15 Other Ways to Say “I Hope You Had a Great Holiday” in an Email

When communicating via email, it’s important to know various ways to extend good wishes after a holiday.

This article lists 15 alternatives to the common phrase “I hope you had a great holiday.” Each option comes with a short explanation and an email example to show you how to use it.

Is It Professional to Say “I Hope You Had a Great Holiday”?

Saying “I hope you had a great holiday” in a work setting is considered professional, formal or informal depending on the context, but it is always seen as polite. This phrase is best used after holidays, whether they are widely celebrated holidays like New Year’s or personal ones like vacations.

This phrase is appropriate for colleagues, clients, and other professional contacts. It’s best used in emails or letters where a degree of warmth is desired alongside maintaining professionalism.

Here’s an example:

Dear Maria,

I hope you had a great holiday and are feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the upcoming projects. I'm looking forward to catching up and discussing our next steps.

Best regards,
Emily

Pros:

• Shows you care about the person’s well-being beyond work.
• Helps to start the email on a positive and friendly note.
• Makes your professional communication more personable.

Cons:

• May seem too informal in very traditional or formal business contexts.
• Could be perceived as unnecessary if the relationship is strictly professional.

Someone might want to use an alternative phrase if they’re looking for a way to personalize their message further or if they feel the original phrase doesn’t fit the tone they’re trying to convey.

15 Other Ways to Say “I Hope You Had a Great Holiday” in an Email

Looking for different ways to wish someone well after a holiday? Here are 15 alternatives to the classic phrase:

1. Hope you had a wonderful holiday

This alternative is similar in tone to the original, offering a warm wish in a friendly manner. It’s slightly more emphatic, highlighting the quality of the holiday with the word “wonderful.”

This phrase is well-suited for both professional and informal settings, making it versatile for use with colleagues, clients, or even in a more relaxed business context. Emails and letters are ideal mediums for this message, as they allow for a personal touch while maintaining a polite distance.

Example:

Hey Alex,

Just wanted to touch base and say, hope you had a wonderful holiday. Let's catch up soon and plan for the upcoming project.

Best,
Jordan

2. Hope you had a great time off

This version shifts focus slightly from the holiday itself to the time off work, making it a good synonym for the original when wanting to emphasize the break from work more than the holiday.

It’s best used in informal or semi-formal contexts, especially with colleagues or teams you manage. Email is the perfect medium for this message, as it balances the personal and professional nature of the relationship.

Example:

Hello Team,

I hope everyone is coming back recharged, hope you had a great time off. Let’s start this week with our best foot forward.

Cheers,
Samantha

3. I hope you enjoyed the holidays

This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal emails. It works well when you know the person has been looking forward to the holiday season.

This alternative is ideal for colleagues, clients, or even suppliers with whom you have a friendly rapport. The email format allows for a personal yet professional touch.

Example:

Hello Olivia,

I hope you enjoyed the holidays and had a chance to relax. Looking forward to our collaboration this year.

Warm regards,
Ethan

4. Hope you had a good holiday season

This alternative broadens the scope to the entire holiday season, which can include various holidays. It’s a great synonym for those looking to acknowledge a period of time rather than a specific holiday.

This version is versatile, fitting for professional emails where you might not know which specific holiday the recipient celebrates. It’s polite and inclusive, making it a solid choice for a diverse workplace. This alternative is especially suitable for messages sent to a group or team, as it covers a range of holiday experiences.

Email example:

Hello All,

As we dive into the new year, hope you had a good holiday season and are ready to face the challenges ahead with renewed energy.

Best wishes,
Liam

5. Hope you had a nice break over the holidays

This phrase emphasizes the break aspect of the holiday season, making it a good alternative for focusing on the rest and relaxation part of holidays.

It’s a great choice for informal to semi-formal communication, particularly with team members or colleagues. This version is polite yet suggests a closer relationship or a more relaxed workplace culture. It’s perfect for emails where the emphasis is on wishing well for the person’s time off rather than the holiday festivities.

Example:

Hello Jenna,

I'm catching up on emails and wanted to say, hope you had a nice break over the holidays. Let's touch base soon on our project timelines.

All the best,
Marco

6. Hope you had a restful holiday

This alternative focuses on the rest and rejuvenation aspect, ideal for after a busy work period. It implies a wish for the recipient to have recharged their batteries.

Suitable for formal and informal settings, this phrase is particularly thoughtful for colleagues or employees after a hectic season. It’s polite and caring, suggesting a consideration for the recipient’s well-being. This alternative is better suited for individual emails, where personal well-being and work-life balance are emphasized.

Example:

Hi Miles,

Welcome back to work! Hope you had a restful holiday and are feeling rejuvenated for the exciting projects we have this year.

Kind regards,
Natalie

7. Hope you had a joyful holiday period!

This alternative adds a dash of cheer and liveliness to your message, focusing on the joyfulness of the holiday period.

It’s perfect for both informal and formal emails, especially when you want to convey more energy and happiness. This phrase is great for colleagues you’ve worked closely with or clients with whom you have a friendly relationship. It’s a polite way to express your hope that they had a fun and festive time.

Email example:

Hi Carter,

I'm thrilled we're kicking off another project together. Hope you had a joyful holiday period! Let's catch up soon to brainstorm ideas.

Best,
Hailey

8. I hope your break was all you wished for

This version personalizes the message by suggesting that you hope the recipient’s holiday break met their expectations or wishes.

This phrase suits informal to semi-formal communication. It’s especially thoughtful for colleagues or team members who have been looking forward to their holiday break for relaxation or personal reasons. This message conveys a deeper level of care and personal interest in their well-being and satisfaction with the break. It’s polite and shows you’re attentive to their hopes for the holiday season.

Example:

Hi Sofia,

As we gear up for the new year, I hope your break was all you wished for. Looking forward to seeing the great work we will do together.

Warm regards,
Elijah

9. Hope your holiday was refreshing

This alternative emphasizes the rejuvenating aspect of the holiday, wishing that the recipient has returned feeling refreshed.

It’s a fantastic choice for formal and informal settings alike, particularly after long or demanding work periods. This phrase is considerate for peers, subordinates, or even supervisors, as it conveys a universal wish for well-being. Emails with this message are ideal for communicating your hopes for their rejuvenation during the holidays.

Example:

Hi Luca,

Welcome back! Hope your holiday was refreshing and gave you the break you deserved. Let's dive into the new projects with renewed energy.

Kindly,
Riley

10. Hope your holidays went well

This alternative is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a safe option when you’re unsure about the specifics of someone’s holiday plans or do not know them well. It’s polite and neutral, fitting for a wide range of recipients, including colleagues, clients, or even new acquaintances. This phrase is particularly useful for group emails where you wish to convey general good wishes for the holiday season.

Example:

Hello Team,

I hope this year brings us all success and satisfaction. Hope your holidays went well, and you're all ready to start fresh.

Regards,
Avery

11. Hope you had a relaxing holiday

This phrase emphasizes the relaxation aspect of the holiday, ideal for when you wish someone a break filled with peace and calm.

This message fits well in both informal and formal emails. It’s a great way to show you care about the person’s well-being, especially after a busy work period. This phrase is particularly suitable for colleagues or clients you know have been under a lot of stress. It’s a polite and caring way to acknowledge their need for rest.

Example:

Hello Jamie,

I'm glad we're back and ready to take on new challenges. Hope you had a relaxing holiday and are feeling refreshed.

Best wishes,
Morgan

12. I hope you had nice holidays

It’s excellent for informal interactions but can also fit within more formal contexts when you’re aiming for a touch of warmth. This phrase works well for a wide range of recipients, from close team members to distant colleagues, and is polite yet familiar. It’s especially fitting for emails where you want to convey simple, sincere holiday wishes without focusing on any specific aspect of the holiday experience.

Example:

Hello Tyler,

Looking forward to our continued success in the coming year. I hope you had nice holidays and are ready to jump back into work.

Cheers,
Casey

13. Trust you enjoyed the holiday break!

This version assumes a positive outlook, expressing a confident hope that the recipient enjoyed their time off.

It’s a bit more informal and implies a closer relationship or understanding between the sender and the recipient. This phrase is great for colleagues or team members you have a good rapport with. It’s polite yet carries an air of familiarity and friendliness. This alternative is perfect for messages where you want to convey confidence in the recipient’s ability to enjoy their break, particularly in a friendly work environment.

Example:

Hello Noah,

Trust you enjoyed the holiday break! Let's catch up soon and plan out our goals for this quarter.

All the best,
Skylar

14. Trust you had a restful holiday

This phrase also conveys a sense of confidence that the recipient’s holiday was restful and rejuvenating.

Suitable for informal communications, it’s particularly thoughtful for people you know have been looking forward to a break. This version is polite and suggests a caring relationship, making it ideal for messages to colleagues or friends in the workplace.

Example:

Hello Zoe,

As we kick off another exciting year, trust you had a restful holiday. Can't wait to see what we achieve together!

Regards,
Charlie

15. Hope you had great time during holidays

This alternative is a bit more casual and focuses on the overall enjoyment of the holiday period.

It’s a good choice for informal email exchanges but can be adapted for more formal settings by adjusting the tone of the rest of the email. This phrase is suitable for a broad audience, including colleagues with whom you have a friendly relationship and clients you’ve built rapport with. It’s polite and expresses a general wish for the recipient’s holiday enjoyment.

Example:

Hello Logan,

Happy New Year! Hope you had great time during holidays and are ready to face the challenges ahead.

Best,
Jordan

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right words to wish someone well after a holiday is more than just a nice gesture; it shows you care and pays attention to your relationship with them. The 15 alternatives provided offer a range of tones, from formal to informal, ensuring you have the perfect phrase for any situation. Using these variations can help add a personal touch to your professional emails.