As a full-time worker – and now part-time masters student – national holidays and my free time has never been more important to get that work-life balance. Here’s where and when I’m taking my holidays in 2020 to make the most of my holiday entitlement.
For context, I now work Monday to Friday and have 23 days plus national holidays leave entitlement. My holiday entitlement runs from January to December. I will write this from the perspective of the basic entitlement in the UK (twenty days plus bank holidays) with notes for where to spend the extra days if you’re allowance is greater.
Dislcaimer: applicable to the UK only and not suitable for those professions who are required to work national holidays and weekends.
Need a little more convincing? Sunset Desires has 6 simple reasons to travel more
National Holiday Easter Treat
The Easter bank holiday is the perfect opportunity for a short city break for those on the basic holiday allowance, or a week of discovery for those with a little more. You can enjoy a ten day break and it will only cost you four annual leave days!
Option one: a short city break
National holidays: Friday 10th and Monday 13th April 2020
Dates: Friday 10th April 2020 to Monday 13th April 2020
Days off including weekends: 4
Annual leave used (days): 0
Option two: a week of discovery
National holidays: 10th April, 13th April
Dates: Friday 10th and Monday 13th April 2020
Days off including weekends: 10
Annual leave used (days): 4
National Holiday May Micro Gap
First of all you might be thinking, what’s a micro gap? Well I’ve got that covered in this article. In 2020, the first May bank holiday has been moved to a Friday to coincide with Victory in Europe Day! Ever heard of it? Me either! Either way, it’s a national holiday and the perfect opportunity for a free long weekend. Of course if you have a little more to spare, take off the Monday and make a long weekend of it.
Option one:
National holiday: Friday 8th May 2020
Dates: Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May 2020
Days off including weekends: 3
Annual leave used (days): 0
Option two:
National holiday: Friday 8th May 2020
Dates: Friday 8th to Monday 11th May 2020
Days off including weekends: 4
Annual leave used (days): 1
Second May Foray
Had enough of work already? There’s a couple of options here depending on your stress levels – a short weekend, a long weekend or a week’s foray.
Option one:
National holiday: Monday 25th May 2020
Dates: Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May 2020
Days off including weekends: 3
Annual leave used (days): 0
Option two:
National holiday: Monday 25th May 2020
Dates: Friday 22nd to Monday 25th May 2020
Days off including weekends: 4
Annual leave used (days): 1
Option two:
National holiday: Monday 25th May 2020
Dates: Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May 2020
Days off including weekends: 9
Annual leave used (days): 4
National Holiday August Affair
A long weekend endorsed by the Government? Yes please! I know the prices sky rocket over national holidays, so this is the perfect opportunity for a micro gap! Scotland North Coast 500 anyone?
National holiday: Monday 31st August 2020
Dates: Friday 27th to Monday 31st August 2020
Days off including weekends: 4
Annual leave used (days): 1
Ringing in the New Year
With boxing day falling on a weekend, the bank holiday falls to the Monday after meaning there are two bank holidays together. Travel on the Sunday after Christmas and the Boxing Day leftovers, and we’ll have a merry little breakaway.
National holidays: 25th, 28th December 2020 and 1st January 2021
Dates: Sunday 27th December 2019 to 3rd January 2021
Days off including weekends: 8
Annual leave used (days): 4
When to go?
Well that depends, on your holiday allowance, budgets and general plans. The idea is to show you how you can maximise the national holidays and garner more time off. Mix and match the options to see what work’s best for you.
If you play your holiday cards right, you could take holidays in April, May, August and December for only five days of annual leave freeing you up for another 3 weeks of time off!
