTO days → 5 days off. Efficiency: 2.5x.

Alternatively, take Monday and Tuesday off instead for a front-loaded break (Sat Nov 7 – Wed Nov 11 = 5 days).

Option 2: Thanksgiving Extended (3 PTO → 9 days)

Take Monday through Wednesday before Thanksgiving:

3 PTO days → 9 days off. Efficiency: 3.0x.

Option 3: The November Mega-Break (7 PTO → 16 days)

Here's where it gets interesting. Bridge Veterans Day and Thanksgiving together:

Take Nov 12–13 (Thu–Fri after Veterans Day) + Nov 16–20 (full week between) + Nov 23–25 (Mon–Wed before Thanksgiving):

That's 7 PTO days for a break from Wed Nov 11 through Sun Nov 29 = 19 days.

Realistically, you might work the middle week and just take the two bookends: 5 PTO days (Nov 12–13 + Nov 23–25) for two separate 5-day and 9-day breaks in the same month. Same PTO, more structure.

Why November Travel Is Underrated

November sits in a pricing valley between summer/fall foliage season and holiday season:

Domestic:

• Southwest desert destinations (Sedona, Joshua Tree, Big Bend) have perfect weather -- 60–70°F days, cool nights, zero crowds
• Southern cities (Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans) are mild and beautiful
• Hawaii enters "winter" rates but November weather is nearly identical to summer

International:

• Southeast Asia enters peak/dry season in November -- Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
• Morocco is ideal in November -- 70°F, dry, and tourist season hasn't fully kicked in
• Canary Islands (Spain) -- 72°F, sunny, and a 5-hour flight from the East Coast via Lisbon connection

Pricing:

• Flights are 20–35% cheaper than December across most routes
• Hotels in non-ski destinations are at yearly lows
• The only expensive window is Thanksgiving Day itself (Wed evening–Sun) for domestic flights

The Strategic Angle

November is the best month to use "leftover" PTO. If you've been hoarding days all year, November lets you:

1. Take a real trip (not just a random Tuesday off)
2. Travel at the cheapest prices of the season
3. Still have 2–3 days left for the Christmas-to-New-Year's window

5 PTO days in November + 3 in December = 8 PTO days for 24 total days off across the last two months of the year.

Plan your November →