How to plan & go on AMAZING vacations, guilt-free

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich picks up on a storyline from Tuesday's episode. Jack and Christina were a perfect example of how not to travel - racking up credit card debt, booking late on a whim, and without emotional buy-in from one partner. In this deep dive episode, I go A to Z on how to plan, save, book, and enjoy vacation experiences the Rich Life way.
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Can’t-miss moments
00:00:00 - 1: Opening
00:00:52 - 2: When does Ramit start planning a trip?
00:02:06 - 3: How does Ramit pick the places he'll go on vacation?
00:03:21 - 4: Is it worth it to use a travel agent?
00:04:58 - 5: How do you ball out on a budget?
00:05:20 - 6: How Ramit plans a dream trip
00:10:20 - 7: How to discover off-the-beaten-path experiences?
00:12:53 - 8: Ramit's philosophy on hotels
00:14:04 - 9: How to balance making reservations vs. playing it by ear?
00:17:02 - 10: How much money should you put away for vacation?
00:17:55 - 11: Ramit's most memorable stays so far
00:22:19 - 12: What if I have debt?
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If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here: forms.gle/pjYMaLeThJM3z9uN6
Produced by Crate Media.

[@brandonwilson5727]

I’m 22 and I figured out young that travel is super important to me. My wife and I try to travel 3-4 times and year. We aren’t rich by any means but we keep our expenses low so we can travel and make memories. People always ask us how we travel so much and it all comes down to not spending money on stuff that doesn’t matter to us. Maybe one day we can do the extravagant trips like you do 😂 thanks for the vid.

[@user-qz3kk6bg7k]

Same here, we live in quite a poor area in a tiny house but travel everywhere, I think we confuse people but thats how we afford to do it! Keep making memories xx

[@brandonwilson5727]

@@user-qz3kk6bg7k Yeah same, we are renting a small duplex and drive a 2006 Nissan Altima. I got asked if my wife’s parents are rich since I’m traveling so much. 😂 I think people think traveling is a lot more expensive than it is. If you do it right and smart it’s not that expensive.

[@chadteeples4472]

Our kids are grown. My wife and I love to travel. 2 years ago we decided to begin hosting exchange students because the house was a little too quiet. This adventure has turned into an amazing way to experience other cultures from home. An unforeseen benefit is that nearly all of the exchange kids families have invited us to their country to visit. So my wife and I have began saving and planning and hope to begin this world travel in 3 years visiting our exchange families. We can’t wait! Oh and a side note: our trigger phrase when one of us is being cheap for our rich life is “fuck off Ramit”. 😂. True story. Great episode

[@aelliott0224]

❤ This might be my favorite episode yet! As a Sales Director for an international tour operator THANK YOU for helping others change their lives through travel. I especially appreciate your advocacy for using Travel Advisors- tell them your dreams and goals and let them make it happen for you- it's their job and they LOVE IT. I'm a firm believer in the idea that "Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." Thank you for a fun and informative episode!

[@AdmanToronto]

This video has turned me into a committed self-booker into somebody who will DEFINITELY be calling a travel consultant for my next trip.

[@RiceSteph]

I'll be using a travel advisor from now on! I love planning, but I'd love for it to be taken care of

[@grantaugustyniak6667]

My Dad always took his income tax return & used it towards our family vacations every year. I in turn do the same . It’s my treat to myself & a reminder of how hard I worked to get to the places I want to go. Absolutely no regrets on this.

[@JakeSpradlin2]

Travel is huge for me. I set aside money into a savings account aside from my emergency fund, and the true use of these funds are Christmas, birthdays, and travel.

[@MY-kh9hx]

“Live your rich life today. Live a richer life tomorrow!” Love it! Also the point that a spouse shares the same level of abundance with one. I will keep reminding myself of this! My husband has a abundance mindset while I have a scarcity one because I grew up in a poor family where my mom kept telling me we don’t have enough money. After reading your books and learning your idea of designing your rich life, I started to realise that I was not able to enjoy the moment as much as my husband because of my mindset. I am working on it and hopefully one day I will reach the same level of abundance with my husband.

[@erikasaucedo7842]

i recently bought your book, and started following you, i’m a single mom of 3 teens, you got me so inspired and ready to live my reach life, i have a 19k on cc debt and im gonna follow your plan, thank you so much!!!

[@excitedaboutlearning1639]

Definitely do! Set up the systems & automate the money flows & investment flows! Use a debt payoff calculator to calculate how long it would take you to pay off your debt if you only paid the minimum amount. Then see how much faster you'd get it over with by paying extra 25-200 a month. Remember that that extra part is all going to the principal. So, you don't pay any interest on it. That's why you can pay the debt off so much faster if you nake extra payments. I don't know you, but I'm so proud of you for facing this challenge head on. My challenge is nutrition and eating well. I've felt like I don't understand anything, but yesterday I took the first step by calculating my approximate calorie intake per day.

[@milajimenez2031]

You got this Erika! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@erikasaucedo7842]

@@excitedaboutlearning1639 I will, thank you so much 😊

[@erikasaucedo7842]

@@milajimenez2031 thank you girl 😊

[@expandingpossibilities]

Love this, Great ideas. Especially the idea to plan a year ahead. Gives sufficient time to plan, save and have something to look forward to.

[@kdholden]

Wow, you are a very considerate human towards your loved ones. Great ideas

[@davidguarin358]

My admiration ❤for you I been learning a lot From a humble person you are Tks a lot

[@Phyllisjordan2006]

Oh man i love all of your gestures. So so amazing, thank you so much. 🤗

[@claudiawilliams6182]

I love this! Thank you for sharing! It is so inspiring 🤩

[@thisisyourfinalwarning]

I love these tips, looking forward to our next vacation 🎉

[@tturner7786]

I love this episode. It was really nice to get your prospective on travel because you do talk about how you love it and my wife and I do also. So it's great to get your prospective and it was just a fun conversation. Super chill. Loved it. Do more please

[@sandielefant8258]

When I organize travel for my family I like to include an activity that pushes everyone even just a little to try something that is a bit uncomfortable. For example, we visited the Wiatomo Caves in NZ which pushed what my kids might want to do... they loved it and it helped them grow. We stayed in fancy places, casual hostels, RV resorts. It's so much more meaningful (to me) to give everyone a chance to push their comfort level a bit (not much). :). This creates picture perfect memories for us.

[@ajohonly3721]

Your Netflix show is amazing thank you so much for doing that hopefully season two to help more people.

[@adnesavchen1549]

Travel for me is very important. I am happy to see the video, I would never think to take a travel agent but here I can see how amazing it is to have one we can tell them what we want and they will plan it for us. but not everyone can take a 6 weeks vacation most of us I think it will be 2 to 3 weeks only. This video really helps me in many wayes because I would do the planning in the last mins. Thank you for sharing that information with us Ramit Sethi.

[@lulupuss84]

Love this! Please consider swapping “masseuse” for “massage therapist” in future. My understanding is that therapists prefer this title. Great video!

[@ramitsethi]

I just learned this from another commenter. Thank you for letting me know

[@thefunfam1433]

@@ramitsethiit depends plenty don’t mind masseuse

[@BrianCarmichael-ee3dw]

Fantastic recommendations! Will put this to use

[@MrsBruno6554]

This was a very helpful video. We have a difficult time planning vacations and haven't considered using a travel agent. Thanks for the tips!

[@dondadda]

Just discovered you after watching your Netflix special..I am 59 and love listening to your wisdom and analogies..will email you one day soon with my life and Financial situation to see what you can suggest. .my 27 year old son is an in vestment banker and has been following you for awhile .we now discuss your ideas..appreciate you .take care be safe

[@karenkehler7331]

Thanks for this! We’re starting our “travel life” next month! We were care givers for decades for parents while rest of siblings got to go. World travels! Now it’s our turn! Already upgraded, have TA, and customized for our interests- much different from our siblings. Your specific shares about a “dream trip” are excellent. We’re the caregivers. We want to be taken care of this trip and many more in the future! As a counselor I suggest that to couples often!

[@iris_fink]

OMG Ramit! you're awesome 🎉❤

[@laurenfrancesguerraphd8310]

This was so good!! thank you Ramit 😀

[@kimvisser1985]

Thank you! It is so dificult if you save, save and save and forget what you are saving for 😅 it is like you tell us it is ok to spend money. Greetings from 🇳🇱

[@willclawson911]

This was great. I’m getting inspired and excited!

[@ramitsethi]

Thanks for watching!

[@barbararios246]

Merry Christmas ty God bless u n your family

[@user-vc9or5uc4x]

Love this

[@melissalopes6492]

Great video❤ thank you so much !

[@getinthespace7715]

Very cool. We have been pushing pretty hard and made lots of sacrifices over the last 10 years due to tragedies in the family. Thankfully we have been blessed with other opportunities and our income is very comfortable after doubling this year. We are almost debt free and are moving to our favorite area of the country. With our young daughter we concentrated on travel to visit family but after this move is accomplished we are looking to take our first international vacation to somewhere tropical. Very exciting. My wife and I love travel and want to explore the world with our daughter. We are going to start planning 2-3 international vacations a year. I appreciate your advice. Luckily we have a friend who's wife has been a travel agent for a long time. Can't wait to reach out to them when we are ready to start planning and booking our first trip.

[@michelerogers9899]

Great episode. I enjoyed the honeymoon trip story.

[@ES-yz4rb]

Great video. Travelling with our kids overseas each year is part of our rich life. Its one thing seeing and experiencing beautiful places in the world as an adult but its on another level if you can give that to your kids and see their reaction. Eg seeing your kids snorkle in the great barrier reef.

[@pierolivierpc]

For me travel is my life priority and I will spend a very high % of my income achieving that ( even lowering it for more time off time). I wanna do it while I still can!

[@pierolivierpc]

Udaivilas, Udaipur That’s the hotel he’s talking about if anyone is wondering

[@TheLMRod]

I love your show sooo much! I’ve been binging your videos daily and just got your book. I’m working hard on my shopping addiction - so hard!! As an only child, I was used to being spoiled - getting what I wanted when I wanted. Being adopted, I was always trying to fill a void and shopping has always helped 😅😢 until it didn’t. Now I’m working hard to pay off debt. Putting that aside, how do you get rid of your financial advisor?? I’m scurred! Help. 😊

[@timewarptrio11]

any tips on the intricacies of traveling with a group? especially when people have different needs and resources?

[@beaumac]

I’m on a 3 month honeymoon. There is a ton to see in Italy.

[@aimeeclevenger7378]

Great episode! Do you mind sharing how you found/decided on a travel advisor?

[@TessaHill22]

Yes, my question as well!

[@slimerone]

Direct Travel is a great agency

[@protean_2]

Hi Ramit- Please what Travel Advisor do you use for your big trips? Thanks

[@RedElegance]

Good tips.

[@user-xp7oz1ph8j]

Thank you for all the value Ramit. I really would love to listen to your friend's podcast. Chris Hudgson, but I just can't find it.

[@ramitsethi]

Chris Hutchins, All The Hacks

[@lesterlim7693]

Hi Ramit do you have a recommendation for a travel agent. We live in Singapore and we have plenty of tour agencies here but they often jam pack a whole bunch of activities every single day while on tour and it is just extremely exhausting and unenjoyable, we would like someone that can do a bit more customisation for us.

[@madamevannel3856]

Home Exchange (having a house or an apartment) is so much better and cheaper than a hotel room, in my opinion.

[@raudelcabrales7190]

Can you send a link to Chris podcast

[@RatanSur]

More of these episodes please! My ideal would be 50/50 couple interviews and these types.

[@boston312]

Im out of the country for half the year. I never understood the guilt behind any of it as long as you can afford it.

[@yagushka]

I’m planning a pilgrimage in Europe in August 2024 🥰

[@zacharyfair6738]

If I had the money, I think I would still stay in hostels... just shared rooms. I make decent money, but am not rich. This will be my second year traveling for 3 months. However, I can work remote for 20-25hrs.

[@michaelconnors9868]

I’m having trouble with the link for the newsletter. Is there another way to get it?

[@ramitsethi]

It's updated, try again please

[@StorytellingHeadshots]

Wow! This girl’s logic is off the charts! I can see why she was accepted to Yale. And she seems even smarter for not going. I am floored by her self-possession and awareness. She is right: if it’s gold; it will shine. She doesn’t need the ‘shine’ of a name school… her personal strength and intelligence absolutely shines its on its own!

[@UOCRecordZ]

Podcast newsletter is down. Help please

[@ramitsethi]

It's updated, try again please

[@ms.sharma998]

Planning sounds exhausting!

[@user-to2mo1kt9v]

If I will ever have a kid, I would like him or her to be the same personality as you 😂

[@AdmanToronto]

I have SO much guilt with travel spending.... My thought is always - If I had this money invested - I could take an even BETTER holiday in 10 years...

[@baddboo]

I get upset, because your videos and sarcasm end. Need another video.👍

[@zacharyfair6738]

You can tell he has great parents. My dad was never around and my mother definitely has some psych issues. My parents would just bitch the entire time....

[@sagarjadhav750]

R u indian Come to india Habibi 😂😂

[@sitarang07]

Not at all vibing with this whole thing, definitely not my rich life, sometimes Ramit just uses the rich life concept as a license to waste money , I like my vacations to be spontaneous and funny how he won’t use a financial planner which is very smart but wastes money on a vacation planner!

[@Nunya4567]

Travel agents are free, whereas non-fee based financial planners cost a lot of money over time. And he's not totally against using financial planners, just the ones who charge a percentage of one's portfolio. Facet (financial planning) is one of his sponsors.

[@sitarang07]

@@Nunya4567 nothing is free, you pay one way or another, in any case just not my style

[@NM-qc2dh]

Gosh that amazing holiday experience he fashioned sounded so synthetic and engineered it made me feel quite nauseous. I’m not sure one could partake in such fakery. Having said that I concede he is American and dripping with sugar coated sickliness.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Don't fly - the planet cannot afford it. Period.

[@shinge123]

This wasn't helpful at all. You mentioned all the things you would do on a vacation but not how to get them. For eg the driver + massage experience. You need extra money for this type of experience. I thought you're gonna tell us about credit card rewards you use, or how you get travel points on purchases that allow you to spend extra on trips. But instead you just mentioned all the things you can spend money on

[@nolanbakenator]

I think it’s more mindset, he also mentioned a person who helps with points etc. Sorry it didn’t hit what you hoped for :/

[@ramitsethi]

I appreciate the comment. I use a 2% cashback card and travel card, the same ones described in my book, but there aren't any secrets to it. Lots of sites describe how to use points. But very few talk about how to craft a magical experience that you will remember -- one that's aligned with your Money Dials and the people you love. (For some context, this student in my coaching program has money but couldn't think of how to make the trip magical.)

[@cybertoeknee]

There's already plenty of information on the Internet that goes over credit card trifectas and doubles to optimize credit card points. Like Ramit said, it's not a secret.

[@droplsv]

Thank you for this you saved me 20 minutes

[@chadhaugen-leathertech4848]

When I was 11 my grandma took me to Costa Rica. (1992) we had the first day booked and that was it. Just her and I. It was a wild 10 days and I will never forget all the lessons and memories learned.