This blog post is all about how to maximise your vacation days in 2025.
For those working 9-5 jobs in the UK, the standard 25 days of annual leave can often feel restrictive, especially if you love travelling.
The reality is that between deadlines, meetings, and workplace responsibilities, it’s rare to find large chunks of time where you can truly switch off and explore somewhere new.
But what if I told you that with some strategic planning, you could more than double your time off, and maximise your vacation days in 2025?
By carefully aligning your annual leave with UK bank holidays and weekends, you can stretch those 25 days into a massive 57 days off, giving yourself more time to travel without needing extra holiday days.
Make sure to check out my travel YouTube channel to get inspired for your next holiday!
This blog post is all about how to maximise your vacation days in 2025.
How to Get 57 Days Off and Maximise Your Vacation Days in 2025
The trick is booking time off at the right moments, ensuring that you use your annual leave on days that extend pre-existing public holidays.
This means that instead of just taking a long weekend here and there, you can get extended breaks of 9, 16, or even 5 consecutive days at a time.
The key to success? Planning ahead and booking these dates early. If your workplace requires leave approval, the sooner you submit your request, the better.
Once your annual leave is locked in, not only do you guarantee yourself these long breaks, but you also give yourself the chance to plan bigger and better trips.
If you’re based outside the UK, this method still applies. While the exact dates will differ, the principle remains the same. Strategically booking around your country’s public holidays and weekends allows you to maximise your time off.
Let’s break down exactly how you can maximise your vacation days into 57 days off, including some incredible travel destinations to make the most of each extended break.
Why You Need to Plan Your Annual Leave as Early as Possible
One of the biggest mistakes people make when booking their holidays is waiting too long to request time off.
By the time most people think about taking leave, half the office has already booked the best dates, and flights and accommodation have skyrocketed in price.
If you want to maximise your vacation days in 2025, you need to plan and book your annual leave as early as possible.
Getting your leave requests in before others not only increases your chances of approval, but it also allows you to take advantage of cheaper flights and accommodation.
Many airlines operate on dynamic pricing, meaning the earlier you book, the lower the cost. This is particularly important if you plan to travel during peak seasons such as Easter, summer, or Christmas, where demand is high.
Planning early also gives you time to find the best accommodation, book any necessary visas, and organise travel itineraries.
Now, let’s get into exactly how to maximise your vacation days in 2025.
January: Start the Year with a Winter Escape
The new year starts with a bank holiday on Wednesday, 1st January. Making it the perfect opportunity for a short getaway.
If you take just two days off—Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd January—you get five consecutive days off from 1st to 5th January.
This is a great time to either recover from New Year’s Eve celebrations. Or to kickstart the year with a holiday.
For those craving winter sun, destinations like the Canary Islands, Dubai, and Marrakech are ideal. Offering warm temperatures and shorter flight times from the UK.
On the other hand, if you prefer the winter wonderland experience, heading to Iceland, Lapland, or even the Austrian Alps for a snowy retreat could be perfect.
Five days may not be enough for a long-haul adventure, but it’s the perfect amount of time for a European getaway.
April: The Ultimate Spring Break – 16 Days Off
April is one of the best months to take extended leave. Good Friday (18th April) and Easter Monday (21st April) are public holidays.
If you take off Monday 14th to Thursday 17th and Tuesday 22nd to Friday 25th, you’ll get a huge 16-day break while only using 8 leave days.
With 16 days off, this is the perfect time to take a long-haul trip. Japan is a dream destination in April thanks to cherry blossom season. Transforming cities like Kyoto and Tokyo into stunning pink landscapes.
If you’re looking for beaches and warm weather, Bali, Thailand, or also the Maldives are all incredible choices.
For those wanting something adventurous, exploring South America—whether it’s hiking in Patagonia, visiting Machu Picchu, or soaking in Buenos Aires—would be an unforgettable way to spend this long break.
May: Two Long Bank Holiday Breaks for Easy Getaways
May presents two golden opportunities for long breaks.
The first is the Early May Bank Holiday on Monday, 5th May. And the second is the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, 26th May.
So by booking Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th May, and Tuesday 27th to Friday 30th May, you’ll get two separate 9-day breaks using just 8 days of annual leave.
But for short-haul trips, Europe in May is perfect. Cities like Lisbon, Paris, Rome, and Athens are warm but not yet overcrowded with summer tourists.
If you want something different, a road trip through Scotland or Ireland could also be a fantastic option.
August: A Perfect Summer Holiday Without Wasting Too Many Leave Days
The August Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 25th August, making it an excellent opportunity for another 9-day break.
Booking Tuesday 26th to Friday 29th August gives you 9 consecutive days off while only using 4 annual leave days.
Since August is peak European summer, this is a great time to visit the Greek Islands, Croatia, or the Amalfi Coast.
But if you’re after something more adventurous, you could head to Canada for a summer road trip through the Rocky Mountains or even explore Iceland’s incredible landscapes.
December: A Festive Holiday Break Without Wasting Too Much Leave
Christmas falls midweek in 2025. Making it an ideal opportunity to take a festive break without using too many holiday days.
So if you take off Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, and Wednesday 24th December, you’ll get 9 days off in total thanks to Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and the surrounding weekends.
This is the perfect time to experience magical Christmas markets in cities like Vienna, Munich, and Prague. Or if you’d rather escape the cold, consider a tropical Christmas in Thailand or the Caribbean.
Maximise Your Vacation Days and Make 2025 Your Most Travel-Packed Year Yet
By planning your leave strategically, you can maximise your vacation days in 2025 without using extra holiday days.
This strategy allows you to take multiple trips throughout the year. While still having enough leave left for personal time or unexpected events.
If you haven’t already, get your holiday requests in early before your colleagues do. The sooner you lock in your dates, the more likely you are to get approval. And also the cheaper your flights and hotels will be.
So maximise your vacation days, and with a little forward planning, 2025 could be your most travel-packed year yet.
Now, the only question is, where will you go first?
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