Bridge days to create longer breaks

Bridging is a simple technique: place your annual leave days / paid time off (PTO) between a public holiday and a weekend to create outsized time off. With a few well‑timed days, you can unlock five to nine‑day breaks while only spending two to four days of leave. It’s ideal for families, budget travellers, and anyone who values longer recovery windows.

When and where bridging works best

Common opportunities include Easter, early May bank holidays, late summer, and the Christmas/New Year cross‑over. Check your country’s public holiday calendar and coordinate with school terms or project cycles.

Practical planning tips

Share your planned absences early to secure approvals and ensure team coverage. Consider shoulder‑season destinations for better prices, and avoid peak travel days to reduce stress. If you’re travelling with children, shorter travel legs and flexible accommodations pay off.

Tools to model your year

Use the My Holiday Planner Year Calendar to import and map public holidays and anchor trips. Visualise your time off allocations and export sharable plans in the My Holiday Planner. Iterating visually helps you spot additional mini‑breaks across the year.