What Inspired Me To Quit My Job
The fear of limiting my life to one career, one location, and one story. There is so much to see out there and I didn’t want to only experience a fraction of what the world has to offer.
I Solo Travel Often
I travel solo whenever I can. I don’t think there is a place too dangerous or too remote to be explored alone, especially since most of the time you will be meeting other travelers along the way.
How I Decide Where To Travel Next
I pick where to travel next depending on how much the flights are, is it a good time to visit, how connected the destination is (will I need to take flights to get out or can I travel by land), and how expensive is the destination, and if there is a backpacker scene.The duration of my trip is undetermined. I like to be spontaneous so if there is a place that I really like and I want to spend 2 months there, then why not?
If I don’t like the place and want to leave in 1 week, that is also an option.
How I Pack For My Trips
When I am backpacking solo, the one thing I don’t leave is my electronics (and passport obviously). My camera, my laptop, my phone, and all the related accessories are musts for my trip. I don’t tend to worry too much about stuff like clothes, shoes, and toiletries because you can always buy them at your destination.
My Favorite Memories Of Meeting Travelers & Locals
Meeting people on your solo travel trip is a lot easier than it sounds. Personally, I use a combination of dating apps and social media to meet locals. For other travelers, it is super easy to meet them via guided tours (like free walking tours) and just by staying in hostels. Just remember you're not the only one solo traveling!One of my favorite memories of meeting other travelers is when I was volunteering in an eco-lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon. I met people from the Czech Republic, Norway, Ethiopia, and France there, and we really bonded over the course of two weeks. They are still some of my best travel buddies to this day and we chat regularly.
I think GAFFL is an excellent platform for solo travelers to meet other people. As everything becomes more digital, it becomes many solo travelers' go-to place to meet other travelers.
One Of My Best Travel Experiences
One of my most exciting travel stories is when I was in Tikal National Park in Guatemala. I met this Spanish guy from Bask County when I was in Flores and we got along pretty well. We both wanted to visit the Tikal Ruins but I suggested that we camp there for a night before and then catch the sunrise the morning after.
So we got to the campsite and rented a tent, which was literally just the plastic outer shell and nothing else. We set ourselves up on a hard concrete platform with no mat or anything like that. And plus, we were camping for only 1 night so we didn’t bring anything that could keep us warm or comfortable.
Needless to say, we had a miserable night. Not only was it cold, but we were constantly woken up by the sounds of the jungle (Tikal Ruins is located in the heart of the Guatemalan rainforest). We heard howler monkeys, (probably) jaguars growling, and all sorts of crazy stuff.
I didn’t sleep at all but I would 100% do it again.
Countries I Have Visited So Far
I don’t typically count how many countries I have visited but it is probably somewhere between 15-20. It is nothing but a number to me and I think traveling is more about the experience than the number. Yes, I do have a few bucket list destinations: Iceland, Nepal, Faroe Islands, and Antarctica! I am always adding more to my bucket list!
Difficulties Of Leaving My Job To Live As A Digital Nomad
Before I left New York City, I always knew I wanted to travel for a long time. So I saved up quite a bit of money that could last me about 2 years of traveling. When I started traveling, I had a blog set up but it only had one article.
It wasn’t until I was in Lanquin (Guatemala) that I met some legit travel bloggers that inspired me to pursue my own travel blog.
Why I Launched My Blog
I always knew I wanted to help other people travel more, but I just didn’t have an outlet. Now with my blog, I can inspire other people to travel and provide them with valuable tips along the way. In 5 years, I can see myself running a hostel somewhere in the world and building a community that inspires and helps travelers.
What A Full-time Traveler Should Know In Order To Sustain Their Travels
If you want to sustain your long-term travel, you need to learn how to make money remotely. If you aren’t good at that, then you must first learn how to travel economically. The biggest challenge is most likely having to change your occupation and doing something out of your comfort zone. Some of the more popular jobs you can have while you travel are teaching and copywriting.
How I Manage My Work & Travel
Finding the balance between work and travel is difficult, but I manage to do some by having a “schedule”. 95 percent of the time, I am working at night, which saves me money as I am not going out. I also tend to designate working days for myself and these days are typically when I have to do laundry, after an exhausting day, or just when I need it.
How I Save Costs For My Solo Trips
I travel on a budget most of the time. In fact, I think I am very good at traveling on a budget as I spend no more than 1k a month typically. I save money by staying in hostels, eating locally, cooking my own food, taking public transportation, and doing my own tours.
Advice For Travelers Who Want To Pursue Full-Time Traveling
If you want to pursue full-time solo traveling, just do it. You regret the chances you don’t take than the chances you will. Life is short and you have to get out of your comfort zone sometime.
Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started Traveling
One of the things I wish I would’ve known before I start solo traveling is how addicting it is. You just don’t want to stop and sooner and later, you will run out of money. So I recommend if you plan on starting to travel solo, then you want to have a plan to sustain your travels.
