Wednesday Women: Elle from Dressing Danishly

Elle in CopenhagenMeet Elle.

Hey, I’m Elle, currently working as a digital marketer in Nottingham in the UK, but dreaming (and saving up!) for a move to Copenhagen, my favourite city in the world!

My two main passions in life are travel and fashion, and I love combining the two wherever I can. During the weekends, you’ll often find me travelling through Europe, searching out the best shopping, and sipping some amazing cocktails!

What inspired you to go travelling?

When I was growing up, my parents would take my brother and me on holiday every year – usually, it was your standard fortnight summer holiday in Greece.

Then, when I got a bit older, we discovered the joy of cheap flights that is Ryanair and went on our first city break to Gothenburg, Sweden.

I loved being able to explore a new city – there was so much more to do than just simply lying around on a beach. After school, I’d spend a lot of time on Ryanair pricing up flights to different destinations and convincing my parents we just HAD to visit all of these different countries… and usually they’d cave in and agree with me!

Living in the UK, we have the rest of Europe right on our doorstep, so why would we waste that opportunity of getting to travel and see different cultures, even if it’s just for a weekend at a time?!

What is your travel style?

I wouldn’t say I’m budget or luxury: I fall right in between. Personally, I don’t like roughing it and have never stayed in a hostel (and never will!).

So I’d say my travel style is a mixture – I like luxury for less: if I’m going away somewhere, I’ll book a nice, reasonably priced hotel or apartment (a private bathroom is a must!).

As I travel quite a lot, I’m quite savvy when it comes to accommodation costs, and know roughly what price to expect in different European cities. For instance, when I’m in Eastern Europe I’ll usually book an apartment, as they’re a fraction of the price of hotel rooms, and you get so much more space – and your own cooking facilities.

When it comes to physically travelling, I’m a huge advocate of budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizzair. I know a lot of people who turn their noses up at the likes of these; but these airlines opened up the ability for me to travel to a range of city destinations.

There’s no way I could have afforded to have done as many trips as I have done on a national carrier (I would, however, LOVE to fly first class one day!).

Elle in Budapest

If you had a one-way ticket, where would you go?

Without a doubt, Copenhagen, even though it’s only 90 minutes away! I’m absolutely in love with the city and am making plans to move there. So a one-way ticket would convince me that I may as well make the move now!

What’s your favourite destination?

Aside from Copenhagen… it’s a tough one!

I’d probably say Oslo – especially in the summer. It has such a lovely, laidback atmosphere, the nightlife is good and the locals are friendly. I just got a really nice feeling about it when I visited for the first time.

I’d also give a special mention to Vilnius in Lithuania. Whilst the city may not be as pretty as Tallinn or Riga, again the nightlife is amazing, and it’s such a cute little place. I’ve been twice, and I’d love to go back again!

Do you prefer solo travel or with a group?

I’ve yet to travel solo by myself, and whilst I’ve heard amazing things from solo travellers, I’m not sure it’s my thing… I think I’d like to share those experiences when travelling with family or friends.

Saying that, I don’t particularly enjoy travelling with a large group of people because I think you have to make a lot of compromises and if you’ve only got a short amount of time whilst on holiday, it can get quite frustrating.

My favourite way to travel is with a close friend who has similar interests to me – that way, we both get to do everything we want to, without worrying we’re boring the other one!

Elle in Trondheim

Who’s your ideal travel mate?

My ideal travel mate would have similar interests to me, so we wouldn’t be arguing where to go and what to do!

I’m quite organised and like to plan in advance what I’d like to do, but I appreciate it when others help too and don’t expect you to do all of the work!

However, I think it’s important that alongside the planning, my ideal travel mate would also have a sense of adventure and like to be spontaneous sometimes because that’s often when you have the most fun.

… So not too much to ask for then!

How long have you been a blogger?

Not very long! I set up my own blog when I was at University back in 2012 (it was a .wordpress blog), but my posts were very sporadic, and I didn’t have a content plan in mind – I was merely blogging for blogging’s sake.

I decided to give it a proper go at the beginning of the year, and Dressing Danishly was set up in February 2017 with the help of a friend.

Having worked in digital marketing for the last few years, I’ve managed company blogs in all of my jobs, so I’ve had plenty of experience and know the do’s and don’ts in terms of writing interesting copy, SEO optimisation and the importance of social media.

It’s been nice to be able to take what I’ve learnt professionally; and create my own blog where I can write about what I’m truly passionate about: travel and fashion.

It is however, a lot of hard work and long hours – but you kind of forget about that when you enjoy it! I’m really looking forward to building my blog over the coming months and years.

Elle at the Winter palace, St Petersburg

How do you like to plan adventures?

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m quite an organised person; and because the majority of my trips are short city breaks, I like to have a clear plan in mind as to the things I’d like to see, so I don’t waste my time.

I’ll do some research a few weeks before I go away: the sights to see, the shopping, the bars… to be honest, I spend most of my time researching the best cocktail bars! Then I Google map the distance of the bar from my hotel so I can plan which heels to take with me, and whether I can walk or will need to order a taxi!

I hate not being able to go on holiday for any longer than three months at a time; and I always make sure that I’ve booked another trip so that I don’t go away on holiday with nothing to look forward to when I’m back!

I spend a lot of time researching where to go next and trying to convince people to come with me… I’d love to go to Kiev, it’s just a case of finding someone else who wants to go too!

Elle in Vilnius

Do you think there is any difference travelling as a woman?

As a woman, you’re taught to be more careful when you travel: but I think in terms of a different experience, it all depends on the countries you visit and the culture there.

My family went on holiday to Morocco when I was 14 and I hated it – despite being a child, men in the streets leered at me, made rude gestures and even spat at me. It was awful, and I hated leaving the hotel. My dad and brother however, had a completely different experience, and weren’t treated with such disgust.

Visiting European cities however, I can’t imagine that I would have any different experience to men. I think you need to be careful about things like walking alone at night and getting into taxis by yourself – but that’s just the same as being back at home.

Do you have any advice for female travellers?

I’m aware I’m sounding like a broken record, but I think you just need to be careful! Let friends and family know where you’re travelling to, and don’t put yourself in a situation where you could be vulnerable.

I think the worst thing you can do is be put off travelling (especially solo travelling), as it’s such an exciting thing to do. But be careful!

Want to learn more about Elle?Elle in Copenhagen

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Wednesday Women: Lauren

 

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Meet Lauren.

Lauren is a Mexico City based travel blogger at Northern Lauren who writes (mainly) about Mexico, food, and feminism. While she loves writing about other people and places, she thinks there’s really nothing more horrifying than putting together a humble yet engaging personal bio. Find her rainbow coloured pictures and pins on Instagram and Pinterest, or follow her irreverent thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.

How long have you been traveling?

I don’t really know if you can class what I’m currently doing as traveling – I would say I’m more of an expat! However, I definitely first caught the travel bug when I moved to Mexico for my year abroad. Ever since then, all I’ve wanted to do is see more of the world and that was in 2014.

What is your travel style? Budget, First class, etc…

I’m a budget gal all the way. I cringe a bit when I see people dropping hundreds of pounds on hotel rooms or fancy flights, or overpriced tours because for me that’s not traveling. I’d rather explore on foot, get around myself (without tours if at all possible) and stay in low price hostels. That’s not to say I don’t like my home comforts, but I’ll just wait til I actually am at home to enjoy them rather than when I’m in another country.

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Tell us your favorite destination. Why?

My favourite destination…that’s a tough one. I obviously love Mexico as I’ve lived here nearly two years, but I would say that Porto was a really amazing place to visit. I went with a group of friends to celebrate our final year university exams and it was just the perfect goodbye as we all went off into the big wide world. Not to mention that it’s one of the rare cheap, picturesque European destinations outside of Eastern Europe. Plus, the pasteis de nata are to die for.

Any horror/funny stories while traveling?

All my travel horror stories involve unexpected upset stomachs. Honestly, the list goes on and on, but the funniest (or most horrible, depending how much you do or don’t like oversharing) had to be the time I got struck with an urgent need for a bathroom when I was in the middle of a crowded bus in Guadalajara. If you’ve ever traveled on buses in Mexico, you know how crammed they get. Anyway, this was right after I’d just got to the country, so I shoved my way to the front and demanded to be let off in the middle of the road. After a frantic and unsuccessful search for a toilet, I ended up in a grotty men’s gym. It was after I’d sat down and gone to town that I realized there was no toilet roll. Let’s just say my socks laid down their lives for me that day…

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Are you married? Single? A mom? How do you think your status affects your traveling?

I’m in a long-term relationship and I do think that, even if you don’t necessarily want it to, it affects how and when and where you travel to. For example, I feel a pang of guilt every time I go somewhere without my boyfriend because I know he’d love to come too. Realistically though, my job has far more flexibility than his does at the moment and I have to take advantage of that while I can.

Being in a relationship also means I travel far more frequently to the place he’s currently living, Monterrey, Mexico when ordinarily I probably would have only gone there once and had done with it.

Describe your ideal travel mate.

Someone who has similar, but not the same, tastes as me in terms of things they like to do when traveling. For example, ideally someone who doesn’t mind hostels, who enjoys wandering around the city rather than ligging on the beach all day and would rather blow their budget on great street food and constant snacking than going to a fancy bar or all-inclusive resort. Having said all that, it’s also important to have someone who does have different tastes to you, because they’re the type of people who push you out your comfort zone and make you try new things.

It goes without saying that my ideal travel mate has to be skilled at capturing that perfect not-candid-candid shot of me though…

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How long have you been a travel blogger?

I’ve been a blogger since 2013, sporadically, but only really dealing with my inane thoughts on a bunch of different (mostly uni life related) subjects. I’ve really dedicated myself to travel blogging in particular in these last few months, so my blog has been undergoing a complete overhaul. It’s tiring and challenging but totally worth it.

Any tips for aspiring travel bloggers?

Don’t give up easily and don’t go into it half-heartedly. If you do, you’ll never get anywhere, because the whole process of travel blogging, from the research to the promotion of your pieces can be frustrating, tiring and garner you very little recognition at first. In short, it’s complex and disheartening at times, but when it all pays off you realize why you do it in the first place.

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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

Yes, a multitude of differences. I think you feel far more vulnerable traveling as a woman. I find myself questioning and wondering about whether something or somewhere is safe for me to go, whereas I imagine there are far fewer men who have this kind of internal doubt dialogue over travel.

Do you have any dos/don’ts when it comes to traveling as a woman?

Try not to worry too much, because that can really impact your travels in a negative way, but also stay aware and don’t get complacent. That’s what happened to me and I ended up getting mugged for being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Enjoy yourself, above anything. If you have the privilege to travel the world and see new people, things, and cultures, don’t waste that opportunity.

Want to learn more about Lauren?

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Wednesday Women: Alaska

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Meet Alaska Rue.

Hi there! I’m Alaska Rue, a typical millennial that just didn’t want to get a full-time job straight out of university. I’m in the jack-of-all-trades breed of humanity, and I’m the master of none (yet)! As a quasi-digital nomad, a self-published author in her early beginnings, a travel blogger/vlogger, and a book lover, I’m constantly trying to do too many things at once, to my own downfall. I’m in love with the location-independent lifestyle, and I’m determined to be my own boss. No more working for minimum wage, please!

Fun fact? I can solve the Rubik’s Cube in thirty seconds, sometimes less. 😉

 

What inspired you to start traveling?

Honestly, boredom. When I went on my first solo backpacking trip, I wasn’t satisfied with my life. I’d just been spending all my free time outside of school hanging with my friends, doing the same old thing all the time, and it was quickly getting old. I was wasting all my money on the same boring activities, just to pass the time. I needed something exciting in my life.

It randomly occurred to me that there was so much more of Canada to see. I’d been in Vancouver (where I lived at the time) for over a year already and hadn’t seen anything outside of the city limits. So, instead of waiting for a miracle to happen, I decided to take the money I would have spent on the same old habits and spend it on travel instead. I spent two weeks hitchhiking around the Okanagan, British Columbia, and two weeks touring the big cities in Canada by Greyhound (back when they still had discovery passes).

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What is your travel style?

When I first started traveling, I thought I was a backpacker. While I still travel with a single tiny backpack, over the years, I’ve come to realize I’m squarely in the category of a flash packer. I’ll still overnight it in an airport if I can, and I’m always trying to find the cheapest way to get to places, even if that means longer and more connections, or hitch-hiking. Instead, I tend to spend less frugally on activities and souvenirs (I absolutely love sending postcards!).

I fell in love with outdoor adventure travel when I traveled around Southeast Asia back in 2015. That trip, I got scuba diving certified, and did a lot of rock-climbing, deep-water soloing and deep diving. Now, I’m addicted. In the next two years, I’m looking to get skydiving certified, do a lot more outdoor rock-climbing, and try surfing.

 

If you had a one-way ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

If it was paid for by someone else, I’d probably go to Antarctica or Greenland. Those places are expensive to get to!

If I was paying for it out of my own pocket (most probably), I’d probably go back to Southeast Asia. I’m an adrenaline junkie and adventure travel enthusiast now; that region is where I can get access to activities like rock-climbing, windsurfing, scuba diving, ATV riding, etc., on the cheap.

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Any horror/funny stories while traveling?

A lot, ranging from the lightly comedic to the downright traumatizing.

To pick from the less dark of the pile—when I was on a two-week solo cycling trip along the Irish coast in 2014, I got myself into a really dangerous situation. I hadn’t realized that my brakes were completely shot until it was too late. Going down a steep hill that went on for a good kilometer or more, I was not able to brake. It was raining, and the roads were slick and narrow; if a car had come out of nowhere, I would have been toast. Somehow, I kept calm long enough to navigate the crazy descent (I couldn’t even use my shoes to brake because I was wearing slippers; I tried, and cut my toes). The moment the road leveled out, I got off, shaking uncontrollably, taking long, deep breaths, and thanked the higher powers for letting me survive that. Even thinking about it now, I don’t know how I got so lucky.

 

Are you married? Single? A mom? How do you think your status affects your traveling?

I’m single, but only recently so. I’ve been in kind-of, not-really, on-and-off relationships for the last five years, and consider myself fully single just this January.

Being in a steady relationship wasn’t the best thing for my travel spirit. I got into a live-in relationship right after my second solo backpacking trip, and went into dormancy. Didn’t travel for two years. It was because of my relationship that I didn’t transfer to a university across the country, even though I wanted to. But, when my last chance to go on exchange showed up, I knew I couldn’t miss it. It was tough. I missed him every day in the beginning, which was so bad because I would just hang out in my dorm room skyping and texting him instead of exploring Prague. Although I still did my fair share of traveling through the summer, I regret not doing even more and feeling so hung up over my guy at the time. I almost actually left field school early because I missed him so much… So glad I didn’t!

Being in a relationship that wasn’t really a relationship was even worse. At least with the first, I knew where we stood, and I could go off traveling, secure in that. With my next relationship, I made my travel plans around his because I wanted to be with him. I knew that if I didn’t follow him, we wouldn’t last, because he wasn’t interested in a long-distance relationship. It wasn’t sustainable at all; I ran myself broke trying to keep up with where he wanted to go. Eventually, we had to say goodbye because I literally had no more funds to continue, among other things. That was the most irresponsible I’ve ever been in my life, all because of love. I basically ran out on family obligations, and should have been working instead of traveling.

But, now that I’m single, I have the mental clarity and time to work hard on my own creative projects and on becoming the best version of me. It’s very empowering, being single after having been in relationships for so long. Being a single traveler opens up another world of opportunities, where I—only me—get to determine my experiences without having to consider the feelings of a significant other.

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Solo or with a group? How do you prefer to travel? Why?

I prefer traveling solo, all the way. I don’t mind going on road trips with friends, but only for short periods of time. I find that unless you’re with really good friends who are easygoing and flexible, being in a pack is more stressful than fun. You have to compromise and miss out on things you want to do, or you have to deal with people who want to sleep in instead of go out and see things. The worst feeling though is when you get sick or just need a rest day, but feel like you need to put on a good face so you don’t become a burden on everyone else. I absolutely hate feeling like that, so the best solution for me is to just go my own way. I also like time to myself, and being able to experience a new place with my own thoughts in my head, rather than feeling like I need to entertain other people all the time.

 

How long have you been a travel blogger?

Like, less than a month? Haha.

Well, I’ve had my travel blog since 2013, but never really kept up with it. I wrote the (very) occasional post. I only decided at the end of February 2017 that I was going to get serious with it.

How do you plan your adventures?

I open up Google maps and the Wikipedia list of countries I can go to without a visa, then imagine the possibilities.

Recently, I’ve begun orientating my travel plans around certain activities. For example, next year, I really want to take part in the Mongol Rally, so I’ll be spending a large chunk of my summer going through Europe, the Middle East, and Mongolia! After that, because I want to focus my travels more around learning new skills and hobbies, I plan on heading to Mui Ne, Vietnam, for windsurfing; Indonesia and Thailand for scuba diving; India for yoga; etc.

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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

Well, I think there’s a difference doing anything as a woman versus a man. It can sometimes be good and sometimes bad. Based on appearances alone, I know I am typically more approachable as a small Asian woman with funky yellow glasses than a big, tall, hulking man with obvious tattoos (people see what they want to see, right)? I think it’s easier for me to find rides when hitch-hiking, and people seem more willing to help me if I need it.

On the flip side, people also think it’s easier to rob a woman or sexually assault her, or worse. While I generally feel safe in most places, I do think women feel like they have to take care of themselves even more so than men. But I’d still do everything I set my mind to, no matter the traditional challenges a woman has doing them.

Do you have any dos/don’t when it comes to traveling as a woman?

DON’T let other people tell you what you can or can’t do! That’s my number one thought. I absolutely hate it when people tell me I can’t or shouldn’t do something “because I’m a woman”. Please, find a more original reason to stop me. You do you, and I’ll do me.

Want to learn more about Alaska Rue?

Travel Blog www.mydotonthemap.com

Author Website: www.alaskarue.com

Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mydotonthemap/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mydot.onthemap/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/alaskarue

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/alaskarue/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheWhateverFreak

Wednesday Women: Dany aka Danila

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Meet Dany.

Danila Caputo is a blogger, translator and digital nomad currently working and living near Naples, in the South of Italy. Graduated in languages and literature, she worked as a columnist first, then as graphic designer and photographer for several Italian magazines after her degree. She firmly believes that the world is our heritage and that we should preserve it for the next generations. That’s why she supports sustainable travels and local activities, encouraging her readers to be responsible travelers.

 

How long have you been traveling?
Since when I was a little girl. My parents loved road trips in Italy and Europe, so we used to do that a lot. Me, my little sister, our cat and our parents spent weeks in exploring, tasting, smelling new places. Dad used to bring along his 35mm Olympus with him and I remember wanting to learn how to take photos as well. All these moments have stuck with me and shaped who I am today.
What is your travel style? Budget, First class, etc…
I’m in the middle! I try to save by taking smart decisions when booking, but I don’t feel compelled to go for luxury experiences.
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 Tell us your favorite destination. Why?
The area that in Italy is commonly named “The Real America”, so all the States around the Rocky Mountains. I’ve been in South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming… and what can I say, I just fell in love! I’ve been often on the American West Coast, which is in second place of my personal top 3, but still… I’d love to explore more the area that maybe had the bigger influence on me when I was young. I love the Old Wild West history, and thus I bought a lot of books, maps, movies and documentaries, so exploring it in person was a pretty powerful experience. I want to go back and stay longer!
4. Are you married? Single? A mom? How do you think your status affects your traveling?
I’m married and I’ve been with my then boyfriend/now husband for the past 17 years. If anything, I think it had a positive influence on me because I found the perfect travel companion. We’re on the same page and even when I’ve traveled solo because of my work, he never once held me back.
Describe your ideal travel mate.
That’s easy, it’s my husband!
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 How long have you been a travel blogger?
Almost one year. I’ve started working on my Instagram but micro-blogging there wasn’t enough, I tend to write too much! So feeling the need to have my own space where I could hand out tips and travel hacks, I decided to try my hand at travel blogging. I had no idea I’d enjoy it so much!!!
 How do you plan your adventures?
I start by picking a period of the year and a place I want to go to. Then I go from there. I am in love with Lonely Planet Guides so unless I already have what I need, I go to their website and start buying… well. A lot more guides than I’d need, actually! It’s just that I really like to read them! Because I generally prefer road trips (see how childhood memories stuck with me?) I prepare an itinerary and see if there’s a panoramic highway or something in the area. If I find it, then I proceed by booking the lodging along the road and a car, according to the terrain (es. a Jeep or something if I plan to do some offroading or a convertible Mustang for a road trip on the Route 66!). Of course, by the end, my Lonely Planet is full of colored post-its and quite battered, but they’re more beautiful that way!
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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?
I know for a fact that when I used to travel on my own sometimes I haven’t felt safe or completely at ease. And it’s the worst feeling, to be honest. As women, we have to be extra careful when we travel. It’s not right, but more often than not we have to deal with people who don’t understand the meaning of “no”, or “personal space”. It doesn’t mean we cannot travel on our own, only that we are unfortunately more exposed to certain dangers. Does this make me mad? Hell, yes!!!
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 Any advice to your fellow female travelers?
Always be extra careful. Tell your friends and parents where you’re going. I always leave a detailed itinerary at home, with all the info, telephone numbers, lodging and so on. This way should anything happen, your family and friends will know where to look for you. Because I’m extra careful, I also register to our institutional Italian website http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/home.html so our government knows where I am: if there’s a similar website in your Country, then always use it!
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Wednesday Women: Isabel

isabel-leong-ghent-belgium-street-artMeet Isabel.

I’m Isabel and I’m a freelance travel writer and travel blogger at Bel Around The World. I work full time at a digital agency specializing in social media. Pulling from my own world travels and lessons, I give tips on Bel Around The World about how to make use of student travel perks and stretch every penny while traveling experientially. 🙂

What inspired/inspires you to travel? 

I got inspired when I set off on a one-way ticket to Europe through my school’s international exchange in 2015. This program allows university students to do a semester of classes abroad in any host country.  Through exploring Europe on my own for 6 months, I’ve grown to love the idea of exploring the unknown and discovering new places.

Since then, I’ve only taken traveling in my own hands and begun seriously pursuing it, both with my blog and setting time and money aside to do it throughout the year.

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Where is your favorite destination to date?

I usually go for scenic destinations since I’m based in a city. My favourite city is New York, beach destination is Maldives, and the best place I’ve been for a road trip is New Zealand!

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How do you prefer to travel? 

I love experiential traveling – trying new things and pushing my limits. This includes bungee jumping in Phuket, watching hot air balloons at sunrise in Cappadocia and trying out Couchsurfing in Europe.

 

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Solo or With a group? Why?

Everyone should have an experience doing both. I enjoyed solo travel for the freedom it gives and how it opens more doors to making new friends. It’s an experience you will not get so readily if you are traveling with a partner. Traveling alone also builds your resilience and independence – both of which are very essential qualities in a person!

Yet, traveling with a partner or a group injects more fun in the trip. You would dare to do more things than if you were to travel alone, like going to a pub for instance. I wouldn’t dare to visit a pub alone in a foreign country, especially since I’m a girl! Having a companion also means an extra pair of eyes to watch out for you.

Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman? 

It definitely is much more dangerous especially if you’re traveling alone. That said, it can sometimes be easier also – you get accepted by hosts more readily on Couchsurfing and you receive help more readily by passers-by!

How do you plan your trips?

I will Google the places not to be missed for that particular area, and map it on Google Maps. Further to that, I will export it to an app called Maps.me so that I have easy access to it through my phone and offline when I’m on the go! More on this feature in How To Export Your Google Map Itinerary To Your Phone & Use It Offline!

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When is your next one? 

Bali in April and Hokkaido in May to catch the cherry blossoms.

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers? 

Yes! One of it is to be bold and never do anything (or the lack of) you would regret – you may only have that one chance to visit a place or try something foreign. More tips for first-time travelers in this post: 10 Tips For New Travellers.

 

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Wednesday Women: Theresa

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Hi. My name is Theresa. I am a logistician, a paper crafter, a cook, a mother, a nerd, a writer, and a lover of books and coffee.  I want to leave the world a better place than I found it. In pursuit of that goal, I have been a Peace Corps Volunteer, a tech entrepreneur in West Africa, and now I work for my government abroad.  I am currently posted to Jerusalem.
I write about my adventures and those of my globe trotting family as I seek to balance a rewarding career, parenting, and travel.
 
What inspired/inspires you to travel?
I have lived abroad for over a decade now.  My job takes me from country to country, and we can’t help but explore while we’re there.  The world is a very big place, and it would be a shame to see only a tiny part of it.
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Where is your favorite destination to date?
I don’t know if I have a favorite!  I’ve loved living in Jerusalem and exploring Israel and the Palestinian Territories.  I loved living in Freetown and Cotonou and DC.  I loved visiting Jordan with my parents and kids.  Europe’s wonderful to visit (but so so so expensive, compared to many of the other places we’ve lived).
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How do you prefer to travel? Solo or with a group? Why? Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman? How do you plan your trips?
These days, almost all of my travel is with my family.  I have two young children and traveling with them opens my eyes to the world in way I’ve never experienced on my own.  They see things I don’t notice, and their delight in discovering the world is infectious.
I plan our trips around my children’s capacity to not melt down into total monsters.  That means we can do two things per day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with a long break in the middle of the day for play, naps, and quiet time.  If we plan a physically challenging outdoor activity, usually we do it in the morning, then spend the afternoon relaxing somewhere tranquil.
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When is your next one?
We’re moving to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea for my job!  I am super excited to spend a few years living in a country I’d otherwise not be likely to visit.
Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?
1)  Just do it and go with the flow.  Travel never works out as planned.  Go ahead.  Plan a perfect trip where you see all of the tourist destinations, then take time out to explore a less traveled path.  But when life jumps out at you (you miss your bus, your kids melt down, you see a poster for an amazing comedy show or poetry slam), ditch the plan and go for it!
2)  Travel with your kids.  Solo travel (or travel with other adults) is certainly easier, but traveling with our children has been rewarding in ways we never imagined.  Seeing the wonders of the world through their eyes is life affirming, and these experiences will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Want to know more about Theresa?

Wednesday Women: Natalie

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Meet Natalie.

I’m a tea lover, literature nerd, former college professor, parent to two little kids, and restless soul. I grew up (and still reside) in Charleston, South Carolina, but I am determined to see as much of the world as I can. I’ve been blogging not-so-seriously since 2010, and pretty seriously since 2013. I mostly focus on how to travel more deeply through an immersion of history, literature, culture, and the arts, but some family travel and general lifestyle slips in there from time to time as well.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

I’m one of those people who constantly needs to be challenging myself to be happy. For me, that goes hand in hand with learning about a new culture, visiting somewhere I’ve never been before, re-visiting an old favorite locale, and reading a novel or history about where I’m traveling. Traveling goes hand in hand with learning for me, and I just can’t get enough of both.

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Where is your favorite destination to date?

I will always, always love the British Isles: I studied abroad in London, and have visited the UK and Ireland more than half a dozen times. There’s something about the combination of culture, literary history, and sense of community that keeps drawing me back there.

How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why?

Over the years, I’ve done just about every time of traveling as I’ve gone through different phases in my life: solo, couple, and family. These days, I’m all about incorporating my kids into the learning and cultural exploration that comes along with traveling, so that’s fun to see the world through their eyes. I also love a getaway with my husband, who’s my absolute best friend and such a good travel buddy since we complement one another well in what we enjoy seeing.

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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?

As for traveling as a woman, I know that I tend to take fewer risks when I’m traveling by myself than when I’m with my husband or family. I’ll call it a night earlier, take better lit paths, and avoid certain destinations or locations. I tend to be overly cautious (to a fault), but that goes into high gear when I’m by myself.

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How do you plan your trips? When is your next one?

I tend to plan my trips WAY in advance because I’m one of those nerdy people who enjoys the planning almost as much as I do the actual going. Planning far in advance also helps me save money in our limited travel budget each year and helps my family maximize the days that my husband (who works in a location-based finance job) will get off for vacation. We tend to start our planning around the dining room table by talking about places that have been intriguing us, and we even include our preschooler in the planning! (She’s quite the traveler already and loves hotels more than anything else in the world.) We are staying put in Charleston, South Carolina, for the rest of 2016 since our second baby is making his arrival in November, but we have plans to go to Cape Canaveral, Florida, for our daughter’s birthday (she’s obsessed with rockets) and to London, England, sometime next year.

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Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?

If you’re hesitating about traveling, just go! I have worried about scheduling, budgets, and family matters while planning trips, but I have never regretted going on a single one. Somehow, everything I worry about prior to leaving manages to work itself out by the time we leave.

Want to know more about Natalie?

 Cosmos Mariners: Destination Unknown

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Wednesday Women: Jamie

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Meet Jamie.

Hi, I’m Jamie. I am 28 years old, german and recently started life as a digital nomad. Previously I worked in an advertising agency in Vienna as a Graphic Designer but the atmosphere of the field didn’t suit me. I love taking pictures and editing them, go for long walks, do yoga, eat healthily and also very unhealthy, am addicted to way too many tv shows and just try to figure out how to live a happy life.

What inspired/inspires you to travel? 

I’m mostly inspired by my wish to see the world and change myself while doing it. Character-wise I am way more pessimistic and scared than I want to be. I’m insecure in a lot of moments and have let a lot of opportunities slip by me. Travelling helps me actively change those things. I am traveling to live in the moment and to not worry about the future, society or my own issues. I travel so I can feel empowered about my choices and my own life.

Where is your favorite destination to date? 

I think it was the city of Jogjakarta ( also referred to as Yogyakarta) in Indonesia. All of Indonesia was pretty special to me because of the people who I met and the experiences that I had. But Jogjakarta has so much to offer even though it looks so ugly and raw. It is my favorite city so far for sure. For experiencing nature my favorite place to travel is the Low Tatras in Slovakia.

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How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why? 

I have to admit that I really hate to travel in groups. Three people can already be too many. There are so many differences, needs, problems. Everything goes too slow for my taste. I’m sure there can be different outcomes with different people. But so far I enjoyed the most traveling with one person. When I went to Asia in 2015 I traveled with a stranger, we met online and decided to go on this trip together. That was the best experience I ever had in my life. We grew so close as friends that we got a tattoo together on our last night – in Jogjakarta btw 😉

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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman? 

Of course. I am traveling with my boyfriend at the moment and he can a lot of times not understand at all why I don’t want to go alone to certain places or why I have troubles with going for a run next to the street because every second car is honking at me. I am aware that a lot of insecurities that I have are coming from my own experiences and I’m trying to work on them. But for me, it is a fact that women traveling alone are not as free in certain areas as men are.

How do you plan your trips? 

Ha, this is a good question. I love to just wing it. When I traveled Asia I had a very rough outline of places that I wanted to go to and then we just saw how we would get around. This kind of non-organized travel can also have some downsides (higher prices for last-minute bookings, no empty rooms in hostels, searching for everything longer) but it gave me so many adventures in the past that I’m still a huge fan. At the moment I am traveling way more organized because my boyfriend likes to take care of things way up ahead. That can be nice as well but I don’t like to live by a schedule. Maybe I’ll grow into it some more 😉

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When is your next one? 

Doing it right now. I have been in Romania last month, now in Bulgaria. Until Christmas, I plan to see Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia, and Montenegro.

 

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers? 

Pack everything that you feel you absolutely need. Then wait for two days and check your stuff again. Take out half of the clothes again and over think that moskitonet/knife/sandals/extra lens very carefully. You’ll have to carry it around and I guarantee you that after your trip you will not have used some of the things you thought you desperately needed 😉 Also for women travelers: Use the menstruation cups! 😉

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Wednesday Women: Ashlyn

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Meet Ashlyn.

I am a twenty-something outdoor adventure traveler. I’ve been to 52 countries on six continents and fund my travels by freelance writing, speaking and shooting and editing videos. I also sell photography when possible as well.

I like to push my limits when traveling and you’ll most likely find me out hiking, surfing, scuba diving or trying out any crazy adventure activity an area offers – I’ve even flown a military jet! If it scares me, I can’t say no.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

After five years completing two degrees in university, I decided I wanted to spend the same amount of time traveling the world so I designed a five-year travel plan. On my first six month trip, I was hooked and knew it was a lifestyle I couldn’t easily give up. I love how every day I wake up wondering how the destination I am in is going to change my life. It’s thrilling and educational – much better than sitting in a classroom to learn.

As for travel inspiration, my destinations are usually chosen based on photographs I’ve seen as well as recommendations from other travelers.

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Where is your favorite destination to date?
It’s really difficult to decide but I loved spending a month in Madagascar. It’s not an easy destination to get to and there aren’t very many tourists so the locals are still curious yet friendly. The wildlife and landscapes were pretty spectacular as well and I spent a lot of time hiking and diving.

How do you prefer to travel? Solo or With a group? Why?
I spend most of my time traveling on my own but always seem to meet up with other people on the road. Admittedly, I prefer traveling with family and friends as I find the experiences more meaningful when I can share them with someone I care about. To date, I’ve managed to visit six continents with my mom as she enjoys meeting up with me around the world.

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Do you think there is a difference traveling as a woman?
There are definitely differences traveling as a woman than as a man. Some of them are positive and some are negative. As a woman, I’m more likely to get picked up while hitchhiking, but I’m also more likely to be bothered, catcalled and stared at by men. I have to be modest in how I dress and very respectful of other cultures depending what area in the world I’m in. Men and women definitely get treated differently while traveling.

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How do you plan your trips?
I’ve discovered that long trips are best left to planning on the go, while shorter trips it’s easier and less stressful to plan in advance. I prefer to plan as I go as I like to add in side trips that I didn’t know about until I arrived at the destination.

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When is your next one?
I’m currently working on a book back at home in Saskatchewan, Canada so I don’t have an immediate trip planned. I recently flew back from British Columbia where I hike the 75 kilometer West Coast Trail. Next month I’m thinking of escaping somewhere warm in the Caribbean if I can find cheap flights.

Any advice you would like to give to your fellow travelers?
A scarf is one of the most helpful items to carry. It adds warmth, style, and additional coverage when entering mosques or temples. It can also be a towel on short notice.

Want to know more?

 The Lost Girl’s Guide to Finding the World  
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