Last updated on May 24th, 2021 at 03:45 pm

Often people ask me, “how do you travel so much?” And to be honest, there’s no secret formula. I’ve just tried several things over the years, so I’m sharing my experience with you.

*Disclaimer* there’s been so many things out of my control which have led me to travel more. When I took a sabbatical, it lasted longer than I intended. And that’s what initially gave me the opportunity to travel so much.

As much as I wanted to travel, most of this was going with the flow.

If you find a way that resonates with you—you can try that method. You don’t have to try them all. And these aren’t the only ways you can travel either, but I will say it made it more practical for me.

Travel Between Jobs

What ended up being an unintentional sabbatical led me to travel to eight countries within 8 months. I had quit my job in hopes to find a job back home, and I thought the process would be more seamless and easier.

During that time I began freelancing and using it as an opportunity to book trips. I also had saved money, which gave me the funds and the space to go to different countries.

Fast forward to my move to Thailand, I used the time before starting my job to explore around Southeast Asia.

I always use transitions for travel, that way I am not limited by vacation time.

Actually, this led me to become a budget traveler since funds weren’t coming in consistently. I learned how to become frugal and maximize my trips while minimizing my cost.

If you are looking for a career or job change, instead of beginning immediately you can ask for a later start date. This gives you more time to explore without having to cut into your PTO.

Also, I’ve met people who do contract jobs and will work 6 months out of the year, then travel the other 6 months. Contract jobs might also be worth looking into.

Traveling Within A Continent

Rarely do I travel to just one country. More times than not, I’m visiting one country, then going to its neighboring country. This has allowed me to take several trips where I’ve gone to 3-4 countries within a few weeks span.

Especially if you’re in Asia or Europe, flights are cheap in between countries. I booked a flight from Bangkok to Sri Lanka for $70 one way. I’ve flown from Thailand to Cambodia and the round trip was under $100.

I took a trip to west Europe where I spent $621 for transportation—including international travel, lodging, and going to each country.

Before I moved to Thailand, I went backpacking around SE Asia, visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali, and Singapore. All my flights were under $100. That gave me the chance to explore 4 new countries and all within a reasonable budget.

Most of my travels have been to Europe and Asia for this very reason.

A Job With More Vacation Time

When I taught abroad, I had the most vacation time I’ve ever received. 2 weeks off for Christmas, a two-month summer break, a fall break for 3 weeks, and lots of 3 day weekends. (some of this was unpaid, by the way)

Anytime I was on break, I was taking a trip.

It’s so challenging to travel when you’re working at a job that gives you breadcrumbs worth of vacation. If you’re interested in teaching abroad, that can be your gateway to traveling more.

You can also negotiate more vacation time for your job, ask to work remotely, or take unpaid vacation.

Working Remotely

Speaking of working remotely, that’s an excellent way to travel more.

When I was doing freelance work like teaching online, it allowed me to get paid while traveling. And I could pick a schedule that worked for me.

It’s not for the fainthearted though, you have to be disciplined.

Or if you work on a set schedule, you’ll have to adjust to the time difference and make sure that not all your time is spent working. Or what’s the point?

Now, with most jobs going remote, you can do your work from anywhere.

Quick Trips

Quick trips aren’t for everybody. More than likely, you’ll sacrifice sleep, but to me it’s worth it. If you’re wanting to travel to experience a new culture, get away, or see something new—then quick trips can work for you.

You can use long weekends to take trips to neighboring countries. Anything under 5 hours could be worth it. You can also take an additional day off and viola, you have a 4 day vacation.

I took quick trips to Cuba, Canada, Mexico, and PR since they are all within 5 hrs. And if you take quick trips and you want to go back, it’s easy because they’re close by.

I’ve used all these methods to travel more.

I don’t mind visiting one city for a few days and deciding if I want to go back. But maybe you’re someone who enjoys slower travel, then remote work might be better for you. Or maybe you want to do a multi country trip, then teaching abroad might help.

These are just some suggestions.

Traveling the world is doable, and there’s always a way—remember that.

Would you be willing to do any of these methods to travel more? Comment below and let us know.