I Traveled To Over 30 Countries Without Breaking The Bank & It’s Easier Than You’d Think

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of traveling. I wanted to explore all of those destinations I read about in textbooks, meet people from throughout the world, and learn about different cultures. I heard that travel was really expensive, so it seemed like something that was too far out of reach. But, I ended up proving everyone wrong. I traveled to over 30 countries — some of which include: Cuba, Bosnia, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Thailand, and Belize — without breaking the bank at age 24. It’s a whole lot easier than you’d think.

When I was growing up, travel seemed extremely unattainable. These days, you can book a trip with the click of a button. On top of that, you can easily learn how to travel on a budget with the help of the internet. There are so many resources available to help travelers save on flights, hotels, and much more.

A few years ago, I started a travel blog to share my best tricks and budgeting tips to help people see the world. I never thought I would have the opportunity to travel to 30 countries at my age, so I share my story to pay it forward.

I Changed The Way I Thought Of Travel

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There are still so many places for you to see and so many faces for you to meet. May knowing this bring you hope in 2019. . . I know what it feels like to see other people living YOUR dreams. I know what it feels like to believe you were meant for more, yet you have no idea how to get that. I know what it feels like to sacrifice for what feels like a lifetime in hopes that your goals will become a reality. . . Some of you may view my Instagram and wonder…”how Is is this lifestyle even possible?” or “how did she get there?” or “how the hell are these Instagram girls always on vacation? ?”. Understandable. Many people gloss over the details, the work, and the sacrifice – so it all seems unbelievable from the outside looking in. But what’s the point of that? What’s the point of me sharing all of these beautiful foreign destinations when 65 percent of US citizens don’t even have a passport? Will I really make a difference sharing travel guides to towns with funky names of places that seem so out of reach? . . I understand everyone won’t get the opportunity to travel, but if I can provide real information that helps you book your first flight, study abroad, and gain the courage to navigate foreign lands on your own…then I’ll do that. . . I think people who travel frequently(especially outside of the US) forget that this information isn’t actually common knowledge. Things like where to book a flight, how to work online, and how to plan a trip may seem obvious to a few of us, but so many are only wishing someone would spell all of this out for them. This was once me. . . The month of January will be dedicated to sharing my experience & knowledge as someone who has (saved up) to quit her job to travel the world, planned trips all on my own, how I’m able to work from anywhere in the world, and traveled to more countries than I can count WITHOUT being rich or reaching into anyone else’s wallet. . . And maybe you won’t travel this year or even next year. But maybe, you’ll feel that this can be possible for you too one day. . . Happy New Year! If you have anything you’d like for me to answer or cover, drop it below! And hi to any new faces ? make yourself at home!

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Many people may think that travel has to be luxurious, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are luxury options and there are budget options, so you have the freedom to travel however you want.

Instead of splurging on my travels, I started discovering ways that I could save. Instead of looking for resorts, I became open to staying in hostels. As opposed to eating at expensive restaurants, I started eating local meals to enjoy traditional foods and immerse myself in the culture of the place I was visiting. After all, I simply wanted to travel so that I could learn about different cultures and see this world.

I Dropped My Bucket List

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So you want to travel in 2019? PART 2 . . In my last post, I shared the importance of identifying your why, writing down your travel goals, identifying what’s holding you back, and being active not passive. . . ADOPT A TRAVELERS MINDSET- at its core, travel is about immersing yourself into new experiences. You can do that now without hopping on a plane. Say yes to small things and you’ll be prepared to say yes to bigger things later – like taking that spontaneous roadtrip or booking that flight. Explore your backyard. Be curious & adventurous now. . . SURROUND YOURSELF WITH TRAVELERS – it can be difficult to find people who have the ability, time, finances, and even interest to travel with you. Travel may not be a priority for others in the same way it is for you and that’s okay, but you shouldn’t let that hold you back. You may just be waiting forever. Join FB groups, connect with other travelers online. It’ll make you feel less alone as you try to reach your goals. Before leaving my job, seeing so many other travel lovers in FB groups really kept me inspired during hard days at work. I had a reminder of what I was working for. . . SEEK OUT INSPIRATION – I didn’t know anyone in real life who was traveling full time, so if it wasn’t for the internet I would have no idea that it’s possible. Read books about travel, watch shows about travel, follow bloggers, etc. Doing so will be a constant reminder of your dream to see the world. I love reading @humansofny and watching Planet Earth on Netflix as a reminder that there are so many places to see and faces I’ve yet to meet. . . Whether you want to travel the world or just need a quick getaway, these tips can help make your dreams a reality. I haven’t had a single regret about the money or time I’ve invested into prioritizing travel. I hope some of these tips help you! . . Happy travels! Check my stories for some new blog posts, templates & more! What are you doing to make travel a reality in 2019? Would you guys like me to create a worksheet with these tips?

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Sure, I have a few places on my bucket list, but I quickly realized I would have to be more flexible if I wanted to travel sooner. I just wanted to travel, so I was open to go anywhere at the end of the day.

I started using flexible search features on apps like Skyscanner to choose destinations based on my budget. I became more flexible with departure dates, destinations, and airlines. This flexibility opened up so many more destinations and options to me.

I Did The Proper Research

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So you want to travel in 2019? PART 1 I get it – You really want to start traveling, but have no idea where to start. I got you. Here's how you can finally make travel a reality in 2019! . Identify your “why” – Take a moment to acknowledge that you want to travel and the motive behind it. Do you want to learn about other cultures? Do you want to step outside your comfort zone? Are you in need of change? Do you want to take a class or learn a new language? Do you simply want to be in beautiful spaces? Get clear on why it’s important to you and why you want it to be a priority in your life/year. This will help you stick to your goal. . Write it down & visualize it – you’re 80 percent more likely to make your goals happen when you write them down. Write it down…everywhere. In your phone notes, change your screensaver, create a vision board, change your password to the destination or month you want to go. Get your goal out of your head and into the real world. THIS WORKS! . Identify what’s holding you back – is it time? Look at your work calendar now and see what you need to do to fit that trip in, even if it’s a three days. Is it money? Create a separate savings account, research budget travel, pick up a side gig, change your spending habits. Is it friends? Go solo or join a tour group to meet other people if you don’t wanna go solo. . Be active – Amazing travel experiences are not just going to fall into your lap. Travel requires planning, so it's necessary to set goals. Simply having the desire to travel will get you nowhere. Think of some places that interest you, research accommodation & flight prices, establish a budget, set up a date to pick up your passport, and try to make sh*t happen. These seemingly small tasks will get you closer to your next trip. . TO BE CONTINUED! What steps are you taking to make your travel dreams a reality? Or share something you’ve done in the past. Help someone else find inspiration in the comments! . PS- this was taken inside a pitch black glacier in Iceland. One of my favorite destinations in 2019 #whpunexpected

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When you’re new to travel, you may not know where to even begin. It can be difficult to know which websites to trust and what resources are reliable. I began researching more often, which made it so much easier to determine which online websites had the best deals going on.

Search engines like Google Flights and Airfarewatchdog helped me find super cheap flights. Apps like HotelTonight assisted me in finding discounted hotels, and Airbnb helped me rent apartments on a budget.

The reality is that proper research is key when it comes to finding travel deals. It’s important to utilize blogs and online resources to find options that best suit your budget.

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