The most utilised reason people use to avoid travel is their lack of time. Well, I’m taking it away that excuse! In this blog post I will show you how to turn 24 days of annual leave into 56 days.
This is done by a method called “leave stacking”. This methodology is essentially booking your annual leave in a strategic manner. It allows for numerous short and long holidays to be planned.
England and Wales have 8 Bank Holidays in 2024. Annual leave should be scheduled around these dates to maximise usage.
- Monday 1st January 2024 – New Years Day
- Friday 29th March 2024 – Good Friday
- Monday 1st April 2024 – Easter Monday
- Monday 6th May 2024 – May Bank Holiday
- Monday 27th May 2024 – Spring Bank Holiday
- Monday 26th August 2024 – Summer Bank Holiday
- Wednesday 25th December – Christmas Day
- Thursday 26th December – Boxing Day
Days to Book of in the 1st quarter of the year (January- March)
Funnily enough there are no dates within these three months that I would recommend you guys take off. Your annual leave can be better utilised further on in the year for a weekend getaway or a long-term holiday.
Days to book of in the second Quarter of the year (April-June)
This quarter is huge as it includes the majority of your 2024 annual leave. Half your annual leave will be spent within these three months.
- Firstly, the dates between the 2nd and the 5th of April should be booked off. This gives you the opportunity to go on a weeklong getaway anywhere in the world. My suggestion would be either Barcelona or Istanbul.
- The dates between the 7th and 10th of May should also be booked off to allow for another weeks break. I’d recommend keep this one local as children’s holidays hike up flight prices. Perhaps a London getaway?
- Finally, the dates between the 28th – 31st of May should be booked off for ANOTHER week long break. What will you do with all this time off?
Days to book of in the third Quarter of the year (July – September)
Summer holidays start in this quarter and holidays shoot up in price. However, if your savvy enough you can still secure a bargain of a deal.
- The dates I recommend you guys to take off this quarter is between the 6th -9th of August. This gives you the opportunity to plan a 9-day holiday with the kids now that everyone is off and available.
Days to book of in the fourth quarter of the year (October- December)
December is an incredibly busy time of the year especially with the Christmas holidays. I recommend during this month you guys treat yourself to a lavish holiday.
- The days I suggest you guys book of is the 23rd,24th, 27th, 30th and 31st of December. This gives you the opportunity to book a 11-day vacation. I hear Maldives is perfect around this time…
Additional Tips & Tricks I Would Recommend
Request your annual leave dates as soon as possible!
As you guys can imagine the annual leave dates are incredibly popular to book off. So make sure to put your requests in ASAP to optimise your annual leave allowance.
Plan Ahead
Book your travel months in advance to secure the best rates and deals. I would also recommend you work accordingly to your dates to minimise the amount of time lost in travel.
Look for off-peak timings
Always keep an eye out for when destinations aren’t in season. The biggest deals can appear when people aren’t looking. Always stay proactive.
Combine Work & Travel
Inquire to see if your company will allow you to work remotely for a set time. This could help you achieve all your travel goals and keep costs down. As you can arrange all travel for off-peak dates.
I hope this blog helps you maximise you 2024 Annual leave. Let me know where you’re heading this year in the comments below!
