If you’re anything like us, you probably spend half your workday dreaming about your next vacation — picturing turquoise water, that first airport coffee, or the feeling of landing somewhere completely new. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to quit your job or become a digital nomad to travel often.
We both work full time here in Vancouver, living the typical West Coast lifestyle — balancing jobs, commutes, and the cost of living in one of Canada’s most expensive cities. Yet, every year, we still make it a priority to travel twice. One shorter trip, usually about a week, and one longer two-week “epic” trip.
People always ask, “How do you do it?” The truth is, it’s not about luck or massive paycheques. It’s about planning, prioritizing, and using every tool at your disposal to make travel affordable and achievable.
So, let’s get into how we make it happen — from saving strategies to maximizing credit card and work rewards — all while holding down full-time jobs.
1. Set the Intention: Travel Is a Priority, Not a Luxury
The first step is changing how you think about travel. For us, travel isn’t an impulsive splurge or something we “might do if there’s extra money.” It’s built right into our lifestyle and budget — just like groceries, rent, or car insurance.
We made the decision a few years ago that travel matters. It keeps us inspired, gives us something to look forward to, and helps us reconnect away from work. Once you shift that mindset, you start planning differently.
Instead of saying, “Can we afford to go?” we ask, “How can we make this work?”
2. Saving for Travel Without Feeling Like You’re Sacrificing
Here’s what works for us:
We automatically save $384 per paycheque as a couple — that’s $192 each. It goes straight into a separate travel savings account, not mixed in with regular bills or daily expenses.
This approach adds up surprisingly fast. With biweekly pay periods, that’s about $10,000 per year, which covers two international trips for us:
One 7-day vacation (around $4,000 total)
One longer 2-week “bucket list” trip (between $4,000–$6,000 total)
When you think of it that way, $192 every two weeks feels doable — it’s about the cost of one nice dinner out or a few takeout orders.
Tip: Set up automatic transfers on payday so you never “see” the money in your main account. You’ll be amazed how quickly it grows.
Tip 2: Sign up for our newsletter to get our budget templates sent directly to your inbox.
3. Using Work Perks to Your Advantage
Most companies offer some form of employee rewards or incentive programs — you just have to use them wisely. In our case, our workplace uses Achievers, a points-based platform where you earn rewards for milestones, recognition, or performance.
Many people redeem points for small items or gift cards, but we always go for the big travel wins. Whenever possible, we cash our points out as either:
A virtual Mastercard, which we use directly toward flights or hotels.
Or an airline gift card, which helps us save on major trip expenses.
It’s amazing how fast those points add up if you consistently participate in company programs. Even if it only saves a few hundred dollars a year, that’s still extra spending money once you land.
If your company has similar rewards, use them intentionally. Treat them like mini travel bonuses instead of random treats.
4. Make the Most of Stat Holidays (Without Being That Co-worker)
This one takes a bit of strategy — and a touch of fairness.
Here in Canada, we’re lucky to have several stat holidays scattered throughout the year. When you combine those with your three weeks of vacation, you can stretch your time off significantly.
Here’s how we do it:
Plan early. We look at the annual holiday calendar in January and start thinking about where to slot trips.
Anchor trips around long weekends. For example, taking four vacation days around a holiday like Good Friday or Labour Day can turn a three-day weekend into a nine-day getaway.
Be fair. Don’t take every prime holiday — let coworkers have their turn. It keeps the workplace balanced and makes your manager more likely to approve future requests.
We usually reserve one of our trips (the shorter one) around a stat or shoulder season, and our longer trip toward the end of the year once we’ve built up time and savings.
Example: Last year, we used one week of vacation around the September long weekend and spent nine days in Hawaii. Later that year, we took our full two-week vacation for Japan in spring — both completely within a standard 3-week allocation.
5. The Power of Credit Card Rewards
If you’re in Canada, you know travel points can be your best friend. We’ve tried a few cards, but our two favourites are:
American Express (AMEX) — great for everyday spending and flexible redemption options.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — perfect for collecting Aeroplan points and redeeming with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners.
By using these cards for regular purchases (groceries, gas, utilities, etc.), you can rack up thousands of points each year without overspending. The key is to pay it off in full every month. That way, you get all the rewards with none of the interest.
Both cards also come with travel perks that make a real difference:
With the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, you get one free checked bag on Air Canada flights for you and up to eight travel companions on the same booking — a perk that can easily save over $100 per trip.
The AMEX Gold Card includes complimentary access to select airport lounges, so you can relax with a drink or snack before your flight — a nice touch that makes travel days smoother and a little more luxurious.
We often use Aeroplan points for flights, especially to places like Hawaii, California, or short-haul trips to the U.S. West Coast. Every few months, we’ll log in, check our points, and plan around the best redemption options.
Budgeting doesn’t have to feel restrictive. For us, it’s about balance — enjoying our life in Vancouver while still building toward travel goals.
Here’s our approach:
Break it down by paycheque. We track income and expenses biweekly since that’s how most people get paid.
Assign categories. Rent, bills, food, savings, and then travel.
Stick to the “save first” rule. Move travel money into savings before you start spending.
To make this more tangible, we even label our travel savings account something fun like “Next Adventure Fund.” Seeing it grow keeps us motivated.
We also track expenses in a simple spreadsheet — not down to every penny, but enough to know what’s going where. The goal is progress, not perfection.
7. Be Smart With Flights and Timing
Living on the West Coast gives us a big advantage for certain destinations. From Vancouver, we can easily reach places like Hawaii, Mexico, or Japan with relatively short flights.
We try to book early for big trips and keep an eye on deals through Google Flights and airline sales. Flexibility is key — flying midweek or during shoulder seasons can save hundreds.
We also love redeeming points for flights when we can. Sometimes we’ll use Aeroplan for one direction and pay for the other to stretch our rewards further.
Amazon Pick:Anker Portable Charger — Long travel days and airport layovers are no match for a reliable power bank.
8. Choosing Trips That Fit Your Budget
Traveling twice a year doesn’t mean every trip has to be extravagant. We mix it up:
Trip 1: A shorter, relaxing week somewhere warm — like Mexico or Hawaii.
Trip 2: A longer, “epic” two-week trip somewhere further — Japan, Europe, or another bucket-list destination.
By alternating between simpler and more ambitious trips, you avoid burnout (and budget overload). Plus, you’ll have something to look forward to in both halves of the year.
9. Maximizing Vacation Time While Balancing Work
We both understand the reality — time off is precious when you work full time. So the key is to plan strategicallyaround busy work seasons.
At the start of each year, we talk through our calendars, upcoming projects, and coworker schedules. Then, we map out vacation requests early. Giving your manager lots of notice increases the odds of approval and helps your team plan coverage.
We also keep a “flex day” or “mental health day” every few months to recharge between big trips. That helps us stay motivated while waiting for the next flight out.
Travel goals are easier to stick to when they’re visual. We keep a shared digital list of dream destinations and update it throughout the year. It’s part vision board, part planning tool.
When we’re budgeting or booking, we revisit the list to remind ourselves why we’re saving. It’s motivating to see places like Italy, New Zealand, or Thailand on the horizon — and knowing that each paycheque brings us one step closer.
Sometimes, when motivation dips, we’ll spend a night watching YouTube travel vlogs or rewatching our own footage from past trips. It’s a great reminder of why we do all this planning and saving.
Unforgettable Highlights from Our 2025 Japan Trip. Check out the blogs here
11. Traveling as a Couple on a Budget
Traveling as a couple means double the fun — and double the financial planning. The good news is, many costs are shared: hotel rooms, meals, taxis, and car rentals.
We split everything evenly and track shared costs in a notes app. It’s not about being rigid — it’s just about transparency. When you’re on the same page financially, you can focus on the experience, not the math.
We also make a point to agree on trip priorities. Sometimes one of us wants a luxury hotel for a night, while the other prefers spending more on food or activities. It’s all about trade-offs and balance.
Amazon Pick:Compression Packing Cubes — Keep your luggage organized and save space when packing for two.
12. Why It’s All Worth It
Balancing work, bills, and travel goals can feel overwhelming, but the reward is worth every bit of effort. Every trip reminds us why we plan so carefully — stepping off the plane, hearing a new language, tasting food we’ve never tried before, and creating memories that last a lifetime.
Traveling twice a year keeps us grounded and grateful. It gives us something to anticipate and talk about during the workweek. And even after returning home, those experiences shape how we see the world (and our lives here in Vancouver).
We’re proof that you don’t have to wait for “someday.” You can travel while working full time — you just have to be intentional about it.
So grab your calendar, start saving, and make it happen.
Final Thoughts: Travel Is Possible for the Everyday 9-to-5er
At the end of the day, we’re not financial advisors or influencers who travel full time — we’re just two people who love seeing the world and found a system that works for us.
By saving $384 per paycheque, using company rewards, leveraging credit card points, and planning thoughtfully, we’ve built a life that lets us work hard and explore the world — one vacation at a time.
Because life is too short to only live for weekends.
