Wednesday Women : Sarah

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Meet Sarah.

lover of the earth – and great food.

Traveling has changed my life so much and I am so grateful for that, because I love my life right now.

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

Feeling free.

Having (almost) no responsibilities.

Learning new things.

I guess that sums it up really good.

Where is your favorite destination to date?

that is hard to tell because every place – every piece of the earth has its own charm which makes it difficult to compare. in general i like places that have a great nature but also places where i know people that i have met a long my way.

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How do you prefer to travel? solo or with a group? why?

i like to travel on my own or with one other person. more than that becomes actually quite annoying because everybody has their own needs and own way of seeing things and at the end one will always be disappointed. being just by myself can be the best thing ever because you decide what you want to do and see. But it can be more expensive. i found it less expensive to travel with one other person. it is just not easy to find the right person for that because you have to keep in mind that you spend 24 / 7 with that person. i am glad I found my travel buddy.

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

i believe that there is but if it is a big or a small difference depends on the person itself. if you are afraid and feel unsafe other people will see that and act differently than to somebody who doesn’t care about that. i think that the difference doesn’t come from yourself but from the people you will encounter. depending on how the people were raised – culture and religion wise – they will act differently. so to me it is not all about the gender moreover about the individual. and don’t forget – there is not only bad out there in the world. great things will happen there too.

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How do you plan your trips?

i don’t spend much time planning. most of the time i end up buying a plane or train ticket to a place i always wanted to go and then i will read a few blogs to get some insider tips. but when it comes to day-to-day activities i decide what i’ll do right after i get up in the morning. the same when it comes to booking an accommodation or my next move. i just like to see what “naturally” happens rather than planning everything ahead and not being able to do something spontaneous.

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When is your next one?

besides a few weekend trips my next flight will go to vietnam and for the next year i plan on going to iceland and do a roadtrip through scandinavia. i am so excited about that.

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

enjoy every moment of it and don’t forget that every memory you create while travelling is unique. nobody has or ever will experience the exact same thing. nobody can take that away from you!

Want to learn more about Sarah ?

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Wednesday Women: Sally

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Meet Sally.

I am a travel agent and travel blogger who has always had big dreams and an even bigger bucket list. I help travel bloggers kickstart and grow their blogs to share their experiences with the world. Apart from my passion for travel, my secret loves are tea, TED Talks and running (even though I’m not very good at it).

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

Since I went on student exchange to Italy in year eleven, the world has opened up for me. That experience challenged me but also made me forever curious of foreign languages, cultures and the never-ending beauty of travel.

Where is your favorite destination to date?

I have been to so many amazing destination that it is a struggle to pick just one. My favourite destination to date would have to be a toss up between New York City with its incredible thriving mix of cultures and the Maldives with its million shades of blue water and the generosity of its locals.

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

It really depends on the trip but I do like solo travel because I feel it gives you a more authentic experience of the culture as it forces you to get out there and explore and meet new people. And, with solo travel you can do what YOU want instead of just doing all of the touristy things that are expected of you. The other great thing about solo travel is it really gives you a chance to grow personally through the challenges you face along the way and the time you have for reflection.

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

I think people are a lot more wary that women should not travel on their own but to be honest I have never felt unsafe whilst travelling solo. I think as long as you are aware of your surroundings and don’t take unnecessary risks you shouldn’t come across any danger.

How do you plan your trips? 

As a travel agent, I find with trips I book for clients I am a lot more meticulous and organised than I am with my own trips. I do like to have some things organised and read up on other blogs about where the best hidden places to go are but I also like to go with the flow a little bit and see what happens.

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When is your next one?

My next trip is actually to the Philippines in October which I am extremely excited for. The Philippines has been on my bucket list for a while now and is definitely an up and coming destination at the moment. I got invited on this trip by Philippines Tourism as a travel agent to go and experience what it is like to travel there. They are splitting the group up into three and I have not heard which region I will be going to just yet but I can’t wait. The three options were Boracay, Palawan or Cebu and Bohol. I said surprise me!

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

My advice would be to get outside your comfort zone when you are travelling. I mean isn’t that the whole point?! Meet new people, see new things, experience new cultures and do things you wouldn’t normally do at home

 

 

 

 

 

                    Want to know more about Sally?

 Safe Travels by Sally

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Wednesday Women: Courtney

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Meet Courtney. 

Hi, my name is Courtney, and I’m a travel-obsessed twenty something! I come from a city called Wollongong on the south coast of NSW, Australia, about an hour and a half south of Sydney. I love the outdoors and exploring beautiful landscapes, and in the summer I basically live at the beach. I work in marketing & communications at a travel company, and save every penny I earn to go on adventures!

 

What inspired/inspires you to travel?

The thing I love most about travel is that every destination you visit, every person you meet, every culture you discover, and every experience that you have is different. You’re continuously challenging your perspective every time you visit somewhere new. I’m inspired by these differences, and am determined to seek out as many as I can, and become as worldly as humanly possible.

 

Where is your favorite destination to date?

It’s hard to choose a favourite destination, but if I had to then I can’t go past Rarotonga, Cook Islands. I’m a beach lover, and Raro is a paradise like no other. The people, the beaches, the landscape, the culture…. Everything about it is incredible. Plus, there’s something for everyone; from those who seek a relaxed, beach holiday to those who seek an adventure holiday full of thrills. It’s also perfect for families, couples, groups of friends or solo travellers!

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

I’ve never done a fully solo trip, but even if I had I think I’d have to say a group, or at least with one other person. I like to share experiences, especially when travelling. Obviously, solo travellers meet plenty of new people on their journey, but I prefer to travel with at least one other person I know. I spent a week in San Francisco by myself at the end of my summer working as a camp counselor and I felt incredibly lonely without someone to share the experience with.

 

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

I guess that depends on where you go! As much as I hate saying it, I do feel safer when I’m travelling with a male. My friend and I (both girls) had a few uncomfortable moments during our eight-week stint in the USA, and I think these could’ve been avoided had we been travelling with a guy. I do admire those independent women who travel to dangerous countries on their own – their spirit and desire to change the way others think is very inspiring.

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How do you plan your trips?

Usually I figure out a destination I want to visit, and then go from there! I see if there’s anyone interested in going with me, work out the best time I can go, and pretty much wing the rest. I like to be spontaneous when I’m travelling, but there are some things you do need to plan in advance!

 

When is your next one?

Although I’ve got nothing booked, I’m planning to travel to Europe in the northern summer next year. I’ve only touched upon mainland Europe in my previous trips, and am dying to visit Italy! Specially, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast – get me into that hot Mediterranean sun!

 

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

My biggest piece of advice would be to save, save, save! There’s nothing worse than looking forward to a trip, then realizing halfway through that you can’t afford to have the experience you expected. I’ve found myself short of cash on too many occasions due to my terrible budgeting, and have vowed to never again go anywhere unless I have saved enough!

 

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Want to learn more about Courtney?

Courty Stelt 

IG: @courtystelt

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