My dream job is to one day be a full-time travel writer. Until I can make that happen, I travel as much as I can within my work-related and financial constraints. One of the most common misconceptions about travel is that it’s unattainable if you work full-time. Whether you think it’s too expensive or you don’t have enough time off work, these misconceptions couldn’t be further from the truth. I combine several of the techniques below and have gotten smarter about how I use my vacation days with my work schedule. These tips work for me so I hope they will work for you too.
1. Combine vacation days with long or holiday weekends.
Combining your vacation days with long or holiday weekends is a great way to extend your trip without actually taking additional time off. Just beware that these weekends tend to be high travel times for everyone. It may be worth it to stay an extra day so you avoid the rush.
2. Extend work trips.
If you’re already out of town for work, why not extend your trip on your own dime? While it may not be a place at the top of your bucket list, your costs will be severely minimized and you’ll most likely get to explore a place you’ve never been before. Tip: Invite a friend and if they can take off during the workweek, they can minimize their own costs by staying with you and explore the destination while you’re working.
3. Work remotely.
If your job offers telework, you can work during the day and when work’s over, you can explore whatever city/state/country you’re in. Just make sure you’re working during work hours!
4. Prioritize and make plans.
Verify your allotted time off for the year, and see exactly how much time you’re working with. Look at the year’s calendar and start making plans. Whether you take a weeklong trip or lots of weekend trips, learn to make your time off a priority. It’ll give you something to look forward to throughout the year and your travel plans will be one less thing for you to worry about as life happens.
5. Stop making excuses.
Everyone is able to travel. You just have to figure out whether you prefer long trips or weekend trips, what your budget is, if you’re traveling alone or with friends, etc. There are so many variables, but the only place to start is at the beginning. Start planning!