I’ve always loved to travel, and I’ve been able to take it to the next level as an entrepreneur. I typically take one big trip a month, along with lots of shorter trips. For example, I went to 7 states and 10 countries in one year (including visiting the Grand Canyon twice because I loved it so much!)

Here are a few fun observations about travel for the self-employed.

1. You Own Your Schedule

Rule #1: Always check with the boss before taking time off. Rule #2: You are the boss!

When you work for yourself, you can take off whenever you want. Monday has no special meaning, except that most of your friends are busy working at their jobs. Neither does Saturday or Sunday, except that your friends are more free to hang out, so I’ve found it’s a good practice to minimize work on those days. For travel, this means you can go whenever you want, or even just take a random weekday off for a day trip.

2. Work From Anywhere

For many kinds of business, you can get a lot of work done remotely. Even when I had a brick and mortar business with 25 employees, I structured the business so that I was not in a critical position where I had to be there every day. I got an email twice a day with a status update of the businesses key performance indicators and any important updates. With technology I can be reachable anywhere in the world, and my employees and clients don’t know the difference.

3. Maximize Productivity

My most productive time is the week before a vacation, because I’m highly motivated to get decisions made and work done before my trip. I also have a lot of energy to get things done, because I know I’m going to have a time to relax afterwards! When I do work on a trip, I’m often motivated to work quickly so that I can get back to enjoying the trip. So, taking vacations more makes me more energized and productive!

4. Get Inspired!

Sometimes distance can give you a better perspective on things. Many of your best ideas may come while you’re disconnected, such as on an airplane, hike, or exploring Machu Picchu. In fact, the idea for this article came to me when I was on an airplane, and I wrote most of it on the flight!

5. Get the Best Deals

Since you own your schedule, you aren’t restricted to travel during the most expensive times, like the holidays. If you go off season, you can find incredible deals, and often without planning too far ahead! I’ve seen spring and fall flight deals to Europe and Asia for a fraction of what they cost in the summer or holidays. You’d be surprised how many airlines have sales, once you start paying attention!

6. Business Expenses

Some activities during your travel may be a business expense and be tax deductible. For example, if you visit a competitor’s business while on vacation, that may count as market research. You can even plan a whole trip around a visit to a business partner and be able to deduct the whole trip! Consult your accountant on this and be sure to keep this reasonable and honest, or the tax auditor may come knocking.

As a final note, I would like to add that a good work / life balance don’t come automatically with being a business owner. Many owners end up overworked and feel like they can never get away. However, planning your business and your life right is what The Easy Entrepreneur is all about!