Simply by being smart with the way you use your 21 days of annual leave, you could get as many as 49 days off work. Whether you want to take time off to go on the trip of a lifetime or to see loved ones, the secret is using Bank Holidays.
At Easter, you could get 10 days off for only four days of holiday.
The Easter Bank Holidays begin on Friday, April 29 and finish on Monday, April 1, with Easter Sunday landing on March 31.
Just by bookending the Easter weekend with four dates of annual leave, you could enjoy a 10-day stretch of holiday during the Easter season.
Or book your days off in one long stretch, either from Monday, March 25 until Thursday, March 28 or from Tuesday, April 2 through to Friday, April 5.
Book four days off in May and get a nine-day holiday. There are two opportunities to do this throughout the month, thanks to the two May Bank Holidays.
To use the Monday, May 6 Bank Holiday, just take Tuesday, May 7 until Friday, May 10 off and enjoy a nine-day holiday, including two weekends.
Or you could use the late May Bank Holiday: simply take May 28, 29, 30, and 31 off to get the nine-day break.
The next opportunity comes in August, where workers can get nine days off for only four days of annual leave.
To make the most of your days off, book holiday on August 27, 28, 29, and 30.
This will give you nine days off in a row, from Saturday, August 25 through to Monday, September 2.
Using the two festive Bank Holidays in December on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 could earn you a whopping 12 days off.
One option is booking your annual leave on the Monday 23, Tuesday 24, and Friday December 27.
Or take annual leave on January 27, 30, 31, as well as 2 and 3.
Either way, taking an extended break will help you enjoy the festive season as much as possible. Of course, there is no guarantee that your employer will approve your requests.
Although most employees are entitled to 28 days of holiday, employers are under no obligation to grant requests for specific dates.
Approval often depends on how many other employees want the same days off. Getting requests in early is crucial to secure the days of holiday you want.
