Summer has come to an end, but if you’re feeling like you need another holiday already, you’re not alone; according to Google trend data, searches for “when to book a holiday 2025” have risen by 256% in the last two weeks.
With so many travel plans and so little annual leave, it can be tricky to decide when to go – but studies suggest that taking several, shorter breaks can be more beneficial than one long holiday, so making the most of long weekends could be the key. Travel expert Justin Chapman at Go2Africa reveals how to really make the most of time off, no matter how short your break is – plus tips to get the most time off in 2025 with the least annual leave.
HOW TO GET THE MOST TIME OFF
Research suggests that taking multiple short breaks can be more beneficial and restful than one long holiday, so add a few days on to bank holidays to have a few short breaks throughout the year.
2025 UK & IE bank holidays
| New Year’s Day | Wednesday 1st Jan |
| 2nd January (Scotland) | Thursday 2nd Jan |
| St Brigid’s Day | Monday 3rd Feb |
| St Patrick’s Day (NI & IE) | Monday 17th Mar |
| Good Friday | Friday 18th Apr |
| Easter Monday | Monday 21st Apr |
| Early May bank holiday/May Day (IE) | Monday 5th May |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday 26th May |
| Battle of the Boyne (NI) | Monday 14th July |
| Summer bank holiday (Scot) / August bank holiday (IE) | Monday 4th Aug |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday 25th Aug |
| October bank holiday (IE) | Monday 27th Oct |
| St Andrew’s Day (Scotland) | Monday 1st Dec |
| Christmas Day | Thursday 25th Dec |
| Boxing Day / St Stephen’s Day (IE) | Friday 26th Dec |
ENGLAND & WALES
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2025, which means you can get 58 days off by using 28 days of annual leave. Book 2 days – Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd – after the New Year bank holiday for 5 consecutive days off.
In April, you can get 16 consecutive days off, Saturday 12th – Sunday 27th, by requesting 8 days of annual leave from Monday 14th – Thursday 17th, and Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th.
In May, use 4 days of annual leave, from Tuesday 6th – Friday 9th, to get 9 days off – and then another 4 days, from Tuesday 27th – Friday 30th, for another 9 consecutive days. You can do the same thing for 9 days off in August, by booking off Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th.
By booking off 6 days, 22nd – 24th, and 29th – 31st, you can get 13 consecutive days off in December (Saturday 20th December – Thursday 1st January 2026). You can even increase this to 16 days while using some of next years allowance, by booking off Friday 2nd January 2026!
SCOTLAND
Scotland has the addition of the 2nd January, and St Andrew’s Day bank holiday, so can get more time off while using less days – 60 days off, using 27 days of annual leave.
Book off Friday 3rd January for 5 consecutive days in the New Year.
Get 9 days off in August using 4 days of annual leave, by booking off Tuesday 5th – Friday 8th.
Book off 4 days in December, Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th, for 9 consecutive days off, in addition to booking the same days as England & Wales around Christmas.
IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland & Ireland each have 10 bank holidays in 2025. In Northern Ireland, you can use 29 days of annual leave to get 65 days off, and in Ireland you can get an enormous 77 days off, using 33 days of annual leave.
Use 4 days of annual leave to get 9 consecutive days off in March, by booking off Tuesday 18th – Friday 21st.
Do the same thing for 9 days off around the Battle of the Boyne bank holiday in Northern Ireland, by booking off Tuesday 15th – Friday 18th July.
Workers in the Republic of Ireland can also get 2 further sets of 9 days off using 4 days each time, by requesting Tuesday 4th – Friday 7th February after St Brigid’s Day, and Tuesday 28th – Friday 31st October, after the October bank holiday.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME OFF
LEARN TO LEAVE THE OFFICE BEHIND
Even when you love your job, having it constantly sneak into your down time can quickly lead to resentment and burnout, so make sure your time off really is time off.
A 2018 study found that 60% of people check their work emails while on holiday, and with instant access to emails on your phone, it can be very tempting to have a quick look, so get into a routine of turning off all work-related notifications as soon as you finish for the day before you travel so you’re less likely to check when you’re on holiday. While leaving your phone at home might not be practical, you can at least remove the email app to reduce the temptation!
STOP FEELING GUILTY USING YOUR ANNUAL LEAVE
If you don’t feel guilty for accepting work perks like free lunches, bonuses, and healthcare – why should you feel guilty for taking time off? Remember that annual leave isn’t a perk, it’s a necessity. Taking a break is essential for our mental and physical wellbeing, and you need time off to rest and recharge.
Taking time off allows you to recharge your mental battery, and allow your mind to relax and recover. Regular breaks are essential in preventing burnout, restoring balance and reducing stress that’s causing you to feel so emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted. Time off can even help improve cognitive function, enhance creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, and make you more efficient when you get to the office.
MAKE SURE YOU ACTUALLY REST
Your brain and body probably need more rest than you’re currently allowing them to have – and it’s not just about taking a nap. You can help yourself get true rest in several ways, but scheduling in some time to do nothing while travelling, rather than having every minute filled with activities, is a good place to start. Give yourself a digital detox, and allow yourself to be truly present during your trip.
BE PREPARED
Whether you’re planning a safari in Botswana for your 13 days off in December, or just going for a long weekend staycation, planning ahead is the best way to make sure you get everything you want out of your break, rather than leaving it to the last minute. Have a loose schedule, but try not to let the planning take over the relaxation – just think about the type of things you’d like to do on holiday, so you have a rough idea of activities that are available.
BE FLEXIBLE
Leave some room for spontaneity! Overplanning means you’ll miss out on unexpected detours and new experiences, like last minute recommendations for a restaurant that only the locals know about, or a must-visit town that you might not have heard of from your research online.
PRACTISE RELAXING BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
If you find it hard to allow yourself to relax, try practising before you travel – get used to the idea of really switching off, so it’s not such a shock to the system when you arrive. Try some relaxation techniques like mediation and yoga after work to teach your brain to unwind; the more you practice now, the easier you’ll find it to switch off when you’re on holiday!
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