20 Travel Tips for Busy People: How to Fit Travel Into Your Busy Schedule and Achieve Work-Life Balance

We all feel a slight pang of jealousy when our friend pops up on Instagram in a different city every weekend. How are they holding down a full-time job?! You’re curious how in the world they have the time or money to travel so much, especially when travel for busy people seems impossible!

The statistics are staggering! Over one-third of Americans have not taken a vacation in two years, and more than half haven’t taken a trip in a full year, according to Allianz Global’s 2019 “Vacation Confidence Index” study. Many of these individuals have busy schedules, making it hard to balance travel and work.

It all comes down to being strategic about balancing your life, money, and a full-time job. Today, we’re sharing our top 20 practical tips to fit more travel with a busy schedule into your lifestyle!

"I just can't afford it," "I'm too busy at work," Far too many people view travel as an unrealistic luxury. The first step in making your travel dreams a reality is to change this mindset and make travel a top priority, even with a hectic work-life balance.

This may mean making sacrifices in other areas of life. Can you cut back on eating out and Starbucks? Ditch the cable? Take the bus instead of an Uber? By keeping travel on par (or higher) than the rest of the things you spend time and money on, you’ll be able to balance work and life and fit in travel more easily.

It is important to set aside money for travel if you want to make it a reality. Choose an amount that makes sense with your salary and travel goals. Ask yourself: Am I traveling domestic or internationally? Flying or driving? Heading to a cheaper destination in Southeast Asia, or a more expensive place in Western Europe?.

Your budget also depends on your travel style. You can save money by staying in hostels and couchsurfing to splurge on activities like scuba diving and bungee jumping. Once again, it all boils down to what your priorities are.

Set up an automatic deposit each month to a savings account so you don’t even have to think about it and to also avoid deviating from your saving goals.

There’s a vast world out there! This can make choosing a destination overwhelming and could even lead to decision paralysis, where you may end up not taking that trip at all. Prioritizing your list will help you fit more work-life balance travel into your plans.

Is your goal to visit all 50 states? All the countries in Europe? All 7 World Wonders? Be sure to put it in writing just like you would with any goal so that you are more likely to achieve it.

Then place a pin in your map for all of the places that are top of your list. By visualizing these places daily, it will keep your next adventure always top of mind!

A survey done by Expedia.com showed that one of the top reasons that Americans skipped vacations was because they weren't able to schedule it far enough in advance. For busy professionals, planning ahead is crucial when trying to fit travel for busy adults into your schedule.

Planning your trips in advance gives you a better chance of getting your time-off requests approved, and you’ll save money. You’ll also have a vacation to look forward to. Sometimes the planning and anticipation can be just as exciting and uplifting as taking the trip itself.

Whether you’re starting a new job or your annual review is coming up, instead of just asking for a raise, negotiate for more vacation time! Bonus: Travel makes you a better employee. You’re likely more adaptable, curious, open minded and a better problem solver.

If your company is on a tight budget and can’t approve your request for more paid vacation time, consider asking for unpaid vacation time. You can make up for the lost income by taking on freelance work or a side gig. Or instead of working more, try cutting some unnecessary luxuries from your everyday life.

There are obvious careers, such as flight attendant, pilot, or cruise ship worker, but think outside the box! Many jobs offer travel opportunities that can help you achieve that work-life balance travel you’re after. Sales positions, consultants, and global corporations often require fostering relationships with clients across different locations.

Other options include teaching English in another country, becoming an au pair or an international aid worker. The possibilities are endless! Check out this comprehensive list of the top travel jobs!

If your job already requires travel, extend these trips to the weekend to give yourself time to explore. This is especially useful when trying to maximize travel with a busy schedule.

There’s a magical window of opportunity between leaving a job and starting a new one. Don’t let this time go to waste! Now, this isn’t practical for everyone, if you don’t have the money saved up, or if you aren’t thinking of switching jobs any time soon. But for many, it’s a prime time to squeeze in an international trip before settling back into a new job.

Over half of Americans are still not using all their paid time off, leaving 768 million days of PTO on the table, according to a study by the US Travel Association. That's 768 million missed opportunities to recharge, for new experiences and to connect with family and friends, A real shame if you ask us!

Many people don’t use their vacation days because they feel *guilty* doing so or "just in case" of an unexpected event. Check your company's policies. Most allow for bereavement time and days off for emergencies.

Take advantage of these sweet spots that aren't peak tourist season. It is not always ideal weather during these times, but you’ll enjoy less crowds and lower prices on flights and accommodations. Check out this handy chart with the best times to travel to different regions around thew world.

Now, this isn’t practical for all career paths. But you could be a freelance writer, social media manager, web developer, graphic designer, etc.

You’ll have to schedule time to be productive (around 40 hours), but the rest of your time can be spent exploring whichever destination you work from.

This is one of the best travel tips for busy adults who want to explore while maintaining their career.

Imagine sitting on the beach, laptop in one hand, cocktail in the other, rather than being stuck in a stuffy office. In the digital age, work-life balance travel is more achievable than ever. If your job only requires a computer and an internet connection, it can likely be done remotely.

Ask your company about their remote work policy, prove your productivity, and you may find yourself working from a dream destination, perfect for travel with a busy schedule.

Depending on the nature of your work, consider asking to work ten days on and four days off, or four 10-hour days with three-day weekends. This flexibility allows you to take small trips, making travel for busy people more feasible, even with a tight work schedule.

Maximize your travel potential by planning around holidays. By adding just a few vacation days to a three-day weekend, you can create a nine-day travel opportunity. It's one of the most effective travel tips for busy adults trying to balance their work and personal life.

Red-eye flights, often cheaper and less crowded, allow you to travel overnight and arrive at your destination refreshed. It’s perfect for travel with a busy schedule as it saves both time and money, letting you explore while still meeting your commitments.

Coordinating schedules with others can be tricky. If you're open to traveling alone, you'll find it much easier to plan trips that fit into your work routine. Solo travel is one of the best ways to prioritize work-life balance travel.

Traveling” doesn't have to mean crossing oceans or going thousands of miles away from home. When you don’t have enough days off of work or the extra cash flow for a flight and hotel… it’s time to play tourist in your own town! Think of it as a “staycation” where you can enjoy the same mood-boosting benefits of travel by exploring your own neighborhood - without spending as much or suffering from jet lag.

Instead of using your vacation days on short, fragmented trips, save them for one big adventure. This approach allows you to fully immerse yourself in your travels, even with a demanding schedule, achieving true work-life balance travel.

Check out a few of the top destinations for 3-day trips in the US.

Bottom line: You don't have to quit your job to travel the world. It is so possible to fit into a busy life!

How do you keep regular travel a realistic priority? Share your tips in the comments!