As I sat on a beach in Oahu on a fall day, Tay and I decided to go to Bali the next year. Here it is, the good, the bad and Bali and everything in between.
The best things to do in Kutaisi, Georgia - including Kutaisi must-sees, hidden gems, and the best day trips. The perfect 1-4 day Kutaisi itinerary.
There's a lot you can do with 3 days in Singapore. This guide will help you find the best sightseeing, restaurants, markets, and more.
Read our guide to discover our top tips for things to do in Sal, Cape Verde, including activities, restaurants, accomodation, and more!
TRAVELING WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL CONCIERGE - 3 reasons we love using the American Express travel perks that come along with our AMEX Platinum Card!
This collection gives true meaning to the national motto 'Unity in Diversity'
Imagine you’re wandering in the desert, feeling the hot scorching rays of the Jordanian sun draining your energy. You barely have any water left. You know the
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Antwerpen is de tweede grootste stad van België. Lees gauw verder en ontdek waarom je Antwerpen écht moet gezien hebben.
Explore Adolfita's 708 photos on Flickr!
I’m not like most people. I don’t want to appear wealthy or privileged. I just don’t think of myself that way — not in my childhood and not now. I grew up in a low- to middle-class household, my mother working two jobs to make ends meet. Her tireless hustle and stubborn dedication to budget was a blessing. I love shopping as much as the next girl, but there’s nothing I would go into debt for, not even a travel experience. I say all this to explain that my frequent travels are not borne of a trust fund or a large income. Even my friends and family sometimes get it confused and I find myself defensively explaining how I can afford to travel so much. I am also writing this post because I find 90% of the articles about quitting your 9-to-5 to travel the world to be complete B.S. Travel ain’t cheap and being a travel blogger isn’t a formula for overnight financial freedom. In fact, becoming a travel blogger is an expensive start-up. Still, travel is a fundamental part of my happiness. It is more than an addiction; it’s vital to my mental health. So I make travel work for me. Here’s the honest truth about how I can afford to travel so much… Work like a dog A good portion of travel bloggers don’t travel full-time and that’s because we have jobs. I have a home base in Guam and although it’s a great jumping off point to Asia, Micronesia, and Oceania, it’s quite expensive to get anywhere from here. So, I simply work like a dog. I am independent, but I rarely say no to client work (web design, social media management, photography, and writing). I hustle even while I’m traveling. I’m never truly off duty. When it all gets to be too much, I take an afternoon off to go hiking or lay on the beach. I’ve been in some form of marketing and journalism since I was 19, so I’m at a point in my career where I make good money. My highest paying journalism job was writing and photographing the cover story for United Airlines’ Hemispheres Magazine. I charge between $50-100/hour for client work and have a steady roster of satisfied clients. I also sell advertising on my two travel sites — Global Girl Travels and The Guam Guide. I make some money from affiliate advertising (commission links on my sites), but it’s not a ton. About a year ago, I started filmmaking and licensing my photography and footage. I am constantly developing new services and products. For example, I hosted my first Guam photo tour in April. My first documentary film came out on DVD in May. I designed film merchandise that is now available for purchase. My brain never shuts off. I have a dozen more business ideas I haven’t time to develop. You’ve seen these dark circles under my eyes, right? No? That’s because I wear about an inch of concealer! Even though I look carefree in that photo above, I am on vacation in China working. Ever since I quit my full-time job in 2011, I’ve been working on vacation. I don’t mind. In fact, I don’t know any other way. So, when someone casually accuses me of having tons of disposable income to travel, I am offended. There is a science to this; I’m not living a fairytale. It really all comes down to this: Save stubbornly If you’re already working like a dog, but still don’t have money to travel, you might not be saving stubbornly. Saving stubbornly means refusing to give in to high prices or temptations. It means that retail can’t be your therapy. If you need to develop a mantra, do it (“Norway 2016” is mine). If you’ve never budgeted, take it out of the ether and put it in writing. Create a spreadsheet, download an app, whatever you need to do to stick to your budget at all costs! Here’s a little trick I do when I’m tempted to buy something. (Why are you even in a mall if you’re on a budget? you might ask. Touche. Touche.) Let’s say you’re eyeing a new bag or iPhone or whatever quickens your pulse in the store. Carry it around with you. It sounds silly, but hear me out. Hold it in your bosom like a lost puppy. Coddle it, talk to it, love it, then put it back on the shelf! Remember that it will be there until it gets replaced by a newer model. And guess what? If you really need it (a.k.a., it’s within your budget), you can probably find it used on eBay, Amazon, Poshmark, or Craigslist! Never buy new when you can buy used. This is what I mean by saving stubbornly. Now what about refusing to give in to high prices? This means never buying anything that’s not discounted. You simply can’t afford to pay full price if you want to travel more. This rules out impulse buys because it takes time to find the best deals. I can’t count how many times I sat down at a store to scour the Internet for a better price. What if you get overcharged for something? Is it worth fighting for? My rule is that it’s worth it if I will save $25 or more. You’ve got to pick your battles. And now, I think you know I’m going to say this next one, right? This OR that, not this AND that If you want to travel more, it usually means you have to do something else less. It’s all about priorities. Rarely does life give you this AND that. It’s usually this OR that. For example, I’ve never owned a home, which is totally fine with me. I don’t have kids or an expensive car, jewelry or handbags. What are you willing to sacrifice to travel more? Full-time travel bloggers usually sell everything. If you can’t sell everything, can you clean out the closet or the garage and pocket $500? If yes, then do it! You won’t miss that old stuff when you are climbing a volcano or waist-deep in turquoise water. You’ve probably been hearing this expression a lot lately among travel bloggers, and as cliched as it is, there’s meaning in it: Collect experiences, not things Once you change your mind about the value of material possessions in your life, you realize that being a collector of things makes you less rich than being a collector of memories. While things can make life more comfortable, they also make life more complicated. And being a collector of too many things is called hoarding. No one wants to be accused of being a hoarder because they make reality TV about those people. If material possessions keep you from achieving your goals of traveling more, you may need to adjust your view. Here’s a great read to get you inspired: 8 EXPERIENCES THAT TRUMP STUFF Travel like a pro Finally, and I’ve written about this before, you’ve got to learn how to travel like a pro. Think of budget travel like a game. To win the game, you have to save money at every turn and avoid being scammed. You know you’re a travel pro when you annoyingly tell everyone how you got a free heli ride to a volcano in Iceland or when you flew around the world entirely on miles. There are two ways I travel like a pro: 1) I trade media exposure for accommodations and tours. Obviously, this is a game exclusive to travel bloggers. But my second way is achievable by anyone: 2) I use miles and points. If you’re new to the miles game, just know that it is exactly that — a game. Airlines and credit cards don’t want you to save money any more than Donald Trump wants Hillary in the White House. Yet, they offer sizable bonuses to open a credit account. If you can score 50,000 miles just by starting a credit card, do it! In fact, I recommend the Chase Sapphire card because not only do you get a nice sign-up bonus, you earn two and three times the points per dollar on food and travel. Over the past year, I’ve banked hundreds of thousands of miles by using Chase, Citi, and American Express credit cards. In layman’s terms, that’s several trips to Asia (25,000+ miles) or a couple of big trips to the U.S. from Guam (70,000+ miles). Now, […]
These past few months, we have been satisfying our travel itch virtually by exploring several destinations around the world. One such destination is the Yukon Territory. While travel to this beautiful Canadian territory is still off-limits for the foreseeable future — there are plenty of ways to experience this wild, mountainous land from the comfort
A complete guide to Gili islands. All you need to know: Why should you visit Gili? How to get there? Which Gili island should you choose?
Day 1 - Vang Vieng Outskirts Spend your first day in enchanting Vang Vieng, exploring its beautiful outskirts. Start the morning by hiring a motorbike and
Surviving a long-haul flight in economy is no easy feat. Here are 20 tips for long-haul flights that will help keep you comfy and content!
From the alabaster-white beaches of Bermuda in the north to the cactus-topped desert inland of the ABC Islands in the south, the windswept coves and surfing reefs of Dominica in ... Read more
How to travel with no money? How to travel when you're broke? It this really possible? ✔️There are ways to travel on the cheap!
Interested in visiting the shrines and temples in Kyoto? Your photo guide to the most beautiful shrines and temples of Kyoto with tips for unusual things to do in Kyoto for getting off the beaten path in Japan.
Visiting Copenhagen Denmark? Here’s my ultimate 2 days in Copenhagen itinerary that will help you navigate the city like an expert. It includes everything you need to know from things to do, where to eat, and day trips!
The ancient Greek city of Ephesus in the town of Selcuk attracts over one million visitors per year and is one of the most popular sites in Turkey. Although many day trippers focus on the ancient city…
Depending on where you'll go and how long you'll stay, transport is likely to be your biggest travel expense. How to save money on transport? This is how!
Your complete guide to Bucharest hidden gems! My list of all the best restaurants, coffee shops, and bars in Bucharest Romania - all locals approved.
There are so many unique and wonderful things to do in Hakone, which makes it one of my favourite regions in Japan! It’s home to many onsen hotels and some of…
I have only been to Germany once, but I fell absolutely in love. There are so many small, hidden towns in Germany that are so incredibly beautiful, they look like they belong in a Disney Fairy-Tale book.
This upland city in south-central Albania has 2,500 years of history, which has bestowed it with stunning archaeology, quaint residential areas and preserved monuments. Berat’s appeal lies in its UNESCO ... Read more
From Delphi to Meteora, Central Greece offers travelers a mix of attractions.
Tianzi Mountains
I spent three days visiting the capital of Tibet, and saw some incredible things. This post contains photos from my time in Lhasa.
An itinerary, directions, and photos for how to trek the Annapurna Circuit and Base Camp treks in Nepal without a guide or porter. It's easy!
Looking for the best things to do in Kyrgyzstan? From holding an eagle to feasting with a Dungan family, make sure to cross these items off your bucket list!
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Philippines had been on my bucket list for a very long time. Especially as I am drone obsessed, seeing all the stunning islands from above, with the turquoise water and sandbars, I knew I had to add the Philippines as a stop on my Asia trip. In this guide to the Philippines islands, I will...
Everything you need to know to plan your own budget Tam Coc boat tour, the Halong Bay of the land. Includes directions from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, Vietnam!
Travelling to Germany for the first time and not sure what to expect? Whether you've planned a trip or are considering it - this post is for you!
Best Time to Visit Kyrgyzstan - when to go? What are the average temperatures and rainfall in different regions? Climate and geography basics for travelers.
Prepárate para deslumbrarte. Con ayuda de esta publicación de Quora.
Germany is full of moody hikes, and must-see fairytale views. Read about places to visit in Germany for your bucket list!
Visiting Kyrgyzstan? Here are some things you should do before leaving - like learning some Russian and mentally preparing to pee in squat toilets.
The land locked country of Bolivia, South America, has so much offer the traveller who wants to experience adventure, natural beauty and fascinating culture. From the world’s highest navigable lake, to the infamous ‘death road’ and the photogenic salt flats, this Bolivia itinerary shows the best of this must-see destination for anyone travelling to South [...]
