How to maximise your annual leave in 2017

ARE you running low on annual leave days? Find out how you can still score a proper holiday in 2017 — without upsetting the boss.

WHEN it comes to work, nothing is as grim as having a burning desire for a holiday break but hardly any annual leave days in the tank.

Maybe that forced office shutdown over Christmas wiped out your precious reserves. Or maybe you splurged on a big globetrotting trip last year and are still clawing your way out of the red.

If you’re facing a year of holiday-less hopelessness, fear not — a calendar and some clever thinking can help turn a handful of annual leave days into a holiday of substance.

New analysis by online travel insurer InsureandGo has determined the best opportunities in 2017 for Australians to work their few annual leave days into longer breaks.

Because it takes advantage of public holidays, the advice is different from state to state.

But InsureandGo found April is a winner for all Aussies — because the Easter weekend and Anzac Day are so close together this year.

Australians can get 17 days off by only using seven days of leave if they aim to book their holiday for Friday, April 14 through to Friday, April 28.

Those looking for a shorter trip can turn five days off work into almost two weeks if they aim for Friday, April 14 through to Wednesday, April 26.

It’s time to make those public holidays work for you.

With Easter around the corner, InsureandGo’s commercial manager Jonathan Etkind said now was the best time to start booking.

“It’s also a great opportunity to travel to overseas destinations like Asia or Europe, where Australians can often lose at least a day or two travelling,” he said.

After the Easter break, these are some of the clever ways to maximise leave in 2017:

NSW

Saturday, June 3 until Monday, June 12 (Queen’s Birthday) — take four days of annual leave and get 10 days off.

VICTORIA

Saturday, November 4 until Tuesday, November 6 (Melbourne Cup Day) — take one day of annual leave and get four days off.

QLD: BRISBANE ONLY

Saturday, August 12 until Sunday, August 20 (Ekka Day) — take four days of annual leave and get nine days off.

ACT

Saturday, September 23 until Monday, October 2 (Family and Community Day and Labour Day) — take four days of annual leave and get 10 days off.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2017

National

Friday, April 14: Good Friday

Monday, April 17: Easter Monday

Tuesday, April 25: Anzac Day

Monday, December 25: Christmas Day

Tuesday, December 26 Boxing Day/Proclamation Day (SA)

NSW

Saturday, April 15: Easter Saturday

Sunday, April 16: Easter Sunday

Monday, June 12: Queen’s Birthday

Monday, October 2: Labour Day

Victoria

Monday, March 13: Labour Day

Saturday, April 15: Easter Saturday

Monday, June 12: Queen’s Birthday

Tuesday, November 7: Melbourne Cup Day

Queensland

Saturday, April 15: Easter Saturday

Monday, May 1: Labour Day

Wednesday, August 16: Ekka People’s Day (Brisbane only)

Monday, October 2: Queen’s Birthday

Western Australia

Monday, March 6: Labour Day

Monday, June 5: Western Australia Day

Monday, September 25: Queen’s Birthday

South Australia

Monday, March 13: Adelaide Cup

Saturday, April 15: Easter Saturday

Monday, June 12: Queen’s Birthday

Monday, October 2: Labour Day

ACT

Monday, March 13: Canberra Day

Saturday, April 15: Easter Saturday

Sunday, April 16: Easter Sunday

Monday, June 12: Queen’s Birthday

Monday, September 25: Family and Community Day

Monday, October 2: Labour Day

Tasmania

Monday, February 13: Royal Hobart Regatta (Hobart only)

Monday, February 22: Launceston Cup (Launceston only)

Monday, March 7: King Island Show (King Island only)

Tuesday, April 18: Easter Tuesday (Government only)

Monday, June 12: Queen’s Birthday

Monday, November 6: Recreation Day (Northern half of state):

Northern Territory

Saturday, April 15: Easter Saturday

Monday, May 1: Labour Day

Monday, June 12: Queen’s Birthday

Monday, August 7: Picnic Day

Now you’ve got those dates locked in, Mr Etkind said it was important to get some travel insurance as well.

“People might not be aware of the cost of medical procedures in different parts of the world,” he said.

“For example, we have experienced medical claims of over $300,000 in Asia and $200,000 in Europe.”