Timing ↣ Flight Selection ↣ Where To Go ↣ Getting Time Off
For many of us, the glory days of full-time backpacking are over. Against our better judgement, we caved and got one of those - brace yourself - full-time jobs. Do we daydream of being digital nomads? Every day. But until we become one, we're stuck with 3 measly weeks. Three.. measly.. coveted, glorious, vacation weeks.
The least we can do is make the most of them.
In this article, you're getting our in-depth tips & tricks for maximizing your annual travel. From timing, to financing, to flight selection and time off work. We'll even leave you with epic travel routes you can try yourself!
The 3 L's:
To make the most of any trip, the 3 L's are the name of the game. They're also how we at HangOverSeas grade any potential trip:
List: The "Places I've Been" list - a traveller's point of pride. Most often this means countries, but it can also be famous cities, World Wonders, or natural landmarks (think Everest, Christ the Redeemer, the Pyramids). Aim to scratch at least one bucket list entry on every trip. Life is short, and there's a lot to see!
Local: There are a lot of things you can do anywhere, but each new destination brings some unique experiences. Whether it's surfing (and saying "Pura Vida" way too much) in Costa Rica, buying, selling (and crashing) a motorcycle in Vietnam or trying jiu jitsu in Brazil; make sure you squeeze in a real local experience. This is the stuff you can actually tell your kids about.
Loco: Maybe it's just us, but a little 'loco' goes a long way. Be it wild nights out or gnarly adrenaline sports (or ideally, both), 'loco' is the hot sauce to your trip's burrito. Mix some in - and your memories will thank you for it. Plus, everyone knows you don't get hangovers overseas..
Timing:
When it comes to 3 vacation weeks, you have 3 options:
The 1-1-1: three, one-week mini-trips
The 1-2: a one-week mini, and a 2-week banger
The 3-0-0: a 3-week super-banger and nothing thereafter (not for the faint of heart)
If you have a must-do trip that needs more time, you're stuck with the 3-0-0 , but for most people most often, the 1-2 should be your aim. It gives you a mix of long trips, short-trips and long weekends (which we'll get to later) to maximally diversify your year. It also lets you reach a far-away destination while not making you wait 11 months and 1 week for your next vacation (but who's counting..).
P.S - If you're like me, you need something to look forward to. Aim for a 1-2 not a 2-1, and save the best for last.
Your Mini-Trip (1 Week):
Don't let the name fool you. Your 1-weeker can be anything but mini. The key here is a) attaching to a long weekend, and b) having a good route planned.
a) Long Weekends: Nothing earth-shattering here, but the numbers don't lie: most countries have 6-8 long weekends in any given year. If you attach your mini-trip to one, you'll get a 10-day trip for 4 vacation days. For your 2-weeker, you'll get a 16-day trip for 9 vacation days. After those, you'll still have 2 vacation days to spare! Add those to a third long weekend and you have a 5-day trip. Let's break it down: If you attach all your trips to long weekends, you'll get:
A 16-day trip
A 10-day trip
A 5-day trip
3 to 5 long weekends to spare
..every year!
b) Itinerary: A word that makes you cringe. After all, every backpacker knows; the less you plan the more freedom you have. Plus, no one likes waiting on hold to change a flight. That said, in the short-travel game, it's a necessary evil. To make sure you're maxing out your 3 L's, loosely plan a route that includes everything you're looking for.
Now, we're not in the business of giving out homework, so we're hard at work drafting up the best 10-day routes for you to explore. Stay tuned!
(COMING SOON!) 4 Wicked Routes You Can Do With 4 Vacation Days.
**Stay up to date with our releases by following us on instagram (@hang.over.seas) or subscribing to The Blog here.**
The Banger (2 Weeks):
Game time. You've waited all year for this. It's time to spread your proverbial wings, whip out those reward miles, and go somewhere far. Here's what you need to know:
Go Far:
A 30-hour flight won't work for your one-week trip, but it's manageable for this one. Itching to go to southeast Asia? Argentina? Maybe India or the Maldives? Now's the time. You won't be fully satisfied (we never are), but you'll have enough time to get a real taste of the country and see if it's worth adding to the "must go back" list.
Flight Selection Pro-Tip:
Not all layovers are created equal. You might see a flight that is hundreds of dollars cheaper than others, but it has a scary "42 hours" next to it. Most people keep scrolling. Not so fast! That could be a 24-hour layover in Panama, or London, or Abu Dhabi. You know how much fun you can have in 24 hours? All of the fun.
Consider one of these and you'll not only add a country to your list, and get a cool one-day experience, you'll also save some cash! (I mean, you won't, but you'll take money from the "flight" budget and spend it on food and booze in that new country - solid trade)
Don't Forget the Finances:
Speaking of cash; long trips mean long invoices. Travel bloggers will give you "tips for traveling cheap", but who are we kidding. You'll be walking out of the airport and see a man in a tiki hut selling margaritas for $15 USD. You gonna say no to that? Yea, me neither.
The key to the super-banger is you shouldn't have to say no. Do you still haggle and look for value? Sure - that's what we do - but it should be for fun not necessity. To make this happen, you'll need to be a little proactive.
Ahead of your trip:
Use Rewards: If you don't have a travel credit card - get one. The points you'll earn from Ubers and SkipTheDishes alone will make a huge difference when it comes time to travel. Pay everything you can on the CC, and cash out for your big trip.
Team Effort: Big groups are a hassle, there's no denying that. But if you're tight on cash, a small group (ideally 4) is perfect for reducing your cost. Whether it's taxis, Airbnb's or random excursions, you'll have the splitting power (and negotiation power) to make your dollar go further.
Slow it Down: CAUTION, UNPOPULAR OPINION: I'm not even sure I've ever done this, but it's a nice idea to think about. Slow down for the month or two before your trip. If you go out twice a week, make it once. If you go out once a week, make it every 2 weeks. Buy more groceries, eat out less. On one hand, you'll save a ton of money. On the other, your tolerance will be down which means you'll also spend less on alcohol abroad - even more savings! It's not the best advice, but it should work in theory.
Plan a Route:
We said it before, a nice, loose route ensures you'll make the most of your time abroad. For some 2-week super-bangers, check out our:
(COMING SOON!) 4 Epic Routes You Can Do with 9 Vacation Days.
**Stay up to date with our releases by following us on instagram (@hang.over.seas) or subscribing to The Blog here.**
Your 5-Day Mini Lite:
Not to be confused with your 1-week mini-trip, the mini lite is a long weekend combined with your 2 remaining vacation days. The goal here is a short, cheap flight and lots to see in a small area. For Canadians, consider the US, Mexico, the Caribbean or Iceland.
Here are, 5 Epic Routes You Can Do with 2 Vacation Days (COMING SOON!)
**Stay up to date with our releases by following us on instagram (@hang.over.seas) or subscribing to The Blog here.**
Bits and Bobs: Your Remaining Long Weekends
If we did our math right, you should still have a few long weekends in the year. Chances are, if you did all of the above, you might be traveled out (or more likely your wallet is).
But for those legends who still have gas in the tank, long weekends are perfect for checking out cities. Be it, NYC, Victoria or Denver, this is the time to show off your SkyScanner skills. Set that puppy to "Anywhere" and let the cheapest flight guide the way.
For some of our favourite weekend trips, check out:
6 Epic Long Weekends in North America. (COMING SOON!)
**Stay up to date with our releases by following us on instagram (@hang.over.seas) or subscribing to The Blog **
BONUS: Time Off Work
Three weeks of vacay is fine, but if you could extend a trip by even one day, that's a huge win. The name of the game here is don't be shy. Tell your employer you'd like to extend your trip and offer a few options:
Four 10's: If you work 40 hour weeks, ask if you can work 10 hours from Monday-Thursday, and take the Friday off.
Weekend Shift: Whether you're hourly or salaried, offer to work a Saturday at some point before your vacation. This not only makes up the day, it also shows you care about your trip and are willing to sacrifice a weekend. Who can say no to that?
Remote Work: If you're able (or semi-able) to do work remotely, offer to do so on the Friday of your trip. This buys you a chance to fly out on Thursday night (often much cheaper) and do your Friday work from paradise. Ideally, they tell you to just take it off.
Unpaid Day: Most employers have these. Don't be shy to use one in conjunction with your trip. People think it's "a bad look", but if you're honest with your manager, my bet is they want to help you. Ask!
The recurring theme is the same.. Don't. Be. Shy. Despite popular belief, you won't get fired, or even scolded, for asking to extend a trip. Managers want to keep their employees happy. If they really can't help you, the worst they'll do is say no. And let's be honest, your manager is too busy to hold a grudge because 'Johnny asked for an extra day three months ago'.
Takeaways:
Divide your weeks as needed: We recommend the 1-2.
Long weekends are your best friends: Use them.
Beef up your budget by making smart moves before you leave - 'cause nothing you do on vacay will be smart - but it will be awesome.
Plan your routes based on the 3 L's (List, Local, Loco)
Ask for flexibility from work: They won't fire you. And if they do, we'll hire you!
P.S - If you're a writer, photographer, digital nomad, or just have an awesome travel story to tell, get in touch with us! Just write us at: welcome@hangoverseas.net
Comments