Desert holiday (5)
I believe the answer is:
leave
This clue is a double definition.
'desert' is the first definition.
(desert can mean to leave or abandon)
'holiday' is the second definition.
(I know that holiday is a type of holiday)
(Other definitions for leave that I've seen before include "Break" , "Permission (to take holidays?)" , "Don't take - time off" , "Pull out" , "Permission - time off" .)