How to Make the Most of Your Annual Leave in 2024

Written by Corie Daniel Last updated May 2nd 202402/05/24

If there’s one life hack we all need to be aware of, it’s how to make the most of your time off work!

Most of us only get so many days to play with each year, and it can seem like they can quickly disappear once you add up a weekend away and a holiday (or two).

But! By deploying a little bit of tactical wizardry with the dates you book off, you can bag big chunks of time off, and use less holidays than you think!

Be smart about the time you book off and book-end your annual leave with bank holidays. Want to maximise your time off? Here’s how…

When to book your holidays in 2024

March

Fancy using only 4 days holiday but getting 9 days off to make the most of the start of spring?

Book off March 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th and you’ll be off from Saturday 23rd March until Sunday 31st March, thanks to the use of the Good Friday bank holiday.

That’s plenty of time to munch all those Easter eggs!

August

Want an extended break in the peak of summer? Bag yourself plenty of sunshine by making the most of the August bank holiday.

Book off 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th August and you’ll be off work from Saturday 24th August, right up until the 1st of September.

That’s 9 days off for 4 holidays – winner, winner! Plenty of time for that week away somewhere sunny, with a couple extra days chucked in for good measure.

December

Who doesn’t love an extra long Christmas break? Make the most of the festive season with your family and friends by utilising 5 days of annual leave that results in a whopping 12 days off!

Cram as much in between Christmas and New year (or simply chill on the couch with a festive film and a glass of Baileys!) by booking off 23rd, 26th, 27th, 30th and 31st December.

That means you’ll be off enjoying mince pies and mulled wine from Saturday 21st December for a fantastic full 12 days, right up until 2nd January 2025.

Hopefully that’ll mean you’re fully relaxed and rested (and not too hungover!) to kick start your way into the new year. Fabulous!