Plan your holidays wisely in 2017 and you can get 18 days off work, while only giving up nine days of holiday.

Good Friday is on April 14 and Easter Monday is on April 17, followed by bank holiday on May 1.

So if you finish work on Thursday, April 13 and book holidays right up until Tuesday, May 2, you only use nine days of holiday – but get 18 days off in total.

And this year, Christmas offers something similar – you can get ten days off for just three days of holiday.

Christmas Day falls on a Monday followed by Boxing Day on the Tuesday. That’s followed by another three work days between December 27 and 29, followed by a weekend and another bank holiday – New Year’s Day.

Full bank holiday list for 2017

Monday, January 2 – New Year’s Day substitute

Friday, April 14- Good Friday

Monday, April 17 – Easter Monday

Monday, May 1 – early May Bank Holiday

Monday, May 29 – Spring Bank Holiday

Monday, August 28 – Summer Bank Holiday

Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day

Tuesday, December 26 – Boxing Day

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