Turn 18 days annual leave into 45 days off work in 2022: How savvy workers can maximise time off by strategically planning around weekends and bank holidays

Are you already planning a well-deserved holiday extravaganza for 2022 after the last two years were a bit of a washout due to covid and lockdowns?

Well, then you’re in luck, as if you plan carefully, you can score a staggering 45 days off, while booking just 18 days of annual leave. 

You just need some clever booking tips to make the most of your time off. 

2020 and 2021 were both washouts when it came to holidays. But if you cleverly book your leave around the bank holidays and weekends you can get 45 days off using just 18 days leave

Easter easy holiday hack 

Let’s start with Easter. Good Friday will roll round on 15 April. Easter Monday is on 18 April. 

Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales 

Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales

2021

30 August Monday Summer bank holiday

27 December Monday Christmas Day (substitute day)

28 December Tuesday Boxing Day (substitute day)

2022 

3 January Monday New Year’s Day (substitute day)

15 April Friday Good Friday

18 April Monday Easter Monday

2 May Monday Early May bank holiday

2 June Thursday Spring bank holiday

3 June Friday Platinum Jubilee bank holiday

29 August Monday Summer bank holiday

26 December Monday Boxing Day

27 December Tuesday Christmas Day (substitute day)

 

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If your workplace closes over weekends and on bank holidays, you can turn this into a 10-day break using just four days leave. Simply book the 19, 20, 21 and 22 April off work.

Because the 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24 April are either public holidays or weekends, you will max out your leave time while barely making a dent in your annual allowance. 

Book off 19, 20, 21, and 22 April for a nine-day stretch. 

Make the most of May 

Then in May, you could make another canny holiday move by taking an eight-day holiday for the price of just four days of annual leave.

This is because April 30 and May 1 are weekend days. May 2 – the Monday – is a bank holiday. So if you book off the 3, 4, 5, and 6 as annual leave, this brings you to the next weekend, another two days off. 

Book off 3, 4, 5, and 6 May for an eight-day break. 

A Jubilant jubilee in June 

There are even more holiday bonuses to come, as the nation celebrates the Queen’s Jubilee next year. June 2 is the Spring bank holiday, and June 3 is the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday.

Wise holidaymakers could book the 30 and 31 of May, and the 1 of June as annual leave, then enjoy the Thursday and Friday bank holidays on the 2 and 3 of June, and the weekend on the 4 and 5.

 So another seven days holiday, for just three days of annual leave.  

Book off 30 and 31 May and 1 June for a seven day celebration. 

We’re all going on an extended Summer holiday 

If this sounds too good to be true…just wait for August, when it gets even better, with a potential nine-day holiday using up just four days of precious leave.

This is how it works. The 27 and 28 of August are weekend days. Then, you have the 29 August bank holiday on the Monday. Book off August 30 – September 2 as annual leave, then you have another weekend.

Those who work Monday to Friday can score themselves another tidy holiday in December.  

Book off August 30 and 31, and September 1 and 2 for a nine-day sun-fest.

The Jubilee next year means Monday-Friday employees are going to score some extra time off as Queen Elizabeth celebrates her record-breaking reign

Cash in on Christmas  

Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, and Boxing day and the 27 are both bank holidays. 

So book off the December 28, 29, and 30, which brings you to the weekend, and then another bank holiday on Monday, 2 January.

Book off December 28, 29, and 30 for a 10-day festive fiesta.