Work and travel don’t have to be mutually exclusive. With a full-time job, you can still pack a lot in; it just requires a bit of strategic planning. To figure out the best way to do it, we spoke to two travellers who have maximized their vacation time while handling a regular 9-5 work schedule.
Samantha Buss is a veterinary nurse and part-time travel blogger living in Surrey, England. Working full-time, she enjoys 21 annual leave days plus bank holidays. With that, she takes about six to eight trips a year, usually consisting of two larger trips alongside shorter weekend breaks. Last year, she visited Paris, the Netherlands, Ukraine, South Africa, Vietnam, Italy, and Japan.
Samantha emphasizes the importance of starting the year with clear travel goals. She decides on two main destinations to visit and explains, “From there, I will research the best and cheapest time of year to visit and secure the time off work as soon as possible.” For weekend trips, she prefers spontaneity but tries to align these with bank holiday weekends to minimize the amount of annual leave required. Additionally, she travels abroad to volunteer with wildlife, primarily to South Africa or Southeast Asia, as her work allows for this additional unpaid leave.
Most workers in Europe, like Samantha, receive approximately 21 to 25 paid holiday days per year. Conversely, in the U.S., it’s significantly less at merely 10 paid vacation days. However, you can still use weekends for short trips and save annual leave for more extensive adventures. Usually, full-time jobs operate on a Monday to Friday schedule, granting around 104 free days each year, excluding public holidays.
Samantha advises how to utilize weekends and public holidays to maximize your vacation time. She recommends using annual leave exclusively for travel days rather than for appointments and encourages speaking to employers about available options. “Many people fear doing this, but your company might have options in place like unpaid leave for volunteer trips, flexible work hours, or even sabbaticals,” she notes. “Larger companies are increasingly adapting to offer options to retain valuable employees.”
Alline Waldhelm, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, now resides in Vienna. She works full-time as a financial analyst and enjoys a generous allowance of 25 paid vacation days annually. On average, Alline takes about 15 trips per year, typically consisting of short breaks that she aims to stretch over long weekends when possible. While she loves exploring new places, she often revisits the same city two or three times for weekend trips.
Alline insists, “You can’t exhaust a city in one weekend, but you can certainly get a feel for it. There are always new things to discover.” The familiarity with a location helps her optimize how she spends her limited time during shorter visits. When she’s seeking spontaneity, Alline uses Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere’ function to find the best deals on budget flights; otherwise, she explores closer options that promote sustainable travel.
Flexibility in her schedule is vital for Alline so she can take advantage of great travel opportunities. She maintains a suitcase ready with essential items, allowing her to leave directly from work to catch a flight. “I often come back on a Sunday night or Monday morning and head straight to the office,” she shares.
When time is limited, Alline recommends choosing cities with efficient transportation infrastructures to avoid wasting valuable hours in airport commutes. While it may be more economical to stay in hotels farther outside the city center, when visiting for just a couple of days, opting for closer accommodations is advisable. If on a budget, a hostel with a private room in the city center is a good fit. “You’ll be busy discovering the area anyway,” she adds.
In conclusion, you do not have to choose between frequent travel and a full-time career; both can coexist beautifully. Explore your options and seize the opportunities available to you. It’s important to take the time you’ve earned. A recent report revealed that American workers forfeited a record 798 million paid vacation days in 2018, time that should have been enjoyed. Traveling—even to a nearby town or a distant destination—can significantly enhance your mental well-being.
As Samantha aptly puts it, “Travel is my escape from the stress of my full-time job. It brings me back to myself, immersing me in new cultures and experiences that foster personal growth and confidence.” Additionally, she adds, “You cannot surpass the delight of indulging in an authentic Pad Thai in Thailand.”
