What were your holiday highlights of this year? What did you miss out on? What’s still languishing on your wish list? With the end of the year coming soon, there’s never been a better time to start planning this year’s annual leave.
David Bailey Kotor Bay Montenegro
1)Decide on your holiday style: Do the dark days between January and March get you down? Could a short break to the sun get your mojo back? If you need to fast-forward spring into your life, a short break to Marrakech in February might make you happier than two weeks in Greece in July. Decide on the key times of year when you most need a break and get booking.
2)Get organised: Do you end up frittering away stockpiled leave because you’ve had no time to get organised? Now’s the time to put your finely-tuned project management skills to use and decide what, when and where before the work juggernaut decides for you. Festivals need to be booked well in advance (Glastonbury tickets are now sold out and you need to book now if you want to experience Spain’s infamous tomato frenzy). Never miss out on another event by following Time Out Worldwide.
3)Maximise your leave entitlement: Just like monthly pay checks, annual leave has a habit of slipping through your fingers faster than a £59.00 Eurostar ticket offer. Tactical planning around bank holidays can pay dividends in terms of maximising your entitlement. Planning the trip of a lifetime to Australia? Book next year’s Christmas leave in January and make use of four bank holidays to book a longer stay at a traditionally quieter time of year in the office. Remember when it comes to negotiating annual leave, the early bird jets off first.
4)Throw away the bucket list: Swimming with dolphins may be the single most popular item on bucket lists but does it really float your boat? What makes you happiest may not always be the most glamorous option. A lifelong passion for the great outdoors may make a weekend glamping in Wales more memorable than a five days of five-star luxury in Dubai. Leave the herd behind and follow your own path.
Gypsy Caravan
5)Explore your own backyard: Don’t forget to mix it up with day trips in the UK. With so many overseas destinations vying for attention, it’s all too easy to forget the many hidden gems the UK has to offer. From the Whitstable Oyster Festival to Syon Park’s enchanted woods, the many wonders right here on our doorstep can help to regularly inject the feel-good-factor back into your life – saving you money and precious leave days into the bargain.
How do you organise your annual leave? Do you have any trail-blazing tips to share?!