So, you’re heading to New Zealand on a working holiday visa? Congrats! Moving abroad is one of the hardest but most rewarding things you can do – I would know, I’ve done it three times now! A working holiday visa is a fantastic way to live abroad short-term, explore a new destination, and experience an… Read More Moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life (2024 Guide)
Deciding whether or not to buy a car is one of the first big choices a backpacker can make in Australia. There are pros and cons to both sides: a car will obviously give you more freedom for both travel and work, but it is an investment and a lot of money to spend up… Read More A Backpacker’s Guide to Buying a Used Car in Australia
This is my first year EVER (after over seven years of blogging) I’m doing a gift guide! I’ve compiled all my favorite items (available on Amazon) to make your holiday shopping easy this year. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the traveler in your life, this is the post for you. And unlike… Read More My 2023 Travel Gift Guide – Useful AND Affordable Gifts!
2022 has been a wonderful year, filled with so many adventures. I’ve traveled loads this year, and ticked some major items off my bucket list! Back in 2019, I wrote a post about how I maximized my time off work to travel. Ignoring the shitshow of 2020, and most of 2021 – and the fact… Read More How I Maximized My Time Off Work to Travel in 2022
The coronavirus pandemic has changed so many aspects of our society. But some of the most immediately effects have been on the travel industry. As the world went into lockdown, countries closed their borders, trips were canceled, travelers were stranded… travel has been chaotic. As disappointing as it has been to cancel so many trips,… Read More 11 Travel Lessons The Pandemic Has Taught Me
I haven’t kept any secrets about my love affair with Eastern Europe. This August, I achieved a huge goal of mine: I have finally visited every country in Eastern Europe! This is my favorite region of the world. It’s where I feel most myself. I truly feel like I am in my element in Eastern… Read More Why I Love Traveling Eastern Europe – and Why You Should, Too
Rome is a huge, historic, enigmatic city to explore. There’s so much to see and it can be difficult to pack it all in on a single trip! You can view my favorite photos from the trip in my Rome photoessay. But what do you need to know before you go? Well, if you don’t… Read More 9 Practical Tips for Visiting Rome
As 2019 comes to a close, I have a lot to reflect on. For the first time in my life, I had one (ONE!) full-time job for the entire year. This was one of the biggest changes in my life from last year. I wasn’t juggling multiple jobs and schedules, I wasn’t picking and choosing… Read More 30 Days Annual Leave, 1 Year: How Exactly I Traveled So Much In 2019 With A Full-Time Job
This May, I applied to renew my UK spouse visa. If you missed my first post on applying for my UK visa, you can read up on it here. My initial visa was for 2.5 years (30 months), after which I could then apply to renew my visa and extend my leave to remain in… Read More The Complete Guide For Applying To Renew My UK Spouse Visa
I’ve been traveling for a long time now, and I like to think I’m something of a pro. As time has gone on, I’ve learned more, and learned how to travel smarter and to travel better. One of the major lessons I’ve learned through the years is the importance of travel insurance. What is travel… Read More 3 Situations and Examples of When I Used Travel Insurance!
It’s been seven years since my first independent trip abroad. And man oh man, how times have changed since then! So many facets of the travel industry are dramatically different, smartphones exist and basically everyone has one, and the internet proves to be one of the best resources to plan a trip. I wanted to… Read More 17 of the BEST Online Resources For Travelers
City breaks are one of the most popular types of trips you can take. You head to a new city for just a few days, hit the sights, experience the culture, eat the food, and enjoy a quick trip away. And Europe is full of them! A friend of mine asked me for recommendations for… Read More 8 Fantastic Destinations For A European City Break
One of the top travel trends (and general lifestyle trends) these days is being more sustainable and thinking about your impact on the environment. Sustainable travel is now becoming more and more popular, as eco-friendly resorts pop up and the latest gadgets aim to be more friendly to the environment. The main problem with a… Read More 5 Ways To Be A More Sustainable Traveler (Without Breaking the Bank!)
I had so much fun on my first trip to Belgium! As I based myself in Brussels, I wanted to share some of my top tips for visiting the city. There are definitely a few things I wish I’d known, and hopefully you can learn from my mistakes! Here are 11 practical tips for visiting… Read More 11 Practical Tips For Visiting Brussels
There are so many logistics and things to sort out and organize when you go abroad long-term. Whether you’re studying abroad for a semester, taking a gap year, or moving abroad on a permanent basis, it takes a LOT of preparation! Itineraries, cities you’ll visit, budgets, flights, what clothes to bring, etc. But there is… Read More The Stuff No One Talks About When You Go Abroad: Birth Control, Student Loans, and More
For my third year of college, I participated in a study abroad program for an academic year in Nottingham, England. Despite it being the most formative and decisive years of my life, I realized I’ve barely written about my experience on the blog! My study abroad experience changed me. My year living in England and… Read More 10 Reasons To Study Abroad
One of the hardest things about moving abroad is switching currencies. If you’ve spent most of your life earning money in one currency, what do you do when you no longer earn or want money in that currency? Or worse, what do you do when you earn money in one currency, but have bills and… Read More Transferwise: The Best Way to Transfer Money Online
Since I started traveling internationally and independently nearly 7 years ago now, my preferred accommodation has always been hostels. They’re much cheaper than hotels, have a better social atmosphere, and are a great way to meet people on the road. I have stayed in countless hostels around the world and while I know they’re not… Read More What To Pack For Hostels
I’ve spent the last several years exploring Europe, and one region specifically: Eastern Europe. It is by far my favorite region in the world—there are so many places to see! This post is all about the cost to travel Eastern Europe and the money I spent. As a seasoned budget traveler, I knew that my… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Travel Eastern Europe For 6 Weeks?
Earlier this year, I wrote a post on 12 Things Every American NEEDS to Know About Europe. It was really popular, and a handful of people suggested I write a companion post the other way around. Well, here it is! After living in the US for nearly 24 years, over 1 year living in Europe… Read More 12 Things Every European NEEDS To Know About America