Every time I come back from a trip, I get asked the same two questions. The first one is always “HOW WAS IT?!” Then after I share my newest travel photos and some highlights, the second question is much quieter, or even unspoken. The second one is, “How do you do it?”
Lately I’ve been traveling internationally and it’s been an amazing experience, but the question of “how” still lingers. I’ve never worked a 6-figure job or gotten paid to travel (yet). I have adult responsibilities a.k.a. bills, just like everyone else. Yet, I enjoy vacations regularly. So you want to know my secret to catching flights and grabbing a few passport stamps along the way?
I’m gonna tell you. But first, there’s some things you need to do on your own to prepare.
First, decide on your travel destinations and/or goals. Do you want to explore other cities in the country? Or does every flight to an island have a ticket with your name on it? Is the motherland calling you? Are you open to all destinations as long as the price is right? Do you have a destination list? Do you have a travel goal? Is it the Seven Wonders of the World or is it state and national parks? Whatever it is, get clear on places and sites you want to see.
Next, be honest with yourself about what kind of traveler you are. Do you live for luxury in ALL ways (flight, stay, dining, etc)? Do you have to stay at an all inclusive resort? Do you want to explore historical sites? Are instagrammable locations a must? How much does the price affect your experience? Are you a big shopper?
These things matter because at the end of your trip, you’ll be happiest knowing you’ve fulfilled what you want. If you travel with friends, you all may have different interests and things you’re looking for in a trip, so it’s super important to have this information thought out beforehand. Deciding on a destination with a group is a big task on its own, and it only becomes more difficult when you find out you and your travel buddies want to do totally different things. Imagine having booked flights and stays only to find out your travel buddy wants to relax at the resort every day while you want to stay at an Airbnb and go on excursions. Now, you’re in the group chat trying to find a nice way to say you’re not going anymore. To avoid that, get clear on the places you want to see and what kind of traveler you are. Understand what’s important to you.
Once you figure those things out, you’re ready.
The question is “How do you do it?” In other words, how do I travel regularly and maintain my life without making 6-figures? There's 3 things I do: Budget, Plan, and Prioritize.
BUDGET - We’ve all heard of it and may have even tried it, but only a small number of us have found a way to do it effectively. I have two budgets: my main budget and my trip budget(s). My main budget tracks all my earning, spending and regular expenses. I maintain it weekly using a spreadsheet. I also build a budget for each of my trips. These two budgets are connected because I have a section in my main budget for travel and I build my budget for my trips based on that amount. I’m able to plan for all types of trips, local and “exotic” using this method. Budgeting is tricky for a number of reasons. You have to find or create a system that works for you, then you have to do it regularly, and you have to be honest about it. I am very strict with my main budget and I always account for extra expenses on my trip budget. I included the categories in my main budget and a sample trip budget below.
Main Budget categories:
Basics (Home, Electricity, Phone)
Car (Insurance, Gas, Maintenance, Car Note)
Food (Groceries and Eating out) I am the most strict in this category!
Personal (Clothing, Shopping, Subscriptions, Beauty)
Travel Savings (Money for trips!)
Health (Gym, Therapy, Doctor visits etc.)
Investments
Debt
Regular Savings
Sample Trip Budget - 5 Day Island Trip (varies based on the destination and trip details)
Flight: $270
Stay: $280
Food and Drinks: $300
Activities: $300
Transportation: $200
Shopping: $60
Tips: $80
Covid testing: $150
From this budget, you can tell I value dining experiences and activities, while shopping is not a priority for me. You should also notice that I’m not into overpriced resorts, so I’m open to other options when it comes to the stay. Knowing what kind of traveler I am informs my budget and having a budget helps me continue to travel. Also, I’ve never gone over budget.
PLAN - Some people plan and some people show up and go along with the plan. I am able to travel often because I plan. I plan my budget way ahead of time, as you saw above. I plan my travel goals, I plan my stay and activities down to the details. I plan my layovers and I plan my outfits. You name it and I’ll plan for it. When it comes to travel, I’ve found that the best deals come to those who plan ahead, while also being open to change. It is 100% possible to find last minute deals, however, I do not depend on last minute deals. Most experienced flyers know that the further out you book anything travel related, the better the price. Whether the trip is a month away or six months away, I’m going to have a plan. Below I’ve listed the three main things I plan and why I plan them.
I plan my travel destinations to prioritize places I want to go to instead of traveling to Instagram’s city of the month.
I plan my trip budget to focus on preparing for the trip ahead of time and being present during my trip.
I plan my dining, activities, and experiences to ensure I explore my interests and continue creating new experiences.
I understand everyone is not a planner. If you’re not, I’d suggest you hire someone to plan for you (travel agents, travel groups, etc.) and review the plan to make sure it matches the kind of traveler you are. While planning takes a lot of work, it’s a large part of what makes it possible for me to continue having successful traveling experiences. I come home from trips tired from plane rides, yet ready for the next one because I’ve planned to travel like this: often and stress-free.
PRIORITIZE - If you haven’t caught the trend by now, it’s me. If that sounds selfish, that’s because it is. I prioritize myself, my wants, my goals, and my interests. This fuels how I make difficult decisions. When I’m in a situation where I have to decide if to shorten my trip, I prioritize what I want in the moment and what I want long term. I think about the potential effects of my decision and I imagine how I will feel. Ideally, I make a decision that prioritizes the present and future me. This takes a lot of self work, where the reward is lots of opportunities to say yes to yourself and the responsibility is saying no to others.
Each of these components, budgeting, planning, and prioritizing, work together. The first big move I made to prioritize myself was quitting my job. With that, I regained control over my time. However, in order to quit my job, I had to budget my current/future expenses and plan out how I was going to continue to live comfortably. These are not steps, but three gears turning at the same time with you at the center of it all.
Whenever I meet new people, I’m either on a trip or between trips and I see how their eyes light up when they’re trying to calculate how or why I travel so much. Eventually, the question comes up, “So what do you do for work? How do you make money?” and I always have to laugh before I say, “I don’t. I quit my job to travel.” That’s a much shorter way to say, I don’t have to worry (a.k.a. prioritize) about working right now because I planned (and budgeted) for this.
Travel Tip #19: Be selfish.
Travel Tip #20: Get to know you, so you can be you and do you.
This week, be a little selfish, spend some time getting to know yourself, or... do both.
Prioritize yourself for a morning, evening, or, if you can, an entire day. Do what YOU want to do.
Journal about your wants, interests, and goals. Explore why these are important to you.
Plan a staycation for yourself.
Saying no to you & yes to me,
Mai