5 Easy Ways To Travel More Around Your 9-5 Job

If like me, you have a full-time job and career you want to progress but also have ambitions to travel, then this is the blog for you.

I’m sharing my tried and tested practical tips to maximise travel time around your 9-5 job. All without having to take any unpaid leave to fulfil your dreams. Let’s jump into it…

1. Get smart with booking annual leave

First things first, when you take your paid annual leave is key. I’m based in the UK and on average Brits get 28 days of holiday each year (including bank holidays) which is around 5.6 weeks or just under one month.

Of course this will vary depending on which company or country you work in but generally speaking that’s a great base to start planning holiday around. So take a step back, look at the whole year, where national holidays or bank holidays fall and where you want to travel.

For instance, in the UK most workers get two days off for bank holidays around Easter. You could book two days of paid leave on the back of that and have up to 6 days off with a weekend in the middle. Likewise, if your company offers a paid birthday day off look to book it on a Friday or Monday so you can turn it into a long weekend.

• Annual leave dates to maximise holiday in the UK 2025
• Annual leave dates to maximise holiday in Australia 2025
• PTO dates to maximise vacation time in the US 2026

By working around public holidays you can quickly secure more days off in a row without eating into more of your holiday allowance. This will also help you travel to destinations that are further afield.

2. Capitalise on working from home… or abroad

One of the lasting changes from the pandemic is the rise in hybrid or remote working. Assuming your employer is happy for you to work from wherever you’re going to be most productive and with minimal time difference, then this is a great opportunity to travel.

You could book an AirBnB with an office/desk and great wifi and head somewhere new to work for the week. Leaving you with plenty of time in the morning and evenings to explore. Or if a week abroad sounds too long, head to your destination on a Thursday after work so when you clock off on Friday, you’re already in your dream destination ready to travel.

In some cases, I’ve had colleagues who worked abroad for an entire month in a low cost hotel or AirBnB, giving them time to really soak up the culture. This is a great option if you think you might want to live abroad – you can get a good feel for what it might be like.

Of course this all depends on your specific employer but it’s worth asking them about it as you may be surprised how flexible they are.

3. Maximise your weekends

Now, on the subject of weekends – they’re longer than you think! Even if you spend your Friday evening travelling, you can wake up on Saturday morning in a new country or location with nearly 48 hours to explore.

You’d be surprised how much you can fit into such a seemingly small amount of time. From walking tours to see the major sights to tasting tours to sample more of the food – there are easy and affordable ways to soak up new experiences on a time budget.

So, don’t be put off travelling abroad just because you only have a weekend spare. So long as you can travel there and back before Monday morning, you’re all good!

4. Extend work travel

My next tip might sound obvious but in the rush of work life it can be easy to forget about opportunities to travel with work.

Whether it’s a conference, client meeting or team catch up – work travel will already be paid for so it cuts the cost by half or more. By booking a few extra days off after your work commitment, you’ll likely only have to pay for accommodation, food and expenses. With your paid for flight or train waiting for you to get home.

Again, speak to your manager or colleagues about options to do this but it’s an easy way to see more of the world more affordably.

5. Stay local + choose shorter flights or trains

Last but by no means least, explore what you have on your doorstep. While it can feel like true travel is off-roading in the Australian outback or rafting down the Zambezi river, there’s so much to see closer to home that’s just as fun.

Explore hiking in local national parks and forests, learn more about neighbouring countries, or look at travelling by train to other parts of your country or continent for greater flexibility. Interrailing is a great option for shorter European trips. With a range of ticket options you can quickly venture into France or overnight in Belgium without the hassle of flights. Learn more about how interrailing works and my top tips here.

There we have it – my tips to maximise travel time without putting your career on hold. Have you tried any of these tips or have your own to add? I’d love to know – please leave me a comment with your thoughts. Happy travelling!

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