There seem to be lots of American movies about the dangers of going on vacation.
If you escape being pursued by Satanists, you're liable to be raped by hillbillies or eaten by sharks.
Does this reflect a deep-seated disapproval of taking time off work?
I think we're the green thingy
Not likely. I think it has a lot more to do with the fact that most jobs are horrifying enough that making a horror movie about them seems redundant. Also, most writers probably figure they can get more mileage out of the contrast between "peaceful, relaxing getaway" and "sheer terror," anyway.
shareOne way of potentially increasing the tension in a thriller or horror film is for the protagonists to be a "fish out of water".
They may be on holiday, they might be moving into a new town or they might be on a working trip to somewhere new to them. They don't know the people, they don't know the local "rules" and they are cut off from any support they may have at home.
This is also an efficient way for the filmmakers to give the viewers information because they ask the questions we need answering. We learn as the protagonist learns. That's why so many films, in all genres, follow a person who is new to the world of the story, whether it's an office, a hospital or a far-away planet.