First Published: Nov 19, 2019

Last Updated: Nov 16, 2024

“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Anonymous

It’s hard to believe that over the past 7+ years, I have been blessed with the opportunities to visit more countries than I thought would ever be possible for me. Yesterday, while on a flight to another amazing destination (for work), I wrote my countries on a list.  7 years and 25 countries later, I still get excited for every trip. But it has not always been easy, and I know what it is like to feel like you don’t have the time, the company, or the money to travel. 

 I started traveling in medical school, and kept on the spirit when I started working. Finding time and money to travel has not always been easy, but my desire to roam and explore the world has always been stronger than any other obstacles and reasons not to. 

So if you feel like you want to travel more in 2020, be it far or close to home, here are my top 8 tips and strategies to plan, execute and include more travel in your life. Apply these tips and you will be and feel closer to your dreams than you ever were before.

How to travel more – Step 1: Get more time off to travel

Travel on Public Holidays

If you want to travel more this year, traveling around public holidays is a great idea to get extra vacation time. If you know that a long weekend is coming up, instead of opting for “Netflix and Chill”, organize a small getaway to another city, another state or another country nearby!

For instance, you can have an extended Easter break wherever you decide to go, or spread some more of the holiday cheers by spending more time with your loved ones during the holidays. The end of the year holidays are an amazing time to travel for instance. Yes, traveling around these periods might be pricier than during the low season because people tend to travel more in November – December. However, there are ways you can actually find a cheaper flight. 

Use All Your Paid Time Off

I was surprised to hear that a person that I know (very well) had not taken a vacation in at least 4 years. She had had weekends off for public holidays. However, she never really took a vacation on her vacation days. As we went deeper into the conversation, she told me that she wanted to take a vacation, there was always more work to be done, or her boss was so dependent on her that “she felt bad” for taking time away. And so it went, for 4 years of her life. And every year that went by, she lost those vacation days. 

There is a reason why we get vacation days when we work. Our body and mind need time away from the daily turmoil, to relax, recharge and refresh. Well-deserved vacation days are a perfect opportunity to plan your dream trip, travel more, or explore a new country! And just so you know: forget about the guilt you feel about taking the vacation days you are entitled. If you fall down at work and are unable to function because of illness, there will be someone else to replace you. Your job can be replaced, but your health, not so much.

Attend professional workshops 

Professional trainings are a good way to leverage work and travel, and travel more overall. You get to travel for a purpose. After your training, you can do all the (other) fun stuff like sightseeing and being a tourist! So if you want to travel more, explore professional training opportunities where you currently work. Is there a workshop you can take in a neighboring country, that could make you more valuable to your company?

Search additional training opportunities online, or ask around to some of your contacts in the same field. Either way, get out there!

How to travel more – Step 2: Get More Travel Destinations

Travel within the region

Traveling within your region comes with a lot of perks: it is cheaper, more convenient, and requires less planning. I live in the Caribbean, and exploring neighboring Caribbean islands is one of my favorite last minute vacation ideas. So if you live in Europe, spend a summer weekend in Belgium and binge on authentic chocolate (or Belgian beer, you choose!)

Live in Barbados? Head over to St Vincent and the Grenadines for an Easter weekend Regatta. Rejuvenate your entire being in one of Dominica’s sulphur springs! Exploring the region is a great way to travel more, and the opportunities are endless. 

Explore your own town/country/city

Oftentimes, we tend to believe that real beauty we seek in the world is somewhere else. In reality, sometimes, it is right where we are. So just like charity, traveling begins at home. Most people do not visit their own hometown, and it’s time to change that. Visiting your own town for a day (or two) is a great a last-minute adventure that comes with extra perks. It is easier for you to find your way around, you are familiar with the country, and you get to save on accommodation! 

Visiting the country I live in has actually been one of my favourite last minute vacation ideas. This summer especially, I have done a lot of traveling within Dominica. I gave myself the opportunity to explore the amazing natural havens I had never seen on this island before. More than being a time and money saver, traveling within your own country opens up your horizons and perspectives. Plus, you get to spend all your money home. 

Pick a destination YOU really dream of, not one that is on someone’s list

If it has not yet started, within the next few weeks, you will see  panoply of articles starting with “Best countries where to travel in xxxx – insert year”. And I know this because I used to read those articles a lot. Whether they are from US Travel News, Travel Noire, Travel+Leisure, Nat Geo Travel, there are so many out there.

The truth is, the countries that are ranked in those articles are chosen as top travel destinations for many reasons. For some, it is just pure publicity. For others, there has been an increasing rate of tourism that has put those countries (or cities) on the radar of many travelers. Case in point: Indonesia (Bali), Thailand and all its cities, the Philippines, and the list goes on. I also remember when “Iceland” was the “go-or-die” destination a few years ago, as one of the key locations where Game of Thrones was filmed. The same applied to visiting Morocco. 

Whilst these countries are suggested as best destinations to travel, I strongly believe that you should travel wherever your heart leads you to. Visit the city you’ve always wanted to visit, even if it is not on any one’s list. Roam the country that you’ve always dreamt of, even if no one feels like it’s popular enough. At the end of the day, YOU define your travel experience. You make it be what you want it to be.

How to travel more – Step 3: Get More Money to Travel

Start a Savings Plan

I could give you a 1000 tips about how to get more money to travel. But the first one is always going to be this: start with your savings. And if you don’t have any savings, then START SAVING NOW. This never goes old, and never will. Kind reminder, friend: where you make 10$, 100$ or 1000$, you can save, even with the smallest income possible. I know this because I have done this and I know a lot of people who have done it too! Check out my proven technique to start saving today, regardless of your income. 

Get a Side Hustle

One of the biggest challenges that people face when it comes to traveling more, is not having enough money to travel. Yes, most people (including myself) try to save or build a saving fund to travel more, but sometimes, it is not enough. Taking money out of your monthly salary just to fund your travels is a start. But when you have big dreams, you need an extra source of income. 

This is why getting a side hustle or a source of extra-income is critical. One of my favourite quotes to keep motivated is this: “9-5 pays the bills, but 5-9 builds your empire”. This means that whilst you are working a regular job to pay your bills and supply to your everyday needs, having an additional source of income can help you to fund all the dreams, investments and projects that you have for yourself. I started traveling the world as a medical student. I used the money that I made from my side income as an online freelancer. Back then, I only wanted to earn enough to pay for my flight ticket and accommodation. Over the years, my side income has been a tremendous resource for all my personal investments and all my travels to this date (yes, 25+ countries and counting!)

I wrote an article a few months ago, highlighting some of the advantages of making money as a freelancer online. Working online does not just provide amazing flexibility. It also gives you the opportunity to choose how much you want to earn, based on your financial goals. 

If you want to grow financially and are serious in funding your travels (and other dreams) this year, you will love my free workshop called “Turn your existing skills into an online money making machine”. The workshop c犀利士 an be completed in less than an hour, and will teach you… well, exactly that: how you can use the skills that you currently have to make money online and grow your income. Find out more about the free workshop here! 

Success is in your hands, and the road to making your dreams come true is closer than you think.

See you in the sky, and cheers to catching more flights this year!