With the weather having turned colder and winter on the horizon, many of us are likely thinking ahead to 2025
We all know the saying about “all work and no play” and even those with the most enjoyable jobs need a break every now and then. With the weather having turned colder and winter on the horizon, many of us are likely thinking ahead to 2025 – and holidays.
If your annual leave starts on January 1, this means you’ll get a brand new batch of time off to play with as the new year begins. Whether you use this accrued leave to go away with family, chill with friends, or even enjoy some alone time is up to you.
But whatever you decide, a simple trick could see your standard 28 days of holiday turned into a huge 61 days off work in some nice long stretches. It’s all to do with bank holidays, and some strategic planning.
Similar hacks been on offer in previous years but, sadly for some, it only applies to people who don’t work weekends, and are given bank holidays off as standard, or do not have to take them as a holiday. Experts at Go2Africa have explained how it works.
To start with, book Thursday and Friday, January 2 and 3, off to get five days off in a row following the New Year’s Day bank holiday. Then, in April, you can take a huge 16 days off with just eight days of leave.
You’ll need to book off April 14, 15, 16, and 17, and April 22, 23, 24, and 25, and this will see you off from Saturday, April 12, through to and including Sunday, April 27. That’s because Easter falls on Sunday April 20 so we have bank holidays on Friday April 19 and Monday April 21.
May’s two bank holidays then offer two separate opportunities to extend long weekends into substantial breaks. To get a huge 18 days off in two long stretches, book off May 6-9 and then May 27-30. This will use up eight days of your leave and will see you off work from Saturday, May 3, until Sunday, May 11, and then again from Saturday, May 24, until Sunday, June 1.
You can get then get nine days off in summer with four days of leave, by booking off August 26-29. This will see you off work from Saturday, August 23, and not back in until Monday, September 1.
And when the festive period comes around you can get 13 days off in a row, taking just six days of annual leave. You’ll need to book off December 22, 23, and 24, as well as December, 29, 30 and 31. This will see you away from your job from Saturday, December 20, until the New Year.
