How Travelers Are Turning Their Favorite Destinations Into Investment Opportunities

Most people book a vacation to escape real life — sun, slow mornings, a different rhythm of life.

But in the last few years, something surprising has happened:

Instead of just collecting memories from their travels, people are now collecting property deeds.

A growing number of travelers are turning their favorite travel destinations into investment opportunities. Sometimes it starts with a rental stay, sometimes with a long "workation," but more than ever, people are returning from trips not just with souvenirs — but with keys.

From “I Wish I Could Live Here” to “Wait… Maybe I Actually Can”

Cheap flights, remote work, and the rising cost of housing in big cities have changed the psychology of traveling.

Here’s the new logic:

“Why pay €1,500 a month in rent in Berlin when I can own a small house in Portugal for that same amount?”

For years, travelers believed buying property overseas was for millionaires.

Not anymore.

In countries like:

•   Portugal

•   Spain

•   Italy

•   Greece

•   Mexico

•   Bulgaria

•   Colombia

…you can still find villages and small towns where renovated homes cost less than a two-week vacation in a major city.

A friend of mine bought a small stone house in northern Portugal for €19,500.

She found it while searching listings on an international real estate portal, PropertyUnder100k, which features homes around the world that cost less than €100,000.

She jokes:

“I booked a holiday cottage, and somehow I returned owning it.”

The Shift From Short-Term Vacation… to Long-Term Vision

Travel used to be a break from life.

Now it’s becoming a preview of a different life.

Here’s how the transformation typically happens:

1. The traveler visits a new place

They fall in love — maybe with the food, maybe with the sea breeze, maybe with how slowly people walk.

2. They extend the stay

A week becomes two. Two becomes a month. Many discover they can work from anywhere.

3. They start browsing real estate listings “just for fun”

Suddenly they see prices like:

•   â‚¬35,000 for a mountain cottage in Spain

•   â‚¬28,000 for a renovation project in Italy

•   â‚¬60,000 for a move-in ready house in Greece

Curiosity becomes possibility.

4. They run the numbers

They compare:

•   Rent vs. mortgage (many foreign properties are cheaper than rent at home)

•   Property tax (often lower)

•   Cost of living (usually much cheaper)

Suddenly, the idea doesn’t seem crazy at all.

The Investment Isn’t Always About Profit — Sometimes It’s About Life

Sure, rental income and long-term property appreciation are great.

But travelers are discovering another type of ROI:

Return on lifestyle.

Owning a small home abroad means:

•   A guaranteed place to stay every time you visit

•   The possibility of earning rental income when you're not there

•   A slower, more intentional lifestyle when you need a break from the world

And sometimes, the best investment we can make is in having a place that feels like home.

As one traveler told me:

“I bought a small apartment in Bulgaria for €26,000. It doesn’t just give me rental income. It gives me peace.”

Case Study: The Vacation Home That Pays for Itself

A couple from the Netherlands shared their story recently.

They fell in love with a mountain town in Portugal during a summer trip.

Over coffee, a local told them about inexpensive homes in the region.

Back home, they searched and found listings on PropertyUnder100k (a site that focuses exclusively on affordable international real estate).

Three months later, they signed papers for a little two-bedroom house for €42,000.

Now they:

•   Use it as a holiday home

•   Rent it out to hikers and digital nomads the rest of the year

•   Cover their annual property expenses entirely from rental income

Their vacation spot became an income-generating asset.

The New Trend: “Travel to Own”

This shift in mindset is so strong it already has a name:

Travel-to-Own

It’s similar to "try before you buy," but applied to life.

People travel somewhere not just to visit — but to test drive a lifestyle.

They might:

•   Stay in the same café every morning

•   Go grocery shopping

•   Meet locals and expats

•   Ask what it’s really like in winter

And during that slow immersion, something clicks:

“I could live here.”

How to Start If You're Curious

Here is an easy three-step process to explore this lifestyle shift:

Step 1: Pick a destination you genuinely love

Go somewhere you could imagine spending more than just a week.

Step 2: Stay longer than a typical holiday

At least 3–6 weeks. Choose an apartment instead of a hotel. Live like a local.

Step 3: Browse affordable international listings

Websites like PropertyUnder100k make it possible to explore real listings in dozens of countries without traveling physically.

You can filter by:

•   Country

•   Price

•   Fixer-upper vs. ready-to-move-in

It doesn’t commit you to anything — it simply opens your imagination to possibilities.

Final Thought

Travel changes us — that part will never change.

What’s different now is that travel is no longer a temporary escape.

It’s becoming an entry point into a new life.

Whether you’re dreaming of:

•   A small vineyard cottage in Portugal,

•   A rental apartment in Athens,

•   Or a fixer-upper in Italy,

…your next vacation could be the beginning of your next chapter.

Sometimes, we don’t just find a place during our travels.

Sometimes, we find ourselves.