I’ve got to be honest here – I absolutely LOVE it when people ask me where my next trip is taking me. I feel so blessed that I’ve been able to create a life where I can afford to travel to new places, revisit favorite adventures, and share them all with you, all while maintaining a certain sense of balance.
BUT…
I’m not traveling this summer.
Not really.
It might be shocking to some people.
After all – summer is prime travel time, isn’t it? Kids are all out of school, the weather is ideal, yadda yadda yadda.
Nope. Not according to me.
Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE SUMMER! I’m a summer baby and since I’ve moved to Utah, I crave the sun and warmth that comes with it (freak heat waves aside). My skin and hair also appreciate their time in the sun, and, who am I to deny them?
But I’m still not traveling this summer. Not in the conventional sense, at least.
Let me explain.
Flights and accommodations are super expensive during the summer.
When comparing trips between the summer and fall months, there’s a noticeable increase in associated costs. Rental cars are virtually non-existent. Flights are at least 50% more expensive. Accommodations are filling up and creating a spike in per-night costs.
For someone who is working full time with bills to pay and a living to make, costs can be the main factor in determining when and where travel can happen. For example – I traveled to Oahu earlier in 2021, with round trip tickets with a layover at LAX for under $250. The same flight in the summer months is almost double, still with the layover.
I’ve had to travel during the summer a few times for destination weddings and the ticket prices and accommodations were more than I’d choose to spend for my own vacation. Definitely no regrets for the trips, but a little hard on my bank accounts.
Crowds surge during the summer months. Along with schools being out for the summer, the world is experiencing more accessibility and freedoms than 2020. Since restrictions are lifting and borders are opening, people are literally flocking to destinations, creating issues with crowds, parking, and accessing desirable locations.
While I’m not anti-social by any stretch of the imagination, I tend to travel like I am. I usually choose less-popular destinations, visiting them during the shoulder or off-seasons, and it’s all a strategy. When I travel, I want to see as much as I can in the least amount of time possible. That’s easier to accomplish if I’m not having to battle crowds, strollers, and RVs.
I’m trying to conserve my PTO. Paid time off (PTO) is like gold to me. I’ve worked at the same company since 2009 and accrue vacation days more quickly now than I could have hoped. And I treat the vacation days like the most treasured possession I have.
When I first started traveling, I would make the most of weekends, holidays, and squeeze as much into a trip as I could. We’re talking red-eye flights home, and then going straight to work from the airport. It wasn’t the most sustainable way for me to travel, but when I was getting 1 day off a month for travel, it was just enough.
I have a big trip that I want to take in 2022 and am trying to save as much PTO as I can. Those long weekend trips are amazing, but I’d always have to stick closer to home so the flights/drives didn’t eat up too much of those precious days off.
The trip I want to take will need to be at least a few weeks, so I’ll sacrifice what I can to make sure that happens and my PTO bank stays full!
I have 2 trips in September that I’m saving for. I’m the type of person that lives paycheck-to-paycheck when it comes to travel. I have a separate bank account at a separate bank, dedicated solely for my travels. And when I travel, I use it until the balance gets to $0. The beauty of this is I know exactly how much money I have for the trip and can budget accordingly.
Having two trips back-to-back in the same month is going to be a little trickier financially, but by not traveling this summer via airplane, not having to book hotels or fill up my car multiple times, I can bank that cost and tuck it away for September.
I have a few major events taking place this summer that require a lot of energy and attention. Although travel is a major part of my life and brings me lots of joy, it’s not the only aspect of life that I enjoy. Life is all about balance and this summer has a lot going on already.
Plus, I think that there really is wisdom in the adage that too much of a good thing can become an issue. By taking a conscious break from travel, it ramps up the excitement for my upcoming trips. The break creates a longing and yearning that builds the anticipation I crave before a trip. And gives my body a chance to rest and recover.
But don’t worry – there are plenty of adventures to be had! As I was trying to figure out what I was going to be doing this summer for fun, I realized that I had a great opportunity. I want to try new things, discover more local adventures, and take you along with me.
I have a few goals that I’ve set for myself, and you can follow along on my YOUTUBE CHANNEL! That’s right – I have a YouTube channel where I get to tell a more cinematic story of my adventures. In an upcoming episode, I’ll be outlining what my summer is going to look like, how I’m going to have adventures, and make up for the summer the world lost. Check it out!
Are you traveling this summer? Where are you headed?
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