People set aside ordinary work and routines for a period of rest, celebration, or travel. That period is a holiday. It may be a single public day or a longer break away from home.

Holidays structure the tourism calendar; peak demand follows school breaks and national vacation periods. Travel during holidays often means higher prices and denser crowds at popular sites. Some people prefer to holiday in quieter shoulder periods even if weather is less predictable.

The content of a holiday ranges from beach inactivity to intensive sightseeing or family gatherings. Expectations of relaxation can clash with the effort of travel itself. A successful holiday leaves people restored rather than simply exhausted by a different set of activities.

• Period of rest, celebration, or recreational travel
• Shapes peak and off-peak tourism demand
• May be taken at home or away
• Intended to provide break from routine