How can you travel and work at the same time, particularly if you have a full-time job?
You say it’s impossible? We know first-hand that it is not only possible, but also rewarding and profitable!
This is a very common story – an aspiring traveler leaves their job to travel the world and find love, fame and/or fortune. You’ve probably seen or read about this in a film, but it’s not something that happens very often.
It’s not possible for many people to quit their jobs and take a vacation. They are either (understandably), too pragmatic or have other commitments which prevent them from quitting.
Working remotely while travelling is undoubtedly the most convenient way (have laptop will travel), but there are certain jobs you can’t do by phone and other times that quitting may not be the right answer.
It’s not necessary to leave your job in order to travel the globe. You’ll need a positive attitude and some creativity to solve problems. It may even take a little bit of sleight-of-hand. But for most people, it is possible to work full time while also fulfilling their travel dreams.
How to Travel While Working
We both had jobs when we started travelling together, almost 20 years before. Our first trips were weekend getaways. Then we took two-week vacations. We worked remotely for months while in Mexico. Finally, we embarked on a one-year journey through Southeast Asia.
Some of the tips may not work for you, but if you think creatively, maybe one will!
Many people think that work and travel are incompatible. There are many different ways to travel and keep your job, whether you’re a couple working together, an individual who wants to travel, or a family traveling.
Our top travel tips are for those who have a job and want to travel.
As we move down the list, our solutions become more innovative.
Use your weekends and time off
You decide how to spend your time!
Take advantage of your vacation time and weekend to explore the world. If you want to travel for a longer period of time, then make several four-day weekend trips. Or take a shorter trip. You can save time by choosing to fly instead of driving long distances.
Be flexible with your dates
You may need to adjust your travel dates if you are working full-time and want to take a trip.
If you are an accountant, taking off during tax season or the busy summer season might not be the best idea. Consider taking some extra time off just before the big break, or even a long weekend. This will maximize your vacation and give you more time to travel. Be flexible and creative if you wish to do and see more.
Travel in the off-season
This is related to the last segment. If you plan your vacations for the shoulder seasons, such as late spring/early fall, you will be able to maximize the time you spend away from home. Traveling in summer is popular, but it can be expensive. Instead of waiting in long lines for hours to get into the airport or to the destination you want to visit, you should consider going to the fall or spring.
Work Extra Hours
Does your employer let you bank time? You may be able to take time off instead of getting overtime pay.
You can also bank vacation days by working overtime during periods of high demand. Make sure your employer accurately records any overtime you put in and that you are paid for it.
TAKE ADVANTAGE TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES WHILE WORKING
You can ask your employer if your job offers any opportunities for travel. Asking about travel opportunities to conferences, warehouses and other places of work may surprise you. You may not be able do all of them, but you might be able snag a few extra trips.
If you plan your dates to coincide with a weekend you will have a couple of extra days in the city you are visiting.
Work During Your Vacation
Many employers will not even allow their employees to work from home. These same employers are happy to allow you to work through vacation.
It’s not fun to work on your vacation. If you can’t take time off work and have an unending backlog, you may find that working on vacation is a viable option.
You’ll have to either convince your employer to allow you to work from home while you are on vacation, or make a trip to work and take a short break. You can either stay in a nice hotel for a part of your vacation or you can stay home. Spend your free time on some fun things. Even though it may not feel like traveling, doing some activities in your local area that are different from your usual routine can make your trip memorable.
UNPAID OFF-TIME
If you’re like many readers, the term unpaid probably scared you off, but please hear me out. Unpaid leave can help you save for vacation time while keeping your job.
When I didn’t have enough vacation time, I asked for time off without pay.
If you’re not being paid, companies are often happy to let you take a couple of weeks, or even months, off. Your employer might actually be happy to have less payroll costs for a little while if work at the company is slow.
This strategy may not be effective if you are extremely busy or if the employer needs your skills. However, it is never a bad idea to inquire. Many people don’t even ask, but you might be surprised by their answer.
Ask your current employer if you can work remotely
You might want to be careful with this one: If your boss is vindictive or uptight, it’s possible that they will find out you are planning to travel.
You may be surprised. You may find that many employers are reluctant to let go of a valued employee. If you have a job you enjoy and can do it well from home, you should ask.
This technique has worked for me in the past. My first job was a full-time, on-site technical writing position. In my first months of employment, I tried to convince my supervisors that they should value and trust my work.
After about three months, I requested to work from home one day per week. The answer was yes. I showed them I worked hard and productively at home.
Two months later I asked for permission to work remotely two days a week. The answer was yes and I continued to work hard.
In a few months I again asked for the opportunity to work from home full-time. I explained that I would be saving them money because I’d have more space in my office, but they wouldn’t miss any time. The company said yes and in just a few short weeks, I would be heading to Mexico.
Ask your employer if it is possible to work from home part-time if your job can be performed from any location. You will have more freedom to travel, as you are able to work anywhere.
Find a job that allows you to work remotely
It might sound impossible but you can work at home right from the beginning.
We can be grateful for this. Remote workers have increased all over the globe, and many businesses now realize that remote employees are a good idea. This has opened up so many new possibilities.
Writing and editing jobs are the two most common remote work opportunities. There are many writing jobs, and you don’t need to work for custom written papers.
You can find more ideas on how to work while you travel by checking out the list of 45 top travel jobs.
INVEST IN CONTRACT WORK INSIDE OF A 9-5 PERMANENT POSITION
Traveling was something we did for years during the time between IT contract jobs. After working for six or twelve months at a contractual job, we would travel between jobs.
This approach has a major disadvantage: you have to be able to make enough money to pay for time off. It is important to have a good budget and be able save. However, contract workers often get paid more. Since you would be self-employed, it is possible to save money on taxes. Contract work is a lucrative option, especially in certain markets.
Take a Sabbatical
We understand that not everyone is able to take a leave of absence.
If you are lucky to work in an academic field, or a career that allows sabbaticals regularly, then definitely consider it.
Many companies, such as Patagonia, McDonalds and others, allow for sabbaticals. It may be necessary to ask informally your HR department or to browse the website of your employer to determine if you are eligible for a sabbatical. However, they can provide a wonderful opportunity to maintain your employment while allowing you to pursue your interests.
Some companies will even pay you for your time off during a sabbatical! It depends a lot on the company you work for, its philosophy towards life and career as well as where you are located.
Even if you don’t get paid for your time off during a sabbatical, you will still have a job when you return. Start saving.
Be your own boss
You can choose the day and time you want to work if you own your business. Since we started our own business about 10 years back, it has given us more freedom to travel.
You may have more flexibility working from home, and you can even travel.
You can be your own boss by starting your business, whether it’s through blogging, Etsy or becoming a virtual secretary! You can choose from a variety of flexible options, including working for yourself full-time while also enjoying some travel time.
You’ll also need to learn how to budget for your time off and plan for any unexpected costs. You may end up working longer hours than when you worked for another person, but it is rewarding to be able to travel the world at your own pace.
You don’t have to quit your job in order to travel the world.
It’s nice not to have to worry about paying the bills after your trip.
Don’t let anyone fool you into believing it’s going to be simple or that it will just happen. You’ll need to be twice as motivated to maintain a work-life balance if you wish to continue working and travel.
It won’t always be easy, but it will be rewarding. Not only can it keep your bank balance in the positive and help your career progress forward, but it also allows you to experience all that the world has to offer.
You can even work while on the go. Many students are searching for editors or looking for topics such as write my paper reviews. This makes it relatively easy for you to find jobs that involve academic writing and editing.
Do you have a travel tip? Would you like to share your tip?