Advanced options
What The Holiday Countdown Calculator Works Out
- Days to go: the number of calendar days between today and the first day of your holiday, which is also the number of sleeps. The date defaults to six weeks away; change it to your real departure date.
- That is: the same countdown expressed as whole weeks and leftover days, which is how most people picture a trip that is more than a fortnight off.
- Weekends first: how many Saturdays fall before departure. Weekends are when the shopping, packing and admin actually happen, so a holiday three weeks away has only three Saturdays left in it.
- You come home on (advanced): the departure date plus the number of nights away, with the last full day underneath. A 7-night holiday leaving on a Saturday brings you home the following Saturday.
- Annual leave to book (advanced): counts the Monday-to-Friday days from the departure day to the return day inclusive and knocks off any bank holidays you enter. A Saturday-to-Saturday week needs 5 days of leave; leaving on a Friday and returning on a Sunday needs 6.
- Save per payday (advanced): the spending money you still need (budget minus what you have saved) divided by the number of weekly or monthly paydays before you leave. GBP 500 of spending money six weeks out is about GBP 250 a month or GBP 83 a week.
- Passport check (advanced): compares your passport expiry with the return date. Many countries want 6 months left on arrival, and the EU requires at least 3 months beyond your exit date and a passport under 10 years old on the day of entry. HMPO renewals take up to 3 weeks in quiet periods and longer in spring.
- Planning table (advanced): the time-sensitive jobs pinned to the countdown. Travel insurance covers cancellation from the day you buy it, so buy it when you book; a free GHIC card covers state healthcare in the EU but is not a substitute for insurance; airport parking and transfers are far cheaper pre-booked; and airline online check-in typically opens 24 to 48 hours before departure.