Balancing a full-time job with your desire to travel might sound like a dream—but I’m living proof it can be done. Even in a post-pandemic world where some companies are calling people back to the office full time, others are embracing hybrid models, and everyone’s glued to their inbox, you can still carve out time to explore the world.
With smart planning, some mindset shifts, and a few battle-tested hacks, you can book the flight, take the trip, and keep your job. Here’s how Balancing Full-Time Work and Solo Travel can work:
Defining your Travel Goals
Before you even book a flight, get clear: Why do you want to travel? Adventure, relaxation, healing, creative inspiration, culture, reconnection?
Defining the why behind your trips makes it easier to plan meaningful getaways and prevents that “I need a vacation from my vacation” energy.
Maximize Your PTO and Bank Holidays
One of the smartest moves you can make: stack your PTO around national holidays and long weekends.
Book your flights early, submit PTO strategically (before the rush), and avoid blowing all your time on one big trip.
✈️ Example: Take Thursday & Friday off before Labor Day to get a full 5-day weekend for the cost of 2 PTO days.
Start a Dedicated Travel Fund
Set up a separate bank account for travel and automate contributions—even $25 per paycheck adds up.
Want it faster? Cut down Uber Eats, limit impulse Target runs, make your coffee at home instead of the usual Starbucks run, and redirect that money to your next destination. Travel becomes easier when it’s already funded.
Start Close to Home and then Expand Further
You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have an enriching experience. Start by exploring destinations closer to home and gradually expand your horizons as you become more comfortable with traveling around your job.
Use Work Flexibility—Whatever That Looks Like
In 2025, it’s a mixed bag:
Some companies have gone back to full in-office schedules. Others still offer remote or hybrid setups.
💻 If you’re remote or hybrid:
Use “work-from-anywhere” weeks and travel around your schedule. Log off, head to the airport, and make it work.
🏢 If you’re in-office:
Double down on weekends, red-eye flights, and holiday stacking. You don’t need two weeks off, just good calendar math.
🗣 Everyone:
If you’ve built trust at work, it doesn’t hurt to ask for flex time occasionally. A strong track record can unlock more freedom than you think.
Embrace Short Trips
Not every trip needs to be 10 days.
A 48-hour city escape can be exactly the recharge you need. Stay local, go hard, come back refreshed no vacation days required.
Carry Over Time Management Skills to Travel Smarter
Apply your workday productivity tools to travel planning:
- Use Google Calendar to map your itinerary
- Prioritize your top 2–3 non-negotiables
- Batch activities by neighborhood
Efficiency isn’t boring—it’s what gives you more time to explore.
Learn How to Delegate and Automate What You Can
Use tech to your advantage.
Automate your bill pay. Schedule emails. Use “Out of Office” wisely.
If your job allows for it, prep your team or delegate responsibilities before you leave. Fewer texts = more time to enjoy your destination.
Embrace Red-Eye Flights
Late-night flights let you maximize your destination time while minimizing work disruptions.
✈️ Friday night red-eye = Saturday morning arrival
✈️ Sunday night flight = At your desk Monday by 9
Downside: you may arrive tired. So plan for rest, or pack melatonin and noise-cancelling headphones.
Prioritize Time for Yourself
Build in time to recover either on your trip or right when you return.
Don’t fly in at midnight and expect to crush work the next day. Leave room to decompress. That’s how you avoid burnout.
Find Your Support System
Whether it’s friends, family, or your online community surround yourself with people who “get it.”
Having others who support your travel lifestyle keeps you grounded, motivated, and inspired.
Choose Your Destinations Strategically
Match your destination to your energy and logistics.
If you only have 3 days off, skip the 15-hour international haul. Choose somewhere with a direct flight, easy entry requirements, and minimal jet lag.
💡 Pro tip: Save the bucket-list trips for when you can go all in.
Stay Safe and Smart
Especially if you’re traveling solo, safety comes first.
Know where the nearest embassy or hospital is. Keep emergency cash separate. Trust your gut; if something feels off, don’t ignore it.
📱 Bonus: Apps like Smart Traveler (U.S. State Dept) can give you real-time safety alerts.
Say Yes to the Trip
At the end of the day, don’t wait for the perfect time, just start.
Even one weekend getaway can spark something bigger. You don’t have to quit your job to travel the world—but you do have to choose it.
