Look for public holidays that sit next to a weekend, then take only the days between them. A few days of leave can turn into a much longer break. This page shows how to find the bridges and what they cost you.
Calendar planning belongs to the itinerary styles topic. For a deeper look, see bridging public holidays for a honeymoon.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a working day between a public holiday and a weekend. If you take it off, you join the two into one long break.
For example, if a holiday falls on a Thursday, taking the Friday off gives you four days in a row. You spend one day of leave and gain a long weekend.
How do we find the bridges?
Follow these steps.
- Get the official public holiday list for the year and your state.
- Mark every holiday that falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
- Count the working days between it and the nearest weekend.
- Choose the bridge that needs the fewest days of leave.
- Check whether the dates are confirmed or still to be announced.
Do this for the whole year before you choose a wedding date or a honeymoon window.
What are the trade-offs?
| Option | Benefit | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge around a holiday | More days for fewer leave days | Higher prices and crowds |
| Ordinary weekday leave | Lower prices, quieter places | Uses more of your leave |
| School holiday week | Time off for some partners | Family crowds at resorts |
If you value quiet, ordinary weekdays may suit you better, even if they use more leave.
Which holidays need extra care?
Some holidays are tied to the moon or announced late, so the exact day can shift. Others, like major festival periods, bring heavy travel demand. Read our guides on Chinese New Year leave and Deepavali leave for the details of each.
How do we protect ourselves if dates change?
Choose rooms and flights with flexible terms, or ask what a date change would cost. Keep leave requests in writing. Our guide to reading a cancellation policy shows what to check.
What should we do next?
- Print the official holiday list and mark the bridges.
- Pick the two best options and ask your employers.
- Check prices around each option.
- Message us with the dates. We will compare them as a total for two.