How I travel frequently while working full time (without being rich)
People often ask me how I manage to travel so much while working full time—and without being wealthy. Since 2023, I’ve been able to travel to Italy, Cyprus, Rhodes, Malta, Paris, Berlin, Turkey, Morocco (twice), as well as around the UK and a few visits to the USA. The truth is, I don’t have a secret trust fund or a remote tech job that lets me work from exotic places. I just happen to live in the UK, where travel—especially around Europe—is far more accessible and affordable than many realize. Thanks to low-cost airlines, proximity to dozens of countries, and a bit of strategic planning, I’ve been able to get around a fair bit without breaking the bank or taking endless time off. In this article, I’ll share how I make it work, why being based in the UK gives me a major advantage, and how others can travel more too—even with limited time and resources.
Living in the UK makes travel easier and cheaper
One of the main reasons I’m able to travel regularly — even while working full time and without a high income — is simply because I live in the UK. Compared to countries like the US, where domestic travel alone can take hours and cost hundreds, the UK is a springboard to dozens of nearby destinations. Europe is just a short flight away, and budget airlines make spontaneous trips surprisingly affordable.
Low-cost carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air often offer return flights to European cities for under £50, especially if you travel light and book ahead. I’ve flown to places like Paris, Prague, and Florence for less than the cost of a night out in London.
To make the most of these deals, I subscribe to travel mailing lists like TravelZoo and set up flight alerts through apps like Skyscanner and Google Flights. These tools help me pounce on bargains as soon as they pop up.
While resorts in the UK sometimes carry a reputation for being a bit naff (That’s English slang for something tacky, uncool, or low-quality), I’m not ashamed to admit that once or twice a year, I enjoy a good-value all-inclusive holiday. For those unfamiliar — especially readers in the US, where they're less common — all-inclusive typically means your flights, accommodation, and meals (and sometimes drinks and activities) are included in one package. My first one was in 2022 to Kassandra Palace in Halkidiki. For just £279, I got flights, accommodation, and (surprisingly good) breakfast, and dinner — all bundled together.
Booking these trips during the shoulder season — usually in September/October or February/March — means prices drop dramatically while the weather in many places is still warm and pleasant. I often find these offers on TravelZoo and then book directly through the provider’s site. For package holidays, TravelOdeal is another favorite of mine — they consistently feature affordable deals for off-season getaways.
One thing I love about all-inclusive or half-board holidays (where breakfast and dinner are included, but lunch is not) is the convenience. It saves time and energy — I can focus on planning my actual itinerary rather than hunting down meals every day. Half-board works especially well because I’m usually out exploring during the day anyway, so I grab lunch while I’m out.
That said, I refuse to be stuck on a resort all week. For me, it’s more of a comfortable home base — and that’s why I always hire a car when I go on these holidays. It gives me the freedom to explore the surrounding area on my own terms. Car rentals during the shoulder season are incredibly cheap; I rarely pay more than £75–£100 (roughly $95–$125 USD) for a full week’s rental.
Making the most of limited time off
One of the biggest advantages of living—and working—in the UK is the generous amount of paid time off. Compared to the United States, where workers receive far less vacation time on average, the difference is striking.
I work in the public sector, which in the UK refers to jobs funded by the government, such as roles in healthcare, education, civil service, or local councils. These jobs typically offer a strong focus on work-life balance, including more paid time off and flexibility than many private sector roles.
In my case, I work compressed hours, meaning I work slightly longer days Monday through Thursday and have Fridays off. I also get 28 days of paid annual leave (that’s ‘vacation time’ in the US) plus 10 to 11 bank holidays each year. Bank holidays are public holidays when banks and most offices close, similar to federal holidays in the U.S.
What’s more, sick time and doctor’s appointments don’t come out of my vacation days, and I even get additional time off for things like moving house. If you’re a carer (someone who looks after a dependent), there’s separate leave available for that too (although that doesn’t apply to me personally).
It also helps that I’m fortunate to have an understanding, supportive boss who values flexibility and work-life balance. I can occasionally swap my working days if I plan ahead. For instance, in January, when I get my bank holiday schedule for the year, I start strategically planning potential trips. Let’s say there’s a bank holiday Monday in June. Because I don’t work Fridays, and if I swap my Thursday for a different Friday, I can carve out a five-day trip—Thursday through Monday—without using a single day of annual leave.
The shift to remote work since COVID has also made travel easier. These days, I work from home and only go into the office once a week, and that’s by choice. I find it good for my mental health to get out of the house. Thanks to that flexibility, I can sometimes combine work and travel within the UK. I’ve taken plenty of midweek trips to places like Brighton, working during the day and enjoying the evenings like a mini break.
Even when I lived in New York and worked in publishing—a field known for offering better vacation packages than most—the time off wasn’t nearly as generous as what I have now. And for most Americans, two weeks of vacation per year is still the norm. That time often has to cover everything: illness, personal days, moving, and more. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average private sector worker receives just 10 days of paid vacation after one year of service.
It’s not just about the number of days, it’s how you can use them. In the UK, the combination of more time off, flexible schedules, and cultural support for taking breaks makes it much easier to travel without falling behind at work.
Budget travel strategies that work for me
Planning ahead is key: I usually book my trips about six months in advance. That tends to be the sweet spot where I can find the best flight prices and still have plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation. Sometimes flights do get cheaper closer to the departure date, but it’s a bit of a gamble. I’ve found that even if I could save a little on a last-minute flight, the amount I save by locking in good accommodation early (before the best and most affordable places get snapped up) more than makes up for it.
If I have a particular place in mind—right now, Croatia, Budapest, and India are on the shortlist—I’ll set up flight alerts and keep an eye out for deals. I also regularly skim all the usual flight booking sites for sales and deals for destinations I may not have considered, like with my recent trip to Agadir. It wasn’t my first choice of place to visit in Morocco, but with round-trip flights occasionally as cheap as £30, it was too good to pass up. You can also get to other places within Morocco fairly cheaply, so it’s a clever way to save on transportation.
I like to mix it up, and sometimes splashing out a little more on a nice hotel is fun. But I try to be creative and think outside the box when it comes to where I stay. Sometimes that means booking an Airbnb, hotel, hostel, or even bunk houses and camping. In the past, I used Couchsurfing for a few trips, but since that community has mostly faded (thanks in part to Airbnb), I’ve been exploring other options.
One that’s on my radar is Host a Sister, which connects women around the world who are open to offering each other a free place to stay. It works a bit like Couchsurfing did—some hosts just want to offer a bed for a night or two, while others might appreciate help around the house, or a dinner out in return. There’s no pressure to spend all your time together, though some great friendships can come out of it. I haven’t tried it yet, but I definitely plan to.
Another alternative is house sitting. Sites like TrustedHousesitters or MindMyHouse let you stay in someone’s home for free in exchange for looking after their pets or keeping the place in order while they’re away. It’s a great way to cut down on costs and get a more local feel for a place.
I also stay with friends or family whenever I can—and sometimes I’ll break it up with a night or two in a hotel just to get a bit of personal space.
When it comes to packing, I try to travel as light as possible. It might sound counterintuitive, but the longer the trip, the less I tend to pack. Traveling light makes it easier to move around, and it saves money on baggage fees. (I’ll share more tips on packing light and saving money on baggage fees in a future post.)
To save on flights, I’ve even taken a night bus down to London — it’s about £15 each way (roughly $19 USD), and it can save me hundreds, especially on long-haul flights. Otherwise, I’m well-positioned to fly out of either Glasgow or Edinburgh (a 1-hour bus ride from Glasgow is £10—only £5 cheaper than getting to London by bus!!)
It takes a bit of planning, but finding ways to cut costs like this makes travel much more doable—even on a modest income.
Prioritizing travel through a minimalist lifestyle
Travel isn’t a luxury for me—it’s a lifestyle choice. I spend around 10–15% of my salary on it, which is doable because I keep my overheads and living costs low and make travel a clear priority. I don’t need the latest mobile phone or flashy car.
I live in a small flat, which helps keep costs down. It’s cheaper to heat, easier to clean, and it suits my minimalist way of living. I don’t like to own a lot of stuff. I’m always sorting, organizing, and clearing things out. My grandfather—a bit of a nomad himself—once told me, ‘Never own a lot; you don’t end up owning the things, they end up owning you.’ I’ve carried that advice with me ever since. For me, having too much weighs me down. It makes it harder to move, to travel, to say yes to new opportunities. And let’s face it, life is short. You can’t take it with you when you go.
“While you are alive collect moments not things, earn respect not money and enjoy love not luxuries.”
I’ve always believed that life is about experiences, not collecting objects. Travel is part of that. It’s not just a holiday or a break from work, it’s how I learn about the world. It challenges me, teaches me, and constantly shifts my perspective. And I’m not alone in thinking this way—research shows that people are generally more satisfied when they spend money on experiences rather than material things.
That mindset also shapes the way I travel. I’m not always chasing the biggest destinations or flashiest resorts. I want to see everywhere at least once, which means I often go off the beaten path and consider less traditional itineraries. The goal isn’t to check boxes, but to genuinely experience a place—even if it’s not on everyone else’s top ten list.
My humble wee flat: minimalist and cozy
Debunking the myth: you must be rich to travel
One of the biggest misconceptions about frequent travel is that it’s only possible if you have a lot of money. I’ve lost count of how many times someone has said to me, ‘You must be rich to travel that much.’ Social media often makes travel look expensive—endless beach resorts, first-class flights, influencer-style itineraries. But the reality is, travel doesn’t have to be that way. It doesn’t have to be luxurious to be meaningful. The truth is, you don’t need a huge income—you just need a different approach.
I’m not wealthy, and I don’t come from money. I’ve just made travel a priority. Instead of spending on daily luxuries, I plan ahead and find smart ways to stretch my budget. I take advantage of off-season deals, fly budget airlines, stay in affordable places, and use resources like house sitting or occasional package holidays when they make sense.
There’s also a misconception that if you’re not traveling for two weeks at a time, it’s not worth it. But short breaks—even just four or five days—can be incredibly refreshing. Travel doesn’t have to be long or far to be impactful. If anything, I’ve learned that consistent, intentional travel adds up to a more fulfilling lifestyle than saving up for one big vacation every few years.
Conclusion: Travel as a way of life
For me, travel isn’t something I squeeze in when I have time or money left over. It’s part of how I live. I work full time, I’m not rich, and I’m not on a sabbatical. I’ve just made deliberate choices—like living simply, planning strategically, and being open to less traditional trips—that allow me to see the world while still holding down a 9-to-5.
I truly believe that travel doesn’t have to be a luxury reserved for the wealthy or the retired. With the right mindset, some flexibility, and a bit of planning, it’s possible to explore the world without blowing your budget or burning through your vacation days.
If you’re curious about how to travel more without quitting your job or winning the lottery, I hope this post gives you a bit of inspiration—and maybe even a few practical ideas to try for yourself.
Have your own travel hacks or questions about balancing work and wanderlust? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear how others are making it work. And if you found this helpful, feel free to share it with someone who’s always saying, ‘I wish I could travel more, but...’