Ways To Frequently Travel Around A Full-Time Job

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A frequent misconception about someone who travels often is that they’re filthy rich or have quit their job to backpack. For me, and many others, the above statements don’t ring true. I’ve always either been studying or working. You know what though? I actually quite like travelling whilst working full-time, because it allows me to maximise each day to the fullest. That’s what the ‘secret’ is, pulling every second. With the short answer out the way, let me guide you with tips to travel around a full-time job.

For more content on the topic, find out how I travel around my 9-5.

Stick To 24-Hour Trips.

If you’re spontaneous then you’ll love the idea of 24-hour trips abroad. This is actually my preferred method of travel for locations within close proximity. No accommodation needed, as you’ll be back home the same day, and no stress to pack multiple outfits. The fact time is limited on 24-hour trips does mean it’s good to have some plan of what you want to see or do, but I usually just check-out central areas for shopping and food. The only thing I really plan is transportation.

Can’t Travel Abroad? Go Local.

Travel doesn’t always need to involve a plane. I’m sure there are so many hidden gems where you all live. Yup, even the UK has sites worth seeing lol. To read about my recent 12 hours in Edinburgh, click here.

No Time To Travel? Weekend It!

Perhaps an obvious point but one people forget about. There is no denying flights tend to be more expensive on weekends, but it’s one way to fix wanderlust. If you’ve worked out weekends are the only time you can travel, book in advance. Thinking of taking a little staycation but rely on public transport? Try searching up coaches which depart after work on Friday. If the journey time is long, you’ll arrive on Saturday morning with the entire weekend free to see the sights.

Book Annual Leave Close To Bank Holidays/Extended Weekends.

A game-changer of a tip. If you plan correctly, you’ll get more from your annual leave. Select weeks with multiple public holidays running into Saturday/Sunday. For example, in April 2022 there are two Bank Holidays. If you take four days off, which naturally then fall into a new weekend, you’ll get 10 days off in total. For someone who works full-time, these types of realizations are always welcome. If you’re a full-time student, utilise your reading weeks to travel. Just don’t tell your professor I said that.

Run Your Errands Abroad.

If your weekend schedule is looking full, think about which tasks can be done abroad. Hear me out. Need to shop for a specific outfit? Try doing it abroad. Of course it depends on the nature of the errand, but in the above example you’ve potentially got yourself a mini vacation.

Book Evening Flights.

There is no need to book an entire day off work for an evening flight. I mean, you’ll run out of annual leave days quicker. Get everything packed in advance so you’re good to go the moment you step out the office. This is one of the best methods for incorporating travel around a full-time job.

Stretch Logic.

Instead of spending 2 hours travelling to the capital, explore the lesser-known cities closer to your accommodation. You’ll end up seeing more in a shorter space of time, and will probably discover locations even Google hasn’t picked up...

At this point, you might be thinking about the costs associated with frequent travelling. Ready for me to blow your mind? Most of my trips actually cost less than a night-out in my home city. Genuinely. Let me show you how I travel the world on a budget…

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48 Comments

  5. I think your points work well for domestic trips, or if you live in Europe where countries are only a few hours away by transport…I live in the US, and there’s no way I could take a day or two off without dipping into my hours at work, as the country is MASSIVE. But I’ve done day trips within my state, and that’s been fun! Even with a full-time job, I believe that it’s still possible to go out and explore new places, even within your hometown or state. Makes returning to work the following week a lot more meaningful and rejuvenated!

    1. Yes my apologies I should have clarified that for the US or larger countries, it would be much harder to go abroad than for someone in the U.K! 😅 oops! But I’m glad you agree that it’s possible to travel in some form whilst working 🙌

      1. No worries! I used to live in Europe, so I knew exactly what you were writing about. Since returning to the US, I’ve had to change how I travel (especially during the pandemic), and I think the mindset here is a day trip to a different city within California or, at the very most, an extended weekend across the country (e.g. California to New York). We do our best!

  6. Yeah! Leaving out to explore just before the weekend starts is the perfect way to utilize it. That’s been the story of my life until now, haha! Even if you take a leave from the office, that will add into an extended weekend. Work from Home days have become more significant in terms of traveling.

  8. Some points in this post resonates me. I’m on a mission to explore hidden gems near me. I actually love 24 hours travel plan, it’s comfortable and cost effective. I get time to document as well. Your travel tips will help those who want to start travel blogging without quitting their job.

  10. Great post.

    You’re spot on, most people don’t realize how cheap travel can actually be if you choose the right places. Even in the “popular” cities, you can still do it on a budget or on the cheap side.

    Do you work remotely or in an office? I travel year-round and work online. I’ve found that spending a month or two in each place I visit seems like a decent amount of time.

    Any experience with this?

    1. First of all, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post

      So true, I even feel like travelling often can sometimes be cheaper than pre-travel life, depending on where someone is located.

      Ohhh that sounds amazing! What an incredible lifestyle. I’m working from home currently but will be moving back into office in a few months

  16. Great post – I struggle with this problem as well, never seem to have the time (or money!) to travel anywhere near as much as I’d like.

    I’ve used the bank holiday and evening flights methods before, but I love the idea of the 24hr trip! Might have to give that a go as thinks are starting to open up again! 🙂

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