Strategy and motivation. I came up with strategic hacks I used for every trip, and spent my free time implementing them!

It took a lot of time and effort, but I’m here to simplify it for you. That’s the whole reason I started this blog – to normalize part time travel. You don’t HAVE to quit your job to travel, unless you want to. I fully respect it if you do, but for me, that’s not the case. 

I want the stability of the job but the spontaneity of a traveler, and I’ve been able to find a balance. 

It’s truly possible to travel a TON while working full time with a little elbow grease.

Here’s a series to help you do the same! Here are some of my favorite time saving hacks to travel more with your full time job.

Time Saving Travel Hack 1: Strategize and Plan Ahead to Maximize Your PTO

Your time off is your biggest limiter when it comes to traveling more while working. So it makes sense to start with the most impactful hack first.

It’s all about a mindset shift. Instead of taking 1 trip a year, make the effort to take weekend trips to unique places. 

When you do those weekend trips, you’ll likely be tired but power through it (or rest on the trip there). Leave on a Thursday after work, and get back early Tuesday morning before work.

If you want to see exactly what dates to travel, check out my blog about maximizing your PTO here.

Time Saving Travel Hack 2: Reduce Travel Time by Being Location Flexible

The second largest limiter when it comes to traveling more with a full time job is the amount of travel time on a trip itself. The time it takes to get to the flight, on the flight, etc. It takes a huge chunk of your PTO!

This will increase the time you actually have at the location. 

My favorite hack to reduce travel time is by finding closer destinations or booking direct flights. It can save you precious hours and let you enjoy more of the trip itself. 

Push yourself to consider nearby gems or even road trips for those quick escapes! To get inspiration for different trips you can take, check out my blog on maximizing your vacation time.

Time Saving Travel Hack 3: Reduce Planning Time

According to Priceline, “It takes the equivalent of two full work days, or 16 hours, to plan and book a trip”. 

I reduce that time by following these guides on knowing what to book and how. By having a clearly defined process for booking flights and hotels, you can cut down the time to a fraction of what it normally takes.

See how I cut down planning time by knowing exactly what type of accommodation to book here

Time Saving Travel Hack 4: Building an Itinerary with Ease

In that same Priceline article they state that, “Overall, 22% of U.S. adults find that creating their trip itinerary is one of the most frustrating parts of planning and booking a trip”. 

Honestly, I don’t disagree. It’s the hardest part of the process because how you build your itinerary will influence the entire experience.

Plus, with the surge in generative AI, it’s easy to find basics but hard to go and find something unique. I find that using AI in addition to travel blogs helps me build good experiences! You can find all of my hacks about building an itinerary quickly without sacrificing on its quality here.

Summary

You don’t have to quit your job to live a life of adventure! By maximizing your PTO, reducing transit time, streamlining your booking process, and building efficient itineraries, you can definitely travel more, even with your full time job. These hacks will help you explore new places without cutting into your career. 

You can find more of my tips and tricks for weekend warriors (9-5ers) here. I try my best to list everything out to keep it easy.

If you’re new at travel (yay, welcome), you can find some of my hacks for beginners here. If you want more personal advice, give me a shout at hello@jumpwithmali.com and I’d be happy to help. Happy traveling!