I took 16 holidays in six months... there is no point letting your job get in the way of travelling

A woman took 16 different holidays in six months while using just 11.5 days of annual leave in the process.

Ella Brown, 24, from Hockley, Essex, refused to let her job stop her from travelling and was keen to maximise the best ways to make use of her annual leave.

In the first six months of the year, she visited 16 different countries - including Croatia, Italy and Germany - by using bank holidays and cramming in short breaks where possible over weekends.

She also visited Turkey in August - using up a further nine days of her annual leave.

Ms Brown said: 'It's a nice way to continue see the world and making the most of weekends and time off.

Ella Brown, 24, from Hockley, Essex, refused to let her job stop her from travelling and was keen to maximise the best ways to make use of her annual leave

In the first six months of the year, she visited 16 different countries - including Croatia, Italy and Germany

'I'll click on anywhere on my chosen dates on Skyscanner and it will come up with all the solutions.

'Don't turn your nose up at places you might not know. You don't realise how many lovely cities there are until you go there.

'I look at the time to see where I could strategically book dates. I'm always attaching it to weekends.

'This year is the first year I've really planned out what I wanted to do. It's all quite logical.'

Ella first garnered a desire to travel around the world after taking a gap year in September 2021 - which saw her spend three months in the United States.

After returning in September 2022 to start work, she was still keen to 'pursue travel' and looked at guides on how to maximise her 25 days off a year.

Having planned a varied itinerary in December 2023, she chose to fly out to Malaga, Spain, in January with her boyfriend, Sam, 24, a physiotherapist - by using a half day one Friday and flying back on Sunday.

Although their return flight was diverted, this actually worked in their favour, as they ended up spending a day in Paris on the way back.

Ella continued: 'We made the most of it. Malaga was incredible. The UK is depressing as a place in winter and it's nice to get a bit of winter sun.'

After returning in September 2022 to start work, she was still keen to 'pursue travel' and looked at guides on how to maximise her 25 days off a year. Pictured: Ella with her boyfriend Sam

Keen traveller Ella is seen here at the world-famous Colosseum in Rome

Then, in March the couple went to Nantes, France, for a weekend - using up no annual leave in the process, which cost them £170 each in total.

In April, Ella and her family went inter-railing over the Easter weekend - taking four days of annual leave.

She said: 'We did Rome, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Capri in Italy. I did love Sorrento - we stayed at an Airbnb on a lemon farm.'

Ella then went to Zadar, Croatia, for a weekend away with friends - taking just one day of annual leave - for what she said was one of her 'favourite' experiences.

Ella and Sam then booked five days off for a 10 day trip - using up a bank holiday to maximise their time off.

They travelled around Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Munich and Nuremberg.

Ella said: 'Hallstatt is the village which inspired Frozen. It was a hectic 10 days but we saw so much.

'We were getting up early and going to bed late. As soon as you get a focal point in Europe it's so easy.

She has also visited Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Munich and Nuremberg

Reflecting on her whirlwind year to date, Ella said: 'There is no point putting your love of travel on hold for work'

'Some of the trains were cheaper than my daily commute costs.'

The keen traveller then booked nine days off for a trip to Turkey in August and has booked a trip to Mallorca in October, which will see her take three more days off.

She started the year with 27 annual leave days, after carrying two over, and using a day for a hen do and one other to attend a Taylor Swift concert.

Ella now has three annual leave days left - which she says she may save for a trip to Australia in January.

She said: 'You can do it for a lot cheaper than people realise. We noticed if me and my boyfriend were home for a weekend we spent £100 to £150 on dinner, brunch, shopping.

'That money would pay for us to spend time in a different country. There is no point putting your love of travel on hold for work.'