What Travel Looks Like Without ‘Vacation Mode’

When people hear about our constant travels—living on a Greek island, spending time with family in New York or California, or hopping to destinations like Türkiye—it’s easy to assume we’re on an endless vacation. And I get it - from the outside, it may look like all bikini beach days and sunsets on rooftops.

Here’s the truth: this lifestyle is possible! Simultaneously, while this lifestyle is attainable, it’s not what most people think it is. It’s not a constant escape from reality in the way that a full vacation tends to be. We’ve opted out of the typical work-hard/play-hard mindset and built a life that is consistently fun, but also requires different levels of work. Travel has become a way of life for us—one where we’re still working, working out, running errands, and sticking to a budget. I want to pull back the curtain to share the real side of this life, because while it’s absolutely worth it, it’s not all vacation mode. Instead, it’s about crafting a life where adventure, routine, and responsibility coexist—and making it sustainable over the long term.

Living an Unconventional Life

Our home base is Lesvos, Greece, where life is simple, slow, and deeply connected to the local community. But with family in New York, California, and Arizona—and friends scattered around the globe—we’re constantly on the move. Add in our love for exploring new destinations, and you can see why travel has become a defining feature of our life.

That said, travel doesn’t mean hitting pause on our responsibilities. On a Monday in New York, we might be working all day, squeezing in a workout, and grabbing groceries. In Greece or Turkey, where our work hours often fall from 6 p.m. to midnight due to time zones, we plan our days around that - that means we usually make dinner or pick something up instead of fancy evenings out. Travel doesn’t exempt us from the realities of life—it reshapes how we live it.

Making Travel Affordable

One of the most common misconceptions about frequent travel is that it must cost a fortune. The truth? We’re able to travel so much because we plan and budget carefully. Here’s how we make it work:

1. Smart Hotel Choices
   For example, on our current trip to New York, we’re staying at the Moxy. Our rates averaged $160 a night, it’s an incredible deal, especially with Marriott Bonvoy perks like a $25 daily food or bar credit and a $30 daily laundry credit. Add in a restaurant, an on-site gym, a super cute co-work area (first picture), stunning views of Manhattan, and the convenience of a central location, and it’s perfect for a working traveler.

2. Economy Flights and Travel Points
   We almost always fly economy and leverage travel points whenever possible. It’s about getting where we need to go, not indulging in luxury airfare. We spend time researching what makes sense and using specific ChatGPTs we’ve created to map out best times, travel itineraries and more.

3. Prioritizing Value Over Splurges
   We skip high-end restaurants, expensive experiences, and most impulse shopping. Instead, we look for value-packed options, like hotels with included breakfast or meals from local food spots that give us a true taste of the destination.

4. Financial Awareness
   We weigh every expense against our broader lifestyle goals. Does this purchase add joy or meaning to our trip? Will it align with our values of traveling sustainably and often? Are we just buying stuff? If not, it’s an easy “no.”

5. We’re Not on Vacation

   This is a big one - we’re not on unpaid vacation. We’re working while traveling. Sometimes that’s easy and sometimes, it’s frankly nightmarish! But that means we’re not eating through limited accrued vacation pay, we’re earning while we adventure.

   • Admittedly working for ourselves allows us to do this - but we also know folks who work remote worldwide and are able to do the same!

By being mindful of these choices, we’re able to travel more frequently and make it part of our everyday life, rather than saving up for a single, extravagant trip.

Balancing Routine and Adventure

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that routines don’t disappear when you’re traveling—they just look a little different. Whether we’re in New York, Türkiye, or Greece, certain habits anchor our days:

• Workouts: From gyms to long walks to yoga in an Airbnb, staying active is non-negotiable. I personally use my absolute favorite workout app (unpaid recommendation, haha!) and either workout bands, a gym if I can find one or free weights I have in a few places. I lift 5-6 days a week and aim to get a long walk, run, hike or something else in most days as well.

• Work Hours: Wi-Fi speeds and time zones vary, but the work gets done, whether it’s early mornings or late nights. I prefer morning work, then a workout, then back to work while Z has a consistent schedule that mirrors USA hours.

• Everyday Tasks: Yes, that might mean laundry at the Moxy in Manhattan or navigating Turkish grocery stores in Ankara, but “normal life” doesn’t stop when you’re on the move. I typically travel with my fave protein powder (or something similar based on the region), a shaker bottle, and try to stock up on fresh fruit, nuts, and healthy food. Real life doesn’t pause so that means a weekday is a weekday no matter where we are.

At the same time, travel lets us embrace spontaneity. A productive morning might end with a rooftop sunset in New York, four lazy hours at coffee with friends at home or a walk through a Turkish bazaar to find just the right gift. It’s a balance between maintaining structure and letting the magic of new places unfold.

Why This Life Works for Us

Living an unconventional life of frequent travel takes planning, effort, and a willingness to adapt. It’s not about constantly escaping reality but integrating the realities of life with the thrill of exploration. We don’t want to wait until we’re too old to truly enjoy new place to the extent we’d like. And time is not guaranteed to us - the idea of waiting until ‘one day’ and discovering we are out of days is terrifying. We wanted to do it now, and to try to have it all - but like anything, that comes at a cost.

There are challenges—adjusting to different time zones, ripping jet-lag, terrible Wi-Fi, missed connections, budgeting mindfully, or navigating work while on the road. But there’s also immense freedom in this lifestyle. We’ve found a way to weave travel into the fabric of our lives, turning it from a rare indulgence into an everyday reality. We sacrifice the highs of having two whole weeks completely off or entirely work-free weekends for a more evenly paced life that allows us to explore the corners of the earth.

It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you’ve ever dreamed of living a life that breaks away from the traditional, know that it’s possible. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s endlessly rewarding. This is life—messy, challenging, and deeply fulfilling.

Would you ever consider a life like this? Let me know in the comments or drop me an email—I’d love to hear your thoughts!