The Argument for Part Time Travel

Last Updated on September 26, 2024 by Charlotte

You might see people who quit their jobs, sell their houses, and drop everything to travel the world. While this sounds amazing, this lifestyle is just not realistic for most people, especially those from the USA. In contrast, many people, especially Americans, pinch pennies and save, waiting until retirement to take that big adventure.

More often than not, those big adventures earmarked for our golden years do not work out. Part-time travel can give you the best of both worlds: a taste of new experiences abroad and the warmth and support of your community that you can only nurture and grow while at home. 

Just a heads-up: some links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase. Your support helps to keep the blog running.

Pick Two

In this game of life, it feels like we can only “choose two” at once. When we are in our early 20s, we have plenty of time and plenty of health, but no money. In our thirties, we have money and health, but no time. And later in retirement, we have money and time but no health. As we age, our burden of responsibilities tends to increase with pets, children, and having a place to live, and our tolerance for discomfort decreases.

Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii, and wildflower season at Mt. Rainier

But what if we didn’t have to choose one or the other? Por que no los dos? By opening our minds to what is possible, and taking that leap, part time travel is accessible to a great number of more people. Take that three-day weekend,  or go abroad for just a week, the world is your oyster.

The Benefits of Part Time Travel

By acting as bookmarks in our memories, new experiences are proven to help keep us feeling young! Experiencing new cultures expands our minds and trying new cuisines excites our palates. Outside of the monotony of day-to-day life, travel can increase mindfulness, giving you a bird’s eye view of your own life. If I’ve learned anything after living through 2020, the only thing we can count on is that the future is not guaranteed.

Sunset on Haleakala on the island of Maui.

This is why I believe it is of the utmost importance to do it now. Plan that trip, take that adventure, hike that mountain. It doesn’t have to be a year trotting across the globe, even just a weekend exploring an unfamiliar place, or two weeks in a new city or national park will do. If anything, stop “waiting” for a perfect time. Your life is happening right now, get out there and live it!

Looking for Travel Inspiration?

Check out our travel destinations to get inspiration for your next adventure.

A Note to Our International Readers

Lastly, a note to our international readers who might be a little confused. Here in the USA, most office workers only receive 10 days of paid time off per year, and many workers in other sectors get no paid time off at all. Even more strangely, our health insurance coverage is tied to our employment. This means that if you quit your job to travel the world, you will have no healthcare coverage unless you pay out of pocket. While it might seem crazy to take a ten-day trip to another country from the USA, sometimes that is all the time that we have. Short trip, or no trip.

Have you taken a trip that changed your life? Have you dropped everything to go see the world? We’d like to hear from you!