Annual Leave Hacks for an Epic 2024
Recently I’ve thought a lot about where I’m going to travel to next year, because to be honest, I’ve usually already worked that out by now, and to be frank, you always get the best deals if you’re ahead of the pack.
Now that I’ve crunched the numbers (and I’m obsessed with numbers), I’ve worked out the best way to maximise your annual leave and get the most out of the UK public holidays for 2024, plus where to go to enjoy all of those extra days off, so keep reading.
January – New Year’s Day
Days to take off: 2nd – 5th January for a nine-day holiday
Put your best foot forward and start the new year off in true style. Bring in 2024 as you trace the outline of the Golden Triangle in India, lounge on the white sand beaches of Costa Rica or trek the Torres Del Paine in Patagonia. If you’re lucky enough to be in Scotland, you'll also have the 2nd January off as well. After making it through another year at work, you deserve a trip away!
March – St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland)
Days to take off: 19th – 22nd March for a nine-day holiday
Craving an early start to spring? With a few extra days off in late March, swap up your scenery and give yourself just that. Cycle through the vibrancy of north Vietnam, swing through the Sahara in Morocco or watch hot air balloons fill the Cappadocia sky in Turkey.
April – Easter
Days to take off: 2nd – 5th April for a ten-day holiday
Extend your Easter break and swap chocolates for pasteis de nata in Portugal, experience blissful beaches and villages in Bali or explore Wadi Rum’s dramatic landscape in Jordan.
May – Spring Bank Holidays
Days to take off: Early May bank holiday: 7th – 10th May for a nine-day holiday
Spring bank holiday: 28th – 31st May for a nine-day holiday
Bookend your month with unforgettable breaks aways for the bank holidays. Use early May to sail around the Galapagos Islands, cruise along the gorgeous beaches of Greece or dive into la dolce vita in southern Italy. Later in the month, you could sample your way through Japan’s iconic cuisine or pedal through southern France’s picturesque landscapes.
July – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
Days to take off: 8th – 11th July and for a nine-day holiday
Why not snap out of the mid-year slump with a well-earned break? During the early days of June, you could walk along Spain’s iconic Camino de Santiago, marvel at the vastness of Kenya’s Masai Mara plains or soak in the colours of Brazil and Argentina’s vibrant cities. How does that sound for an early summer holiday?
August – Summer bank holiday (excl. Scotland)
Days to take off: 27th – 30th August for a nine-day holiday
Make the most of summer and stretch your bank holiday further. By taking a few days off, you could roam through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, encounter Uganda’s rare mountain gorillas or relax along the southern Balkan’s glistening coastline.
December – Christmas and New Year’s Day
It looks like you’ve made it! The end of the year is nigh, and it would only be right and fair to reward your efforts, and the holiday season is the perfect time for an(other) epic adventure. I think the icing on your 2024 cake should be a walk along the glaciers in Iceland? Or perhaps a journey through the natural beauty of Botswana? Or if you love history like me, navigate through the heritage of Vietnam.
Days to take off: 23rd – 24th December, 27th December, 30th – 31st December and the 2nd – 3rd January 2025 for a 16-day holiday.
If you’re ready to get planning, get in touch today by sending an email to fawn.carr@travelcounsellors.com To start planning right away, give me a call on 0207 112 9961 or 07828 761 209
As I always say "Work hard, but holiday harder".
