Life often presents a tricky balance between time and money. Usually, having plenty of one means you lack in the other.
In previous discussions, I’ve explored finances—like saving for trips, cutting bills, and navigating travel banking. I’ve also examined the true costs of travel, detailing my seven-month adventure through Latin America.
Now, let’s focus on TIME. Whether you’re planning a two-week road trip to Yellowstone or a year-long adventure in Asia, consider these strategies to carve out travel time:
My constant travel has nothing to do with luck. I create the opportunity for travel. If I have a goal, I pursue it. It may take time to realize, but I make it work. The inspiration for long-term travel in South America sparked during my time in India. After a year and a half of diligent planning and saving, I was ready to go. Along my journeys, I met fellow wanderers, like the 68-year-old solo Traveling Granny and Rob and Cath McGuinness, who spent nearly a year traveling the globe with their teenage daughters.
Michelle Sinclair arranges her work schedule around travel, seizing low season deals in places like Iceland.
After completing my graduate studies, I realized that my $10/hour internship wouldn't sustain me. I quickly found a bar job that I loved, which funded my travels for five years. The best part was meeting incredible people, including my friend Michelle. She’s a bartender in Birmingham, Alabama, who organizes her life around her trips. By analyzing her earnings, she discovered that 80% of her income came from Thursday to Saturday nights, allowing her to travel throughout the week to places like Iceland and Europe.
Never underestimate strong negotiation skills. A smart way to budget for travel is to leverage business trips. Extend your stay a few days before or after work commitments to explore nearby attractions without incurring additional travel costs.
My friend Steve successfully negotiated an extended vacation for the 2014 World Cup. Left: Buenos Aires, Argentina. Right: Rio, Brazil.
Sometimes, a few days just won’t cut it. My British friend Steve was eager to attend the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and explore South America. Living in Australia on a work visa, he couldn’t quit his job. Instead, he approached his boss a year ahead of the event and requested two months off in exchange for taking on extra projects beforehand. His boss agreed!
Let’s face it: the workforce is shifting towards remote work. Many positions now allow for occasional work-from-home days. So why not convert one day a week into weeks or months? Consider programs like Remote Year, which lets professionals live in a new city each month while keeping their jobs. AFAR also offers insights on finding excellent co-working spaces.
Whether you want four weeks to tour with a band, three weeks for an anniversary trip to Italy, or to work remotely from Australia for an entire year, there’s a way to achieve it. The key to negotiation is strategy and planning. If you present your case to your employer in advance, addressing potential concerns, you’ll likely find a workable solution.
Between travels, I teach part-time at Texas State University, where I emphasize the value of travel to my students and share budget-friendly tips. After all, summer breaks and post-graduation periods are ideal for exploring!
The Lacksen sisters, a year apart, coordinated their long-term graduation trip together.
During a bus ride in Patagonia last February, I met two sisters from Georgia—Katherine and Elizabeth Lacksen. They planned an epic six-month graduation trip through Latin America. The idea sparked long before booking flights, and when Elizabeth graduated six months early, they seized the chance to travel together. (Check out my interview with the Lacksen sisters!)
Besides graduation, I've met many who’ve seized job transitions—whether they changed jobs or faced layoffs—to travel. It's a fantastic way to turn unexpected time into adventure!
During my time in Australia, I spent a month exploring the country, including a few days on Kangaroo Island.
I recall sitting in a conference room back in 2008, palms sweating, with my resignation letter ready. I was about to leave my first real job to travel.
Upon sharing my plans to move to Australia, my editor expressed his envy. That’s right—my boss was JEALOUS!
After dreaming about Australia for almost a year, my career had paused my plans. As the economy declined, thoughts of Australia returned. Recessions aren’t ideal for freelance photographers, and I knew I had to go. That 13-month journey transformed my life. In hindsight, that recession opened doors to pursue my dreams and travel professionally.
My seven-month Latin America trip last year was equally transformative, landing me opportunities with major publications I had long sought. The more you pursue your passions, the more the world recognizes your efforts.
Was quitting scary? Absolutely. Do I regret a moment? Not at all. I've been welcomed back by every job I've ever left to travel!
And I'm certainly not alone; everywhere I go, I encounter fellow travelers who’ve made similar sacrifices for their adventures.
Marita and Matt took a year off work to travel, including a stop in Puerto Varas, Chile for canyoning.
At a hostel in Argentina, I met an Australian couple—a lawyer and a teacher—who left their jobs for a year-long world tour. (We ended up traveling together for almost a month in Bolivia!) When Marita decided to quit her beloved teaching position, her boss offered her a one-year sabbatical instead! (Check out my interview with Marita and Matt!)
On a local bus in Peru, I met a 27-year-old from Denver who quit a high-paying sales position to travel for several months. He had done the same a few years earlier in Europe, and it didn’t hinder his career; he’s now fulfilling his dreams at his ideal company!
Let’s be clear: carving out time for travel won’t always be straightforward. Nothing truly worthwhile is easy. There will be sacrifices, but the rewards are invaluable. When you’re 80, you won’t look back and think, “I regret that year spent exploring Australia.”
You have no excuses left. Make the time, book that flight, and go fulfill your travel dreams! ?
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UP NEXT:
TRAVEL TUESDAY INTERVIEW: The Lacksen Sisters
In the next Travel Tuesday Interview, I chat with Elizabeth and Katherine Lacksen, who coordinated their graduation trips and spent six months exploring Latin America!
