TRAVEL MORE

How to travel more with a full time job

You don’t have to uproot your life, sell all your things, and quit your job to travel more. Your social feeds may be telling you otherwise, but two weeks of paid vacation is enough believe it or not. You can begin to tackle your bucket list of dream vacations as soon as next weekend if you adopt a weekend warrior spirit.

Here are 7 practical ways to travel more with a full-time job.

Extend Your Weekends – Plan your travels around paid holidays

First, list the places you’d like to visit this year! Do some research, and check flights, excursions, and accommodations to develop a budget. Once you have an idea of where you want to go, start your travel plans with a 12-month calendar, and highlight any paid holidays that fall on a Thursday, Friday, or Monday. You can extend your weekends to create 3-5 day vacations without losing your limited PTO. Part-time travel is possible, you just have to be strategic.

The most common paid holidays in the US are:

New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Veteran’s Day
Easter
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day

Become a Weekend Warrior

Plan shorter trips and maximize your time with weekend getaways. You will not have the time to see everything, so prioritize your itineraries and focus on 1-2 sights per weekend. It is the weekend, so be sure to account for crowds, traffic, and delays. As much as people say “travel more, worry less”, remember the early bird gets the worm! Brace yourself for early mornings, red-eye flights, and late nights

Take advantage of work trips and conferences

If you travel for work or plan to attend any conferences, you may have time to do a little sightseeing. Try to fly in a little early or ask your boss if you can stay an extra day to explore.

Go Solo

Trying to coordinate with friends and family may hinder your travel plans. Traveling solo can be a rewarding experience; it can open your eyes to new ideas, force you outside your comfort zone, and the best part is you can do it all at your own pace.

Start a Travel Fund

No more weekends on the couch binging Netflix, daydreaming of your bucket list vacation. Start saving for your dream vacation today. Pick up some extra hours or start a side hustle to make your travels a priority.

Explore Your Hometown

A local staycation might be a better option if you’re pressed for time. Support local businesses, try a new restaurant, explore a museum, take a hike, or plan a quick road trip. There are no fonder memories than the ones created while trying something new. So often, we exhaust ourselves in search of extravagant experiences – while all around us lies an abundance of small pleasures. You’d be surprised how taking the time to be present and explore can bring joy at little cost and effort.

Budget + Change Your Lifestyle

If you’re looking to travel more often, consider starting a budget and cutting back on things you don’t need. Instead of that latte, new outfit, or subscription, toss those extra coins to your travel fund.

Brittney Lewis

tRAVELING Artist + Outdoor Enthusiast

ByBrijé is where I share weekend travel guides, trip inspiration and my creative endeavors. I’m currently wandering along the west coast painting colorful landscapes. Come along as I share the magic of the outdoors.

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