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In all transparency, I'll start by saying that my dad is a pilot for Southwest Airlines, so I fly for free within the United States and for fairly cheap around the world (until my flight benefits expire). That plays a large role in my ability to travel so often to random parts of the world. (Don't't let my flight benefits deter you, it's entirely possible to find cheap flights, it's all about being flexible).

The next way I afford to travel is by literally having my life revolve around travel. Traveling is my biggest passion in life and I've truly centered my life around it. I did college online so that I could do my classes while traveling, I lived at home so that rather than paying for rent I could save to travel, I got my real estate license so I could have flexible work, and when I did work, I'd work a TON for a short period of time in order to save enough for my next trip. I sacrificed a lot of the traditional life experiences (moving away to college, getting my first apartment, etc) in order to prioritize travel. That's not to say it's the right plan for everyone, but to travel to the extent that I have does take a lot of dedication and has to be something you truly love.

Lastly, I'm a bargain hunter. I stay at $15 a night hostels (but I don't dip below 7 stars on HostelWorld), I try to cook most of my own food rather than eat out, I do free walking tours to see the cities, take $10 overnight flixbus rides instead of flying, etc. Traveling (outside of flights) can be incredibly affordable, but you have to budget and pay attention to what you're spending. 

The answer to this really varies depending on your current situation and what you mean by travel more. Do you want to take a month long backpacking trip, do you want to become a digital nomad or work abroad, do you want to travel full-time or just the occasional trip, do you want to completely move abroad? There's so many definitions of "travel more." It also depends on your current situation. Are you a college student who only has summers off, are you working full-time but open to quitting and getting a job abroad, are you a parent, do you have spare money to start traveling or not a penny in savings? What are your goals in life and is it smart for you to travel right now? 

The best way for me to answer this question realistically and honestly is to answer it on a case by case basis. Therefore, if you do want the answer to this question, hop over to the contact page and shoot me an email with your current situation, what your goal with traveling is, and a little about you! Then I can give you the best answer and a step-by-step guide on exactly how to reach your goals (don't worry, it's free, I enjoy doing this haha)!!!

I frequently solo travel as a woman and have not ever ran into any unsafe situations. And that's coming from someone who has slept in rental cars and the airport, made friends and travelled with strangers, walked through cities alone at night, gone to bars alone, gone on tinder dates in foreign countries, etc. However, there are precautions I take to help ensure my safety as well. 

1. I do my due diligence of the country I'm going to. I do research on how safe the country is, the regular customs to follow, etc. I also have a basic knowledge of countries safety regulations and learn the dial code to the police ahead of time (and have the app noonlight). Most european countries are completely fine to travel solo, it's just important to know the basics (like train stations are often the most dangerous places) and listen to your gut instincts/don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with. Our definitions of comfortable can also be completely different. Something I'd be comfortable doing might be something you're totally not comfortable doing and that's okay. 

2. Keep your valuables in the safe at your hotel or airbnb, or in the locker at your hostel.

3. Always stick to your common knowledge. It's always preferable to make friends when traveling and go out with them, to avoid dark streets at night, to not go flaunt your designer purse, etc. 

4. If it's a more remote country, such as anywhere in Africa or the Middle East, take a trip there with other's first to get a better feel of the country and the lay of the land, before you go back by yourself (for example, I did a group trip to Morocco first, and now feel completely comfortable going back there or to surrounding countries solo). In more remote countries it's also important to adhere more strictly to safety precautions because it will be harder to get help there. 

5. If you go out to a bar or clubbing alone (have fun), but stick to one or two drinks, watch them just as closely as you would anywhere else, and then go back to your accommodation when your done. 

Those are my quick go-to rules of thumb for staying safe while traveling. You can check out my articles about my travel necessities to see what items I bring along for safety, download noonlight (link is above), and stay tuned for more articles regarding safety while solo traveling!

My life dream is to travel to the countries that are the most different from my own. The top places on my bucket list currently are Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Namibia, Antarctica, and Turkey. I often get asked, "Why in the world would you want to travel there?" Well here is the answer...

1. My passion is traveling and all that comes with it. The most amazing parts of traveling, in my opinion, is seeing the different ways that the world around us operates and lives. Even though I'm not religious, experiencing the call to prayer over the mosques in Oman and Qatar has been one of my favorite experiences. For me, it's all about being able to learn about the world around me. I love to learn and what better way to learn about all the different aspects of the world, all of the different cultures and architecture and food, than to go experience it firsthand. That being said, it isn't always super comfortable. But I also love pushing myself outside my comfort zone and that's what traveling to these countries does. It forces me to grow as a person by being in places and surrounded by customs that are unfamiliar to my own. 

2. There is so much beauty, history, and culture in every underrepresented country. Afghanistan is known to have some of the world's most breath taking nature. Pakistan is supposedly home to some of the world's kindest and hospitable people. Namibia has some of the world's most incredible wildlife. Turkey has arguably some of the world's most beautiful architecture. All of that is, of course, up to debate and dependent on one's perspective. However, my point of underrepresented countries having so much to offer, is nonetheless true. 

3. The middle east is undoubtedly home to the most controversy and war in the world. Visiting those countries allows me to gain a better understanding of these issues and allows me to better speak on them moving forward. I want to be a better advocate for worldly issues, but don't feel as if I have merit to truly and educatedly speak on them without experiencing it firsthand.