Travel expert shares top tips on how to enjoy and maximise annual leave, turning the 28 days into 63 days off in 2026 and get a nice extended break with no hassle
The cold winter months are arriving with the long dark nights, so planning an escape sounds like the perfect thing to do. This is how to make that dream become a reality.
Neil Atkinson, travel specialist and owner of Luxury Group Stay, says organising trips around next year’s bank holidays creates longer breaks, without having to take out more annual leave.
Atkinson said: “Most people book time off reactively when they’re already burned out or scrambling to use leftover days at the end of the year,
“By planning around bank holidays, you can stack leave days in a way that gives you multiple week-long holidays across the year.”
Using UK bank holidays, it allows workers to more than double their time away from work without having to work fewer hours.
Start the year with a long weekend
Atkinson advised: “Book Friday 2 January off and combine it with the New Year’s Day bank holiday on Thursday 1 January for a four-day weekend”.
Easter offers your first long break
Easter is the best opportunity to get a long break, as bank holidays are on Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April.
Atkinson explained: “This is the longest continuous break of the year without needing to take two full weeks of leave,
“Book off Monday 30 March through Thursday 2 April, and Tuesday 7 through Friday 10 April, and you’ll get a 16-day break while using only eight annual leave days.”
Two chances in May
May 2026 also offers two separate chances to bag extended holidays with minimal leave days.
“May is the sweet spot for warm European city breaks,” said Atkinson. “Book Tuesday 5 through Friday 8 May after the Early May bank holiday on Monday 4 May for a nine-day break. Then do the same from Tuesday 26 through Friday 29 May, after the Spring bank holiday on Monday 25 May, for another nine days off.”
Both May breaks only need just four days of annual leave but provide nine consecutive days including weekends.
Late summer break
Atkinson recommended booking the four days after the August bank holiday.
“Book Tuesday 1 through Friday 4 September after the Summer bank holiday on Monday 31 August. It’s the perfect time for a Mediterranean recharge or peaceful UK staycation just before autumn kicks in,” he said.
This allows for four days of leave to be converted into nine days off between Saturday 29 August and Sunday 6 September.
Finish the year with an extended festive getaway
The Christmas time period provides the second-longest potential break in the annual calendar that goes into the first weekend of 2027.
“Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, with a substitute Boxing Day bank holiday on Monday 28 December, followed by New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January 2027,” Atkinson said. “Book Monday 21 through Thursday 24 December and Tuesday 29 through Thursday 31 December for a 16-day break using just seven annual leave days.
“You’ll then return to work on Monday 4 January after utilising the first weekend of the new year to conclude your extended festive break.”
According to UK government guidance, workers are not automatically entitled to getting time off on bank holidays. The holiday entitlement regulations state that employers do not have to give paid leave on bank or public holidays, but many do still include bank holidays as part of a worker’s statutory annual leave.
Atkinson concluded: “Most people don’t realise how powerful a bit of calendar planning can be,
“By looking ahead and being tactical, you can enjoy more time off than many of your colleagues, without working any fewer hours across the year.”
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