How to get the most time off in 2024

With so many travel ideas and so little annual leave, it can be tricky to decide when to go—but studies suggest that taking several, shorter breaks can be more beneficial than one long holiday, so making the most of long weekends could be the key.

Travel expert Justin Chapman at Go2Africa reveals how you can get the maximum amount of time off using the least amount of annual leave, and gives tips to make sure you really make the most of your time off.

Good Friday
Friday, March 29

Easter Monday
Monday, April 1

Early May Bank Holiday
Monday, May 6

Spring Bank Holiday
Monday, May 27

Summer Bank Holiday
Monday, August 26

Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25

Boxing Day
Thursday, December 26

Good Friday is April 29 and Easter Monday is April 1. You can use just four days of annual leave to have a ten-day break, by booking off March 25—28, or April 2—5 (or book both weeks and get 16 days off by using eight days!)

Book off May 7–10 to get a nine-day break after the Early May Bank Holiday, using just four days. You can get another nine days off at the end of the month by booking off May 28—31, after the Spring Bank Holiday on the 27.

The Summer Bank Holiday is on August 26, so by using four days of annual leave, you can have another nine-day break by booking off August 27—30.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a Wednesday and Thursday this year, so you can give yourself the gift of 12 days off, while only having to use five days of annual leave. Book December 23, 24, 27, 30, and 31.

Even when you love your job, having it constantly sneak into your down time can quickly lead to resentment and burnout, so make sure your time off really is time off.

A 2018 study found that 60 per cent of people check their work emails while on holiday, and with instant access to emails on your phone, it can be very tempting to have a quick look, so get into a routine of turning off all work-related notifications as soon as you finish for the day before you travel so you’re less likely to check when you’re on holiday. While leaving your phone at home might not be practical, you can at least remove the email app to reduce the temptation!

Your brain and body probably need more rest than you're currently allowing them to have—and it's not just about taking a nap.

You can help yourself get true rest in several ways, but scheduling in some time to do nothing while travelling, rather than having every minute filled with activities, is a good place to start. Give yourself a digital detox, and allow yourself to be truly present during your trip.

Whether you're planning an all-inclusive African safari for your nine days off, or just going for a long weekend staycation, planning ahead is the best way to make sure you get everything you want out of your break, rather than leaving it to the last minute.

Have a loose schedule, but try not to let the planning take over the relaxation—just think about the type of things you’d like to do on holiday, so you have a rough idea of activities that are available.

Leave some room for spontaneity!

Overplanning means you’ll miss out on unexpected detours and new experiences, like last minute recommendations for a restaurant that only the locals know about, or a must-visit town that you might not have heard of from your research online.

If you find it hard to allow yourself to relax, try practising before you travel—get used to the idea of really switching off, so it’s not such a shock to the system when you arrive.

Try some relaxation techniques like mediation and yoga after work to teach your brain to unwind; the more you practice now, the easier you’ll find it to switch off when you’re on holiday!