How to Travel More With Limited Vacation Days (Even with a 9–5 Job)

2. Keep a Go Bag Ready at All Times

This one has saved me more times than I can count. A cheap flight pops up, or I suddenly have a free weekend, and instead of spending hours packing, I grab my prepped bag and go.

Inside mine, I always keep:

• Toiletries ready to go in Silicone Travel Bottles

• A small First Aid Kit because blisters are basically guaranteed when you walk a lot

• A reliable Portable Power Bank because nothing ruins a trip like being stuck at 5% battery in an airport

• Extra socks and an extra phone cord, because I seem to lose both constantly

And all of this lives in my Lightweight Spinner Carry-On, which fits under the seat and rolls easily through airports. I keep it half-packed at all times so I can literally be ready in less than an hour. Honestly, past me who used to panic-pack at midnight before a flight would be very impressed.

3. Rethink What “Vacation” Means

It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking a real vacation has to mean a two-week trip to Europe or a two-island Caribbean getaway. Those are amazing when you can swing them, but if you wait until you have that much PTO available, you’ll be waiting for a long time.

Some of my favorite trips were short ones. A quick weekend road trip where we stumbled into a tiny bakery I still dream about. A Friday–Monday beach getaway that reset my brain better than a full week off ever could. Even exploring a new city just a couple hours away can feel like a true adventure when you treat it like one.

Short trips are easier when you’re organized. I use Compression Packing Cubes to keep everything neat and separated. Outfits in one cube, sleepwear in another, and all my extras tucked away so I am not tearing through my bag at one in the morning looking for something to wear. It sounds small, but it makes a huge difference.

4. Treat PTO Like the Treasure It Is

I treat PTO the same way I treat chocolate—it’s precious, and I refuse to waste it. Instead of using it all up at once, I think carefully about when it will give me the most value. Adding a single day to a long weekend gives you a lot more bang for your buck than using random days here and there without a plan.

That said, I always save one or two “just in case” days. Life happens. Maybe it’s a wedding, a last-minute family event, or maybe it’s just one of those moments when you desperately need a reset. Having a little PTO cushion saved me more than once.

And yes, at least once a year, I’ll spend a bigger chunk on a dream trip. You need that one anchor vacation to look forward to, even if it uses more PTO. Balance the big ones with shorter getaways, and you’ll feel like you traveled way more than your vacation balance suggests.

5. Book Smart and Maximize Your Hours

When your time is limited, the way you book flights and hotels makes all the difference. I always choose the earliest possible flight out and the latest flight back home. Even if you’re a little tired, it basically gives you two extra days of exploring without using extra PTO.

For international trips, I learned my lesson the hard way years ago. I landed in Italy, realized my charger did not fit, and spent my first night with a dead phone. Now I never travel without my Universal Travel Adapter. It’s small, cheap, and saves a lot of stress.

I also try to stay as close to the center of the action as possible. Sure, the downtown hotel might be pricier, but the amount of time you save not commuting is absolutely worth it when you only have three or four days.

6. Pack Like You Mean It

This one took me years to learn. I used to bring 12 outfits for a three-day trip, and I would end up wearing maybe three of them. Now? Carry-on only, every single time. Not only does it save me from waiting at baggage claim, but it also makes moving around so much easier.

Here are my simple packing rules:

• Roll clothes instead of folding them (saves so much space)

• Stick to a simple color palette so everything can mix and match

• Keep a small “tech bag” ready at all times with my earbuds, Kindle, chargers, and adapters

For days of sightseeing, you can use Anti-Theft Backpack. It is slim, lightweight, and I don’t spend the whole time nervously checking if someone is unzipping my bag in a crowd. Peace of mind is everything.

7. Make Every Hour Count

If you only have a few days in a place, every hour matters. I am all for slow, aimless wandering sometimes, but when I have a limited vacation, I always plan a rough itinerary ahead of time. I make sure my “must-dos” are scheduled, and I leave a little room for spontaneity.

Pre-booking skip-the-line tickets is worth every penny. There is nothing worse than wasting half a day standing in line for one attraction. The goal is to experience more in less time, not less in more time.

And because I usually end up walking miles every day, I never travel without my Collapsible Water Bottle. It keeps me hydrated, saves me from buying overpriced water constantly, and folds up when I’m not using it. Small detail, big difference.

Final Thoughts

Here is the truth: you do not need unlimited PTO to have a travel-filled year. Some of my favorite trips were the short, spontaneous ones that barely used any vacation time at all. The trick is to plan smart, keep yourself organized, and always be ready for an adventure when the opportunity comes up.

It is not about how long you travel—it is about how you use the time you have. A long weekend trip can give you just as many memories as a two-week vacation if you make the most of it.

So do it. Request that Friday off. Keep your go bag ready. And get out there, even if it is just for a couple of days. You will be surprised how far a little PTO can take you.