Turning 25 days of holiday into 58 is easy. Just follow the formula below.
Just like hours in the day, there are never enough holidays in the year. But, by carefully selecting when to take your holidays, combining them with weekends and, most importantly, the eight bank holidays that the year affords us, we can hack 2018 like a champ and greatly increase our time off. Here at KAYAK, we like to think of ourselves as travel pros and we have used our skills to put together an easy-to-use guide that can help you to double your holidays with confidence – turning 25 days off into 58. On top of that, we’ve included a list of top destinations to visit in 2018. From city breaks to far-flung places, you have the information – now make the choices.
How to turn 25 days of holiday into 58
Public Holiday: Good Friday (30th March) and Easter (2nd April)
When to go on holiday: 24th March – 8th April – 16 days off
How many holiday days to take: 9
By sticking the long weekend in the middle of your time off and taking a sizeable portion of your holiday days, you can gift yourself a spring break that clocks in at a little over two weeks. What’s especially handy for folks with families is that the Easter school holidays do fall within this time period for the most part with just a few days falling outside of the proposed time frame. This could also be an ideal time for that big trip you want to take, due to the fact that most destinations at this time of year are in their shoulder season. This means off-peak prices and fewer tourists to contend with. Result.
KAYAK Tip: Where to go – Tokyo, Japan
Public Holiday: Labour Day (1st May) and the May Bank Holiday (7th May)
When to go on holiday: 28th April – 7th May – 10 days off
How many holiday days to take: 4
As far as maximum days off for the least number of holiday days used, combining Labour Day with the May Bank Holiday is the winner. By using just four of your allocated days – between the weekends on either side of Labour Day – you can have a cushy 10 days off in total. What better way to celebrate a day that honours the achievements of workers and the workforce than with a whole lot of time off.
KAYAK Tip: Where to go – Brooklyn, NY, USA
Public Holiday: Spring Bank Holiday, 28th May
When to go on holiday: 26th May – 3rd June – 9 days off
How many holiday days to take: 4
Another calendar win is found around the Spring Bank Holiday where taking the four days directly after the holiday will give you a total of nine days off – that’s anything from a city break combined with time chilling at home to a decent break somewhere with palm trees. Or, if you really want to go large (think, backpacking around Southeast Asia or something similar), you could even combine these holidays with the Labour Day break above and turn 22 of your allocated days into a whopping 37 days off in a row.
KAYAK Tip: Where to go – Berlin, Germany
Public Holiday: August Bank Holiday, 27th August
When to go on holiday: 25th August – 2nd September – 9 days off
How many holiday days to take: 4
Make the most of summer by enjoying it right up until the end of August. By dropping four holiday days directly after the August Bank Holiday you can have a full nine days off in a row. This makes a mid-length trip somewhere that requires a bit of flight time as feasible as chasing the sun somewhere on the continent.
KAYAK Tip: Where to go – Quito, Ecuador
Public Holiday: Christmas and New Year’s Day
When to go on holiday: 22nd December – 1st January 2019 – 11 days
How many holiday days to take: 4
Christmas and New Year’s Day are finally back to happening on weekdays after several years of them happening over the weekend and in 2018 they are in a prime spot when it comes to maximising your holiday time. There’s no better way to finish off the year than with a sixteen-day holiday, especially one that uses up just seven days of annual leave.
KAYAK Tip: Where to go – Colombo, Sri Lanka
Our month-by-month recommendations for 2018
February: Dakar, Senegal
Escape the grimness of the British winter and get yourself over to Dakar. February is high season here so be prepared to have your senses dialled up to the nines. The city is a riot of colour and noise where music, art, mouth-watering foodie smells and more music are part of the very fabric of the city, creating a vibrant atmosphere that is like nothing else. If you should find yourself needing to dial down the volume, Dakar’s beaches offer some of the best surfing in the world, and the surrounding natural parks and reserves are fantastic for day-tripping.
March: Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo’s assault on your senses makes visiting the city fantastic any time of year, but heading there in spring means the sensory overload of Shinjuku or Akihabara are tempered by temperate weather, cool breezes and the gorgeous sight of cherry blossoms in bloom. When researching most cities you enter ‘What to do’ into the search bar but with Tokyo, it’s more like what do I HAVE to do in the limited time afforded. With theme parks, museums, food galore, 3-stool bars to insane nightclubs and shopping, you’ll struggle to fit it all in. Once you’ve visited, you’ll most likely be planning your next trip back on the flight home.
April: New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans celebrates its Tricentennial in 2018, and with its reputation, you just know its 300th anniversary is going to be one hell of a knees up. Everything ‘The Big Easy’ is famous for will be turned up to 11 and with April falling in the middle of Mardi Gras, it’s the optimal time to go. Enjoy crayfish in a raucous eatery, perfect cocktails in a classy establishment, dance the night away at an authentic jazz club until the wee hours, or delve into the dark history of New Orleans mystic voodoo past – New Orleans will put a spell on you.
May: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Beat the intense summer heat (and crowds) and take your time exploring Brooklyn in the spring. Winter is over, the locals come out to play, and the tourists haven’t yet arrived. Each of Brooklyn’s many neighbourhoods have a wealth of things on offer, with renowned restaurants, bars, venues, parks, and attractions that many major American cities can’t rival. Of course, you can check out other parts of NY but you’ll likely find that even after a few weeks in Brooklyn, you’ll still be finding more attractions to explore.
June: Berlin, Germany
Yeah, OK. Berlin is great any time of the year, but as anyone who has spent time there will tell you, it really is at its best in summer. Not because of any laid-back sunshine vibes (although the warm summer sun doesn’t hurt) but because the collision and collusion of art, music, freedom and the taking-the-bull-by-the-horns approach to life that the city is famous for spills onto the streets and the whole city springs into action. Wander the terrace-laden streets stopping for coffees, a cornucopia of foods or some fine, fine drinks; sit by the canal with a bottle of something cold, hit the clubs, head to the lakes, or cool-off in front of a masterpiece in an air-conditioned gallery.
July: Moscow, Russia
The biggest draw for Moscow this year is the 2018 FIFA World Cup which Russia is hosting, together with other Russian cities like St. Petersburg and Kazan. If you’re planning to catch some of the games live, you’ll want to book ASAP as a record number of football fans are expected. If you’re not a football fan, don’t fret. Moscow has always been one of the world’s most vibrant and interesting cities – full of art, history, culture, and architecture to fill your days and a diverse nightlife – you can get lost in the wonder of this city without even noticing the World Cup is going on.
August: Quito, Ecuador
It might sound odd, but August is Quito’s warmest month, despite the fact that it is technically winter. A lot of that is probably due to Quito’s geographical position – halfway up a volcano and straddling the equator. If your interest isn’t piqued yet, let’s throw in the fact that August is the annual month of arts and culture, when this already vibrant city explodes with colour and flair. Amongst the many other reasons to visit are the fact that the old town was named one of UNESCO’s first World Heritage sites in the world, the street food is top, the nightlife fantastic, the surrounding landscapes make marvellous day-trips, and that the city isn’t yet overrun by tourists – allowing for a sense of chill that many other big cities don’t have.
September: The Azores, Portugal
Visiting the Azores towards the end of summer wins on every level. While the sun still shines, the weather has dropped a few degrees and as the island’s highlights mainly involve a bit of mobility, that slight drop in temperature allows you to explore the Azores nine islands in the best conditions. This goes for everything from paragliding, hiking the volcanic craters, right through to water sports of any description. Out in the open water, it’s the perfect time of year to swim with dolphins or come into contact with sperm whales, the Azores’ most spectacular residents.
October: Malta
Malta is fantastic in the shoulder months with warm days and landscapes in blossom. Malta is a collection of ages where the weight of history is felt as keenly as the landscape is stunning. Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Spaniards, the French, and Brits, have all claimed this island at some point. This will keep history buffs as happy as clams, and outdoor enthusiasts will be equally content with the island’s incredible scenery. In 2018, the city of Valletta is also the European Capital of Culture with top-notch events being held all year.
November: Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade is being tipped as the next hot city, following in the footsteps of Berlin, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. And yes, while every city is at it’s best in summer, the real litmus test is how it holds up as the cold sets in. The mish-mash of soviet blocks, cuddled up to grand palaces, gritty streets and invitingly lit pubs and eateries create a welcoming edge of unpredictability. During the day, visiting cultural centres and getting your shopping on should keep you busy and in the night – well, let’s just say that the capital prides itself on having some of the best nightlife in Europe.
December: Colombo, Sri Lanka
December in Colombo is hot. That first blast of heat as you step off the plane is going to blow all of your winter blues away. Granted, Colombo itself is a city on the rise, but while the facades aren’t immediately appealing, the city is intriguing, unfettered by convention, authentic and the perfect home base for exploring the country. While the north and east of the island are undergoing their annual monsoon, Colombo is the perfect launching pad for the south and west of the country. Visit ancient temples, immerse yourself in greenery, hit some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, surf, eat, and bring some calmness back to your life.
