about wikipedia "vacation" is used in North America: "Vacation, in English-speaking North America, describes recreational travel, such as a short pleasure trip, or a journey abroad. People in Commonwealth countries use the term holiday to describe absence from work as well as to describe a vacation or journey. Vacation can mean either staying home or going somewhere.
Canadians often use vacation and holiday interchangeably referring to a trip away from home or time off work. In Australia, holiday can refer to a vacation or a public holiday."
in italia non usiamo "vacation" (in italy we don't use vacation but we study the english UK in the schools)