We all know the saying “time is money.” There are a few ways that this can be interpreted, but generally, it boils down to time being a finite resource. Unlike money, time cannot be recovered or made up once it has passed. It’s important to make your time count!
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, on average, full-time employees get 8 paid vacation days a year. 8 days out of the standard ~260 workdays in a year isn’t a lot, so all the more reason you need to use that time well! We want to help you maximize your time, minimize your budget, and optimize your experiences on the road so that you get everything you want (and need) out of your travels.
In this post, I’ll be covering ways to maximize your time while you travel. If you follow even just a few of these steps, you will not only save yourself the headache of long lines, wasted daylight, general frustration, and regret of missed opportunities; you’ll have an unforgettable experience and set yourself up to fully enjoy the trip you’ve worked so hard to take
TSA precheck/Global Entry
Traveler programs like TSA precheck and Global entry can save you loads of time both at your departing airport and re-entering the US from international destinations. If you plan to travel internationally often, I highly recommend Global Entry, which includes a TSA pre-check membership! Here is a great article that gives the rundown on both of these programs.
Considerations when Booking
Nik dives deep into trip planning here, including considerations on timing while in the planning phase. A few of these are –
- Leveraging your PTO/Vacation time efficiently – Take advantage of holidays and long weekends when your office already plans on being closed. This will allow you to use less of your allotted PTO time towards your trips. We have personally been able to squeeze multiple 10+ day international trips into 1 calendar year simply by leveraging these “freebies” on the calendar.
- Travel during the shoulder season – Typically, peak season means more people (& higher prices). This means you can expect longer wait times at popular attractions and restaurants. These crowds can slow you down! Of course there are pros and cons to this approach. You might not always catch the best weather if you choose to travel the shoulders, but it is worth the trade off in my opinion.
- Carry on vs. checking your bags. One of Nik’s favorite feelings is being able to get off a plane and go – no waiting on a checked bag! With checked bags you also run the risk of lost luggage which can put a real damper on any trip. Typically we carry the Osprey Porter 46 liter backpack, which is one of the largest carryon size backpacks on the market, but depending on the trip length I sometimes opt for a hardshell, all way roller bag.
Get on whatever time your destination is on
Sometimes jetlag is unavoidable, but the last thing you want is to lose days over it. It is important to try and get on the schedule of the country you are visiting as fast as possible. A few tips to overcome jet lag –
- Try to book long flights so that you land in the morning.
- Sunshine and fresh air are your best friend for kicking jetlag! Day 1 on the ground is not the time to do a long museum tour
- Whatever you do, DO NOT go back to the hotel and lay down for a nap. We have been sucked into the “just for 1 hour” trap (which then turns into 3 or 4…)
- Take a shower, freshen up, and get out the door!
- Drink lots of water. Water > Caffeine > Alcohol
Mornings are Essential
I will be the first to tell you – I am not a morning person. I love sleeping and taking my time in the morning. That being said, early mornings do equate to longer days. If you are visiting a place where you have a lot of must-see sights on your list, especially if they are outside, then you need as much daylight as possible.
Next, try to be at your first location/site before it opens in the morning. This typically allows you to beat the crowd (again – crowds slow you down!) and you can usually experience the site you are seeing with fewer people than you would normally mid-day.
There is nothing quite like being awake and in town before the city is bustling with people. Even if you are looking to take a much more leisurely trip, waking up early and doing a bit of people-watching from the local cafe is usually well worth the wake-up call!
Book tickets in advance
Nik likes to say that “lines are for suckers.” This may be a bit extreme, but the sentiment is accurate. Please don’t just go stand in a line because there is one! Some lines are inevitable, but most aren’t. If you are trying to get tickets for an attraction and you see a line, pull out your phone and visit that attraction’s web page. Typically you can book tickets online, which will allow you to skip that crazy line! This leads to my next point – if you have a site/attraction you absolutely must see, go ahead and purchase your ticket in advance. You can’t always guarantee yourself a ticket if you wait until the day of.
If you do have to wait in line – run a quick cost/benefit analysis. What other things could you be doing/seeing instead of waiting in line? Will the wait for that site/attraction be worth it vs. your alternative options? Feel empowered to make decisions on the fly that benefit your schedule!
Do your research
You’ll want to strike a balance between being planned and leaving room for spontaneity. If you truly want to maximize your time at your destination, you will inevitably have to do some research. You can and should do this without feeling like you have to plan out every single minute of your trip.
“The key to preparation is to strike a balance between knowing what’s out there and being optimistically ignorant. The gift of the information age, after all, is knowing your options – not your destiny – and those who plan their travels with the idea of eliminating all uncertainty and unpredictability are missing out on the whole point of leaving home in the first place.”
Rolf Potts, Vagabonding – An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
One caveat: While doing your research, be cognizant of the reliability of your resources. You want to find accurate information and inspiration for your travels. To do this you should probably dig a bit deeper than standard news coverage, which often depicts destinations based on shock-value and attention-grabbing headlines, versus a non-biased, factual perspective. We tend to lean towards trusted guidebook sources, like Lonely Planet, and well-versed travel bloggers who align with our travel style. You can check out our resources page to see our top recommendations!
- Prioritize your must-see list. Some places in the world are just packed to the brim with epic stuff to see (I am looking at you Rome!). Chances are, you will not be able to see everything every city you visit has to offer. Know the top sites and know which ones you just can’t stand the idea of missing.
- Be aware of open/close times. There is nothing worse than getting to a site only to find out they are closed that day or don’t open for hours. This is easily avoidable with a quick Google or search on TripAdvisor! If you don’t know if wifi will be readily available where you are headed or you don’t have an international phone plan, do this research ahead of your trip (or at least in your room the day before).
- Know your transportation options. What is the best way to get around the city? Do they have public transportation- metro or buses? More on logistics in the next section!
Learn some basic phrases. Even just being able to ask where a toilet/water closet is can help cut down on the search! And usually trying to speak the local language goes a long way in terms of endearing locals to you! You can also download the Google Translate app to help with quick translations.
What research can do for you, more than providing information, is give you the confidence of making better decisions on the road. The real test to all your prep work is when you actually apply it to your travels. Study up, friends!
Logistics
Personally, we like to have all of the major logistical decisions planned out when we head out for our trips. This includes plane tickets, car rentals, and at least an idea of train schedules. In the spirit of maximizing your time, this matters more if your trip is short. If you are doing longer, slower travel, this is less important.
A few things to consider –
- Plane and rail/train are typically going to be the two fastest and most convenient ways to travel between cities, especially in Europe. Rail will usually be cheaper, but not always. There are plenty of budget airlines that can be more efficient from both a cost and time-saving perspective. You do run risks of delays with planes, so consider that when planning any big travel days during your trips.
- Try to get your intercity travels done in the morning or late in the evening/night. This way you avoid spending precious daylight hours in transit.
- Public transportation – use it! Whether it be buses, metro, or subway, take advantage of these quick and easy ways to get around the city. I will admit, these systems can sometimes be a bit daunting. Reading metro schedules is not my strongest skill, but I promise you can figure it out! Each country’s national rail system should have its own website with schedules, but this German site has rail schedules for basically all of Europe!
- Getting lost in a new place is a great way to explore, but it can also be a HUGE time suck if you are trying to stick to a schedule. Try to get a general sense of the layout of the city you are visiting and make sure to download/have a physical copy of a map of the city.
- Pro Tip – make sure to grab the business card of your hotel/hostel or write down your Airbnb’s address just in case you get crazy lost. A taxi or rideshare will be able to get you home safely.
Final Word
Travel planning is an art, not a science. Each person has their own style and each destination has its own nuances that will (and should) impact the decisions you make for your trip. Ultimately, the goal is to always look back at your travels with fond memories. Never thoughts of regret or that you missed out on an experience. One way to help ensure this is to make sure you are using the full arsenal of tools at your disposal to plan your ideal trip. To maximize your time while you travel is to mitigate waste and leave room to optimize your experiences.
“Time = Life: therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life.”
Alan Lakein
