Here in Europe vacation does not necessarily imply that you're flying somewhere else. For example, I currently have 3 weeks of, but I'm only spending one of these weeks hiking. During the other weeks I'll do just whatever makes fun (maybe going on a multi-day bike ride).

Of course, you can also take less vacation in one year, and therefore take more in the next year. For example, I only took 3 weeks of vacation last year, and I've planned 7 weeks of vacation this year. All of them paid. :)

Everyone's free to do whatever. Personally, I spent a week in Bali this Easter, it was very nice to get away from the snow and ice for a while, and I'm gonna take three weeks now in July and do pretty much nothing, just enjoying the summer weather.