Bank Holidays 2023: The days to book off to maximize your time off - Tenth Revolution Group (2024)

With the excitement of the holiday season over, many workers are feeling the effect of the January Blues and are now looking ahead to what 2023 has to offer. We’ve put in the legwork on Google and analyzed all the different public holidays, creating this resource of every opportunity when time away from work can be maximized by strategically booking certain days off. Workers can use this guide to figure out which options suit them best and make the most of their allocated paid holiday for the year ahead.

England

For starters, April brings two opportunities for workers to swap four days of annual leave for a 10-day break by either booking off the days in the run-up to Good Friday (Friday April 7) or the days following Easter Monday (Monday April 10). Alternatively, anyone eager to escape for even longer can request both sets of days off and end up with 16 consecutive days away from work to spend however they please.

Another chance for a 10-day break arises in May, with the month kicking off with the Early May Bank Holiday (Monday May 1) and King Charlies III’s coronation (Monday May 8) taking place a week later. Or for nine days, they could choose to book just Tuesday through to Friday off after the coronation instead. And as in April, if workers book off both options, they could score another 16-day holiday with just eight days’ leave.

May also offers one further opportunity to use the holiday hack at the end of the month with the Spring Bank Holiday (Monday May 29).

The next chance comes in August. Whether workers are planning on jetting off abroad or enjoying a staycation, they can request the rest of the week off after the Summer Bank Holiday (Monday August 28) and have nine days away from work.

Christmas offers the final – and most effective – opportunity of the year to stretch out annual leave. Employees who request Wednesday to Friday off following Christmas Day (Monday December 25) and Boxing Day (Tuesday December 26) can more than triple their annual leave turning three days into 10 for a work-free holiday season. And if they’re also able take off the remainder of the week following New Year’s Day (Monday January 1), this extends the run to 16 days.

Scotland

April brings the first chance for the Scots to trade four days of annual leave for a nine-day holiday if they book off the Monday to Thursday before Good Friday (Friday April 7).

It gets even better in May, when they have the chance to use the same leave, but instead enjoy 10 days away from work, thanks to the Early May Bank Holiday (Monday May 1) and King Charles III’s coronation (Monday May 8) falling a week apart. Alternatively, if the dates suited better, workers could book off the remainder of the week after the coronation and have nine days instead. If possible, workers could even book all the time off and have 16 days work-free to do whatever they want.

For those looking to plan a holiday closer to June, the Spring Bank Holiday (Monday May 29) is the perfect opportunity for a nine-day getaway. Those who are keen to wait for warmer weather can request off the days that follow the Summer Bank Holiday (Monday August 7). However, if sunshine isn’t a factor, the same can be done in November by booking off the Monday to Wednesday before St Andrew’s Day (Thursday November 30) as well as the Friday after it.

The Christmas celebrations present the last – but certainly not least – opportunity of 2023 for workers to make the most of their annual leave. By using three days of holiday to book off the remainder of the week after Christmas Day (Monday December 25) and Boxing Day (Tuesday December 26), they can almost quadruple their time off because of New Year’s Day (Monday January 1) and 2^ndJanuary (Tuesday January 2). And to fully maximize their downtime, Scots could also request Wednesday to Friday off of the first week of the year and treat themselves to 16 days.

Wales

To begin with, the Easter bank holidays mean the Welsh have two chances in April to switch four days of annual leave for a 10-day holiday. All they have to do is book off the weekdays that lead up to Good Friday (Friday April 7) or the ones that follow Easter Monday (Monday April 10). An even better use of the hack would be to book off both and extend the break to 16 days.

A third opportunity for 10 days off in a row crops up in May, since the Early May Bank Holiday (Monday May 1) and King Charles III’s coronation (Monday May 8) happen one week after another. By booking off Tuesday to Friday in the first of the week of May, workers can award themselves 10 days to relax. Or, if these dates don’t work, they could settle for nine and book these days off the next week instead. Like in April, workers could combine both of these for 16 days.

The Spring Bank Holiday (Monday May 29) means another chance for a nine-day break with only four days of leave arises later in the month too. If workers can hold off however, they could have the same but in the summer by booking off the weekdays after the Summer Bank Holiday (Monday August 28).

At the end of the year, Christmas Day (Monday December 25) and Boxing Day (Tuesday December 25) combined with New Year’s Day (Monday January 1) create the best opportunity of them all. By booking off the Wednesday to Friday in between the bank holidays, three days of leave becomes 10 days off in a row for workers to say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024 work-free. If anyone fancied even longer off, they also request off Tuesday to Friday after New Year’s for a grand total of 16 days.

Northern Ireland

The first chance to take advantage of the holiday hack comes in March for those in Northern Ireland. Workers can have a nine-day break with only four days’ leave if they request off the Monday to Wednesday before St Patrick’s Day, as well as the Friday afterward.

Good Friday (Friday April 7) and Easter Monday (Monday April 10) present two more opportunities, but, instead of nine days, they can have 10 days since the public holidays fall on either side of the week. They could even book off the week before Good Friday and the week that follows Easter Monday and have 16 days away from work to enjoy whatever way they fancy.

Come May, there’s another opportunity for a 10-day break, as the Early May Bank Holiday (Monday May 1) and King Charles III’s coronation are a mere week apart. Or, workers could opt for the week that follows the coronation instead and still be able to spend nine days away from work. If neither of these options seems long enough, however, they could book off all the days for both options and have 16 days off to truly relax.

With the Spring Bank Holiday (Monday May 29) falling at the end of the month, May offers a final chance to use the hack for nine days off from only four days’ leave – whether they choose to spend it cramming in all the fun possible or simply taking the time to rest. Similarly, workers could do this by taking off the weekdays that surround the Twelfth.

With Christmas Day (Monday December 25), Boxing Day (Tuesday December 26) and New Year’s Day (Monday January 1) all so close together, these bank holidays mean workers can more than triple their annual leave by taking off the three working days that fall between them. It also means there’s a final chance for a 16-day holiday if workers also book off the remainder the week after New Year’s Day.

Canada

In 2023 bank holidays create numerous opportunities for Canadians to trade four days of annual vacation for a nine-day break – depending on which province they are living in.

For those in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, the first option is to book off the remainder of the week following the bank holiday on Monday February 20. For those in Newfoundland and Labrador theirs is in March if they request off the days in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day (Friday March 17).

Good Friday (Friday April 7) creates an opportunity that all of Canada can take advantage of. For federal employees and those in federally-regulated industries, Easter Monday (Monday April 10) means the four days even become 10. If they are especially eager for an escape, the day could stretch to 16 consecutive days work-free if they also book the days that follow Easter Monday.

Before April comes to an end, those in Newfoundland and Labrador can use the hack again for Saint George’s Day (Monday April 23).

The next possibility arises the following month for anyone in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon, thanks to the bank holiday on Monday May 22.

National Indigenous Peoples Day (Wednesday June 21) means those in Northwest Territories and Yukon have the chance to say goodbye to spring and hello to summer whilst enjoying a nine-day vacation if they tactically book off the Monday and Tuesday before as well as the Thursday and Friday after.

Only a couple of days later, workers in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec have an opportunity with a bank holiday on Monday June 24.

The whole of Canada has a second possible option to use the holiday hack if they make use of Canada Day (Monday July 3).

Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut have yet another opportunity less than a week later if they book the remainder of the week following the bank holiday on Monday July 9. Newfoundland and Labrador have the same again with Regatta Day (Wednesday August 2).

For federal employees or those working in federally-regulated industries, as well as those in British Columbia, New Brunswick Day, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Saskatchewan, booking off the Tuesday to Friday following the bank holiday on Monday August 7 wins them nine days away from work. The same goes for those in Yukon if they book time off following Discovery Day (Monday August 21).

Labour Day (Monday September 4) presents a third opportunity for all of Canada, with workers free to explore another country or simply enjoy the comforts of their home for nine days.

The beginning of October brings two possible options. The first is for those in Prince Edward Island or working in federal-regulated industries, as well as federal employees, with National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Monday October 2). The second is for federal employees or those in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon with Thanksgiving (Monday October 9).

Another opportunity comes a month later with Remembrance Day (Monday November 13), which applies to federal employees and federally-regulated industries, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.

Before the year comes to an end, Christmas (Monday December 25) offers a final opportunity to stretch out annual vacation in 2023. If employees book off the remainder of the week, they only use four days of vacation for a 10-day break, since New Year (Monday January 1) is the following Monday.

For those that Boxing Day (Tuesday 26 December) applies to – federal employees and those in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario – the bank holiday creates a one-off chance to more than triple their leave and get 10 days in a row free from work with only three days’ vacation. If they want to go all out, they could also take off the remainder of the week following New Year’s Day (Monday January 1) and have 16 days.

Australia

Public holidays mean Australians have multiple opportunities to trade 4 days’ leave for a nine-day break in 2023, although this does vary depending on which state they live in.

Australia Day (Thursday January 26) – recognized everywhere except Tasmania – presents the first one, if workers book off the Monday to Wednesday off and the Friday that follows. Likewise, it’ll be the same if workers can book off the remainder of the week following Royal Hobart Regatta (Monday February 13), which applies to certain areas of Tasmania.

This same hack can be used for Labour Day (Monday March 6) – which applies to Western Australia only – and the public holiday on Monday, March 13, which happens in Victoria and Australian Capital Territory, as well as other areas subject to proclamation. Both are easily achieved by simply requesting Tuesday through Friday off following the public holiday.

The Easter celebrations mean there are two more opportunities available that anyone in Australia can make use of, except this time four days of leave equals a 10-day holiday. Workers just need to either book off Monday to Thursday before Good Friday (Friday April 7) or the days following Easter Monday (Monday April 10). If workers fancy having even longer off, they could ask for all that time off, giving them 16 days to recharge. For those working in the public service sector in Tasmania, the hack works even better, because it would only take 7 days of leave since they have Easter Tuesday (Tuesday April 11).

The Northern Territory and Queensland can make use of the public holiday on Monday May 1, and the Australian Capital Territory can have the chance to use the tactic for Reconciliation Day (Monday 29 May).

The Northern Territory has another opportunity with June Public Holiday (Thursday June 1), and again only a few days later with Western Australia Day (Monday June 5), which also applies to the rest of Australia too.

June offers a third possible option to those in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia with the King’s Birthday (Monday June 12). For Western Australia, this holiday is celebrated Monday September 25, whilst in Queensland, it is on Monday, October 2.

Picnic Day (Monday August 7) creates yet another chance for those in the Northern Territory to plan a nine-day break.

Later in August, anyone can join in on the hack with the Royal Queensland Show (Wednesday August 16).

For the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia, making use of Labour Day (Monday October 2) can mean nine days where they are free to enjoy springtime whilst only using up four days’ leave. Likewise, for the areas of Tasmania which don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta, Recreation Day (Monday November 6) offers the same possibility.

Thanks to the Melbourne Cup (Tuesday November 7), there is one last springtime opportunity for the whole of Australia.

Before the year draws to a close, Christmas (Monday December 25) and Boxing Day (Tuesday December 26) create the best chance out of all the public holidays to stretch out leave for those across all Australia. By requesting Wednesday to Friday off, their time off will more than triple, and they’ll have 10 days in a row without having to think about work. If they can, they could even have 16 days if they take off the Tuesday through to Friday after New Year’s Day (Monday January 1).

USA

The first opportunity for the USA comes in January, with the Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr (Monday January 16). Employees can book off the remainder of the week following the public holiday, which will mean taking four days of PTO actually results in nine days away from work. This same hack can be used numerous times throughout the rest of the year too, like Washington’s Birthday (Monday February 20) only a month or so later.

Memorial Day (Monday May 29) presents the next chance for Americans to take advantage of the strategy, followed by Juneteeth (Monday June 19).

Workers have the chance to swap four days of work for nine days of sunshine thanks to Independence Day (Tuesday July 4) if they book the Monday before and the Wednesday to Friday off afterward. Another option arises a month later as Labor Day (Monday September 4) offers another opportunity for Americans to fit in an extended summer vacation.

The next possibility is in October with Columbus Day (Monday October 9) if employees request off the rest of the week.

November offers two occasions to use the hack, with Veterans Day (Friday November 10) at the start of the month and Thanksgiving (Thursday November 23) falling at the end.

Before 2023 is over, Christmas Day (Monday December 25) provides the final chance to maximize PTO. But if, nine days isn’t long enough, workers could also book off the Tuesday through to Friday that follows New Year’s Day (Monday January 1) and end up with a whopping 16 consecutive days work-free.

Germany

In Germany, Good Friday (Monday April 7) is the first opportunity of 2023 to use the holiday hack. If they book off the Monday through to Thursday before the public holiday, four days of annual leave turns into a 10-day break, thanks to Easter Monday (Monday April 10) being the next week. The same can be achieved if workers book of the remainder of the week following Easter Monday, or, if workers are fancying an extra-long getaway, they could book off both and treat themselves to 16 days instead.

The next chance comes in spring with Labor Day (Monday May 1). This time if workers book off the rest of the week four days could stretch into nine. Likewise, if workers book off the weekdays that surround Ascension Day (Tuesday May 18) or that follow Whit Monday (Monday May 29), they’ll also be able to enjoy nine days away from work.

Another possible option to use the hack is in early October if workers book off the Monday before Day of Germany Unity (Tuesday October 3) and the Wednesday through to Friday afterward.

The last opportunity comes just before the year is over. By taking off the remainder of the week after Christmas Day (Monday December 25) and 2^ndDay of Christmas (Tuesday December 26), workers can more than triple their annual leave, as New Year’s Day (Monday January 1) follows at the start of the week after. If they can, workers could even book off the Tuesday through to Friday after that and see in the New Year whilst enjoying a 16-day long holiday.