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I haven't done anything so extensive but my experience from similar stuff is that:
a) It's a bit grim living somewhere that is part building site. There's dust everywhere, various stuff isn't working, if you're home during the day it can be noisy, etc
b) Things can move quicker if there's less concern about someone living there. A room can be used as a bit of a workshop, the property doesn't need to be made habitable each day (e.g. you can leave the water turned off for a few days), etc
I'm not sure if you need to go as far as putting stuff into storage but not living there may make it a bit more pleasant. Although whether the cost of an Airbnb is worth it is probably something you need to consider yourself.
aggi-
@J0nathan to add to this. If you do go on holiday, make sure you're still contactable by the contractors for any decisions that need to be made, odd things that come up etc. Nothing worse than returning to your spanking refurbished home to see a radiator in the wrong place or something because you weren't available to consult.
Trunkie
Potentially having a lot of internal work done around the whole house, including removal of walls and inserting of RSJs, completely new kitchen, new radiators around the house, new skirting-board in every room etc. Estimate was 3-4 weeks, which I think is fairly optimistic, but what do I know.
Builder asked if we'd be living there during the works, and seemed to suggest we'd be ok for most of it, but I'm wondering if it is better for everyone (me, wife, 3 year old) if we put as much stuff as we can into storage and go on holiday with relatives for some of it and stay in a local airbnb for the rest and just let them get on with it and not try and live through it.
If someone has done this and has any useful learnings, please do share.