If you’re a woman in your 30s/40s wanting to travel more in 2026, here’s what I’d do…

(Harsh truths incoming…)

Share the load at home

First things first, take a long, honest look at how your life is currently set up because chances are, the biggest barrier to you travelling more isn’t money, or time, or even logistics. It’s the invisible load you’re carrying every single day.

Don’t stand for taking on more than half of the emotional labour, household chores and childcare in your relationship. You’d be amazed by how much time and headspace you suddenly have when your partner takes on 50% responsibility for everything that is 50% theirs. It’s not just about physically having more hours in the day, it’s about the mental clarity that comes with not constantly spinning plates in your mind.

When you’re not mentally drafting the weekly food shop, remembering school emails, planning meals, organising birthdays, and managing everyone else’s schedules, something shifts. You have space to think about yourself again. And when you have that space, planning a trip, or even just dreaming about one, feels exciting instead of overwhelming.

Ooof, that’s harsh but I know almost all of you can relate to this.

Remember this is your life

This is your life. You’re in charge. You don’t need to wait for other people to make decisions or give you permission. If you want to go somewhere, do something, see more of the world, make it happen. No one is going to hand you the perfect travel opportunity. You have to create it.

Use technology to simplify your life…not make it harder

One of the easiest ways to start reclaiming your time is to use technology properly because most of us are using it in ways that actually make life more chaotic.

Think about online food shopping with a saved weekly basket that you can reorder in seconds. Subscriptions for the things you always buy anyway such as cleaning products, toiletries, or kids’ essentials so you never have to think about them again. Automating small, repetitive tasks might not sound glamorous, but it adds up quickly.

Then there are bigger wins. An automatic vacuum cleaner or mop that quietly ticks off a daily chore in the background. AI tools that can plan your week, organise your to do list, create a letter template or draft emails you’ve been putting off. You don’t need to do everything manually anymore, so stop acting like you do.

Every small thing you automate or simplify is time you can redirect towards something that actually brings you joy, like planning your next trip.

You’re the only one responsible for your happiness

Here’s another truth that might sting a little. You’re the only one responsible for your happiness.

Not your partner. Not your kids. Not your boss. Not your friends.

You.

If travel is something that lights you up, if it makes you feel like yourself again, then it deserves to be a priority, not an afterthought squeezed in if there’s time.

Stop people pleasing

This is the number one reason women say they don’t travel as much as they’d like. It’s not that they can’t go, it’s that they feel guilty going. There’s always someone to consider, something to attend, some expectation to meet.

There are family events, school commitments, social plans, work pressures, and before you know it, the year has gone and you haven’t booked a single trip.

At some point, you have to decide that your life isn’t something that happens around everyone else’s plans.

Block out your dates now

Go through your 2026 calendar and don’t just pencil it in, permanent marker it in. Choose your weekends, your long weekends, your midweek escapes, and commit to them.

Treat them like non negotiables.

Don’t put off your life while you’re waiting for other people to plan theirs.

If you’re thinking, “What if Uncle Joey arranges a family meal that weekend because it’s his birthday?” Well, Uncle Joey should have got his invite out sooner and Uncle Joey can rearrange his meal around you if he wants you there.

You cannot keep your life on hold just in case someone else might make a plan.

Book your flights for ASAP

Once you’ve chosen your dates, take the next step quickly and book your flights for ASAP. Once the flights are booked, something shifts mentally. It’s no longer a vague idea or a maybe. It’s happening.

That commitment is powerful.

Even if you haven’t figured out all the details, where you’ll stay or what you’ll do, getting those flights locked in creates momentum. You’ll naturally fill in the rest.

Read my tips on how to find cheap flights here.

Be the organiser

If you often find yourself waiting for other people to organise things, here’s a simple fix, be the organiser.

Whether it’s drinks with friends, a weekend away, or a full holiday, being the organiser means you’re in control. You get to choose dates that work for you, suggest destinations you’re excited about, and shape the whole experience.

People are usually relieved when someone else takes the lead, so don’t assume you’re being bossy, you’re actually doing everyone a favour.

Don’t worry too much about your destination

This might sound surprising but don’t worry too much about where you’re going.

Of course, some places are on your dream list and that’s amazing, but if your goal is simply to travel more, the exact destination matters less than you think.

With the right attitude, you can have a brilliant time almost anywhere.

What’s actually harder is finding dates that work for everyone. So instead of choosing a destination first and then trying to make the dates fit, flip it. Lock in your dates, then find flights that match.

Match the flights to your date, not your date to the flights and focus on destinations that are a short flight from the UK to make things easier!

Rearrange your weekend

It’s not the 1950s anymore.

So many of us still operate on the mindset that weekends are for fun and weekdays are for work. But the reality is, a lot of jobs now come with some level of flexibility, whether that’s working remotely, adjusting hours, or taking time off in different ways.

If you have any flexibility at all, travel midweek.

Flights and hotels are often cheaper. Airports are quieter. Destinations are less crowded. The whole experience is easier.

Travel midweek if grandparents are babysitting

If you have children, this can be a game changer.

Many grandparents prefer babysitting midweek because the kids are at school during the day, which makes things far more manageable. Evenings tend to follow a normal routine too, which helps everyone.

It’s one of those simple shifts that can make travelling feel much more doable.

Final thoughts

Travelling more in your 30s and 40s isn’t about quitting your job, spending a fortune, or completely changing your life. It’s about making small, intentional changes that add up.

It’s about setting boundaries, reclaiming your time, and giving yourself permission to prioritise joy.

Life isn’t something that starts later when things calm down, when the kids are older, or when work is less busy.

That moment doesn’t magically arrive.

There will always be something.

So if travel matters to you, weave it into your life as it is now.

Book the trip. Take the days. Ask for help. Share the load. Say no when you need to.

And most importantly, stop waiting.

2026 can be the year you finally become the person who travels all the time, but only if you decide that you are and then back it up with action.