Hey there,

Let's have an honest conversation. I've been getting so many messages lately that go something like this:

"Your trips look amazing, but I could never..."

"I wish I could travel more, but..."

Sound familiar? Today, let's bust through those "buts" and talk about how to turn your travel dreams into reality. Because here's the truth: most barriers to travel are more manageable than you think.

The Big Three Travel Roadblocks (And How to Crush Them):

1. "Travel Is Too Expensive." This is the biggie, I hear you! But remember my New Zealand story from last week? Those $700 round-trip flights didn't find me, I had systems in place to find them. Here's your action plan:

• Set up price alerts on tools like Daily Drop Pro, PointsYeah, or Google Flights (they're free!)
• Consider "shoulder season" travel (I'm talking like 40% savings!)
• Start travel hacking with credit card points (I'll never forget booking my first "free" flight to Europe 🤯)
• Look beyond traditional hotels (In New Zealand, we saved hundreds by booking bed and breakfasts, and met the nicest families!)

2. "I Don't Have Enough Time Off." Let me share something exciting that might change how you think about PTO. Last year, I managed to take a full month-long cross-country RV road trip, and I only used two weeks of actual vacation days! Here's how: I worked remotely for two weeks while exploring different locations (hello, morning emails and meetings, and afternoon hikes), then used my PTO for the other two weeks when I wanted to fully disconnect. Here's how you can maximize your time off:

• Combine weekends with holidays, or stack PTO around holidays
• Work remotely for a few days on your trip if your job allows it
• Take advantage of time zone differences (fly overnight, arrive ready to explore)

3. "It's Just Too Overwhelming to Plan." Planning analysis paralysis is real! But here's a simple framework:

• Start with ONE destination that truly excites you
• Break planning into bite-sized weekly tasks
• Use tools like Google Flights' price calendar to find the best times to travel. Being flexible on dates is going to give you the most savings.
• Join travel communities like the Daily Drop Lounge (seriously, we love helping each other out!)

Remember - You don't need to plan a big three-week international adventure right away. Start small. Maybe it's a weekend getaway to a nearby city or a four-day trip to a neighboring country. Every journey starts with a single step (or in our case, a single booking!).

This Week's Travel News & Resources:

• ​Where to travel in 2025 - New airline routes to these amazing destinations mean more opportunity and lower pricing for this year.
• ​Do you need a visa for your destination? This U.S. State Department tool will tell you everything you need to know so you are well informed and well prepared.
• ​Sustainable Travel with Lonely Planet - How you can travel more sustainably this year.

Your Homework This Week: Pick ONE location you've been dreaming about. Just one. Then set up a price alert for flights there. That's it! Baby steps lead to big adventures.

Reply to this email and let me know - What's your dream destination? I'd love to help you start planning!

Happy travels,

Michelle

​

P.S. Know someone who’d love to save money on travel? Go ahead and forward them this email - sharing is caring!

Got this email from a friend and want in on the savings? Heck yeah! Click here to join my email list and get weekly budget-friendly travel tips straight to your inbox!

​

​sandmanntravels.com​