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About you
Why do you travel and look for adventures?
The reason I travel is that I love to see and experience new places, different cultures, majestic landscapes and eat delicious foods. I started traveling back in 2011 and I was hooked by all it has to offer. It has taught me to be more open-minded, culturally sensitive, flexible, and grateful for life itself. Traveling gives me an indescribable feeling I strive to have for the rest of my life.
What kind of adventures do you look for when you travel?
What’s your go-to travel hack?
When people ask me how I travel so much, I tell them I save like crazy because I’m not rich! In order to travel, I prioritize my money specifically for my travels. In order to save, I buy groceries instead of eating out, I look for sales and shop at thrift stores (I’m all about reusing), I try to have $0 days as much as possible and lastly I place a certain amount of every paycheck in my savings for only traveling. Once I have enough money saved for a flight, I buy it in advance and continue saving for my accommodations, transportation, activities, and so on. Saving is key to make traveling a reality.
Got any gear you can’t travel without?
What destination are you eager to go back to?
How do you stay safe when you’re travelling?
1. Please check for travel advisories before traveling. If you live in the United States, you can do so by visiting travel.state.gov and search travel advisories on the country you’re visiting. My sister and I backpacked to Oaxaca, Mexico and we ended up being in the middle of some political riots. They blocked off the roads and closed the city. We were stuck for a couple of days and had to completely change our travel plans. So, make sure you do your research. By the way, don’t let my experience stop you from visiting beautiful Mexico. We can’t wait to go back and explore more of Oaxaca.
2. Make copies of your important documents. I always carry a copy of my flights, passport, hotel reservations, etc., in case I lose my phone.
3. Be culturally mindful of the place you’re visiting in case you need to dress modestly because you definitely don’t want to draw attention. The way I look at it is immersing myself in their culture and seeing how they dress to know what to pack.
4. Keep your valuables on you while you transit. I almost got pickpocketed on a bus in Rome. The bus was so packed I felt a hand trying to open the zipper from my purse. I literally slapped the guy’s hand out of the way lol. Make sure you always keep an eye out.
5. Get travel insurance. I’ve also had an accident where I had to be rushed to the hospital. After that, I buy travel insurance for every trip. You can check out World Nomads.
6. Keep your family and friends updated. I usually send my dad all my travel information, like my flight receipts and lodging. I like to stay connected, so I send my location to my family.
7. Lastly, one of the hardest things for me to do, don’t trust people too quickly. There are so many good people in the world, but sadly there are those few who can do much harm. Trust your gut feeling and try to get to know a person in a safe and public place before going off on your own.
What’s the best way to experience a destination like a local?
What’s your favourite word in another language?
Baksheesh, which means “tipping.” We heard it so much in Egypt, we learned it quickly. So, if you ever travel there, make sure you have some cash handy.
