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How to Travel More: 21 Useful Tips, Even with a Full-Time Job or Tight Budget

• Post author: Rachel Means
• Post last modified: 2024-03-11

Are you tired of scrolling through social media, wondering how to travel more, wishing you were in a dreamy destination that instead just seems out of reach? Don’t worry. You’re not alone in feeling that way. It’s the dark side of social media.

Between demanding work schedules, financial constraints, and other responsibilities, it’s hard to find the time to travel as much as you’d like. We’ve been there; we get it.

But we’re also here to tell you that it’s possible to travel more, even when you have a full-time job or significant debt.

Because we had both and we made it out to the other side, all while taking our first trips around the world.

We’re sharing all our hard-earned tips and strategies to help you prioritize travel, save money , and maximize your time off so you can travel more, too.

Let’s make your travel dreams a reality!

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and associate of other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

How to Travel More: 7 Useful Tips for Everyone

1. make travel a priority.

There are those that say they want to travel more, but when confronted with ways to actually do just that, they’re unwilling to take action.

Taking action can be scary and uncomfortable, but it’s always worth it.

If you really want to know how to travel more, the number one thing you have to do, before anything else, is make travel a priority.

We’re not talking about manifesting your dreams , like it’s going to appear out of nowhere.

No, this is something you have to consciously choose to pursue.

It has to be one of those things that you want badly enough that you’re willing to make some sacrifices to get it.

When push comes to shove, will you choose saving for trip accommodations or buying expensive tech, like air pods or the latest cell phone?

Saving for a month in Australia, or buying a new car you don’t need?

You will always find something else to spend your money on.

Big and small splurges here and there add up though, and they’re often why people struggle to find money for travel.

You have to really want it, to get you through the not-so-fun saving period before you get to the fun traveling part.

Everyone has different priorities, so we’re not going to judge you for your coffee habit if you don’t judge us for our eating dinner out habit.

But something else in your budget will have to shift to accommodate your new travel priority.

2. Work Hard but Play Hard

You’re more likely to get your vacation request approved if you’re a good worker and a positive team member.

Don’t spend all day at work reading Reddit, skating by doing only the bare minimum to not get fired.

No boss will fight to get that worker’s vacation approved with the higher-ups.

Be a good worker and you’re more likely to get that two-week vacation request approved.

Any good company ( that’s an important qualifier ) knows you’ll pick back up doing a good job when you get back.

If you’re stuck in a crappy job for a crappy company, this tip won’t save you. Don’t waste your time giving your best to a company/boss that doesn’t care. Instead, go find a new job right now.

You don’t have to give up a settled life to travel more.

Keep your career, your suburban home, and your kids’ soccer schedule. Life is about balance.

Remember, you’re working hard so that you can play hard later. It’s a balance.

3. Use Those Loyalty Points

Save some serious moolah and go on more trips by using loyalty points to pay for travel expenses.

We’ve added weekends away for free by using loyalty points to pay for a hotel, exchanging reward points for gift cards for dining, and finding free things to do for the weekend.

Loyalty points could pay for hotels, flights, and rental cars outright.

Take advantage of bonus offers to accrue points faster, and wait to use your points during low or shoulder season when rates are lower.

4. Get a Good Travel Credit Card

Another way to travel for free or with perks is to get a good travel rewards credit card.

Done right, this can be the key to how to travel more.

You should always treat these like a debit card. Don’t buy things you can’t afford, and pay it off every month.

But, if you can be responsible, you can make free money by just paying your bills with a credit card and then paying off the card each month.

Travel cards often have perks, too, like paying for your TSA Precheck application or providing airport lounge access so you can eat and drink for free.

5. Use Your Time Off Wisely

Make your Paid Time Off (PTO) go further by using it strategically throughout the year.

Take it with a holiday and use only 4 days instead of 5 for a week off.

Even better: combine a 3 day holiday weekend with a week off and you’ve got a 10 day trip for only 5 PTO days.

(Sat + 7 day week + Sun + holiday Mon = 10 days)

6. Enjoy Weekend Getaways

Use your weekends to explore your hometown or destinations close by.

The beauty of this is you’re so close to these destinations that you can lose the once-in-a-lifetime mindset we often have with travel.

Can’t do everything you want to do in one weekend? No problem. Go back next month or even next weekend.

Choose a destination that’s within a 2-hour drive of your home, so you don’t lose too much time in the car.

Really dive into a new destination without worrying about doing it all.

7. Choose Cheaper Destinations

One of the biggest hurdles to traveling more is money. Your budget can only stretch so far.

If money is the limiting factor, then choose cheaper destinations to visit.

Go on twice as many trips for the same amount of money.

• Central and South America are considerably cheaper than Europe.
• The Caribbean is more affordable than the Mediterranean or the South Pacific.
• The US has a wide variety of landscapes to discover, with a variety of budgets to match.

If you had your heart set on say, Iceland, but your budget just can’t do it this year, find a cheaper alternative.

The Oregon coast, for example, has similar lush green landscapes, rocky beaches, and waterfalls everywhere, and is quite a bit cheaper to visit for US residents.

Use the savings and go on another trip!

How to Travel More with a Full-Time Job

You don’t have to quit your job to travel more, unless you want to. Most people that travel have a regular, 9-to-5 job.

Teachers, plumbers, and bus drivers all take vacations.

If you don’t want to quit your job but you want to travel more, these helpful tips are for you.

8. Let Go of Work Guilt

Your company and coworkers will continue to function without you.

Taking two weeks off to go to Hawaii shouldn’t fill you with guilt and stop you from going. It should fill you with joy!

Everyone deserves time off, regardless of what position you hold in your company. There’s a different problem if you really are indispensable.

Let’s use the “hit by a bus” scenario to explain our point.

If you were hit by a bus and laid up in the hospital for two weeks, your company would have to function without you.

You shouldn’t feel guilty about taking two weeks off to recover from getting hit by a bus.

A vacation is the same thing, except you get to recharge in Hawaii instead of the hospital because you deserve a vacation without having to get hit by a bus first!

Now, we understand 100% about deadlines and managing a team and all that.

Schedule your vacation as far ahead as you can to accommodate your work schedule as best you can, but don’t let work rule your life.

Some work schedules will never have a convenient time to be gone, but you should still take your trip.

Read that “hit by a bus” scenario again.

Your brain and body need a break, and you’ll be far more effective at your job when you come back refreshed and relaxed.

9. Several Short Trips Instead of One Long Trip

Often the biggest hurdle when you have a job is limited paid time off (PTO).

Well, in the US it is.

If you’re stuck with only 10 vacation days per year but you want to travel more, then your best bet is to take several shorter trips rather than one long trip.

Take two vacation days, add that to a three-day holiday weekend, and you’ve got a 5 day long trip.

Even if you’re flying somewhere new, that’s a good amount of time.

Following that pattern, that’s 5 trips per year instead of just one or two.

Now, that’s how to travel more!

Another plus: it’s scientifically proven that your happiness level peaks before you leave for a trip.

Plan more trips, and you’ll get that endorphin hit more often!

10. Be Flexible for Deals

Let the travel deals dictate when and where you go, and you can save a lot on airfare and lodging.

Flights are the most expensive part of traveling, for those that don’t know how to travel hack or how to find cheap flights .

That’s because most people choose a destination, then a month to travel, and then the exact days they want to travel, before even looking at the price of flights or hotels.

If you have your heart set on visiting Rome, Italy, then wait for the flight deal to come to you.

The cost savings could be enough to fund another trip!

Good to Know : International flight deals are typically 3-10 months ahead of travel dates, which gives you ample time to inform your boss.

11. Work Remotely (Temporarily)

The only good thing that came out of 2020 is companies being forced into making remote work possible.

This doesn’t apply to all professions, obviously, but remote work is considerably easier and more mainstream now than it was pre-2020.

There’s a good chance you’ll be allowed to work remotely for a week or even as much as a month at a time, if you just ask.

Some companies are more flexible than others, of course, but it can’t hurt to ask.

Start with a small request. You’d like to work remotely for a week.

Make sure you’re productive for that week. Your boss will be more likely to agree the next time you ask to work remotely again.

Meanwhile, go stay somewhere for a week that makes you happy.

Maybe you need to escape the winter blues and go be somewhere warm.

Work day by the pool or the ocean? Yes, please!

12. House Swap to Work Remotely Somewhere New

If you’re a full-time remote worker, you can work from anywhere with a reliable internet connection.

That doesn’t have to be your home office.

It could be a home office in someone else’s house on the other side of the country.

House swapping and house sitting are fantastic ways to slow travel.

You’re still working like everyone else, but you can explore a new destination slowly, living like a local.

Hit the touristy sights on the weekends, and all the good restaurants during the week.

House swapping gives you more control of dates, whereas house sitting is usually dictated by the homeowner’s dates.

Something to look into if you’ve already got a flexible remote job!

13. Find a Travel Job

If you crave a stable and reliable paycheck from a regular job, but you want to travel more and can’t seem to do that at your current job, look for another job that involves travel.

Recruiters are always looking for people that are willing to travel for work.

Many people don’t want them because they don’t like travel, or traveling for work, or being away from their families too often.

But perhaps that doesn’t apply to you.

Sometimes you can find these types of jobs yourself on job boards, but working with a recruiter is often faster, in this case.

14. Extend Work Trips

Maybe you already travel periodically for work. Piggyback a personal vacation off of a work trip.

Some companies will let you fly in a few days before or fly home a few days after your work trip and still cover the cost of the flight, assuming it’s about the same price.

You’ll be responsible for your own rental car, food, and lodging for your extra days, but it’s a great way to explore the tourist sights in a new city.

We’ve done this quite successfully many times in the past.

I’ve had a week’s worth of training in Pasadena and got permission to adjust my flights so I could take the weekend after for personal sightseeing.

We saw Channel Islands National Park , Joshua Tree National Park , and the San Diego Zoo all in a long weekend.

And my other half worked remote for the week so he could come, too.

Same thing in reverse: he had a work trip to Seattle and I tagged along and worked from the hotel during the day.

We explored downtown Seattle and took a day trip to Whidbey Island on that trip.

How to Travel More When You’re Broke

Travel isn’t a perk exclusively for rich people. Average people in average jobs with average income can travel, too.

Even those living paycheck to paycheck, which is more people than you realize , can find free things to do or inexpensive ways to travel.

We’ve done it as new college grads with six-figure student loan debt.

Responsibly, I might add, by saving for trips ahead of time and not creating credit card debt to go on vacation.

Anyone can learn how to travel more with these tips and tricks to make it easier and cheaper to travel.

15. Re-evaluate Your Expenses

Take a good, hard look at your expenses and ask yourself if they are all really necessary.

They might be, but there’s also a good chance some of them can be reduced by shopping around for a better deal.

If you want to travel more, you have to prioritize it, and if your budget is tight, you have to prioritize saving to allow for travel.

No, we don’t mean live a monk-like lifestyle in extreme deprivation. That’s not going to work.

Take out some little everyday extras to make room for bigger, once-in-a-while extras.

Put another way, as an example, eat out fewer times a week so you can spend that money on a weekend away instead.

16. Have a Savings Plan

A goal is no good without a plan of action to achieve it. If you want to travel more, you have to have a plan to do it.

When finances are tight, you’re often saving little amounts here and there. That’s ok; it all adds up!

But it can be super easy to lose those savings if you don’t keep track of them.

So, have a savings plan and stick to it. Make it automatic if you can.

Schedule an automatic transfer for the day after your paycheck hits the bank.

If you need the visual reminder, a transparent piggy bank at home can be just the right motivation.

Make it difficult to get money out of it, though, so you don’t cheat.

17. Travel Hack EVERYTHING

Travel hacking is your best friend when you want to travel more but you’re low on funds.

First, we want to clarify: travel hacking isn’t bad. It’s not illegal or unethical or some shady business scheme.

It’s the travel world’s equivalent to hard-core couponing , and the people that know how to do it right can save BIG money on travel costs .

An example travel hack for finding accommodations could be to use the Hotwire.com Hot Rate and book a 5 star hotel for a 2 star price.

It could also mean finding a coast-to-coast flight for $98 from a free cheap flights-finding subscription service .

Or, booking a first class flight and paying only the taxes and fees.

Yes, travel hacking makes that possible!

When you know how to stretch your dollar further, you can travel more even when you’re low on funds.

18. Find a Travel Buddy

Splitting costs among a group of friends or with another couple is a great way to make travel cheaper and more affordable.

This could mean sharing a hotel room or splitting the cost of an Airbnb, or it could be one person paying for gas on a road trip and the other paying for food.

Always make it clear before you go anywhere or book anything how you plan to split up costs.

19. Start a Side Gig

Whether you call it a side gig, side hustle, or part time job, it’s never a bad idea to have some extra income.

A word of caution though: don’t let your side hustle become a stressful endeavor. It shouldn’t make your life worse.

It’s just something extra, maybe even temporary, to help you earn more to travel more.

This could be a part time job, like delivering pizzas on the weekends or driving for Uber.

It could also be a side hustle, like flipping furniture for a profit.

Important Distinction : Side gigs don’t pay your bills; they’re extra money. If you have three part time jobs to pay your bills, none of those are side hustles because they’re covering your main expenses, not your secondary (fun) expenses.

20. Ask for a Raise or More PTO

This tactic for how to travel more has a couple of requirements:

• You can’t be a terrible employee, and
• Your boss has to be able to grant these things.

Stay positive and respectful and put together a case for why you deserve a raise.

Sometimes a boss just needs a justification that they can copy/paste into a form to send up the line to get approved.

Make it easy for them.

Most companies know that it’s cheaper to give an employee a raise than it is to train a new one.

I’ve found in the US that they’re much more willing to give you a raise than they are to give you more PTO, which makes no financial sense at all, but here we are.

21. Find a Better Job

We know that finding another job isn’t always as easy as it seems, but in most cases it’s just a matter of taking action.

If your 9-to-5 is draining you of all energy and barely covering your bills, you need a new job.

Start simple and look local. There’s always something.

Pizza delivery drivers, school bus drivers, and childcare workers are always in demand, whether the economy is hot or not.

These might not be glamorous jobs, but they’ll allow you to quit your soul-sucking job right away and make some money while you find a better replacement.

Learning How to Travel More is Easy!

Deciding to travel more is an important first step into a bigger, brighter world. With the helpful tips above and a little time and patience, you’ll figure out how to travel more on your budget.

Now that you know how to travel more, get out there and take action! Then tag us on Instagram and share where you went!

More Travel Ideas

• Incredible 7 Day Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary
• Best 1 Week Eastern US Road Trip Itinerary
• 4 European Countries in 12 Days: Epic Central Europe Itinerary

More Travel Logistics Resources

• How to Travel More with a Full-Time Job or on a Budget {21 Useful Tips!}
• 10 Essential Travel Items for First-time Fliers
• How to Get from BWI airport to downtown Washington, DC
• 35 Best Staycation Ideas for Relaxing on a Budget
• Save $$$ with an America the Beautiful National Park Pass
• How to Get to St John, USVI in 3 Easy Steps
• St John Transportation: Getting Around Without a Car
• 9 Ways for Getting Around Seattle – Without a Car!
• How to Get to Whidbey Island from Seattle {Quick + Easy!}
• Cheap, Fast Travel from Munich to Zurich {Not What You Think!}
• How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich
• Review of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) {Flight Deals Delivered to Your Inbox}
• Can I Bring Scissors in My Carry-on Bag?
• How to Bring Hiking Poles on a Plane {Tips + TSA Rules}

Happy travels!

About the Author : Rachel Means

With six-figure student loan debt and only 10 PTO days per year, Rachel started traveling the world. A decade later, she’s paid off her loans, changed careers, and been to 36 US states and 14 countries. She’s an expert at planning and budgeting for travel and loves to help others do it, too! Read her full story here.

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22 Ways to Travel More—Even On a Small Budget

Jessica Spiegel

September 19, 2023

There are plenty of people who wish they could travel more, and dozens of reasons why those same people may think that’s an unachievable goal. The phrase, “I’d like to travel more” is very often followed by, “but…”

Sure, some trips may be on the once-in-a-lifetime end of the scale, and if you’re struggling to pay bills, travel may not be in your immediate future. But if you’re looking to maximize the amount of travel you can do with limited vacation time, a busy schedule, or a tight budget , you’re in luck. We’re living in the golden age of travel, and exploring the world has never been easier, more accessible, or cheaper.

Here are 22 ways to get more travel in your life. 

1. Take shorter trips more often. 

When you have a limited number of vacation days from your job, using them all at once means you’ll spend the rest of the year waiting for new vacation days to kick in. Using a few here and there means you’re traveling more often throughout the year. And when international flights often cost less than traveling across the US (like NYC nonstop to Madrid for $275 roundtrip, or Los Angeles to Shanghai for $313 roundtrip), it’s easier to justify a week-long trip to Asia or a weekend jaunt to Europe. 

2. Take advantage of long weekends and holidays... 

This tactic has drawn criticism—and for good reason. In order to  maximize your PTO using this  specific plan, you need at least 40 days of PTO and the company you work for must observe federal holidays. So maybe you can’t do this exact plan, but by scheduling even one or two of your trips around holidays, you can get some bonus days to extend what you already have. And if you’re not big on a major holiday that gives you extra time off at work (such as Christmas or New Year’s), use that opportunity to take a trip. You can also maximize your time in the destination by departing for your trip after work and returning late in the evening the day before you’re due back in the office. 

For example, by taking off May 28–31, four days of vacation becomes nine days off work, given the weekends and Memorial Day. Rather than a long weekend, you’d then have plenty of time to head for, say, Europe. 

Speaking of weekends, don’t underestimate the power of a good weekend trip! Often, it requires little to no PTO, and as  our research has shown us , having further-out trips planned produces the most joy. More, shorter trips planned throughout the year = more happiness.

Note that flight and accommodation costs are known to spike around the holidays, so unfortunately this is not going to be the best way to help you  travel more on a budget . 

3. ...And shoulder seasons...

Shoulder season —the period between peak season and off season—is the perfect storm of good prices, decent weather, and slightly smaller crowds. Every part of the world has its own shoulder seasons, generally based on weather. In many regions, though, spring (roughly March–April) and autumn (roughly September–October) are considered shoulder seasons. Cut down on airfare, accommodations, and activities during these times, and you could put the savings toward another shoulder-season (or even peak-season) trip. 

4. ...And 2-for-1 tickets and long layovers.

Our job isn’t to make you love  layovers , but as they are sometimes inevitable, we’re here to show you how to use them to your advantage. Picture it like a whole other city that you get to explore on the way to your final destination. Nowadays, airlines have built itineraries for the sole purpose of enabling travelers to see a new city on the way, with  2-in-1 tickets and  stopovers . We send quite a few of these deals to our members; two of the most recent include LAX to Rio de Janeiro with a stop in Lima, and Detroit, NYC, or Baltimore to tons of European cities with a stop in Iceland. 

Once you see that layovers don’t  have  to be a burden, you open up a whole new world of possibilities. And who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with that layover destination, and it will become your next final destination.

5. Go where—and when—the deals dictate. 

Most people decide where they want to go, pick their dates, and then look for flights. We recommend flipping that script. If you’re open to a range of destinations, keep an eye out for deals and book when you see something you like. Having some wiggle room around dates can also help; sometimes the price can be significantly lower if you change your dates even by a single day. By being flexible, you can save big.

>> Read our guide to using the Google Flights Explore map to find the cheapest place to go. 

6. Prioritize inexpensive destinations. 

We’ve all got those lists of places we’ve dreamed of going for ages, but those aren’t necessarily budget-friendly destinations. If money is what’s holding you back from more trips, help each dollar go farther by heading to places that are cheaper to travel in. Places in South America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe, for example, tend to be on the less expensive end of the spectrum. 

>> Check out our list of the world’s cheapest destinations

7. Work remotely when possible. 

You don’t have to turn into a digital nomad in order to work remotely. Find out whether your company would be amenable to the idea and, if they’re open to it, give it a test run or two to prove your efficiency. The ability to work remotely, even occasionally or for part of your trip, can help you stretch out limited vacation days. Yes, you’d be working part of the day, but when you turn off your computer you’re still on vacation. 

Companies like Remote Year offer programs, spanning from one month to a year, that fix you up with accommodations, professional coworking spaces, and support to make your remote work experience a little easier. 

>> Read our guide to combining work and travel .

8. Examine your prioritizes and eliminate expenses. 

This takes a little soul-searching and a lot of honesty, but it can be worth it. Consider the things you spend your disposable income on, and then examine whether those expenses reflect how important each thing is to you. Maybe you can swap your daily coffee shop run for coffee you make at home. You might be able to do more second-hand shopping, stretch out the time between salon visits, or cut down on ordering takeout. And perhaps you don’t really need Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO. Cutting out even $80-$100 per month could quickly add up to an extra trip. 

9. Stay focused on goals. 

Once you’ve decided you’re going to travel more, it’s important to reinforce your commitment to that goal—especially if it requires changes to your routine. Think of any potential expenses in travel terms (this season’s must-have boots might be another night in a budget hotel, for instance). It may even help to put out visual reminders, like a guidebook or photo of the place you’re planning to visit, so you don’t lose sight of how sacrifices you’re making now will pay off later.

10. Try house sitting or home exchanges. 

While house sitting (or pet sitting) means someone else’s travel schedule is dictating when and where you go, it also means you’re not paying for accommodation when you get there. And, if you own your home, doing a home exchange can be a fun way to explore another place on a budget and get someone to take care of your house while you’re gone. Sites like Trusted Housesitters connect homeowners and house and pet sitters. (Going members save on a Trusted Housesitters membership; log into Going and head to our Membership Perks page to redeem.)

11. List your own place when you’re away.

Anytime you’re out of town, listing your home on a home sharing site like Airbnb means you could make money while you’re traveling. While it can be a big undertaking to make sure you and your home are equipped for guests, it could pay off. More money in your account means more trips in the future, and more opportunity to earn while you’re away, so it’s a self-perpetuating cycle.

12. Get a side gig.

If you’ve got talents beyond what you do from 9-to-5—or if the skills you use in your day job are in demand on the freelance market—consider taking on some extra work to fill your travel fund. The ever expanding gig economy means there are dozens of options, such as selling handicrafts (like woodworking or sewing), driving for a ride-sharing company, walking dogs, tutoring, or even running errands or being a virtual assistant. 

13. Use a budgeting app to save. 

Financial apps can help you with just about any budgeting challenge. You Need a Budget helps you figure out how much you can spend on travel, while Acorns rounds up your purchases so you can save with minimal effort. If setting aside money for a trip feels like too much of an abstract concept, there’s an app for that, too. Albert lets you move money into a specific budget when you’re saving so you can see your money grow in a more tangible fashion.

14. Find a travel buddy or group... 

When you’re not comfortable traveling alone, you’ve got options. Maybe your book group wants to plan a trip to the setting of a favorite novel, or your best friend is interested in the same trip you’ve been planning. There are lots of group tours that offer built in companionship as well. Companies like Intrepid, Contiki, and Globus offer tours based on age group, travel, style, or whatever you’re into, from river cruises to long-distance biking. 

>> Get tips for traveling with friends

15. ...Or go solo. 

If your friends and family aren’t into traveling and you don’t want to do a group tour, you still don’t have to turn into a homebody. There are lots of resources to make solo travel easier, from the above-mentioned tours and cruise lines (many of which don’t charge an extra fee for a single room) to virtual communities of other solo travelers sharing tips.

>> Check out some tips for solo travel from our Travel Community. 

16. Negotiate for more vacation days. 

Just because your company offers a certain number of vacation days doesn’t mean that’s set in stone. You may be able to get a few extra days, or work out a flex-time arrangement so that when you work overtime you can “bank” some of those hours to take additional days off. The best times to ask: when negotiating a new job, receiving a promotion, or during your annual review. 

>> Get tips for negotiating more vacation time here.  

17. Extend work trips. 

If you’re fortunate enough to travel for work even occasionally, turn your business obligation into a fun experience by adding a day or two to your trip after you’re done with work. Even if it’s not a place you’ve always wanted to visit, part of the fun is discovering what to do there—or figuring out what side trips you can take. Depending on where you’re going, you may be able to easily and cheaply hop from your business trip destination to another spot with more personal appeal. 

>> Read our tips for getting around cheaply in Europe . 

18. Be sure your credit card earns rewards. 

Credit card rewards can go a long way toward enriching your travel budget, so long as you don’t carry a balance. If you pay off your credit card bill each month, look into a card that offers frequent flyer miles, hotel points, or the ability to “erase” travel expenses. Then, everything from groceries to gas to a doctor’s visit can help offset the cost of your next trip; once you’ve racked up enough points, you can use those to pay for part or all of your next flight, so it’s basically nothing out of your pocket. 

>> Here’s how to  get started with points and miles if you’re new to the game.

19. Explore close to home. 

No matter where you live, there are trips you could take from home, whether it’s for a weekend or just an afternoon. Pack a picnic and go for a scenic hike with your family. Go to a museum or gallery. Check out tours on Viator or Airbnb to find new things to do in your city. If you approach your own backyard with the same curiosity as a foreign place, you don’t even have to get on a plane to have an adventure. 

20. Lose the “once-in-a-lifetime” mindset. 

It’s worth repeating. We’re in the golden age of travel, and international flights can often be had for just a few hundred dollars. Yet, people still often put off their dream trips because they want to wait until they can “do it right”—whether than means splashing out on a lavish hotel or going for more than two weeks. But since they can’t “do it right” at the moment, they don’t end up doing it at all. Forget about doing it right and focus on doing it now ; it may not be the exact dream trip you envisioned, but it may turn out to be exactly what you wanted. 

21. Change how you define “travel.” 

Using every second of your allotted two-week vacation from work in one fell swoop to take an epic overseas adventure is fantastic, but if that’s the only thing you consider “traveling” then you’re only going to get one of those per year. When the word “travel” encompasses being anywhere that’s not home for any length of time, suddenly a world of possibilities opens up.

22. Join Going.

We search dozens of websites, airlines, and OTAs to find the best deals and and when we find a cheap flight departing from you home airport, we send an email with everything you need to know to book the deal. Our members save an average of $550 per ticket with deals like $98 roundtrip to Hawaii, $486 roundtrip to Tahiti, and $270 roundtrip to Barcelona. 

We search dozens of flight booking sites every day, so you don't have to. Our members save an average of $550 per ticket off average prices.   

Freelance Writer

Published September 19, 2023

Last updated March 26, 2024

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How to Travel More: Practical Tips to Afford More Travel

Travel writer Eugene Fodor said that you don’t have to be rich to travel well, and he was right. My husband and I are far from wealthy, but I believe we travel well. Here are my best tips outlining how to travel more .

Key takeaways

• Decide whether frequent travel or luxury travel is more important to you and find your sweet spot within your budget.
• You can trim discretionary spending, like eating out less or buying secondhand clothing, to make more room for travel in your budget.
• Intentionally set aside money each month for travel by cutting costs in other areas and transferring the savings to a separate account.
• Use rewards credit cards wisely for regular expenses to earn points for travel without going into debt.
• Keep an eye out for airfare deals, consider driving to your destination, and look for free activities at your destination to save money.

For us, travel is a priority. After giving to our church, saving for retirement, and paying for necessities and our regular bills, travel is where our disposable income goes first. That is our choice.

Unfortunately, I have found that a lot of people make a lot of assumptions about the finances of others…even if they have no first-hand knowledge of the other person’s finances.

Just because a person travels a lot doesn’t mean that they are neglecting other financial responsibilities or making poor financial choices.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of comments or questions like ”Maybe if you didn’t travel so much you could do X, Y, or Z?” Yup. Me too.

Oh well. That’s just the way life is sometimes. People butt into other people’s business. I can either let it bother me or shake it off. I choose to shake it off.

If you want to travel more you can make it happen.  You may not be able to travel as much as we do, or you may be able to travel more.

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  See disclaimer.  

Evaluate your travel priorities

Think about how you want to travel.

• Is it more important for you to travel more frequently or experience more comfort/luxury on the trips you take, staying in only the best places?
• For example, do you want to get to and explore your destination as cheaply as possible?
• Or is it more important for you to be comfortable (think long-haul flights in economy class rather than in lie-flat business class or hostel versus a five-star hotel)?

Find your sweet spot. If for you that’s traveling as cheaply as humanly possible, finding the best deal every time, go for it. Or if you can do luxury travel all the time, great! You do you.

Read More → Planning a Trip Budget That Works for You

We fall somewhere in the middle of the road…many of you likely will also. We want to travel as much as our paid time off from work will allow, but I’m not into bare-bones-shoestring-budget travel.

I’m a grown woman…a bunk in a hostel room that sleeps eight other people is not for me. But I am perfectly happy staying at an affordable major chain hotel with a free breakfast.

Reduce unnecessary personal spending

If more travel is a priority for you, I think the easiest way to make more room in your budget is by cutting down on your discretionary spending. Here are some of the ways we’ve made more room for travel in our budget:

• We use a budget cell phone carrier.
• We eat out only once or twice a month.
• We go to the movies only a few times a year.
• I buy secondhand clothing as much as possible and also buy off clearance racks. Hubby loves to buy clothes at Costco.
• We own used cars and drive them until we almost literally can’t drive them anymore.
• Anything that can be re-used or repaired is, rather than buying new things.

Prioritize saving for travel

This goes hand-in-hand with the point above. Once you’ve found some areas in your budget to cut, move that money out of your checking account (where it’s easy to spend) and into a separate savings account at the end of each month.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly it starts to accumulate…and that works as added motivation to continue saving until you have enough money for your trip!

And just to clarify, when I say prioritize saving for travel, I don’t mean over saving for retirement, giving to charity or your church, or paying your bills. It makes no sense to mortgage your future for pleasure today.

I do not subscribe to the philosophy I see from some travel influencers or the occasional travel blogger that goes something like this: “Don’t think about it, just book that trip! You won’t regret it.”

If you truly can’t afford it, it doesn’t matter if you will regret it or not; it’s irresponsible to go into debt to travel.

What I’m talking about here is making a concerted effort to intentionally set aside money each month for travel. With a budget plan in place to save for travel, you’re less likely to find yourself spending money without thinking about it.

Take advantage of travel hacking

By travel hacking, I mean using rewards credit cards that earn points that can be used for travel. They might be flexible points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards points) or you might earn miles/points with a specific airline or hotel chain (such as United Mileage Plus or Marriott Bonvoy).

Again, let me clarify that I do not advocate going into debt for travel. We use travel credit cards for all the regular spending we used to put on our debit card: groceries, gas, utilities, etc.

If you carry a balance on one of these credit cards, you’ve effectively eliminated any cost savings from earning the points and redeeming them for free flights or hotel rooms.

We started using travel rewards credit cards only seven years ago and have already booked nearly free airfare for several trips (saving us literally thousands of dollars) in addition to earning a fairly large supply of points we can use for several free nights in hotels.

If you’re at all interested in getting into the points and miles game, I highly recommend this beginner’s guide from The Points Guy.

Watch out for great deals on airfare

I understand that not everyone wants to get into travel hacking. It does require some work and advanced planning plus a lot of organization to keep track of all your cards and points.

Keep an eye out for great deals on airfare is something anyone can easily do. We found a good deal on round-trip airfare for a week in Paris just by stalking Skyscanner and Google Flights . I don’t usually have time for that though so I rely on a couple of other services to help me find deals.

Read More → How to Use Google Flights to Save Money

PRO TIP: If you have flexible travel dates you need to check out Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). You get amazing flight deals sent straight to your inbox with instructions on how to book directly with the airlines. Check out Going here. Going is my favorite way to find great travel deals. 

Another good free option for airfare deals is Secret Flying. I get more frequent alerts from Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), but Secret Flying is free so what have you got to lose?

For a full discussion on this topic, see my article on how to fly for less.

Drive to your destination rather than fly

One of my favorite ways to travel more is to drive to my destination rather than fly if possible. I think the old-fashioned road trip is a great way to see the United States.

If you live very near a major hub airport with frequent non-stop flights to top destinations, it may make more sense to fly for the time savings even if it’s more expensive. We have to drive 2 ½ hours to get to a major hub airport, so for us, driving is a great option for any destination we can get to in 8–9 hours or less.

There are additional benefits to driving:

• You don’t have to find a ride to the airport, pay for Uber/Lyft, or pay to park your car.
• You don’t have to worry about packing light . If I can fit it in the car, it goes.
• You can pack and take food with you to cut down further on your travel expenses.
• No dealing with airport security.
• No dealing with flight delays or cancellations.
• You can bring back more souvenirs! (Well, there go the savings from packing food instead of eating out.)

Cook your own meals while you travel

My husband has celiac disease, which means he has to eat gluten-free. It can make eating out a challenge, particularly in an unfamiliar city.

When traveling for more than a few days we prefer to find accommodations with a full kitchen and eat most of our meals in. We’ll usually do one restaurant meal a day (occasionally two) when we travel and buy the rest of our food at a local grocery store. It’s safer for hubby and it saves us quite a bit of money.

Split the cost of accommodations with your travel companions

For our family Christmas trips to Disney World, we like to rent a vacation home through Vrbo and split the cost three ways. For our last big, family trip, I was able to book us a six-bedroom, four-bathroom home for 10 nights…each family paid only $79 per night…over Christmas.

A standard room at a Disney Value Resort would have cost us easily more than double that (not including taxes and the nightly parking fee), and we would be eating all of our meals out. By sharing a vacation rental home, we were able to extend our stay and spend more of our travel budget on the things we were there to experience: the theme parks.

Read More → Is it Worth it to Use Booking.com?

Take advantage of “off-season” travel

As much as we love traveling over Christmas (it’s the one time of year my entire family can reliably get time off from work), travel over major holidays can be quite a bit more expensive.

Hubby and I love traveling in May as much as possible. The weather is usually agreeable, but the crowds of tourists haven’t yet reached unmanageable levels.

If you’re able to travel during your destination’s low season or even shoulder season, you’ll likely be able to find better deals on airfare, accommodations, and even possibly event or attraction tickets.

Take short trips or weekend breaks close to home

One of the things hubby and I want to do more of is weekend or long weekend trips within a few hours’ drive of our home. You can see and do a lot in one weekend, especially if you don’t have to spend a lot of time getting there. Learn more about maximizing your weekend getaways .

Or try planning a fun staycation at home .

If we watch our spending (and compare hotel prices), we can do three to five weekend getaways for what we’d normally spend for a one-week trip to Europe…with the added bonus of not having to worry about rationing our vacation time.

Explore your destination for free

One of the best ways to save money on travel is to look for free things to do at your destination. Free museum days, free national parks, free walking tours, etc. are all great ways to see more of the world and save money.

Most major cities (and small towns for that matter) have many things that are available for travelers to do for free. I love scoping out a new place through the free activities and attractions.

Final thoughts on traveling more often

By putting just a few money-saving practices in place you can travel more starting now. Watching for deals on airfare or even driving to your destination, making some cuts to your personal budget, and traveling during low or shoulder season are all great ways that you can afford more travel.

Do you have any great tips for affording more travel?

More articles to help you travel more

• Creating a travel budget that works for you
• Flying for less: you can save money on your flights
• How to use Google flights to save money
• The best travel planning resources
• Scott’s cheap flights (now Going) review

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Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow .

14 Comments

These tips are all great advice to travel more. I think the best tip is to change your priorities! If you want to travel more, you change your priorities to make it happen.

Thanks so much for reading!

I love all your tips, especially the ones about travel hacking that tend to be overlooked by people. I am flying to Asia in Dec on points and it’s saves me so much! It’s easy too!

Thanks, Ann. It really has allowed us to do more than we’d be able to just with cash.

This resonates so much with me! I so agree with being prudent with your finances and having a financial plan to travel rather than just doing it since it’s the ‘in’ thing.

Yes! Have fun and travel, but also be a responsible adult. Agreed!

I love these tips! I don’t eat out very often and don’t have things like cable so I can spend more on traveling because I value traveling more than TV!

Thank you! Yes, we love having the freedom to go almost anywhere that our paid time off will allow, and it’s so much more achievable than some people think.

Great tips! I couldn’t agree more. I’ve started staying at Airbnbs instead of hostels or hotels just so I can more comfortably cook my own meals while on vacation. It saves TONS of money but it’s also a way to experience a more local side of your destination (I always try to find the nearest market!)

Thanks so much! Yes, we really like doing apartment rentals when we can. And I do try to also be aware of where we’re traveling so that using Vrbo/Airbnb doesn’t hurt the local economy or residents, so for example we’re planning to stay in a hotel when we go to Venice in a few years.

Great advice! While travel is amazing, I definitely agree with your point not to go into debt or neglect other important things like saving for retirement to travel. Great points on how to make easy everyday changes to save money towards travel. It seems like there are lots of great travel credit cards, that’s something I need to look into!

Thank you! Yes, definitely look into the cards. We wouldn’t be able to afford our upcoming trip to New Zealand without our Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Very sensible advice! Thanks for writing this. I have reduced unnecessary spending already and it works because I managed to book an extra trip this year. I’m sharing this article 🙂

That’s wonderful! Thanks so much for reading and enjoy your trip!

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Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

My Best 61 Travel Tips to Make You the World’s Savviest Traveler

Most people aren’t born savvy travelers. It’s something that only comes with on-the-road experience. Travel savviness is a process born of missed buses, foolish behavior, cultural unawareness, and countless tiny errors. Then, one day, you begin to seamlessly move through airports and integrate yourself into new cultures like a fish to water.

In the beginning, you just make a lot of travel mistakes.

But I want to help speed up the process and help you avoid my mistakes ( and I often make a lot of them ), so I put together this giant list of my best travel tips that cover everything under the sun to help you reach your full travel ninja potential.

I’ve learned these tips over the last sixteen years being a nomad.

These tips for traveling will have you saving money, sleeping better, getting off the beaten path more, meeting locals, and just being a better traveler.

So, without further ado, here are the best 61 travel tips in the world:

1. Always pack a towel. It’s the key to successful galactic hitchhiking – and plain common sense. You never know when you will need it, whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off after a shower. While many hostels offer towels, you never know if they will or not, and carrying a small towel won’t add that much weight to your bag.

Make sure it’s a lightweight, quick-drying towel since regular towels are too bulky and heavy (and they take a long time to dry). Dry Fox travel towels are my favorite (use the code “nomadicmatt” for 15% off your purchase)!

My favorite bag is the Flash Pack from REI . Other companies offering high-quality bags are Osprey, Nomatic, and MEC (for Canadians).

This article has more tips on finding the best travel backpack for your needs.

The same rule applies to suitcases. Don’t take a huge suitcase because they are a pain in the butt to lug around, especially if you’re traveling long term (short term, not so much). I like Level 8 suitcases. They are durable, quite spacious, nicely designed, and well-priced (luggage can be pretty damn expensive). Plus, they have a TSA lock built into the zipper. You can click here to learn more and buy one .

I also recommend packing cubes , which are essential if you’re going to be living out of a backpack for a few weeks (or months), or you just want to keep your suitcase better organized. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store items big and small. They’re great for making it easy to find everything in your backpack or suitcase.

3. Pack light. Write down a list of essentials, cut it in half, and then only pack that! Plus, since you bought a small backpack like I said above, you won’t have much room for extra stuff anyways! Take half the clothes you think you will need…you won’t need as much as you think. It’s OK to wear the same t-shirt a few days in a row.

I love Unbound Merino , as their travel clothing can be worn daily for weeks without getting smelly. They are super light and they look sylish too. I really love the material, they’re comfortable, they hardly ever need a wash, and they last forever!

Click here for more packing tips .

4. But take extra socks. You’ll lose a bunch to laundry gremlins, wear and tear, and hiking so packing extra will come in handy. Take a few more than you need. Trust me on this. Nothing beats a fresh pair of socks!

Here’s a list of all my best hostels around the world . If you’re planning on backpacking Europe , it’s worth getting HostelPass , a card that gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money, and they’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off.

6. Take an extra bank card and credit card with you Disasters happen and things get stolen or compromised. I once had a card duplicated and a freeze put on it. I couldn’t use it for the rest of my trip. I was very happy I had a backup. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere new without access to your funds. This happened to a friend once and they had to borrow money for me for weeks while they waited for their new card to arrive.

Here are some helpful articles on banking:

• How to Avoid Banking Fees While Traveling
• 22 Ways to Cut Your Expenses and Have Money for Travel
• How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card

7. Make sure to use no-fee bank cards. Don’t give banks your hard-earned money. Keep that for yourself and spend it on your travels. Get a credit card and debit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee or an ATM fee. Over the course of a long trip, the few dollars they take every time will really add up!

Here’s an article that will tell you how to do that.

8. Don’t fly direct. When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper to fly in to airports close to your final destination, and then take a train, bus, or budget airline to where you need to go.

To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination.

My favorite flight search engine is Skyscanner . This is my go-to website for finding cheap flights. It searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss.

Here are some more tips on finding cheap flights!

Here are some helpful articles on solo travel:

• Why I Travel Alone
• The Joy of Solo Travel
• Travel: The Ultimate Personal Development Tool
• How to Overcome Being Alone
• Reading People: One Skill Travel Has Taught Me

10. Always visit the local tourism information center. This is probably one of the most underused travel tips in the world. Tourism information centers know about everything going on in town. They can point you to free activities, special events happening during your stay, and everything in between. They even offer discounts on attractions and transportation. It is their job to help you experience the destination better. It’s amazing how many travelers skip this when they are visiting somewhere but, as a savvy traveler, you know to use this resource!

11. Take free walking tours. Besides being free, these tours will give you a good orientation and background of the city you are visiting. I love, love, love taking walking tours when I travel. You pass the time, you get to pepper the guide with questions, and you get to learn so much about where you are. Here are some of my favorite walking tour companies around the world:

• The Best Walking Tours in New York City
• The Best Walking Tours in London
• The Best Walking Tours in Paris
• The Best Walking Tours in Berlin
• The Best Walking Tours in Amsterdam

And while free walking tours are great, sometimes it’s worth it to take a paid walking tour if you’d like to dig deeper into a particular aspect of the destination. Walks is one of my favorite paid walking tour companies, offering in-depth history and cultural tours in cities around the world (especially Europe). Its small-group tours also tend to offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access you can’t get elsewhere.

For fellow foodies, Devour Food Tours has all kinds of amazing food tours around Europe.

12. Don’t be afraid to use a map. Looking like a tourist isn’t as bad as getting really lost and ending up in the wrong neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to use a map or ask for directions and look like a tourist. After all, you are one!

13. But don’t be afraid to get purposefully lost. Wandering aimlessly through a new city is a good way to get to know it, get off the beaten path, and away from the tourists. You might be surprised by the hidden gems you find. I like to wander around and try to find my way without using Google Maps. Travel is the art of discovery and you never know what cool little spot you’ll come across.

14. Ask hostel staff for information — even when you aren’t staying there. Hostel staff deal with budget travelers all day, every day. They know exactly where to go for cheap meals and attractions. They also tend to be locals so they know the city very well. Ask them for all sorts of information. Even if you aren’t staying in one, just pop in and ask for help. They’ll usually give it.

15. Sign up for flight deals. When it comes to travel, your flight(s) will likely be your biggest expense. Save money by signing up for flight deal websites. You’ll get epic flight deals straight to your inbox, saving you time and money. Also be sure to sign up for airline newsletters, since that is where they will announce their sales first. The best websites for finding travel deals are:

• Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – The BEST for upcoming US flight deals.
• The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
• Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
• Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.

16. Don’t buy a money belt — they’re stupid. Thieves know they exist and being seen with one basically shouts, “Look at me, I’m a tourist with money! Rip me off!” The more you can blend in and act like a local, the easier it will be to get deals and avoid touts. If you’re worried about pickpockets, keep a better eye on your stuff!

17. When you go out, take only what you need. Limit the amount of cash and bank cards you carry with you when you go out, so if something does happen, you can easily recover. Never take more than one credit card or ATM card with you. My rule for cash is to limit what I carry to $50 USD.

18. Always carry a lock. Carry a small combination lock with you when you travel. They come in handy, especially when you stay in dorms. Most hostels use lockers, so budget travelers need to provide their own travel lock to keep stuff secured. While you can usually rent or buy them at hostels, it’s much cheaper just to buy one before you go. (Just don’t use one with keys because if you lose the keys, you’re screwed!)

19. Make extra copies of your passport and important documents. Don’t forget to e-mail a copy to yourself too. You never know when you might need to have some sort of documentation with you and might not want to carry your original. Additionally, if your passport gets stolen having a copy will come in handy for your police report.

20. Learn basic phrases in the native language of your destination. The locals will appreciate it and it will make your interactions easier. You don’t need to master the language but learning a few things like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you!”, “Where’s the bathroom?” will go a long way to endearing yourself with the locals. They’ll like that you tried.

Here are some tips on how to learn a language .

Here are some posts that highlight my favorite reads:

• 13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
• The Best Travel Books
• 12 Books to Take You Around the World

22. Don’t be ashamed to walk into a Starbucks or McDonald’s. Sometimes familiarity is comforting and both places have free wifi and public restrooms you can use. (Just don’t eat the food at McDonald’s! That shit is gross and unhealthy for you! You can get it back home!). Libraries and most modern coffee shops also have free Wi-Fi too.

23. Always get behind business travelers when in security lines. They move fast since they are usually in a rush and travel light. They know the drill. Line up behind them as much as possible. You’ll speed through the line!

24. Never get behind families in airport security. They take forever. It’s not their fault. They just have a lot of stuff because of the kids. Try to avoid getting in lines with lots of kids. It’s going to take a while.

25. When you check in to the hotel, don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade. They have a lot of flexibility when it comes to assigning upgrades at check-in. It never hurts to ask. Often times they can accommodate you if the hotel isn’t full. Just be super nice!

Note: If you stay in hotels frequently (or want to), it might be worth it to get a hotel credit card . You can earn points on your everyday spending at home and convert those points into free stays. The best cards come with status, making upgrades more likely too!

26. Write down your experiences. Even in this hyper-technological age, I think everyone needs to write more during their travels so they have something to look back on. I never leave home without a journal. Not only do I use them for work (I’m constantly taking notes and writing down ideas) but I also use them to keep track of my travels.

Simple travel journals work great for journaling during your trip as well as for writing down logistical information like directions, contact information, and language tips.

If you want a travel journal that isn’t just blank pages but rather has space for itinerary planning, places to jot notes in the local language, inspirational quotes, and more, grab our new travel journal. It was designed specifically with travelers in mind, so you can take notes as well as write down stories and reflections during your travels.

27. Lunchtime is the best time to visit historical sites. Be a contrarian. You’ll have fewer crowds getting in your way as big tour buses, groups, and most travelers head to lunch. It’s always best to visit an attraction super early, late, or when people eat. You’ll have even the most popular places to yourself!

28. Never eat in a touristy area or near a tourist attraction. As a general rule, I walk five blocks in either direction before I find a place to eat. The closer you are to tourist attractions the more you are going to pay and the worse the food (and service). Use websites like Yelp , Google Maps , or Open Rice to find some delicious and popular restaurants around you.

Additionally, never eat anywhere the menu is in like 6 languages! That means the restaurant is just for tourists!

29. Locals don’t eat out every night and neither should you. Go grocery shopping. You can learn a lot about locals’ diets by seeing the type of food they buy. Plus, it will save you a lot of money. You won’t regret it. Cook your food, save money, and surprise yourself!

30. Eat at expensive restaurants during lunch. Most expensive restaurants offer lunch specials featuring the same food they would serve for dinner but for a fraction of the cost! That’s the best time to eat out when you travel.

I share more tips on how to eat cheaply around the world here.

31. Pack a headlamp. This is a handy tool for both backpackers and anyone looking to do any hiking or camping. If you’re going to be staying in a hostel, having a headlamp is helpful when you need to check in or out but don’t want to disturb your fellow travelers by turning on the lights. They’re also helpful in emergencies.

32. Carry a basic first-aid kit. Accidents happen, so be prepared. I always take band-aids, antibacterial cream, and ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. You never know when you’re going to need it and you can’t always get it when you travel.

You can either assemble a first aid kit yourself ( here are some tips for doing so ), or purchase a pre-made kit online .

33. Don’t believe the cheap flight myths. Don’t drive yourself too crazy trying to get the absolute cheapest fare. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights, but there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick. It’s not cheaper to book on a particular day of the week, or if you search in an incognito window.

Spending five hours to try to save $10 will cause you a lot of stress. Once you find a flight deal that you’re happy with, book right away, as airfares change by the minute. Remember, you usually have a 24-hour window to cancel in case you need to.

Here are some article on how to save money on flights:

• 5 Steps to Booking a Cheap Flight Online
• How to Always Find a Cheap Flight
• Where I Find the Best Travel Deals

34. Use Meetup, the sharing economy, and hospitality websites to meet locals. These websites will help you get an insider’s perspective on your destination by connecting you with locals in the places you visit. The sharing economy has changed the way people travel allowing you to meet locals, get off the tourist travel, and save mega money! It’s a triple win – and I use these resources all the time when I travel.

Here’s an article on how to use the sharing economy (and what websites to use) when you travel.

35. Be open to strangers. Not everyone bites. Say hi to people on the road. Turn strangers into friends. Remember they are just like you! They want to live a happy, full life and have hopes and dreams too! You never know. You just might make some lifelong friends.

36. But keep your guard up. Some people do bite, so keep a healthy level of suspicion. You don’t want to fall for any travel scams or get yourself into uncomfortable situations. Be open but cautious. Here is a list of travel scams to avoid.

• My Favorite Restaurants in Europe
• The Best Places to Eat in NYC
• How to Eat Cheap Around the World
• 30+ Places to Eat in Tokyo
• How to Eat Around the World on a Vegan Diet

38. Avoid taxis. They are always a budget buster. Never, ever take a taxi unless you absolutely have too!

39. Take a reusable water bottle through airport security and fill it up at your gate. Single-use plastics are common in a lot of countries around the world. They’re also polluting our oceans and destroying the environment. Drink from the tap when you can — you’ll save money and help the environment. If you’re going somewhere where you can’t drink the water, be sure to get a water bottle with a filter. I love Lifestraw .

40. Get city attraction cards. If you are going to visit a lot of museums and other attractions in a short period of time, a city pass is going to save you money on admission (plus most provide free public transportation too!).

41. Take pictures of your luggage and clothes. If your bag gets lost, this will help identify it more easily and speed up the process of having your travel insurance reimburse you.

42. Carry emergency cash. Because emergencies happen, like that time in Romania when I couldn’t find an ATM and needed money for the bus to the hostel. I usually try to keep around $200 USD in emergency cash in case something happens!

43. Get good shoes. You walk a lot when you travel. Don’t beat up your feet. Love them as much as they love you, and they’ll take you to amazing places.

My favorite shoes for traveling are Suavs shoes , which are versatile and durable. They’re comfortable and great for exploring a new city all day, but also look nice enough that you can dress them up if you want to at night.

44. Get vaccinated. Because falling prey to an illness in a foreign country is not fun — and many countries require you to get vaccinated in order to visit them. So regardless of your opinion on the subject, you just might have to.

Here is an article on how to stay healthy on the road.

45. Learn to haggle. Haggling is a fun, playful way of not getting charged the foreigner price. It’s the art of negotiating and one that will help you throughout all of life, not just at the market.

Here are some articles to help you get started with using points and miles:

• Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
• How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
• The Best Travel Credit Cards
• The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card

47. Take a jacket. Nights get chilly.

48. Eat street food! If you skip the street food, you miss out on culture . Don’t be scared. If you’re nervous, look for places where kids are eating. If it’s safe for them, it’s safe for you.

49. Get travel insurance. Travel insurance is the most important thing to get that you never want to use. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to be out thousands of dollars in bills. Travel insurance will be there if you get robbed, flights get canceled, you get sick or injured, or have to be sent home. It’s comprehensive and, for just a few dollars a day, one of the best investments you can get for a trip.

You may think you’re superman/woman but so did my friend who broke her arm, didn’t have insurance, and had to pay thousands out of pocket. Insurance was there when I had to replace my camera and when I popped an eardrum scuba diving! Get it! Here are some tips on how to find the best travel insurance.

My favorite companies are:

• SafetyWing – A budget-friendly choice for travelers who need basic coverage. They are affordable, have great customer service, and make it easy to make a claim. If you’re on a tight budget, go with SafetyWing!
• Insure My Trip – The best insurance for those over 70 years old.
• Medjet – This is a membership program that provides emergency evacuation coverage should you get into a dire situation while traveling and be hospitalized. Medjet is meant to supplement your regular travel insurance.

50. Be patient. Things will work out in the end. No need to rush. You’ll get to where you are going in due time. Travel is about the journey, not the destination.

51. Be respectful. Locals are willing to help you out, but there’s probably a language barrier, so keep your cool when something doesn’t go your way. If you don’t, you’ll end up just looking like an asshole tourist.

52. Don’t over plan your trip. Let your days unfold naturally. Schedule two or three things and let the day fill in the rest on its own. It’s less stressful, and letting the day just take you is one of the best ways to travel. Here’s my advice on how not to over plan your travels!

53. Relax. See Be patient .

54. Be frugal — but not cheap. Don’t be pennywise but pound-foolish. Look for deals and don’t waste money, but don’t miss out on great experiences or walk 10 miles to save a couple of dollars. Time is money. Spend them both wisely.

55. Take earplugs. Anyone who has ever stayed in a hostel knows that earplugs are a necessity. Snorers are everywhere and you need your sleep.

But even if you’re not going to be in a hostel, they’re still helpful for sleeping well if your accommodation is located on a busy street, or for sleeping in buses, overnight trains, and other types of transportation. A good night’s sleep is priceless — be prepared!

These earplugs are reusable and work much better than the cheap foam ones, blocking out any distracting noises.

56. Always carry a power bank. Batteries die. Your good mood shouldn’t.

We all travel with numerous electronic devices like phones and tablets, but it can be hard to keep them all charged. An external battery solves that problem.

57. Remember that you’re not alone even if you’re traveling solo. Traveling alone never means you’re really alone. Wherever you go, there is a network of travelers who will be your friends, give you advice or tips, and help you out. They will guide you, point you in the right direction, and be your mentors. You aren’t out there on your own. You’ll make lots of friends and tons of memories.

If you’re not sure about traveling on your own for the first time, you can always join a group tour, such as those we offer at The Nomadic Network . I’ve designed all the itineraries myself to ensure they cover the highlights, get you off the tourist trail, and connect you with friends and locals.

59. Pre-book your tickets to attractions, activities, and excursions online. If you’re planning to do any activities or excursions on your trip, book them online. Companies usually offer a discounted price when compared to buying in person. Not only that but you’ll be able to pay with a credit card, giving you some extra protection as well as more travel points!

Many major attractions also allow you to reserve your spot and skip the line. Always look online to see if this is an option. This will you to avoid wasting time in multi-hour lines and go right in. I’ve seen people wait hours for the Paris Catacombs, Louvre, London Churchill War Rooms, churches, temples, historic fortresses, and more. Pre-book the day before, skip the line, get to see more during your day!

Get Your Guide is my favorite place to book activities in advance. It’s a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions, with tons of options in cities all around the world, including skip-the-line attraction tickets, cooking classes, walking tours, and more!

60. Avoid TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor is fine when you need opening hours or an address, but when it comes to reviews I ignore it completely. People always leave a negative review when something bad happens but rarely leave a positive review when something good happens so the reviews tend to be skewed.

On top of that, it’s very easy to create fake reviews and make a place seem better than it is. Many hotels and restaurants hire firms to artificially inflate their reviews on the platform. Additionally, TripAdvisor has been known to take down reviews that are overly negative as well as reviews on sexual assault. Use TripAdvisor with caution. Or better yet, don’t use it at all.

61. Finally, wear sunscreen. For as the Baz Luhrmann song “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” goes:

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable Than my own meandering experience.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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How to Travel More: 11 Ways To Add More Travel

When you have the travel bug, it’s hard to shake the wanderlust feeling to get out and explore. While social media makes traveling look effortless and glamorous, there is something it doesn’t often highlight – resources. Yup, unfortunately, traveling requires time and money. So how can you travel more when you have a full-time job? What do you do when you’re itching to travel more but don’t necessarily have a ton of time off from work (PTO) or extra money?! Here are 11 tips to help you travel more when you have less.

Fly Direct Instead of Connecting

If you don’t have a ton of Paid Time Off (PTO) to burn, then make the most of the time you do have and fly direct. It may or may not be the cheapest option, but it can save you time in connections and potential delays. When you’re searching for flights, be open to other airports nearby that could give you a quicker flight to your destination.

Be on the Lookout for Cheap Flight Deals

Everyone makes mistakes, including airlines. It’s not uncommon to hear about a crazy travel deal that an airline accidentally offers, and people get a trip of a lifetime. Use apps like Skyscanner and Google Flights to put an alert on a particular flight or destination you have your eye on. When the price drops, you’ll get a notification and can jump on the opportunity for a crazy good deal.

Solo Travel

If you can’t get a group together to go on all your travel adventures, just take off on your own and solo travel! See the world without waiting for others. If you have the time now, why not take that backpacking adventure through South America, go to the Beer Festival in Germany, or treat yourself to a luxury safari in Kenya. Don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone by traveling alone because in that step, you’ll often find yourself.

Related Article: 10 Benefits of traveling alone

Use Holidays & Weekends to Make Your Trip Longer

Make your PTO work for you by making a trip wrap around a weekend or a holiday. This is a great way to extend your trip without having to cash in extra days off work. Check out TripAdvisor and other apps to help find the best destinations for long weekend getaways and make the most of your adventure.

Be Open to Road Trips

Even if you just have a weekend, there are plenty of road trip routes that can get you out of your normal element and into something new and exciting. Road trips give you the flexibility and freedom to make your time work for you. Take turns driving to get to your destination faster, and grab a quick drive-thru meal on Friday and Sunday to elongate your trip without having to take time to find a restaurant. Hop in your car directly after work on Friday and head to the beach for a girls’ weekend, or towards the mountains for a cozy mountain getaway, or maybe even an area that has several wineries and breweries available. There are plenty of possibilities and opportunities on the open road for a little adventure.

Related Article: 20+ Road Trip Essentials

Related Article: Road trip from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

Work Remotely from Anywhere

Now that many of us are working remotely, who says you have to be in your own home to work efficiently? Pack up your laptop and charger cord and travel to a new place where you can have some reliable WiFi work by day and explore a new city by night and weekend! Make sure you consider the time zone change when you pick a new “work” spot.

If you just don’t have the ability to take time off, plan a local trip. Maybe you drive to the capital of your state and do a self-guided historical tour. Or you could find the closest state or national park, pack a picnic, and have a hiking date. You often don’t need to go very far to still have an incredible and eye-opening experience.

Make Multi-City Itineraries

Make the most of the time you have by packing in as much as you can on your visit. For example, if you’ve already made it all the way to Europe, try to pack in as much as you can see during your trip by utilizing bullet trains, overnight trains, and a full action-packed pre-planned itinerary so you can see all you can in one visit.

Use points and miles

Using points and miles is a great way to save time in planning for your trip, as well as save a little extra dough as well! You can use points and miles for things like hotel accommodation, flights, and rental cars. Whether you have a credit card where you can redeem the cashback as points for travel or just utilize loyalty program points, this is a great alternative to paying cash for these high-priced items. Plus, it’ll save you time searching and researching for hours on where to stay and how to get to your destination by using your loyalty and reward points. If you haven’t already, go ahead and sign up for the loyalty programs on all the airlines you fly, hotel chains, and your go-to car rental company, and start earning points.

Related: How to earn points without traveling

Combine Work + Travel

If you are traveling for work, tack on a personal trip in the front end or back end of your trip. You instantly save funds since your work is paying for your airfare and at least a part of your accommodation. Get creative and pull out the map to see where some cool roads or easily accessible places close to your work destination.

Many people want more travel in their life. The hardest part is trying to figure out how to travel more when you don’t necessarily have a ton of time available whether that’s because of family obligations, a demanding career, or a lack of PTO. However, by utilizing a few of these smart tips, and by doing a little research and planning, you can still explore and see the world! Don’t let the fact that you may have less time off from work or less disposable income stop you from living your dreams and traveling the world. It is possible to travel more, even when you have less. Happy travel friends!

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Helpful Tips for How to Travel More

Want to travel more? Dreaming of jet-setting across the globe? Yearning to break free from the routine and explore new horizons? If everything in your being is screaming “Yes!” to all of that, then you’re in for a treat!

This article isn’t just about sparking wanderlust; it’s your practical guide to making those travel dreams a reality.

Charles, the kids and I have traveled to dozens of countries using the tips in this article. Whether you’re craving more time, hunting for budget-friendly adventures, or seeking opportunities that blend work and wanderlust, this guide is your golden ticket to more travel adventures.

Bonus travel tip from experienced travelers! Using a VPN like Private Internet Access (PIA) is key for keeping your data safe as you travel. Public Wi-Fi networks, which are common in hotels and cafes, can pose serious security risks. A VPN encrypts your connection, safeguarding your private information, which is essential if you’re in one of those traveling jobs where you rely on internet access to fund your trip.

Since we travel as a family of four, I really like that our single, affordable, PIA subscription lets us protect an unlimited amount of devices at the same time.

How to Travel More

If you want to travel more this year, this article can help! Use my hands-on actionable advice to get you on your next flight to somewhere amazing!

Let’s get right into it! Here are 27 actionable travel tips that are all about maximizing your time, stretching your dollars, and embracing every opportunity to explore the world.

Collect and use credit card and loyalty points

Let’s start with something simple. If you don’t have one already, switch your current credit card to one that lets you get travel points with every purchase. Just pay it off in time so you don’t end up having to pay interest!

Be flexible with your travel dates

Having flexible travel dates can save you a fortune on travel. Try traveling during the shoulder season, or scoring deals when they come up, instead of having set-in-stone travel dates. Embracing a go-with-the-flow attitude can open up a world of unexpected discounts and unique experiences

Set travel alerts for fare deals

If you find a flight you like, set a travel alert to let you know when the price drops. You can do this on Google Flights, Skyscanner, and other flight aggregators. Just make sure you have a good baseline on typical prices so that you have something solid to compare it to.

One way to do that is to choose a farther date in the future than what you’re hoping for, preferably outside of peak season like Christmas. Usually, the farther out you buy your plane ticket, the cheaper the flight however deals can pop up anytime so be ready for them.

Be flexible about your destination

Looking at different destination alternatives lets you take advantage of the best flight and accommodation deals available, regardless of the destination. This flexibility can stretch your budget and introduce you to hidden gems and unexpected adventures that you might not have considered otherwise.

Tip! To find cheap, flexible flights, use the Google flights Explore feature. Just enter your home airport, or other airports that aren’t too far away. Leave the destination airport blank! Then click the Flexible dates to see all destinations and prices. It then shows you a map and what fares are to different cities. Play with the trip length and trip duration. There’s even an option to select fixed dates if your travel dates aren’t flexible.

Get a job that lets you work as you travel

Work as you travel, whether you work remotely for your existing employer, or get a job at your destination. If you’re under 35, look into getting a working holiday visa. Check out our article on 45 great jobs you can do while traveling the world (and how to get them) for more helpful details and tips.

Focus on less expensive destinations

Travel to pricey destinations really adds up, with flights, hotel prices, taxi fares, and even food costing more. Instead, keep your eye out for great deals to less expensive destinations.

Travel light

Most airlines charge for checked baggage these days, and many charge for carry-on as well. The lighter you pack, the fewer fees you’ll need to pay for baggage so minimize your outfits, always carry a change of clothes in your allowed private bag and even look into sharing larger checked on luggage if you’re traveling with your family, loved one or someone you implicitly trust.

Take less expensive, shorter trips

Use your weekends and time off to maximize travel, and explore closer to home. Opting for shorter, more frequent trips can offer a refreshing change of scenery without the hefty price tag of longer vacations.

Bonus tip! Using VPN to get cheaper flights is a savvy traveler’s secret. It lets you explore prices from different regions, potentially leading to significant savings on airfare.

Plus, a good VPN like PIA (Private Internet Access) allows access to geo-restricted content, ensuring you don’t miss out on your favorite shows while abroad. It’s a must-have for secure, economical, and enjoyable travel experiences. Check out our article on How to Watch Your Favorite TV Shows and Movies While Traveling .

Visit friends or family in another city!

If you can stay with someone, it can be a great way to save money on accommodation, and also gives you a chance to reconnect with friends or family and create new memories together. Looking to visit an area you once had family in? Check if any extended family are still in the area. Not only can it save you money but it might be a great way to reconnect with lost relatives.

Take trips for a specific purpose

Take a trip for a specific reason, like a conference, or to take a class to learn a new skill. For example, you could travel to take language immersion classes, a cooking class, or learn to SCUBA dive. Then, rather than just seeing the trip as a personal indulgence, it can be for direct personal growth which can benefit you even more in the future.

Use your paid time off

If you have a full-time, or even part-time job, use all of your paid time off. Use those paid holidays and personal days to get you where you want to be.

Shockingly, most employees in the US don’t use all of their vacation days. Less than half of US workers used all of their vacation days in 2022. Don’t be that person! Prioritize yourself, and travel.

Organize your time off with a calendar

To help maximize your time off, use a monthly calendar, and block off days where you have extra time off (like a three day weekend). From there, consider adding additional vacation days to extend your travel days. Sometimes you can easily arrange a 5 or 6 day vacation around long weekends with only a day or 2 taken off. The bonus is that week long rentals are often much cheaper per day than weekend only rentals meaning it might not cost as much as you think it will.

Look into travel opportunities with your current job

Would your employer pay to send you to a conference, or to another place for training? Are there positions available with your company in other locations around the globe? Exploring these options can turn professional commitments into exciting travel opportunities, blending career growth with the joy of exploration.

Negotiate for a higher wage, or more vacation days

Earning a higher income is always good, but if your employer isn’t willing to give you a raise, then consider asking for more vacation days. You may be surprised! Many employers don’t have much flexibility in their budget, but they can negotiate on time off. If they’re not budging on paid vacation days, you may be able to negotiate unpaid days off which you can leverage the cost against traveling in the much cheaper shoulder seasons compared to around Christmas or busy school holidays.

Tag along on your partner’s work trips

If it’s possible, join your partner on work trips. You’ll likely be able to stay in their hotel for free (or a small fee), and just have to pay for your own transportation and other expenses. When they’re busy, you can explore the area on your own then meet them for supper and other shared activities.

Also, try to book them around weekends. Most companies are paying for the flights anyway and it costs them nothing extra to fly the employee home on Friday night than it does Sunday afternoon. Even paying for the extra nights hotel on your own still allows you to save on the flight costs and any savings is a bonus here.

Reduce your expenses and save money for travel

This can be a hard one, and of course it’s not possible for everyone. That said, if you’re in a position to take a hard look at your expenses, it’s a great place to find funds for your next trip. Of course this might mean you need to switch your priorities.

Would you rather spend money on an expense like getting a new coat, when your old one is fine, or would you rather put that money in a travel fund? Would you consider getting a roommate, rather than living alone, if the money you save was spent on travel?

Everyone’s situation is different of course, but zeroing in on cutting costs can make a big difference to your travel budget and it’s amazing how just doing a few things like cutting down your Starbucks coffee or eating out a bit less can rapidly grow your travel fund.

Get a side hustle

If you have the time and energy, a side hustle can really help you save money for travel.

This can be something as simple as getting more shifts at your current job, or getting an entire new gig on the weekends, or even driving for a ride share or food delivery app. Either way, if you have the time and motivation, it means more money in your travel fund.

Start a travel savings account

Start a special travel account, and put your travel savings into this account only. It’s so motivating to see your travel nest egg grow! Watching your travel fund grow is not just encouraging but also makes your travel goals more tangible and achievable. It also helps differentiate between your bill paying account and savings accounts. The trick is to not dip into it for other things.

Try housesitting or a home exchange

Accommodation is one of the biggest costs in travel, so if you can swing a housesit, then you can save big bucks. This approach cuts down on expenses and offers a more authentic living experience as you travel.

Lower your expectations

By insisting on only eating out at restaurants, staying only in hotel rooms, and taking taxis or tours everywhere you go, you may be pricing yourself out of a vacation. You can save a ton of money by traveling on a shoe-string budget, preparing some of your own meals, staying in a hostel bed or AirBnB style place with the family, and taking buses, trains and walking everywhere you go.

Some of my favorite travel memories include taking a local, overnight bus in Turkey, and eating fresh berries bought from a local fruit vendor in Ecuador. Neither cost a lot but left a lifetime travel impression.

Consider traveling, and sleeping, in your vehicle.

Van life isn’t always as fun and easy as YouTubers would like you to believe, but if you’re the adventurous type, and you have a vehicle that would work for car camping, you may be able to save a carload of money by sleeping in your car. Want some inspiration? Check out our favorite Travel YouTubers .

Talk to travelers!

One thing I’ve learned about myself is that it’s a heck of a lot easier to do something if I spend time with people who’ve actually done the thing!

By hanging out with travelers, you’ll be inspired by their stories, gain some fantastic travel advice, and hopefully absorb some of their adventurous spirit! One way to get that information is online, another can be as simple as visiting your local backpacking hostel. Nearly every place has one and if you don’t hear 3 or 4 different accents in the first 10 minutes then make sure you’re there around meal time.

Find a travel partner

Sometimes the barrier to travel is not having someone to travel with. Both Charles and I struggled to find a travel partner before we got together, so I feel the pain of this. If you want to travel with someone, consider signing up for a group tour, or ask friends and family if they’d like to travel with you.

We’ve since learnt that once you get out there, there are tons of people with the same desire to explore who are also looking for others who share their passion to travel. The hardest part is often taking that first step.

Consider going solo!

Sometimes life just won’t divvy up a travel partner, so consider traveling alone. I get it, solo travel can be pretty intimidating, but I really wish I’d taken the jump and traveled by myself instead of waiting so long for a travel partner!

Visit a friend for your first solo trip

Do you have a friend who’s moved away? Consider visiting them for your first solo trip. Having a friend at your destination is a great way to make a solo trip easier. You may even be able to cut expenses by staying with them!

Create a list of places that you’d love to travel!

Sometimes, getting your wishes down on paper can really help motivate you to make your travel dreams come true. If some of the items on your list are more expensive, or require more time than you have right now, focus on the places you can visit sooner!

Beware of analysis paralysis!

Just like anything in life, you can spend all of your time reading blogs, watching YouTube videos, and planning your trip! Instead of putting off your trip until you’ve found the perfect price and destination, start with something small, even if it’s just a weekend trip to a town nearby!

Your passport to adventure awaits!

And there you have it! Remember, travel isn’t just about distant lands; it’s an attitude, a way of embracing life with curiosity and joy.

So, start that travel savings account, pack your bag for a weekend getaway, or chat with your boss about work travel opportunities. Adventure doesn’t always knock twice, so start using these tips right now, and turn your travel dreams into reality.

Do you have any tips for how to travel more? Share them in the comments – we’d love to hear them!

Bon voyage! – Micki

How to Travel More: Proven Strategies and Secrets

Robert is passionate about traveling, technology, and reading books on his phone.

Stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring the world is a thrilling experience. Traveling broadens our horizons, enriches our lives, and helps us connect with different cultures .

It’s a pursuit that many of us dream of, but often feel we don’t have enough time or resources to achieve. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide, revealing the secrets on how to travel more and make the most of your adventures.

Let’s dive in!

Utilizing Long Weekends

Combining work and leisure, saving on flights, affordable accommodations, embracing slow travel, choosing the right destinations, packing essentials, organizing your travel bag, supporting local communities, minimizing your environmental footprint.

How to Maximize Your Time for Travel

Life’s daily grind can be a major obstacle to frequent traveling. Luckily, there are clever ways to optimize your time and embark on more adventures.

Long weekends are like mini treasure troves of travel opportunities. By planning ahead and capitalizing on holidays , you can fit in more trips without using up your precious vacation days.

• Prioritize destinations close to home: Seek out hidden gems within a few hours’ drive or a short flight away. Exploring your own backyard can be just as exciting as venturing far and wide.

Embrace the concept of “ bleisure “ — blending business with leisure. Tack on extra days before or after work trips to enjoy the local attractions.

• Business trip extensions: Ask your employer if you can extend your stay at your own expense. This way, you’ll already be at your destination, with the company covering the cost of your flights.
• Remote work opportunities: As more companies adopt remote work policies , take advantage of the flexibility to work from different locations. Turn your home office into a temporary base in a new city or country.

Budgeting Wisely for More Travel

Traveling more doesn’t have to break the bank. With savvy budgeting strategies, you can stretch your travel funds further.

Airfare can be a major expense, but there are ways to score deals and minimize costs.

• Timing is everything: Be flexible with your travel dates and use tools like fare alerts and price comparison websites to find the best deals. Sometimes, flying midweek or during shoulder seasons can save you a bundle.
• Alternative airports: Consider flying into or out of smaller, regional airports instead of major hubs. This can often result in cheaper flights and a more enjoyable travel experience.

Saving on accommodations means more money for adventures. Get creative with your lodging options.

• Hostels and guesthouses: Look beyond hotels and resorts for budget-friendly places to stay. Hostels, guesthouses, and even camping sites can offer comfortable and affordable lodging.
• Home exchanges: Swap homes with like-minded travelers using home exchange websites. You’ll get to live like a local while enjoying cost-free accommodations.

How to Make Traveling More Rewarding

Traveling more isn’t just about quantity; it’s also about quality. Enhance your travel experiences with these tips.

Instead of rushing from one attraction to the next, embrace the art of slow travel.

• Benefits of longer stays: Spending more time in a destination allows you to truly connect with the local culture, uncover hidden gems, and savor authentic experiences.
• Immersing in local culture: Go beyond tourist traps and seek out genuine connections with locals. Attend neighborhood events, visit local markets, and dine at family-owned restaurants.

Picking destinations that resonate with your interests and passions can make your travels more fulfilling.

• Aligning with your interests: Focus on destinations that cater to your hobbies and passions. Love history? Explore ancient cities. Adrenaline junkie? Find the best adventure spots.
• Off-the-beaten-path locations: Venture beyond the well-trodden tourist trails and uncover lesser-known destinations. These hidden gems often offer more authentic experiences and are less crowded, making your travels even more enjoyable.

Travel Light and Smart

Packing efficiently can make your trips smoother and more enjoyable. Here are some tips to lighten your load and simplify your journeys.

A well-packed bag is like a trusty travel companion. Be mindful of what you bring along.

• Opt for multi-purpose items: Look for clothing and gear that can serve multiple purposes, like a scarf that doubles as a blanket or a jacket with plenty of pockets.
• Pack a capsule wardrobe: Choose versatile, easy-to-layer pieces in complementary colors that can be mixed and matched for different outfits.

A well-organized bag can save you time and reduce stress while on the road.

• Use packing cubes: These nifty little organizers can help keep your belongings tidy and easy to find.
• Roll, don’t fold: Rolling your clothes instead of folding them can save space and minimize wrinkles.

Embracing Sustainable Travel Practices

Traveling more doesn’t have to harm the environment. Adopt eco-friendly habits to make a positive impact on the places you visit.

Boost local economies by choosing locally-owned businesses and services.

• Shop local: Purchase souvenirs and gifts from local artisans, markets, and shops.
• Dine local: Opt for locally-owned restaurants, cafes, and food stalls to taste authentic cuisine and support the community.

Make an effort to reduce your impact on the environment while exploring the world.

• Carry a reusable water bottle: This simple change can significantly reduce plastic waste.
• Use public transportation: Opt for buses, trains, or bikes to get around, reducing your carbon footprint.

Our ultimate guide on how to travel more has unveiled the secrets to help you embark on unforgettable adventures. Remember, maximizing your time, budgeting wisely, and making conscious choices can turn your travel dreams into reality. So pack your bags, chart your course, and set sail for the extraordinary experiences that await you.

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Where Wanderlust Meets Wisdom

How to Travel More: 11 Tips Everyone Should Know About

Do you dream of traveling the world, immersing yourself in new cultures, and experiencing unforgettable adventures? Many of us are bound by limited vacation days but fear not! As an experienced traveler, I am here to share valuable insights and tips on maximizing your vacation days and making the most of your travel experiences. Get ready to unlock the secrets to how to travel more and turn your dreams into reality.

* Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission. This occurs at no added cost to you. *

11 Tips on How to Travel More

1. plan and strategize.

Careful planning and strategic thinking are crucial to maximizing your vacation days. Start by mapping out your desired travel destinations and determining the best times to visit. Consider off-peak seasons when prices are lower, crowds are thinner, and the weather is still favorable. Planning ahead can optimize your time and ensure a smooth and stress-free travel experience. Google flights is a great tool to discover some new places that you may not have considered or they may be close to home.

Planning makes the difference between a good trip and a great one or a good vacation and a great one. So don’t just go on any old escape—make sure it’s planned out as much as possible before you go.

2. Take Advantage of Long Weekends

Long weekends are a gift to travelers. Capitalize on these extended breaks by planning short trips to nearby destinations. Research places within a few hours’ drive or a short flight away and create a list of quick getaway options. Utilizing long weekends effectively allows you to explore new destinations without depleting your precious vacation days.

Long weekends also allow us to plan our travels ahead of time—something that might seem counterproductive at first glance because it requires extra effort before we even leave town! However, this allows us enough time (and peace of mind) so that once we’re away from home base, we can fully enjoy ourselves without worrying about mundane tasks such as cleaning the house or doing laundry when we get back home again.

3. Optimize Your Vacation Days

Maximizing your vacation days requires strategic thinking. Consider the timing of public holidays and plan your vacations around them. You can enjoy extended periods off without sacrificing additional days by strategically aligning your vacation days with public holidays. For example, taking a vacation during a week with a public holiday can give you a more extended period to explore and unwind.

4. Embrace Flexible Work Arrangements

In today’s digital age, remote work and flexible schedules have become more prevalent. Take advantage of these arrangements to extend your travel adventures. If your job allows it, consider working remotely while traveling. By merging work and travel, you can explore new destinations during your free time without sacrificing valuable vacation days.

If you are considering this route, Go Nomad has a interactive listing of approximates monthly costs of setting up in another country.

5. Plan Efficient Itineraries

When planning your trips, create efficient itineraries that allow you to explore multiple destinations within a limited timeframe. Research the proximity of attractions, landmarks, or cities to optimize your travel route. By carefully planning your itinerary, you can cover more ground and experience the highlights of a region without wasting precious time on unnecessary travel.

6. Prioritize Bucket List Destinations

Make a list of your dream destinations and prioritize them. Focus on visiting the places that genuinely resonate with your interests and aspirations. By narrowing down your choices and concentrating on the top destinations, you can make the most of your vacation days and create unforgettable memories in the places that matter most to you.

7. Take Advantage of Red-Eye Flights

Red-eye or overnight flights are an excellent way to save time and make the most of your vacation days. Opting for a flight that departs late at night and arrives in the morning can minimize travel time and maximize your exploration hours at your destination. Use the overnight flight to get some rest and wake up ready to dive into a new adventure.

8. Extend Business Trips

If your work requires occasional business trips, consider extending your stay to explore the destination further. Coordinate with your employer to add a few personal days to your trip, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture, visit nearby attractions, or even embark on a mini vacation before or after your work commitments.

9. Be Open to Weekend Getaways

While more extended vacations are ideal, remember the power of weekend getaways. Take advantage of weekends to discover nearby cities or towns. A short two-day trip is a great way to clear the mind and bring back a better state of mental health for the upcoming work week. Or perhaps you want to experience a hometown holiday.

If you’re going on a road trip, try one of these travel planning websites: Roadtrippers or Epic Road Trip Planner . These sites will help you find unique stops along your route and allow you to plan different activities at each visit, from breweries to museums, hiking trails, and roadside attractions. If you want something more structured, like a guided tour or horseback riding excursion, search for them on Viator or Get Your Guide—you won’t be disappointed!

10. Start a Travel Fund

One of the best ways to make your dream trip a reality is by setting aside money instead of waiting until the last minute and paying more than you need to set up a separate bank account that automatically deposits monthly money. You don’t have to save a considerable sum all at once—in fact, the amount you save depends on what type of trip you plan on taking. 

Like any other expense in life (like rent), travel funds should be viewed as part of your monthly budget, and as they grow over time, they’ll serve as inspiration!

11. Be flexible with dates and destinations.

Being flexible with dates, destinations, and travel styles will help you find the best flight, hotel, and activity deals. Look for off-season deals by searching for “summer vacations” in January or winter trips during June. You might not want to visit New York City in January, but traveling there during fall or spring could save you hundreds of dollars on lodging costs alone!

If you have family members spread around the country or overseas, consider exchanging homes instead of hotel rooms when visiting them on vacation. This allows everyone involved to save money while still enjoying their own space away from home.

Take advantage of every opportunity to leave home!

You may be surprised to learn that traveling can help you find new ways of seeing the world. It can also help you get over a bad day, spend time with family and friends, or even help you improve your health.

Final Thoughts on How to Maximize Your Vacation Days

In conclusion, I hope these travel tips serve as your passport to unlock the full potential of your precious time off. Whether you embark on brief escapades near your home turf or grand odysseys across distant shores, remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to travel.

By applying straightforward strategies and a willingness to adapt to your preferences, you can unearth the secrets of traveling more efficiently and making the most of your limited vacation days.  Ultimately, the key is to follow your instincts and do what suits you best.

So, if meticulously planning every detail of your journey doesn’t resonate with you, consider the adventure of sharing your travel experiences with a knowledgeable friend by your side. The world awaits, ready to be explored on your terms. Safe travels!

If you are in the Toronto area, you might consider taking a mini-vacation to Niagara Falls or in Ottawa, check out these unique things to do . Edinburgh , Scotland is also a great place for a City break.

If you’d like to support this blog & help fund the cost of researching & maintaining the site, donations are accepted here. I appreciate all the help & support received from our readers so far!

Thanks for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, why not share it with your friends?

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Travel X Britt

How to Travel More: A Step-by-Step Guide for Busy People

It’s no secret that travel is one of the most rewarding and life-changing experiences out there.

However, for a lot of people, the thought of traveling more seems impossible because they don’t have the time or money. In this blog post, we’re going to break down how to travel more even if you’re busy, or on a budget!

We’ll cover everything from booking your trip to making the most of your time on vacation.

So whether you’re looking to take a weekend getaway or explore a new country, keep reading for our best travel tips on how to travel more!

How to Travel More

With a little planning and creativity, it is possible to travel more without breaking the bank or sacrificing your free time. Heres how:

• Set a budget: Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or an extended stay, learning how to save money for travel and setting a budget is essential to making sure you don’t overspend. Setting a realistic budget will help you decide which activities and destinations are worth your time and money.
• Research the best deals: With so many flight and hotel booking websites and apps out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Do some research to find the best deals and make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck.
• Book ahead of time: If you can, book your flights and hotels as far in advance as possible. This will help you avoid expensive costs and unexpected pesky fees.
• Learn to pack light: Packing light will help you save time and money, as most airlines charge for checked bags. Try to limit yourself to a carry-on or small backpack when traveling domestically, so you don’t have to worry about checking in luggage.
• Take advantage of free activities: There are always FREE things to do ! Look into free things to do or do activities that mirror your buddget. Find out what the locals do for fun and head to the beach or park for a picnic !
• Make friends with other travelers if you’re solo traveling : Making connections with locals and other travelers is an essential part of any trip. You’ll get great advice on where to go, eat, and see as well as make life-long friends!

Determine why you want to travel more – what are your goals and motivations?

Traveling is an incredible way to explore the world and experience new cultures. However, before hitting the road it’s important to define why you even want to travel more – what are your goals and motivations? How can taking a journey serve you? When these questions are answered, planning a trip becomes much easier.

Maybe it’s connecting with nature that makes you feel most alive or learning about distant peoples and cultures that interests you, but often times this is a deeply personal decision. These motivations will also impact what type of trip is most appropriate.

Either way, traveling can be incredibly fulfilling – so don’t wait any longer! Learn how to design a vacation around your own motivations and start off on your journey today.

How to travel more while staying within a realistic budget

The first step is to carefully plan and set the budget. Make sure you factor in your expenses! These are things like:

• transportation costs ( boat/marina , plane, train, bus, or car)
• accommodations (hotel, Airbnb, etc.)
• food costs (3 meals, possible snacks, alcohol beverages if you drink)
• entry fees for attractions (consider looking into tourist attractions you’d like to visit)
• local transportation costs (UBER/Lyft if you don’t rent a car )
• & any souvenirs you might want to buy!

These costs are will be your biggest expenses on your trip so its important to get more than an idea on what you’re spending.

Do some research ahead of time so that you can create an estimate of your expenses and then adjust accordingly. Don’t forget miscellaneous expenses like laundry or items that would be considered extravagant such as spa treatments or tours.

By doing this research before traveling and staying mindful of your budget throughout the trip , you will make sure you get the most out of your experience!

How to Travel More while saving money

It is possible! Start by shopping around for the best deal and then researching and comparing. You can do this with different flights, hotels, rental cars and other services.

Do this ahead of time will help save money in the long run. Consider off-peak travel times when booking flights as prices tend to drop compared with popular holiday dates.

Many airlines also offer discounted rates for those who book multiple flights at once. Also look into loyalty programs, coupons and promo codes for extra discounts.

Finally, consider taking public transportation instead of renting a car. If you are under 30 make sure you check into youth passes. Alot of European cities have discounts for certain ages.

You can also consider unlimited day passes that let you ride a city’s public transportation system for a certain time frame.

This can be a great way to explore cities from an insider’s perspective- often cheaper, more authentic, and more experiential than doing it on your own.

All these creative strategies can help make travel affordable without compromising the fun!

Traveling more calls for proper planning

Learning How to Travel More doesn’t just involve researching and booking, it also requires proper planning. A great way to make sure you don’t forget about any upcoming trips is by blocking out time in your calendar.

This allows you to see exactly when your trip begins or ends and gives you a set timeframe in which you should be packing and preparing for travel.

My best tip for doing this effectively is to create an event several days before the departure so that you can ensure you have all your bags packed, tickets printed, and flights confirmed the day of departure.

Not only will this help reduce stress, but it will also help ensure everything falls into place before it’s time to leave.

How to travel more without breaking the bank

Start small by taking weekend getaways or day trips close to home! Instead of traveling to a distant, exotic destination, look for new activities and attractions in your own hometown or state.

Hiking through a nearby park, a fun afternoon at an amusement park, or visiting a drive-in movie theater could be some great ideas for day trips .

Alternatively, why not try camping in the backyard or hold a picnic close to home? Doing all of these will give you the travel experience while also keeping things inexpensive.

Additionally, once you are ready to travel farther, accomodation options such as hostels are incredibly affordable!

Use technology to your advantage

Traveling the world is an amazing experience that can open your eyes to a variety of cultures, ideas and perspectives. How you get around and plan your trips, however, can be overwhelming if you don’t have the right tools.

Fortunately, there are now many great apps and websites available to help take the hassle out of how to travel more.

From booking flights to finding a room for your stay, these resources offer incredible convenience – allowing you to plan your trip quickly, securely and efficiently from home.

Plus, plenty of sites provide additional discounts or deals on flights or accommodations when you sign up for their service. With technology aiding your adventure-seeking pursuits, it’s never been easier to start checking destinations off your list!

Overall, planning to travel more is an exciting way to challenge yourself, explore the world and create lasting memories.

Making the commitment to prioritize traveling in your life will take some effort and forethought. The most important aspects are determining why you want to travel and setting a realistic budget for spending.

Consider looking into creative ways to save money on travel costs like taking weekend getaways or day trips close to home.

And with the help of modern technology, you can easily access many apps and websites that can simplify the planning process.

So how would you like to travel more? With careful financial planning and a targeted approach, it’s possible to make your dream voyage a reality.

Thanks for reading these tips on traveling! If you have any questions or want more advice, make sure to let me know in the comments below!

Britt is the founder of travelxbritt.com and has been traveling extensively for over 6 years. After traveling and living abroad in parts of Europe and Asia, she has tons of tried and true professional travel experiences. Everything spoken about in this website has been lived through, experienced, or reviewed.

As a true travel expert, Brittany shares her wisdom onto others. this website is for the modern day traveler who wants to know everything they need to know, BEFORE they go! Thanks for reading and be sure to get in touch if you have any questions.

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How I traveled to 50+ Countries…and how you can too!

When people find out I’ve already traveled to more than 50 countries, they often ask, “how do you travel so much?” And, “how do you find the time to visit so many places?” I’ll tell you the secret to travel more here! I’ll share how I traveled to 50+ countries, and how you can too!

We’ll cover how to save up for travel, how to get free flights, how to maximize vacation days, and how to save money on travel.

“How can you afford to travel so much?”

“ Are you rich? ” Not yet.

“ Do you make a living off of Visit50.com? ” Not yet!

“ Does your job / career send you on a plane to all of these places? ” Nope! My first passport stamp ever was from my first job (to Australia!). I assumed that I’d be traveling for business throughout my career but my work is all local in the U.S.

“ What do you do for a living? ” My career is in advertising, but that’s not related to my travel. Much of my travel was done before I was even successful in my career, and with very limited funds.

“ What’s the secret? ” Fortunately it’s not a secret. In this post I’ll share how I travel so much and how I travel so often.

How to travel more often

This post will cover what I recommend in detail. In the meantime, here’s 5 strategies to help you travel more often:

• Choose destinations that aren’t expensive, especially for your first trips. This helps you stretch your budget further.
• Consider spending less money on lodging so you can travel more often. Take advantage of signup bonuses for free flights.
• Research your spending habits to save money for traveling wherever you can.
• Combine your vacation days with days you already have off, to maximize your vacay days.
• Consider pausing your career to take a multi-month trip.

I’ll go through each in more detail below.

How to find the time to travel more

I actually don’t travel that often – only about 1-2 international trips per year. I’ve twice paused my career to go travel, including a half year through Asia (yes seriously! I’ll explain below).

Want to know more on how I travel so often? Here we go!

Prioritize travel to travel more

After catching the travel bug, I decided to prioritize travel. Prioritizing it in every aspect is what will help you travel more often. That means so many different things to different people, so I’ll elaborate.

Save money everyday

Save money in your everyday life. Yes, you’ve heard this before, but find the aspect that helps you most.

When I first graduated from my university, that meant saving money wherever I could. That’s on both big and little things. There were times that I could barely afford my apartment rent (thanks to a commission-only job. Eek!). As you get raises, resist the urge to increase your spending significantly.

Live below your means, instead of “paycheck to paycheck” if at all possible. When you get a raise, resist upgrading your apartment to a higher rent immediately. And remember that little decisions add up.

Some people find it helpful to make a dedicated vacation fund that they contribute to every paycheck.

Research your spending habits.

Save whenever you can. It all adds up. Think about how much you spend on coffee, or every time you go to the bar and how often you go. Prices here in New York are crazy, and that some adjustments might help you find much more budget for travel. For example, a weekend out in New York can be a flight to my next destination.

For some that means cooking at home instead of going out, going to the bar less often, canceling cable and using Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime, limiting, reducing your Starbucks visits, reducing cigarette smoking (bonus, it’ll save your life too!), and more. Take a look at where your money actually goes. Everybody’s budget is different. Prioritize travel.

Planning the trip: Be flexible!

Are you ready to plan a trip? The number one recommendation is to be flexible wherever you can. That means considering flight/lodging costs before finalizing your destination. With flexibility, the laws of supply and demand can offer you savings to help you afford to travel more often.

Choosing your destinations

Once you have a travel budget, that’s when it gets fun. Think about where you’d like to go. Then realize that there’s so many amazing places in this world, and not all destinations are equally priced. If you’re on a tight budget, I’d encourage you to consider the less expensive places first.

Try not to commit yourself in to just one destination that you must find the best deal for. There might be a similarly appealing destination that’s dropping prices to attract visitors just like you!

Stay with friends!

My friends have moved all around the world. While that means you’ll see them less often, it also means you can visit each other! Thus, another way to save money on travel is to stay with friends. And host friends too!

I’ve also been lucky to meet some amazing people on my trips, some of which have become friends. What happens after you ask each other to keep in touch? Don’t just write catch up notes. Actually visit each other! Seeing countries from a local perspective is much different. I met Jesper and Louise while diving in Borneo, and later visited them in Copenhagen. They showed me why they loved it there, and soon I did too!

After my friend Jared moved to Tokyo, I stayed with him in Shibuya on my brief visit. Heather and I met in Laos and have connected in multiple cities around the world since, including my first San Francisco trip. I visited my friend Gabby in Sweden, after last seeing her when we were swimming with whale sharks . Raymond and I met in the Philippines and he’s since visited me in the US.

Save with less expensive destinations

If you’re used to Europe prices, Southeast Asia is ridiculously affordable (details in a future post). Within Europe, the Baltics will cost much less than Vienna or Oslo or Paris.

Avoid Cities

Avoid cities – they tend to cost more than non-city destinations. I live in New York, so I’m typically looking to avoid cities anyway.

Consider less popular countries

Dreaming of the Caribbean? Realize it’ll often cost much less to go to Central America for similar weather and potentially more interesting experiences. There’s so many underrated destinations.

Destinations are not priced based on how amazing they are. They’re priced based on supply vs demand, and you might not have the precise same interests as everyone else.

Be flexible on which country

If you’re going to the Caribbean, don’t lock in a specific island. See which islands have low demand. Assuming it’s not because of a hurricane or rain season, some might have the same weather and much less expensive flights or lodging.

Be open to new destinations

There’s so many interesting destinations in the world – I started this travel blog to inspire people to explore new destinations that they hadn’t considered. Choosing less expensive destinations is how you’ll travel more often.

The 2 biggest costs are flights and accommodations, and I don’t finalize my destination until researching these. Next we’ll go over how to save on flights and lodging.

Save on Accommodations

Within a trip, accommodations is easily the place where I save money compared with most people. I don’t need 5-star accommodations. The stars aren’t even all for things I care about. I don’t need luxury shopping.

You might be picturing a hostel dorm with dozens of people sleeping in the same room, and while that exists, it hasn’t typically been the direction for me. There are plenty of ways to save money on your private room.

(and yes, if you wanted to, in Southeast Asia you can find less than $5 per day for hostels)

Lodging priorities

If I’m traveling solo or with a friend, I find lodging that’s safe/secure, clean, and somewhat near where I need to be. Most other elements are negotiable. Have I missed anything major?

These days Wifi is a requirement. In warm places, air conditioning too. But it’s a fairly short list of needs.

Hotels aren’t your only option.

There’s all kinds of lodging options – hotels, Bed and Breakfast, Airbnb, and more.

Hostels are often less expensive if you’re open to it, and are often much more social. Some hostels have private rooms for more money, giving you the privacy of your own room, along with the benefits of the social aspect.

If you’re comfortable with it, check out Couchsurfing. It’s not just for literally staying on someone’s couch. You might connect with new travel friends.

As I’ve advanced in my career, my budget and minimums for lodging have risen, but it’s certainly possible to keep it basic yet comfortable.

Negotiate for lodging deals

Did you know that you can sometimes negotiate lodging? In most of Southeast Asia this is actually common. The price listed is not always the lowest price they can offer. This is especially true for smaller privately owned hotels. Prices are set by supply and demand, just as much as perceived quality.

For AirBNB, for last minute bookings, some travelers kindly ask for a slightly lower price. If it’s nearly that day and the owner might not fill it, they may be inclined to offer you a discount. If their alternative is $0 for an empty room, a discount off their typical price might be enticing.

Consider booking upon arrival

This might make you nervous. It did for me! When you’re backpacking and have time, walk in to hotels and ask.

For example, when I was in Mui Ne in Vietnam I realized this new hotel by the beach was mostly empty. I negotiated ~60% off. They also added in breakfast.

It’s a risk/reward judgement. Assuming you’re not traveling in peak season, you can always book later.

For your first time, just booking your first night or two upon. You’ll have a hotel upon arrival, and then you can choose an area you want. That’s what I did in Bali. I realized other travelers were spending much less on lodging for similar quality. I found a more affordable hotel, and then got a 30% off discount with minimal effort, just for asking for the lower price.

Save on flights to travel more often

The most expensive part of my trips is usually getting there. I use every trick and travel hack to save money on flights. I explore multiple meta searches, use flexible dates (rather than guessing where the best deals are), activate incognito mode, shop from the local airline sites, skip lag, creative itineraries, take an extended layover, take budget airlines, avoid checking bags, use email newsletters with limited flight deals, all of it. Let me know if you’d like me to share them all in detail in another post.

Miles = free flights!

Let’s start with free flights! I’ve taken so many flights for $0 (plus airport taxes)! Assuming you’re already paying your credit card bill on time, why not let your spending work for you. Pay attention to the sign-up bonus; most cards aren’t as valuable after that. You might even want to make the sign-up bonus miles your top factor for choosing a priority. I’ll dedicate a whole post to this, but many offer you thousands of free miles over a few months. I’ve taken so many trips from this.

My roundtrip flights to Asia for my half year trip was free on air miles. I used a credit card that offered 40k miles for spending $3k over 3 months. That gave me a big boost! It had a $100 annual fee, but I planned to cancel before then. They offered to remove the fee for year 2 so that I wouldn’t cancel.

There are some fantastic deals out there. Note that the one that’s best for you really does depend on your spending habits. I’ll do a full writeup eventually. In the meantime, my last few were the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture. Also, look consider cards that give bonus miles to a specific airline. I’ve used the United Explorer and American Airlines AAvantage.

Assuming you’re paying your bill in full, look to see which purchases can be done on your credit card instead of cash. This also assumes there’s no extra fee to use a card. That would defeat the purpose of using it.

This all assumes you’re paying your bill in full. If not, disregard the bonus and this entire strategy. This isn’t for you.

Cycling new cards does hurt your credit rating a tiny bit, but not significantly. If there’s no annual fee, keep it open indefinitely.

Meta search to find travel deals

Assuming you can’t get your flight for free, let’s look at how to save money on your flight. Consider the tools from meta search like Google Flights or Kayak. You can look at where’s cheap at any given time. You can look at when are the cheapest months or cheapest days to travel. They’ll also use historical data to tell you if the flight price is high or low, and if it’s likely to rise or fall by waiting. This is super helpful. That brings us to the value of flexibility and timing.

Book months in advance to save on flight prices

Do those searches well before you’re ready to travel. Booking in advance can really save money. Take a look at the indicators to see if it’s a good price or not. Airlines often reward you for booking ahead.

How early to book in advance?

The stats cited are between three weeks and four months in advance. The average number cited is 70 days.

Why booking ahead of time saves you money

The logic is simple. They have wide open inventory 8 months out. If you first book a month out, you’ll suffer from price spikes from more projected demand than supply.

Occasionally booking late can offer savings, but it’s risky. It’s typically better to book ahead. Note, location flexibility will still save you more here.

Save $$ on flights and lodging based on seasonality and day of the week

There’s a huge difference in prices from Peak versus off-peak for a given destination. If you have flexible timing, avoid peak months when everybody else wants to travel.

If you have flexibility on days, consider going on a Tuesday or Wednesday, to see if prices drop. So many people have a really tight schedule that demands it being a weekend trip. If you have flexibility to travel in the middle of the week, explore it.

But how to find enough the vacation time?

For most of my adult life I’ve received just 2 weeks vacation (10 business days), plus holidays. That’s it. And you typically can’t use them together for a 2-week trip. If you take a week off for a trip, that means you can’t go very far in any one trip, so it’s crucial to maximize your days.

Typically that means most of my trips are about 9 days long (5 weekdays plus 2 weekends) these days.

How to maximize your vacation days

To maximize these precious vacay days, I typically combine my trips with holidays that we already get off. If you get a day off combine it with holidays and stretch it further. Thus the math changes – now 4 vacay days can mean a 9-day trip.

For example, in the US that means you can take a trip in late May during the week that has Memorial Day off, use 4 vacation days, and you have 9-day trip. I like this timing because it’s just before summer price hikes. This is how I did my trips to Peru, Barcelona and Copenhagen.

Or even better, if you’re not with family during the two days off in the winter (Thanksgiving or Christmas in the US), then just 3 vacation days means a 9-day trip. That’s less than a third of your total! Many of my trips took advantage of this – Cartagena, Tulum, Turks & Caicos, Nicaragua, and more.

If you’re thinking that sounds crafty, but still inadequate, you’re not alone. You can’t go very far in a week, meaning most of the world is off-limits. How can you travel for much longer?

Save for long-term travel. It’s amazing!

When you’re in between jobs, take a multi-month trip. Travel longer than you’ve ever traveled. Save up for that moment. It might be the best time of your life!

My philosophy: there’s no rush to get a new job immediately. Save for a rainy day, and use the time you’re in between jobs as an opportunity.

Don’t let the amount of vacation days you get limit how many days you travel. Your time in between jobs can be when you finally get to go to that country on the other side of the world.

My two-month trip Europe backpacking trip included a bunch of these strategies. I used discount airlines to get there, spent lots of time in the Baltics which it costs less, and then visited the Greek Islands during down season. Loved it!

Best half year trip ever!

All of this saving can be for little annual trips, but you can only go so far in a week. Twice I’ve paused my career to travel for multiple months at a time. Sometimes you need to prioritize life (over career), and it was important to me to save enough to do that when I was ready.

I started this Visit50 travel blog when I traveled for nearly a half year through mostly Southeast Asia (plus the Middle East). Loved it! Most posts on this blog are from that half year, and there’s so much that I still need to share. This was a huge decision for me, and I’ll share more about it in a later post.

I then worked for 3.5 years, and after leaving that company, I took another few months to travel, this time through eastern and central Europe (see my Eurotrip post).

Long-term travel isn’t for everyone but I loved it!

Think of it like a career sabbatical – use the time to get new experiences that will impact you for the rest of your life!

Did you find any of these ideas helpful? Does this all sound crazy? You can do it!

What to do next

Subscribe to this blog on the top left.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook , and book your next trip!

Have you tried any of these strategies? Please let me know in the comments below!

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87 thoughts on “how i traveled to 50+ countries…and how you can too”.

GREAT READ! working on educating myself on the points game. 😉

Ditto, waiting for that free miles post @visit50

it’s coming! 🙂

So great to hear you found it helpful! I’m planning a fuller post on the point game soon!

Great tips and read!

Amazing blog! It’s really helpful and full of nice tips!

Thanks Vanessa!

This was great! Thank you

Awesome blog, Todd! Thanks for all the wonderful tips and suggestions, too.

Love your blog. I think it’s informative for people to understand how to be able to travel and get the most out of it.

Agree with most points. I avoid cities too and save on accommodations. Waiting to figure out flying cheap bit 😉

Great read! What’s the impact on the travel industry due to COVID-19?

Thanks Victor! I think it’s going to take a long while, but it’ll eventually bounce back. I’m hoping it forces some innovation and attention to germ issues too.

Really enjoyed reading your blog! Many tips that I learned from this blog. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us. I’m impressed and really love your blog! Keep it up

I totally agree! Once you catch the bug it’s definitely possible and you shared my favorite strategies!

Awesome full of some great tips ☺️

That’s a great article and tips on traveling! Glad to see this new post from you!

These are amazing tips, saving really is the greatest way!

Fantastic!! Thank you so much for sharing your tips! Very inspiring and now I can’t wait until we can travel again to explore the world Very nice blog! I want to know more and more

Great tips! Thank you for sharing them! I think we have to prioritize the projects in our lives and have a balance. I also believe that traveling is a personal thing, I love to explore the cities, to admire the architecture for instance. Other people love the exotic beaches and having fun in casinos… so it all comes to what you want most and go working for it!

I also aim to avoid big cities when I travel Great post!

Fantastic tips on how to travel for less.

What a great informative article! Thank you for sharing those invaluable tips! I am especially interested in how to sign up for free airfare. Though I travel a lot (and loving it) I was never able to get any benefit from that.

This is fantastic! So many good tips! And thank you for reading my tips about being cost conscious about your travels too!! 🙂

Great piece! I practice a lot of these too. They’re definitely the best ways to travel as much as possible. Whenever I’ve gotten the questions you include in the beginning my answer is also ‘priorities’. I hardly go out or eat out on my day to day so that I can travel instead, it’s crazy the amount of money you can save like that. I need to practice more searching for cheaper destinations though..

Amazing!!! Loved the way you had written little details and tips for travel junkies with minimal budget

I love this post. Full of awesome tips!

These are such great tips, every day spending habits can really add up and if saved, can lead to a great trip!

Great post Todd. Specially the point on – Pausing one’s career for a multi country travel. I did the same. I took a 3 month career break and it was the best time of my life.

Awesome! It’s not for everyone, but I loved it!

Money well-spent!! 🙂

Great tips, Todd. Love the idea of trips between jobs.

Thanks! I’ve done it twice and love it

Amazing journey man!

Great tips and amazing journey

i actually get a real kick out of budgeting and following how much I spend. I’ve now got to the point where I put it into a spread sheet every day. Sounds silly I know

that’s amazing! I used to save all receipts for exactly that purpose, but haven’t assembled into a post just yet

I love your journey and tips! It encourages me as a traveler myself to think of other angles when planning so I can stay and explore longer.

Cool. I didn’t know that on google flight you can get info on if the price of a flight might increase or drop. Very useful

Yes – it says if prices are currently high or low for that destination.

Great blog! Love the way you’ve written it I felt the enthusiasm in your words

I certainly try to convey my excitement, thanks so much!

Wow great tips. I will try to watch my spending on shopping so I can save more money to travel

Great blog and good tips.

Thanks Iris! Hope it helps!

Fascinating! Fun to read and so well written! Looking forward to reading all past posts and keeping up with future !

Fantastic! Would love to hear your thoughts on the others too!

GreAt job I agree with all the points

I wish we had the mileage system here that you guys have in the States! It doesn’t even compare. But it’s all about making travel a priority! Exactly. Thank you for sharing!

Which country are you in Sibu?

This is some great information! We can’t wait to travel again!

Funny to see how we think alike. Reminds me of a blog post I posted a while ago. Great read! Michelle

thanks Michelle! Note, your blog URL isn’t loading

Great article! I actually do most of what you recommend. Thanks for sharing.

you’re a pro Gladys! 🙂

Thanks for the tips 🙂 this was very helpful!

Great post! I can really relate to the things you wrote about as I travel in a very similar way! Keep it up! This looks awesome!

Todd, this is a great list!! My husband and I have done some of the things mentioned. In fact, theres also a site where if you watch someones pet, theyll let you stay at their place for free. My brother visited Bulgaria for a whole month this way!

Great tips in here mate

Very well written, detailed and informative…good to understand from your perspective as you have done so much travel

Fantastic blog, easy to read with many great tips for travelling around the world. Very helpful thank you

I’m so glad it helped you!

Great list! I’m always finding new ways to make travel more sustainable for me in the future and I love your take on all these tips. Thanks for sharing!

Loved the article. Very informative! Thanks for taking the time to write it and share it with us. Give us a shout when you get to Amsterdam 🙂

Amazing! So much fantastic information, I’ll take a lot of this on board! Great experiences you’ve had, thanks for sharing!

Thankyou for sharing such awesome tips! really helpful.

Great read, and super helpful tips about budgeting!

I travel a lot and I read this article very carefully. I found out it very interesting. Many of the things you write are already part of my way to organize a trip. There are also many useful tips and I thank you for those ❤️

you’re welcome Annalisa! So glad to hear you found it valuable!

Great blog post! I completely agree on needing to rethink every day spending and saving $. -Alena

Awesome tips – we’re very similar in our approach to travel!

I’m so glad to run into your blog! The photos and adventures are awesome and a wonderful trip

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and tricks!

Amazing blog post! Definitely agree with a lot of these things. Starting in Eastern Europe is always a good shout! Keep up the good work!

It was great to read your post. Thank you for sharing!

Great blog post Todd! You’ve really broken it down well, this kind of comprehensive, straightforward information is hard to find. We travel a lot and I can relate to so many if the things you’ve mentioned, prioritizing is key and flexibility too. We often choose destinations because of a deal and miles and points have been fabulous over the years. One thing I’d add (I’m sure you do it already) is to pay attention to exchange rates, we’ve often picked or avoided places based on the strength or weakness of the currency. Europe is much more fun for Americans when the euro is lower ;).

These are great tips! We used AirBnB and spent only $325 total for all 10 of our nights in Central America last year. I haven’t yet considered booking on the same day and bargaining. Truthfully, I didn’t even know that was a thing! So thanks! I learned something new! Can’t wait for travel to resume! I’m nowhere near 50 countries, as I started traveling later in life due to having my son. More like 13 or 14 countries. This is inspiring!

Deals! So many travelers overlook those options. Nicely done!

Thanks for the tips they’re great will definitely be looking back at these once we’re able to travel again…

My pleasure – hope it helps you!

These tips are amazing! I never thought about negotiating hotels and airbnb stays! Can’t wait to read more blog posts

Awesome post with a lot of great tips and information! I’m going to take some of these tips and try to travel more!

Loads of great information here! Making travel a priority is so true

Hi Todd! Amazing information, thank you for sharing your awesome tips!

Thanks for this post.

I’m 42 years old and also shooting for 50 countries by age 50. I’ve visited 37 so far. My new goal is once i get to 46 or 47 countries to book an antarctic expedition for my 50th birthday which should cover 4-5 countries at once!

Amazing Isaac! You’re so close!

Great article!

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Planning to Combine Business and Leisure Travel? You’re Not Alone.

As employees increasingly add leisure time to their business trips, companies are trying to figure out where their duty of care obligations begin and end.

Credit... Aart-Jan Venema

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By Amy Zipkin

• April 7, 2024

On a Sunday in late January, Melinda Buchmann, who lives in Florida and supervises client relations for RevShoppe, a 30-person remote company advising organizations on sales techniques and strategies, arrived in Banff, Alberta, to help set up a four-day company meeting.

The last day of the event, her husband, Josh, a director of strategic partnerships for the delivery company DoorDash , who also works remotely, joined her. They spent two leisurely days hiking in Banff National Park and visiting Lake Louise.

“I take advantage, because I don’t know when I’m going to return,” Ms. Buchmann said of the decision to combine downtime with a business trip.

As postpandemic work life has changed, and arrangements now include full-time office attendance as well as hybrid and remote work, so, too, has business travel. The phenomenon known as bleisure, or blended business and leisure travel, was initially embraced largely by digital nomads . But such combined travel is now also popular with people outside that group . Allied Market Research, a subsidiary of Allied Analytics, based in Portland, Ore., estimated that the bleisure travel market was $315.3 billion in 2022 and would reach $731.4 billion by 2032.

As employees increasingly add leisure time to their business trips, companies are struggling to determine where their legal obligation to protect employees from harm — their so-called duty of care — begins and ends. And workers may think that because their trip started with business, they will get all the help they need if something goes wrong on the leisure end. Instead, they should generally consider the leisure part of a trip as a regular vacation where they cover all expenses and contingencies.

Companies are responsible for knowing where their employees are during a business trip, covering expenses if an accident or emergency occurs, securing new lodging if a hotel is damaged, even swapping out a broken down rental car. Still, it’s not entirely clear if that coverage ends completely after the conference or the last client meeting.

Companies recognize that threats are increasing, said Robert Cole, senior research analyst focusing on lodging and leisure travel at Phocuswright, a market research company. They are trying to figure out how to take care of a valuable company resource, the employee, without leaving themselves open to financial risk or potential litigation.

“Crafting a comprehensive policy that balances business objectives, employee well-being and legal considerations can be challenging,” Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos, head of tourism at ICF, a consulting and technology services company in Reston, Va., wrote in an email.

Employees may be on their own without realizing it and may be surprised by out-of-pocket expenses if they require hospital care abroad or evacuation, said Suzanne Morrow, chief executive of InsureMyTrip , an online insurance travel comparison site in Warwick, R.I.

Ms. Morrow said medical coverage provided by a company “is generally only for the dates of the actual business trip abroad.” If travelers are extending the trip for personal travel, she added, “they would want to secure emergency medical coverage for that additional time abroad.”

Employers and employees are left to figure out when the business portion of the trip ends and the leisure segment begins, a significant detail if an employee has a medical emergency. “Where does the corporation liability end?” said Kathy Bedell, senior vice president at BCD Travel, a travel management company.

Companies have varying policies to deal with the new travel amalgam. The chief executive of RevShoppe, Patricia McLaren, based in Austin, Texas, said the company provided flexible travel options and allowed employees to work anywhere they choose.

Even so, there are constraints. The company requires all employees, including executives, to sign liability and insurance waivers when they are on a voluntary company-sponsored trip, such as an off-site meeting. Such waivers typically place responsibility on employees for their own well-being. And if they bring someone, they are responsible for that person’s expenses.

Employees are responsible for requesting the paid time off and notifying their managers of their whereabouts, although that part is not a requirement. Managers have to ensure adequate staffing, Ms. McLaren said.

Elsewhere, employees may not bother to mention the leisure portion of their trip. Eliot Lees, a vice president and managing director at ICF, said he had been on trips as a child with his parents when they combined business and leisure. His parents were academics, who would piggyback vacations onto conferences.

Now he does the same. “I don’t think I ever asked for approval,” he said. (ICF has no formal business-leisure travel policy. It’s allowed as part of personal time off.) After a conference in the Netherlands last year, he spent four days hiking in the northern part of the country.

“I go anywhere, and take more risks than I should,” he said. He said he didn’t carry personal travel or accident insurance.

Any nonchalance may quickly evaporate if a threat emerges. Security experts say even low-risk locations can become high-risk for a few days or weeks of the year.

“Companies are concerned about losing visibility into a traveler’s whereabouts if they booked flights and hotels outside their corporate travel management company,” Benjamin Thorne, senior intelligence manager in London for Crisis24, a subsidiary of GardaWorld, wrote in an email. “The company may think the traveler is in one city when, in reality, they could have booked a holiday package to another nearby city. This lack of visibility by the company makes it difficult to support travelers when a disaster occurs.”

He also raised the possibility that “a traveler with bleisure travel reservations and expectations may find their work trip canceled due to changes in the risk environment or company policy, disrupting their leisure plans.”

Will a company step in off hours if there’s a problem? “That depends on how you are booked,” Mr. Cole, the senior research analyst at Phocuswright, said. A rule of thumb is the further you get from corporate control, the greater the gray area gets.

Half of GoldSpring Consulting’s clients take the responsibility for the entire trip, said Will Tate, a partner at the consultancy based in Cross Roads, Texas, and a certified public accountant. They don’t want the reputational risk. The other half say: “The business trip ended Friday. That’s when we end our duty of care.”

Some companies are trying to define and narrow the gray area. “If you are clearly on personal time, there is no legal requirement for your employer to provide for you,” said Nicole Page, a lawyer whose practice includes employment law at Reavis Page Jump in New York.

Uber provides employees with advisories before a trip, travel assessments, safety tips while traveling and emergency travel assistance, including medical aid, airport travel support, urgent and emergency assistance, and lost or stolen personal property insurance whether they are on business or pleasure travel or a combination.

And at DoorDash, Chris Cherry, head of global safety and security, wrote in an email that “while personal travel is not something we track, we have received requests to extend our travel support capabilities to personal travel.” Mr. Cherry said in those cases, the company has manually added employee leisure itineraries to its travel risk management system and “provided the same level of overwatch that we do for regular business travel.”

The Buchmanns plan to travel this month to Barcelona, Spain, for the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention. DoorDash will have a booth, and Mr. Buchmann will work on the exhibit floor and also entertain clients.

Ms. Buchmann will accompany him. She plans to go sightseeing in the morning, and work in the afternoons and evenings Barcelona time. She will also take three days of paid time off and has shared her plans with Ms. McLaren, the RevShoppe chief executive.

They will stay a day after the conference and plan to visit the Dalí Theater and Museum in Figueres. “I’m sure there will be no shortage of tapas and window shopping along way,” Mr. Buchmann said. He expects to be back at work the next Monday.

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Moscow metro to be more tourist-friendly

A new floor sign system at the Moscow metro's Pushkinskaya station. Source: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti

For many years now, Moscow has lagged behind St. Petersburg when it comes to making life easy for tourists, especially where getting around the city is concerned. Whereas the northern capital installed English-language maps, signs and information points throughout its subway system in the late 2000s, the Russian capital’s metro remained a serious challenge for foreign visitors to navigate.

Recent visitors to Moscow may have noticed some signs that change is afoot, however. In many stations of the Moscow subway, signs have appeared on the floor – with large lettering in Russian and English – indicating the direction to follow in order to change lines. Previously, foreign visitors using the Moscow metro had to rely solely upon deciphering the Russian-language signs hanging from the ceilings.

Student volunteers help tourists find their way in Moscow

However, this new solution has a significant drawback. “The floor navigation is visible only to a small stream of people – fewer than three people per meter. During peak hours, this navigation will simply not be noticed,” said Konstantin Trofimenko, Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Studies.

One of the biggest problems for tourists in the Russian capital remains the absence of English translations of the names of subway stations in the station vestibules and on platforms. The Department of Transportation in Moscow has not commented yet as to when this problem will be solved. However, Latin transliterations of station names can already be found in the subway cars themselves.

Finding the right exit

At four of the central stations – Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Lubyanka and Kuznetsky Most – the city authorities have now installed colorful stands at the exits with schematic diagrams of the station’s concourse and surrounding area, which provide information about the main attractions and infrastructural facilities.

The schematic diagrams are the work of British specialists from the City ID and Billings Jackson Design firms, who have already implemented successful projects in New York and London.

According to Alexei Novichkov, expert at the Design Laboratory at the Higher School of Economics, the design of these information booths raises no objections: The color solutions, font, layout and icons are consistent with international standards.

However, the stands do have some shortcomings. “Many questions are raised about the fact that the developers of these maps did not apply orientation to the north, and have provided layouts of the surrounding areas with respect to the exits,” says Novichkov. “A system like that is used for road navigators, but most of the ‘paper’ guides and maps are oriented strictly to north. The subway map is also oriented to north, so people may become confused.”

Muscovites and foreign visitors are generally positive about these navigation elements, with most of them citing the numbered exits from the subway as the most useful feature.

The fact is that many Moscow subway stations have several exits. One of the busiest central stations of the Moscow subway in particular, Kitay-Gorod, has more than a dozen exits. Previously, these exits were differentiated from each other only with signs in Russian referring to the names of streets and places of interest to which they led – making it easy for tourists and those with poor navigation skills to get confused.

Now, when making an appointment to meet a friend, instead of struggling to find the right spot when they tell you: “I'll meet you at the exit to Solyanka Street,” you can just propose to meet under a specific exit number.

“I’ve lived in Moscow for seven years,” says Angelika, a designer from Voronezh, “but I still don’t always know where to go to find the place I need, so the new schematic diagrams will be very useful. Previously, some subway stations had maps, but not with so much detail.”

Teething problems

Foreigners, meanwhile, focus their attention on other elements. “It is good that the new information boards have QR-codes, which can be ‘read’ by smartphones,” says Florentina, a writer from Vienna. But there are also shortcomings. “The English font of the information on posters and in the captions to theaters and museums is too small – you have to come very close to see it well,” she says.

Pleasant encounters on the streets of Moscow

Florentina was also dissatisfied with the fact that such posters are not provided at all subway stations: “When I was trying to find Tsaritsyno Park (a museum and reserve in the south of Moscow) at a subway station with the same name, it turned out to be quite difficult,” she says.

“There are no maps with landmarks for other areas, such as those already in the city center. There were no clear pointers in the English language, and the passers-by I met did not speak in English, so they could not help me,” she adds.

Officials say that the navigation system is gradually being redeveloped and improved. According to Darya Chuvasheva, a press representative for the Department of Transport of Moscow, the introduction of a unified navigation system will take place in stages.

“By the end of 2014, the system will first appear on the first subway stations on the Circle Line. By the end of 2015, we plan to install the system at all major stopping points, subway stations and transport interchange hubs,” says Chuvasheva.

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Things to Do in Lytkarino, Russia - Lytkarino Attractions

Things to do in lytkarino.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Lytkarinsky Quarry

2. Nicholas Temple

3. Lytkarino Museum of History and Local Lore

4. Lytkarinskiy Local History Museum

5. Zvezda Izranennaya Memorial

6. arena lytkarino.

7. The Church of Peter and Paul in Petrovskiy

8. Cinema Kompani

9. Mini-zoo Sozidatel

10. lytquest.

11. Palace of Culture "Mir"

• Nicholas Temple
• Zvezda Izranennaya Memorial
• Lytkarinskiy Local History Museum
• Lytkarino Museum of History and Local Lore
• Arena Lytkarino

US restricts travel of embassy workers in Israel as Iran retaliation looms

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Thursday, April 11. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our story for Friday, April 12 .

The U.S. State Department issued a security alert Thursday for its personnel and their families in Israel, limiting where they can go amid increased concerns of an Iranian attack.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,’’ the alert says. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.’’

There’s no reference in the alert to an impending Iranian strike, but Tehran has signaled it will retaliate for the April 1 assault on its consulate in Damascus, which killed seven senior Iranian military officers. Israel is widely believed to have launched that attack, although it has not claimed responsibility.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out in the last day to the foreign ministers of China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone’s interest and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday.

With the Israel-Hamas war still raging past the six-month mark, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem is also urging American citizens to be mindful of the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, warning against visiting the embattled Palestinian territory.

“The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,’’ the alert says.

Israel to 'flood Gaza with aid': War of words with Iran also heats up

Developments:

∎ Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews demonstrated near a Jerusalem enlistment office, protesting a recent court ruling that means "Haredim" men will be drafted for the first time since Israel was founded in 1948.

∎ Israel is prepared for military confrontations beyond Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, amid concern that Iran was getting ready to strike Israel. "Whoever harms us, we will harm them," he said.

∎ The Israel Defense Forces said it began a "precise, intelligence-based operation to strike terrorist infrastructure and eliminate operatives in central Gaza'' overnight into Thursday.

∎ Russia urged countries in the Middle East to show restraint to avoid "complete destabilization" of the region. Russia also warned its citizens against traveling to the Middle East.

Iran says it must punish Israel because UN didn't condemn embassy attack

Tehran must retaliate for the deadly attack on its consular compound in Damascus last week because the U.N. Security Council failed to condemn the strike or take any action against Israel, Iran’s U.N. mission said in a statement posted Thursday on the X platform.

“Had the U.N. Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated,” the statement said.

Despite its threats, Iran has indicated to the U.S. through an intermediary that it will respond in a manner that avoids an escalation of hostilities with Israel and wouldn’t rush into it, Reuters reported. The U.S. has maintained it was not involved in or given advance notice of the attack.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the April 1 attack on an Iranian consulate annex building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Syria that killed seven high-ranking Iranian military officers, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi of the elite Quds Force. Tensions between the nations have increased, and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that “the evil regime made a mistake and must be punished.”

The top U.S. commander for the Middle East reportedly arrived in Israel on Thursday for meetings with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior defense officials to discuss an anticipated military response from Iran,  Haaretz.com  reported. Gen. Erik Kurilla’s trip comes a day after Blinken spoke with Gallant and “reiterated the United States’ support for Israel’s security and made clear that the U.S. will stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies,” the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. Central Command, in an email to USA TODAY, declined to confirm Kurilla’s trip: “We do not discuss flag officer travel for operational security.”

Hamas official says cease-fire needed to account for hostages

A senior Hamas official on Thursday deflected questions from journalists concerning fears that many hostages could be dead. The possibility gained traction after Hamas said it was not sure it could provide 40 living Israeli civilian captives as part of a cease-fire proposal. Dr. Basem Naim, a member of political bureau of Hamas, said a cease-fire agreement is needed to provide time and safety to collect information on the captured Israelis. They are held in different places by different militant groups − and some are "under the rubble, killed with our own people" and heavy equipment is required to find them, he said.

No one is asking about the thousands of Palestinians kidnapped by Israel since the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7 that ignited the war, he said.

"The most outrageous is the repeated questions regarding the hostages in Gaza, how many alive or dead, does Hamas rejected the proposal because it can’t release 40 hostages in the first phase, etc ..." he said in a statement posted on Telegram. "The lives of their people aren’t more precious than ours."

UNICEF aid convoy hit with gunfire, turned back from Gaza

A UNICEF convoy was hit by gunfire Wednesday as it tried to deliver aid to northern Gaza, the latest in a series of violent obstructions faced by aid workers in the enclave.

"The incident has been raised with relevant Israeli authorities," UNICEF said in a statement. "Sadly, humanitarians continue to face risks in delivering lifesaving aid."

The incident occurred nine days after a World Central Kitchen aid convoy was attacked by Israeli rockets, killing seven workers − and the same day Israel promised to greatly increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY request for comment on the incident.

UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram told Al Jazeera she was in one of the vehicles at a “holding point” area at a checkpoint. She said three rounds hit the car where she was sitting. The mission had been authorized and the Israeli authorities knew about the convoy, Ingram said. After the shooting, Israeli authorities continued to delay the convoy and it eventually was forced to return to Rafah.

“So those life-saving supplies never made it to the children in northern Gaza,” Ingram said.

Israeli commander pitches aid plan to Red Cross, other agencies

Israel's Southern Command chief, Major General Yaron Finkelman, met with representatives of U.N. agencies, the Red Cross, IMC, USAID and the American Humanitarian Coordinator as part of "increasing coordination and cooperation on the issue of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," the Israeli military announced.

The meeting comes as Israel announced plans to greatly increase access to humanitarian aid for Gaza residents. Plans include a new border crossing designed make it easier to bring humanitarian supplies from overseas and from Jordan to the east.

“These breakthroughs have a direct impact on the flow of aid – we plan to flood Gaza with aid," Gallant said. "It will also streamline security checks and strengthen our work with international partners.”

Contributing: Reuters

U.S. restricts employees’ travel as Iran vows revenge on Israel

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security warning to government employees and their families, imposing travel restrictions on their movements, as Israel braces for Iran to retaliate for a strike that killed top Iranian military officials in Syria.

The alert, which does not explicitly mention Iran, was issued as leaders in Tehran vowed to respond to an Israeli strike this month near Iran’s embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which has stoked fears of widening conflict in a region on edge.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, … Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” reads the U.S. Embassy security alert , issued Thursday.

The attack killed two senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and five other officers, Iran said.

While Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility, U.S. officials told The Washington Post that Pentagon officials were frustrated that Israel did not notify the United States before the April 1 strike, which they assess increases risks to U.S. forces in the Middle East.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel would be “punished” and “regret this crime.” With Israel’s military on high alert last week, Israel has vowed to strike back at Iran “if Iran attacks from its territory.”

The head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, visited Israel on Thursday, a Pentagon spokesperson said , as the allies coordinate on preparing for Iran’s promised counterstrike. President Biden has repeated that the U.S. commitment to Israel against threats from Iran and its allies is “ironclad.”

“The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents often take place without warning,” the alert said. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events.”

The April 1 strike near a diplomatic compound — traditionally exempted from hostilities — was seen as an escalation in Israel’s multi-front battles against Iranian-backed groups in the region, which have intensified during its war in Gaza .

The United States has previously issued travel warnings during the war, and a rare “worldwide caution” advisory to all Americans overseas in October, citing “the potential for violence and increased tensions” globally.

Confrontations in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen simmered between Iranian-backed groups and Israel or the United States. Analysts have said Tehran may still hope to avoid being pulled into a costly war, while maintaining support for allies that have traded fire with Israeli forces or attacked Israel’s main backer, the United States, in the region, The Post reported.

U.S. and other officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters, said earlier this month they expected Iran could respond with attacks on Israeli targets, calculated to avert an even bigger Israeli response, The Post reported. Yet they acknowledged the potential for miscalculation in such a volatile environment.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the Biden administration has “communicated to Iran that the U.S. had no involvement in the strike” in Syria. She said the administration warned Tehran not “to escalate further in the region or attack U.S. facilities or personnel.”

Kareem Fahim and Susannah George contributed to this report.

Israel-Gaza war

The Israel-Gaza war has gone on for six months, and tensions have spilled into the surrounding region .

The war: On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel that included the taking of civilian hostages at a music festival . (See photos and videos of how the deadly assault unfolded ). Israel declared war on Hamas in response, launching a ground invasion that fueled the biggest displacement in the region since Israel’s creation in 1948 .

Gaza crisis: In the Gaza Strip, Israel has waged one of this century’s most destructive wars , killing tens of thousands and plunging at least half of the population into “ famine-like conditions. ” For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave .

U.S. involvement: Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians , including President Biden, the United States supports Israel with weapons , funds aid packages , and has vetoed or abstained from the United Nations’ cease-fire resolutions.

History: The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mistrust are deep and complex, predating the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 . Read more on the history of the Gaza Strip .

• Middle East conflict live updates: Israel braces amid fears of Iranian strike; U.S. shifts forces to region April 12, 2024 Middle East conflict live updates: Israel braces amid fears of Iranian strike; U.S. shifts forces to region April 12, 2024
• Crutches and chocolate croissants: Gaza aid items Israel has rejected April 11, 2024 Crutches and chocolate croissants: Gaza aid items Israel has rejected April 11, 2024
• Six months of the Israel-Gaza war: A timeline of key moments April 7, 2024 Six months of the Israel-Gaza war: A timeline of key moments April 7, 2024

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Public Health

How florida and arizona supreme court rulings change the abortion access map.

Selena Simmons-Duffin

Hilary Fung

In a few weeks, Florida and Arizona are set to join most states in the southern U.S. in banning abortion. It's a significant shake up to the abortion legal landscape, and data shared exclusively with NPR maps and quantifies what the changes will mean for millions of Americans.

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court cleared the way for an 1864 law to be enforced. That law completely bans abortion except when someone's life is in danger. Last week, the Florida Supreme Court made its decision to allow a ban on abortions after six weeks gestation to take effect on May 1.

Caitlin Myers , an economics professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, has been tracking abortion facilities and travel distances since 2009. She analyzed how these latest rulings will affect the access map.

"Because of these bans, it's about 6 million women of reproductive age who are experiencing an increase in distance of more than 200 miles," she says.

She points out that Floridians who are seeking abortions after six weeks will have to travel nearly 600 miles to North Carolina, which has a 72-hour waiting period. "So we're talking about a day's drive to a state that requires you to engage in this multi-day process," Myers says. "A lot of people might end up going several hundred miles further to Virginia."

For people in Arizona, after the 1864 law takes effect, "their nearest destinations are pretty long drives. They're going to be facing hundreds of miles to reach southern California, New Mexico, Colorado," Myers says. "I think Arizona spillover is likely to affect California in a way that California hasn't yet been affected by bans."

Myers helms the Myers Abortion Facility Database . She has gathered data about facilities – including clinics, doctors, and hospitals that publicly indicated that they provide abortions – going back more than a decade, using data licensure databases, directories, and Wayback Machine captures of websites from years past. She uses a team of undergraduate research assistants to periodically call facilities and make sure the information is up to date.

Numbers of abortions rise in Florida, decline in Arizona

Although Florida and Arizona have historically both been politically purple states and both have had 15-week abortion bans since 2022, the states have been on different trajectories when it comes to abortion and play very different roles in their regions.

There were about 12,000 abortions in Arizona in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute , a research organization that supports abortion rights. Out-of-state travel accounted for 3% of abortions in the state, and the overall number of abortions has been declining there in recent years, Guttmacher finds.

By contrast, there were nearly 85,000 abortions in Florida in 2023, according to state data , just a few thousand fewer than Illinois, which has positioned itself as a haven for people seeking abortions in the post- Roe era. And the number of abortions happening in the state has been on the rise. "The majority of the increase has been driven by out-of-state travel into Florida because of bans in surrounding states," explains Isaac Maddow-Zimet , a Guttmacher data scientist. "That really speaks to the role that Florida has played in the region where there really aren't many other options."

The Alliance Defending Freedom, which brought the case in Arizona, frames those affected by the new laws in a different way. "We celebrate the Arizona Supreme Court's decision that allows the state's pro-life law to again protect the lives of countless, innocent unborn children," the organization wrote in a statement this week .

Even with new bans in place, there are a few ways residents of Florida and Arizona will be able to access abortion without driving hundreds of miles. People with means will be able to fly to states where abortion access is protected. Others will be able to use telehealth to connect with providers in those states and receive abortion medication in the mail – a practice that has been growing in popularity in recent months. Telehealth medication abortions, though, could be curtailed by a pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court. (A decision in that case is expected this summer.)

In Florida, some will be able to get abortions before the six-week gestational limit, which is about two weeks after a missed period. "Folks have a really narrow window in order to meet that gestational duration limit if they even know about their pregnancy in time," Maddow-Zimet of Guttmacher explains. "And that's something that's particularly difficult in Florida because Florida requires an in-person counseling visit 24 hours before the abortion."

'A substantial barrier'

Many thousands of people in Florida and Arizona will be unable to navigate those options and will carry their pregnancies instead, Myers says.

"It's easy to think – if an abortion is so important to somebody, they will find a way, they will figure it out," she says, but research on people seeking abortions illustrates why that's not always possible. "[Many] are low income. They're in very difficult life circumstances. They're experiencing disruptive life events like the loss of a job or breaking up with a partner or threatened eviction. Many of them are parenting and have difficulty obtaining child care." One large study showed about 80% of people seeking abortions had subprime credit scores.

"If you think about all that, it is perhaps not so surprising that the results of my research and other people's research shows very strongly and unequivocally that distance is a substantial barrier to people who are seeking abortions," Myers says.

Mary Ziegler , a law professor and historian of reproductive rights at the University of California - Davis, says it's worth noting how these states both came to have new bans. "The common denominator is conservative state supreme courts reaching decisions contrary to what voters would want, interestingly, in an election year when those judges are facing retention elections," she says.

Voters in Florida will have a chance to weigh in on abortion access in November, when an amendment to their state constitution will be on the ballot. An effort to put an abortion amendment on the ballot in Arizona is also underway. Abortions rights opponents in both states have pledged to fight the measures.

• abortion access
• Abortion rights