They don't tell you that here in Europe? You're free to spend your PTO when and where you wish, usually under the condition you at least take the legal minimum days per year. Companies get fined if they don't meet those limits.

There are usually restrictions about what requests employers can deny. Of course you can imagine some situations in which you can't have everyone leave when they wish (healthcare/police for instance). Of course there are shitty employers that try to abuse the exceptions and get away with it.

At my former (Dutch) employer I had to take the legal minimum 20 days each year, but the 5 extra days I could save and spend in the next 5 years.