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Travel is something many people love but few have the time to do. While some people avoid travel because it can be costly, many more admit they would travel more if they simply had the time.

So how can you make travel a bigger part of your life in the year ahead? Consider the following tips.

• Use your vacation days. Many people don't travel because they simply aren't using their paid time off. A Harris Interactive survey conducted for the career website Glassdoor found that only 51 percent of American employees use all of their eligible paid time off and vacation time. Some of those workers may be hesitant to take days off for fear of upsetting their superiors, but another survey suggests that might be a mistake. A 2015 study from the staffing firm The Creative Group found that 40 percent of executives feel their employees would be more productive if they used their allotted vacation time.
• Hit the road and work at the same time. If things at work are simply too hectic, consider hitting the road and working at the same time. While unencumbered travel tends to be the most relaxing, working vacations can allow you to let off some steam and get your work done outside the hustle and bustle of the office. Resolve to work only a few hours each day, tackling a few projects in the early morning before you call it quits and enjoy your destination. The ease of working remotely can make it easier than ever before to stay connected to the office while still getting time to travel.
• Make better use of weekends. Travel need not be limited to vacations. If you truly love to get up and go, plan more weekend trips. Find places within a few hours of your home so you spend less time behind the wheel and more time enjoying your destination. Plan ahead for three-day weekends so you don't have to scramble at the last minute to make arrangements.
• Extend work trips. Another way to see new places is to extend work trips. If you have a business trip coming up, add an extra day at the end of the trip so you can explore a new locale without the burden of having to work. This can be a cost-effective way to travel, as your company will no doubt still pay to fly you home even if you stay an extra day to do some sightseeing.

Finding time to travel is not as hard as many working professionals may think. Oftentimes all it takes is a little extra effort and the willingness to leave the office behind for a few days.