How to commit to Travel
Every year, the world becomes a little more interconnected. With the ease of international travel, it’s never been more feasible to explore the world on a regular basis. But how can you commit to taking an international trip every year? Here are some tips to make it happen.
Set Clear Goals
The first step in committing to annual international travel is setting clear, achievable goals. Do you want to visit a new country every year, or are you content with returning to your favorite destinations? Do you prefer city breaks, beach holidays, or adventure travel? By knowing what you want, you can start to plan your trips around these preferences.
Budget Wisely
Traveling internationally can be expensive, but with careful planning and budgeting, it’s possible to make it work. Start by setting aside a portion of your income specifically for travel. Try to test yourself. Commit to saving 15 percent of your take home pay and make adjustments to your monthly cost of living. See if you can continue to make ends meet. If successful, keep pushing that savings percentage up to maximize your travel savings. We use Ally Bank which provides a high yield savings account and allows you to create buckets inside of the account, so you can save towards different goals with each bucket.
Another way to reduce travel costs is to pair up with a good friend or a couple you get along very well with, who can be your travel companion. Traveling with another person or another couple, can help you reduce costs by splitting hotel rooms, short term vacation rentals, rental cars, and more.
Plan in Advance
Planning your trips well in advance can help ensure you have the time and resources to travel each year. This includes researching destinations, booking flights and accommodations, and requesting time off work. The earlier you start planning, the more likely you are to find good deals and ensure everything is in order for your trip.
Requesting Time Off Work
One of the biggest hurdles to frequent travel can be negotiating time off work. Start by understanding your company’s vacation policy. If possible, plan your trips around public holidays to maximize your time off. Be sure to request your vacation time well in advance, and consider discussing your travel goals with your manager to ensure they understand your commitment to annual travel. Many companies do not allow you to request time off in the next calendar year.
We have always found that having early conversations with your supervisor about your travel ambitions, helps them understand your travel goals and ambitions. If you can get a commitment from your supervisor that they will approve the time off request in the new calendar year, then you should be able to start booking the trip. Just have an honest conversation with your supervisor that you need their commitment in order for you to be able to purchase flights and other accommodations. These conversations can actually grow your relationship with your supervisor, as they typically want you to have a good work life balance. International travel and cultural experiences are a key part of striking that work life balance.
Embrace Flexibility
While planning is important, so is flexibility. Be open to new experiences and destinations. If a last-minute deal to a country you’ve never considered before pops up, why not take it? The best travel experiences often come from unexpected adventures.
Stay Connected
In today’s digital age, staying connected while traveling is easier than ever. Consider investing in an eSIM data package for your phone. This allows you to have access to the internet wherever you are, making it easier to navigate, translate languages, and keep in touch with loved ones back home.
Make it a Priority
Finally, if you want to commit to traveling internationally every year, you need to make it a priority. This might mean sacrificing other things in your life, but the rewards of travel are well worth it. From experiencing new cultures to creating lifelong memories, the benefits of travel are endless. We wish we had started traveling internationally earlier in our relationship.The younger you are when you commit to large vacations, the more options you will have for more rugged experiences, such as tent camping, which is not really an option we consider at this point. We do put a lot of value on having a quality bed to sleep on at night. There is nothing worse than a sore back when on a long trip.
In conclusion, committing to annual international travel is a rewarding goal that is more achievable than ever. By setting clear goals, budgeting wisely, planning in advance, embracing flexibility, staying connected, and making travel a priority, you can explore the world one trip at a time. So why not start planning your next adventure today? Are you interested in learning more travel tips? If so, read our article Essential Travel Packing Hacks for International Travel, for tips on how to fit all of your items into carry-on luggage.
