After a breakup, I traveled for a year to learn how to be alone again. It led me to move to a country I'd never imagined calling home.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Claire Drinkwater is swinging on a hammock in Belgium.
After her travels came to an end, Claire Drinkwater decided to settle down somewhere new.

Provided by Claire Drinkwater

I left my Hollywood stunt career for 15 months to travel to 35 countries. I came back ready to plan my future beyond LA.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A woman with yellow hair walking with white lions in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Sharonda Scott's spent 15 months traveling to 35 countries (including Zimbabwe, pictured).

Provided by Sharonda Scott

We spent a year abroad in France and enrolled our kids in a local school. Coming home was bittersweet.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Family of four walking and holding hands with trees in the background.
Gemma Bonham-Carter and her family left Canada to spend a year in the South of France.

Provided by Gemma Bonham-Carter; Crystal - Of Wild Dawn Photography/Crystal - Of Wild Dawn Photography

I quit my job at 29 and traveled solo. I didn't tell my parents until I'd finished my business plan.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Cassi Zheng running down a street in Italy.
Cassi Zheng

Provided by Cassi Zheng

They left their jobs in their 50s to reconnect with their kids. It helped them rethink their long-term career plans.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A selfie of a man, a woman, and their three sons in Turkey.
Pablo Slough and Karen Gilchrist quit their tech jobs in mid-2024 to take a gap year to spend time with their sons.

Pablo Slough and Karen Gilchrist.

I'm an empty nester and spent 6 months on my own in 3 countries. It helped me figure out what I wanted next.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Jennifer McGuire in a scarf and winter coat, drinking a glass of wine in Rome.
After becoming an empty nester, Jennifer McGuire spent six months traveling around Europe.

Provided by Jennifer McGuire

My husband and I left our jobs to travel full-time in our 30s. Transitioning back into the workforce has been hard.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Toccara Best and her husband standing near waterfalls at Plitvice National Park, Croatia
Toccara Best's request for a year of leave was denied; she decided to go traveling with her husband anyway.

Provided by Toccara Best

My husband and I quit our jobs to travel for a year. My biggest concern was having a career gap on my résumé.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Maria Laposata and her husband in the Masai Mara, a national game reserve in Kenya, with elephants walking in the background.
Maria Laposata and her husband left their jobs to spend a year traveling around the world.

Provided by Maria Laposata

I spent 22 years as a military wife. After our divorce, I finally lived the dream we'd planned together.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Bryanne Salazar on a log bridge on Cát Bà island in Vietnam.
Bryanne Salazar on a log bridge on Cát Bà island in Vietnam.

Provided by Bryanne Salazar

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