“I quit.”
Those are the words so many employees long to say to their bosses. But according to a 2022 Gallup poll, it seems that many people move from one unfulfilling job to the next.
Gallup found that 60% of employees are emotionally detached from their jobs and 19% are downright miserable.
I was no stranger to being in the “miserable” category, and it played a large role in my decision to start A Piece of Travel as a part-time hobby with dreams of it eventually covering my living expenses. Nearly four years after publishing my first article, I took the leap and made blogging my full-time career.
So, if you need some motivation to escape the rat race and you love to travel, get ready to be inspired. I reached out to 17 fellow bloggers who generously shared their stories of quitting their jobs to travel.
Before drafting your resignation letter, though, be sure to read to the end of the article. I reached out to financial experts, and they shared valuable insights on how to prepare to quit your job in the name of travel.
Related article: How to Travel Without Ever Paying an ATM Fee Again
1. First Timers Abroad
By: Jess from Unearth The Voyage
My husband and I quit our jobs in the USA to go teach English in South Korea. I was working as a Social Worker and my husband was working at the Health Department.
We had both never been out of the country before and had no idea what we were doing. That first day trying to use chopsticks in front of our boss was hilarious. She got so frustrated watching us that she ended up feeding us!
We then used the money we saved from teaching to travel Southeast Asia for six months. During that time, we started our travel blog, Unearth The Voyage.
That glorious six months of travel was followed by two long years living in a tiny apartment back in the USA, trying to get our travel blog and marketing company to make more than a few dollars a month. We almost gave up so many times but are so grateful we never did. We have been full-time self-employed for over four years now and travel whenever we want.
Was It Worth It?
Quitting our jobs to travel was one of the best decisions we ever made. Traveling inspired us to start our own travel blog and be our own boss. We wouldn’t be where we are now without that first scary leap and we’re so happy we took it!
2. Healing and Finding Herself
By: Victoria from Bridges and Balloons
I quit my job as a writer for an international NGO in 2012 and booked a one-way ticket to Rio. I went with my boyfriend (now husband!), who was a filmmaker at the time and could take his job on the road.
In part, I was on a journey of healing, having lost my Mum two years before and my Dad eight years earlier. But I was also in search of that classic travel cliché: I wanted to “find myself.” I started a blog to document the journey and soon realized it had the potential to be a job as well as a hobby.
Along the way, I trained as a yoga teacher, did a course in nutrition, started research for several books, nearly started a yoga retreat, and taught writing classes. But most of all, I threw myself into creating a successful travel blog.
And it worked–slowly! I continued to freelance as a writer alongside it for about ten years, but am now full-time on the blog, writing travel tips for creative people and their families.
We traveled full-time for about three years but eventually made Bristol our home base and started our family. And we still travel often, now as a family of four!
Was It Worth It?
Yes! Absolutely. That journey has become part of the fabric of my life and taught me an awful lot about myself and the world around me. And while being a blogger can be stressful in terms of financial security, I love the freedom and creativity of it. I was never well suited to office life!
3. From Fast to Slow Travel
By: Catrina from 24 Hours Layover
Unlike most bloggers who quit their jobs to travel more, I quit my job to travel…less!
I was working as a Flight Attendant and blogging on the side. My airline always sent me to new exotic locations and I truly LOVED that job, but with long 16-hour flights, short 24-hour layovers, and doing international press trips and blogging on my days off, I was exhausted.
Giving up that job was hard—it’s much harder to give up a job that you love than one you hate, but ultimately I wanted to travel slower on my terms with freedom, plus I was passionate about travel writing.
I knew in order to progress I wouldn’t be able to do both jobs simultaneously, so I pursued travel blogging as it aligned more with my long-term goals.
Was It Worth It?
Whilst it did take a while to make a full-time income from blogging, I’m glad I took the opportunity. I have hundreds of thousands of visitors to my travel website every month, I have my own column in a major international travel publication, and I make money passively through my website so I can continue to travel.
I’ve been traveling around Australia and The South Pacific for the past three years thanks to my blog and I’ve met my partner along the way, so that has all made it worth it!
4. In the Name of Love
By: Ali from Berlin Travel Tips
It was 2010, and I knew I needed to get out of my job as an aviation insurance underwriter before I met my now-husband, Andy. The job and office culture were crushing my soul.
I had been blogging for about six months when I met Andy through Twitter, who lived in Germany, and we ended up getting to know each other through Skype and email for four months before meeting in person. We were in love, and despite the distance, I knew he was the one. It was no question I would quit my job to move to Germany.
As I started making plans to get married and move, I kept thinking about how I’d always wanted to take a round-the-world trip. Being unemployed was the perfect time for it. So even though we were newlyweds, I went on a 5-month trip while my new husband stayed home because he had to work. Sorry, Andy!
Was it worth it?
Absolutely! Travel and blogging led me to my husband, who I’ve been married to for almost 12 years now, and I’m so happy to be out of that awful job. I didn’t know a thing about blogging back then, but now blogging is my full-time career, and I would never change that decision to quit my job.
5. A Pro at Quitting
By: Hannah from That Adventurer
I’ve now quit my job three times for travel in the last ten years. Once to go backpacking in South America with my now husband for three months, another to move from the UK to Canada, during which we converted a white van we named Elvis into a campervan in a Home Depot parking lot at -20ºC! The third was more recently when I quit my job to move from Canada to get married in the Arctic and spend a year traveling around Europe.
My jobs have all been in marketing and communications and I’ve worked on my blog on the side. I started my blog in 2013, about a year before backpacking South America.
Now, ten years on, my blog makes me a living income, and it’s supporting me while I finish my degree in Environmental Science. Perhaps that’ll be a career where I’m not constantly looking to quit my job for travel, we’ll see!
Was It Worth It?
I’ve yet to come across a low of quitting my job to travel. It’s something I’m sure I’ll never regret. I have so many great memories from our adventures and they’re far more exciting than the memories of sitting at a desk!
The only downside I can see is that you progress through your career a little slower, many of my friends who haven’t traveled as extensively are ‘higher up’ in their careers. But when I really think about it, I don’t have a big desire to be in management, and the joy I’ve had from my adventures is well worth a slightly less impressive job title.
6. Fulfilling an Epiphany
By: Karla from Colorful Journeys
I was working in the hospitality industry full-time while finishing my studies. After graduation, I quickly advanced in my department, working 12-hour days with no time for anything other than rest. So I started losing friends and was generally unhappy, despite the fact that everyone around me was celebrating my promotion.
After a year, I had to look deeper into myself and had an epiphany. I asked myself if I wanted to be in the shoes of the most successful person at work, and the answer was obvious. I didn’t!
So I quit my job and decided to travel for three months, which quickly turned into fourteen.
I eventually went back to work at another company, but that didn’t last long, and I moved to the other side of the world. Despite the risks I was taking, it all felt incredibly liberating. I finally decided to start blogging when travel was halted during the pandemic.
Was It Worth It?
It was the best choice for me to leave my job. As a result of my travels, I am a better person, more fulfilled, and happier than I have ever been.
7. A Leap of Faith
By: Marissa from Postcards to Seattle
Eight years ago, starting a travel blog was the last thing on my mind. In fact, I had never been abroad before my honeymoon, and the thought terrified me. Regardless, we decided to take a trip to Europe for a month right after our wedding, and even though I had many fears before the trip, I ended up absolutely loving travel (so much so that I started a travel blog).
I worked in physical therapy during the day and would work on my blog for hours at night. After a year, I had done enough research to start monetizing my blog and making money online, so I could quit my job.
I’ll be honest—it was absolutely terrifying to quit a job I had gone to college for and gotten certified for, but I felt confident that I could make this new career work.
Was It Worth It?
After many articles that flopped and going on too many unpaid trips, I finally learned about SEO to increase my traffic and how to work with brands that would pay me. Eight years later, I have a successful website that keeps growing year after year, and I even started a new blog on Ireland travel, so it was completely worth it.
8. Digital Nomading Before It Was in Style
By: David Leiter from The World Travel Guy
When I first started traveling the world, I was already employed full-time as a web developer/designer for a small company in the United States. My boss was very gracious and flexible, allowing me to work from anywhere as long as I had stable WiFi, and the web design gave me a good skill set that I’ve been able to use as a travel blogger.
I enjoyed my job in web stuff, and it was an important stepping stone in my career path, but during covid, the local market took a bit of a downturn and I realized I shouldn’t have all of my eggs in one basket. Plus, I really wanted to find a way to monetize my travels.
When the pandemic ended and countries started reopening for travel, I decided to go all out and switch to my blog as a full-time job.
It took years of very hard work to turn my travel blog into a job, and at first, there was little to no travel revenue (especially because of covid). But I decided to press on since I enjoy traveling so much!
Was It Worth It?
Yes, it was absolutely worth it! I’m happy to say that I’m making a full-time salary from my blog now, and I can hardly think of a better job than traveling the world, taking pictures, and writing about it. I enjoy every aspect of it so much, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
9. The Pet Sitter
By: Lara from The Best Travel Gifts
It’s only been one year since I decided to leave behind the corporate world of healthcare IT consultancy into the digital nomad space. And as much as I hate the term, I love the lifestyle. And I have not regretted my decision since.
I already started a blog a year and a half before with your typical wanderlust-fueled dreams of making money on the road. But when I quit my job, my site was barely providing enough to cover the hosting fees. And even today, it’s not a job replacement income yet, but I’d say it’s worth every penny because it lets me live the life of my dreams.
So how do I afford a dream life without hitting the jackpot?
Easy! I just house and pet-sit my way through different countries. Not only do I save on accommodation costs, but I get to immerse myself in new cultures and work on my website. It’s a win-win.
Was It Worth It?
Hell yes!
Every time I wander around in a new country, I honestly feel blessed for living my dream life. Even without the security of a stable income, I have the security of living a happy life.
10. It’s Never Too Late
By: Jen and her husband, Guy, from The Evolista
As a VP of Store Development, Guy managed the expansion of retail chains like DryBar and Guess Jeans, opening up to 25 retail locations a year. I’ve been a full-time travel blogger since 2018.
In early 2022, with our youngest graduating college, we took the plunge and applied for a Portugal D7 visa. Guy quit his job and consulted part-time while we miraculously wrapped up our lives into eight duffle bags!
After moving to Portugal and booking trip after trip, we took downsizing to the ultimate level and became fully nomadic. We’re in our 50s and living our best lives.
The only thing we both miss about Guy’s job (aside from $$) is each having our own thing. Thankfully we still like each other after 33 years of marriage because we’re together 24/7. That might be a serious deal-breaker for a lot of couples!
Was It Worth It?
Leaving a high-pressure, 60+ hours a week job was 100% worth it. We replaced most of our income with blog revenue and rental income from our house. Almost every day, we are seeing something amazing, like the historic city of Matera, and looking at each other saying, “Can you believe how lucky we are?”
11. From Corporate Life to Van Life
By: Catherine from Nomadicated
“Get straight A’s. Get into a good university. Get into a Fortune 500 company,” my parents said. Check, check, check (well, B+’s were close enough). But three years into corporate consulting, I was looking for my out, and remote pandemic work offered that opportunity.
I converted a van, journeying for two years across Western USA. Between hiking the national parks, chasing ski resorts, and driving long hours, I spent days taking client calls—all while battling to find strong enough WiFi connections in rural American towns.
During this time, I launched a blog to chronicle my experiences on the road, which turned into so much more.
Was It Worth It?
Since taking my gap year in university, travel has become a huge part of me, and I never thought it was something I could pursue as a career. Taking the plunge to move away from corporate life and exploring what motivates me may have been scary, but 100% worth it, no matter what happens in the end.
12. Saying Goodbye to Burnout
By: Amber from Amber Everywhere
In 2018, I was working for a Denver-based startup in an operations role and experiencing some serious burnout. I knew that I was burnt out when I traveled through Mexico for about ten days, only to find myself feeling just as exhausted and stressed on my first day back as I’d felt before I left.
After carefully considering my options, I decided to quit my job in order to heal while traveling through Central and South America for about 2.5 months.
I am grateful to all of my travel companions who sat with me while I processed my experience at the startup over the years. Our conversations were filled with rage, laughter, resentment, and hope, all of which helped to propel me forward. The worst part was my aching fear about what would come next after I traveled; this gave me plenty of practice in getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
I eventually started my blog after moving abroad to Ireland in 2020.
Was It Worth It?
For me, quitting my job to travel was absolutely the right choice. It gave me a chance to heal, to catch my breath, and to remember who I was and what mattered to me. I’m proud of myself every day for taking that leap of faith.
13. Turning a Nightmare Into Profit
By: Jiayi from The Diary of a Nomad
In 2017, I was working a corporate job in advertising but was far from feeling fulfilled. My real passions in life have always been travel and photography, so in my free time, I started posting some of my travel photos on Instagram just for fun.
Little did I know my photos would go viral, and my account really started to grow. I started doing many collaborations with tourism boards, but they never felt stable enough for me to quit my job.
Then, in 2019, a giant corporation stole my photos and used them on their site. I sued, won, and decided to use the cash to take the plunge: I quit my job and started traveling full-time.
In 2020, I transitioned from Instagram to managing my own travel blog, and have now been making a full-time income with it for the past two years. The best part is my income is completely passive, literally nine times higher than my previous 9 to 5 salary, and most importantly—I’ve never been happier to wake up every day to go to work.
Was It Worth It?
Abso-freaking-lutely. I love being able to mold my work around my life rather than the other way around. I can travel as often as I wish and can work as many days as I want to. Blogging has literally changed my life, and passive income has given me the freedom I’ve always dreamed of.
14. A Present to Her Future Self
By: Erin from Savannah First-Timer’s Guide
My travel blogging story is a tale you’ve probably heard many times before; I worked in a soul-crushing corporate job that I dreamed of quitting every dang day. It’s not that my job was terrible, it’s just that my direct manager gave me literal nightmares about my future.
Her anxiety and general lack of coping skills (not great qualities in a manager, btw!) caused me so much stress that I ended up having to leave work one day to visit the ER. That was a huge wake-up call! More than anything else, I knew I didn’t want to follow her path of calling in sick and popping anti-anxiety meds just to make it through the work week. I ended up quitting my job—during my birthday week, no less!—as a present to my future self.
I had a small blog at the time that I’d started with my daughter, but it wasn’t making enough money to support the two of us. That didn’t matter, though; I was willing to put in the work to create a life that didn’t send me running to the cardiologist whenever things became stressful.
Was It Worth It?
Fast-forward to today, and my Savannah First-Timer’s Guide website earns more than my corporate salary. I also have the flexibility to travel, which is fantastic. The best part, though, is that I have a happy and healthy boss (me!) and love what I do. In other words, YES…it was totally worth it!
15. In Pursuit of the Big Dream
By: Stephanie from History Fangirl
In 2015, I was working in software sales and was nearly ten years into a sales career. However, my life underwent a seismic shift: my husband and I decided to get a divorce.
Prior to this decision, I was feeling increasingly tied down. I wanted to see more of the world, but we had built a traditional life that didn’t leave much room for anything outside of traditional jobs.
Within forty-eight hours of our breakup, I realized that I was free to pursue my big dreams. I knew right away that this meant quitting my job and traveling full-time.
I decided to stay at my company for a year to save, starting my blog soon after, but it took several years of blogging to turn it into a full-time income.
Something I did not expect was that I would meet my future husband within six months of setting out. This led to me living in Eastern Europe with him part-time. We eventually got engaged, got married, and had two children.
With two young children at home, I’m off the road more often than I’d like. What’s different this time is that I’m already a professional travel blogger, so our family makes travel a priority.
Was It Worth It?
Absolutely! I’ve been to over fifty countries and forty-five US states. I run my own business. And when our families go on trips, I get to show my kids the places I had only dreamed about going to before.
16. A Change of Plans
By: Linn from Brainy Backpackers
I finally quit my job to travel full-time in 2021, a dream that was delayed by the pandemic. I had traveled full-time for years before but returned to a corporate 8-4 job in customer service, where I worked within leadership and recruitment.
It didn’t take many years before I started to get restless again, but now I had a dog, so I had to think differently. I decided on swapping out my car with a van to travel from Spain to Asia with her.
But things didn’t go as planned. Just as I was about to start my big solo journey, I met the love of my life. While nothing has gone to plan since the day we met, we are traveling locally with the van building up a number of destination blogs and YouTube channels while planning on going to either Asia or Africa (or both) with the van and the dog.
Was It Worth It?
Not even on the most broke days has it ever been in my consideration to go back to a corporate job. I’m the happiest when I can travel, and luxury for me cannot be measured in money but in experiences. The feeling of building our own business, working our own hours from where we want to cannot be equaled.
17. Choosing a Satisfying Path
By: Marta from Where Life is Great
I used to have it all figured out. In 2016, I was a successful Marketing Manager with a great job, a top-notch education, and even a new life in the beautiful city of Barcelona. But despite all my accomplishments, I felt lost and unfulfilled. I knew there was something more to life, but I didn’t know how to find it.
Fast forward to 2018 and my life took a dramatic turn. My travel blog and Instagram were getting attention from all over the world, and I was receiving invitations for press trips left and right. I finally realized it was time to make a choice—continue down the same unsatisfying path or take a leap of faith and travel the world.
I chose the latter, and I’ve never been happier. My travels have opened my eyes to new perspectives, and I’m making a positive impact on the world in ways I never thought possible.
Was It Worth It?
Quitting my job to travel the world was the right decision for me. My travels opened my eyes to new perspectives and allowed me to make a positive impact on the world in ways I never thought possible. By choosing to follow my passions, I found the fulfillment and purpose that I was searching for.
Financial Considerations Before Quitting Your Job
If you arrived here eager to bid farewell to the corporate world in exchange for traveling the real world, financial experts say not so fast. There are plenty of ways a rushed departure from your job can go wrong.
Kelley C. Long, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and founder of Financial Bliss with Kelley Long, says, “The most important financial thing to consider when quitting your job is how much runway you have to pay your basic bills before your savings run out.”
She explains from personal experience that she only had about two months’ worth of savings the first time she quit her job, forcing her to take on credit card debt and, eventually, another job. Harnessing her experience, she waited until she had one year’s worth of living expenses saved before quitting her job a second time to pursue her dreams.
Long also advises to “have at least bare minimum health insurance set up, making sure you have a plan for health emergencies abroad as well.”
Furthermore, she offers advice for anyone thinking about tapping into their retirement account to quit their job for travel. “If you’re planning to use your Roth IRA to fund part of your expenses and you’re not yet 59 1/2, make sure you have good records of your contributions so you can avoid unnecessary taxes and penalties.”
Don’t Get Caught in Red Tape
Ryan Firth is a CPA and the founder of Mercer Street Company. He also offers advice if you’re thinking about quitting your job to travel.
Firth cautions that “if you spend more than 6 months in any one country, you could inadvertently establish tax residency in that country and be subject to income taxes in that jurisdiction.”
If you own stocks or other assets as a U.S. citizen, you also need to be careful. “Many brokerages and custodians will close your investment accounts if they find out you are not resident in the U.S. anymore,” comments Firth.
Finally, Firth advises that any wanderlusts with ties to the United States need to be careful come tax season. “U.S. citizens and permanent residents (a.k.a. “green card” holders) are taxed on their worldwide income regardless of where they live, so they must file Form 1040-NR every year.”
Is Quitting Your Job to Travel in Your Future?
Knowing you want to quit your job is the easy part; preparing financially and taking a leap of faith is often what’s difficult. But these 17 bloggers have shown us that quitting their jobs to travel is something they don’t regret.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start building a blog on the side and honing in on your savings so that you, too, can feel the freedom of exploring the world without a boss.
