Author: Ali Sullivan

When I travel, I like to stay in countries long enough for me to learn about the culture and the daily lives of locals. What it is actually like on a regular day and how this country differs from my own. You can’t really do that when only spending a couple days in the same place. I’m now able to work and make an income abroad easily an ESL teacher, but it wasn’t always that easy for me to find a way to stay in a place longer, and for free. Before I started teaching, I would just backpack around, which is fabulous, but it also costs money. After I fell in love with traveling, I started looking into ways that would give me a chance to actually live in another country for a while. 

Volunteering is a great way to do this, but most reliable volunteer companies I’ve found charge huge amounts of money to be able to support their volunteers. To save money, I’d be better off traveling the country myself, rather than spend a crazy amount of money for a month long volunteer position fee. So I had to look harder, and surprisingly, I found tons of opportunities that fit more to my budget and lifestyle. If you have an open mind, a couple weeks or months to spare, are willing to do basic jobs for no money, but receive free food or accommodations than I would suggest checking out the following companies and websites. 

Workaway & Helpstay 

Workaway and Helpstay are my go to websites when looking for a part time gig. If I have a couple weeks downtime between jobs, awaiting that next paycheck, or want to experience a country longer and live like a local, this is where I look first. Workaway and Helpstay are websites for travelers and backpackers like myself. There are thousands of listings for volunteer positions all over the world that last from just a couple days, or up to a couple months, depending on how long you’re available. These positions are volunteering positions that can range from teaching, landscaping, PA, hostel jobs, bartending, sailing, cleaning, babysitting, and the choices are endless.

Most people will give you at least free room and board, and if you’re lucky, free food. Some will even give you free “lessons” if you choose to help them for a good while. Also, if you’re lucky and do a good job, these can even lead to permanent positions if you’re able and willing. I’ve done a lot of positions like this all over Europe including waitressing, bartending, teaching, gardening, working at a petting zoo and at a home for disabled children. 

Hostel Jobs 

Volunteer hostel jobs are pretty easy to land if you’re a backpacker. You can look online on their website, but honestly it’s easier to just ask yourself. If you are short on cash and need a place to crash for a while, find a hostel. Most places are more than willing to give you a bed for a while in exchange for helping out around the hostel. Things such as front desk work, housekeeping, or even leading tours and pub-crawls are a great opportunity to live like a local for awhile all while saving money. I’ve landed the hostel jobs that I’ve had by making friends with the owners and current employees. Show them that you are willing to help and that you’re able to communicate with travelers and the opportunities you can have are endless. 

WOOFing 

I’ve never personally done this, but I know dozens of people who have. WOOFing is a volunteer company that will provide free room and board for travelers in exchange for a few hours a day working on land including farm work, gardening, planting or fruit picking. There is also a company similar to WOOF that will even PAY OFF STUDENT LOAN DEBT in exchange for the same type of volunteer work. 

House Sitting & Couchsurfing 

House sitting and couch surfing are easy ways to stay for free anywhere in the world, without having to do any work at all. If you make an account on trustedhousesitters.com, you can have a free house for a week or even more, all while doing very little work around the house. Watering plants, feeding pets, and just general housework is all you need to be able to do. 

Couchsurfing is a perfect opportunity for travelers, and there are thousands of locals willing to let you crash on their spare bed or couch for a few days. In exchange, share your culture, cook home cooked meals, and they will do the same. If you have a cool host, they will take you around the area and show you the best hidden parts of the city that locals love. You can also meet up with other people in the same area couchsurfing by using the meet-up function on the Couchsurfing app! 

Of course, there are other ways, you just have to have an open mind. I’ve met a lot of great friends in one country, who then later opened up their home for me in their own home countries, with no cost to me and they always show me a great time. I met the nicest couple ever while I was in Poland on a walking tour, John and Anna. They gave me their whole apartment for a weekend a couple weeks later when I was visiting in Hamburg, Germany. They explored with me around the city, showed me to their favorite secret places, and always took me out to dinner and never asked for a thing in return. They also helped me communicate and get me to my Uncles house later that week.

The more connections you make around the world, the opportunities, friendships, and experiences you can have while traveling are endless!

How do I afford to travel full time? This is a question I get asked almost everyday. Traveling the world is not cheap, BUT, it’s not near as expensive as you’d probably think it is. Being a backpacker means that I usually don’t have a lot of money, and I’m always looking for anyway possible to save a few extra dollars. Those extra dollars can go a long way when you’re short on cash and waiting for that next paycheck to be deposited in your bank account. Before I started traveling full time, I researched for months on how I could save money abroad. I knew the less money I spent, the longer I could travel. I’m still not a professional, saving money is hard, and I’ve messed up a lot, and I’ve had to ask for help. For example, one summer I got myself stranded in Serbia with no flight out, and with $200 to my name; $200 that I had to make last for another month before I got paid again. I had to trek through 3 different countries before I could find a flight to where I needed to go, and finding one that I could afford on such short notice was a HUGE struggle. That experience was painful, stressful. However, I ended up getting to see so many other places I hadn’t intended on going to and everything still worked out. Now that I’ve learned better, and have been able to budget a lot more with a lot more money, I’d like to share some tips and tricks on how I save money overseas. 

Finding cheap flights 

Flying is always the most expensive part of traveling, obviously. But, there are various ways that this can be changed. When I start looking for flights, my go to website is Skyscanner. They have the cheapest flights possible and compare all other websites for you on their site. When flying from home in the USA, I never fly out of Ohio. There are no direct international flights that fly into any airport in the state. I am more than happy to travel a few extra hours in the car and save a couple hundred dollars, than to fly out of Ohio which is more expensive and is always including a layover. It’s the same for the airport I fly into, usually, there are various airports around the destination you’re going to and the main airport is not always the cheapest. Another way to save on flying is to book 2 one way tickets, instead of a roundtrip ticket, this saves me at least $100 every time. 

Be Flexible

If you are able to be flexible on the dates you’re traveling, this will help you out a lot if you are trying to save money. Try to never travel on the weekends, I’ve found this is always more expensive, as everyone wants a weekend get away and there are going to be more people on the move, especially on Sundays. Whether this comes to flights, trains, buses, whatever, try and make your travel dates happen through the week. Staying another day in a city or leaving a day early may not be what you had initially planned, but this has saved me hundreds of dollars over the past 3 years and I’ve had wonderful experiences due to being able to be flexible when I’m moving around. 

Another way that being flexible helps you is opting for longer travel times, as long as you aren’t in a big hurry to get somewhere, this is by far the cheapest route. Instead of taking a train, take a bus. Yes, this may add a couple hours on your travel time, but it will also save you some money. Also, book over night trips. Not only will taking a night bus be cheaper than a train, but that will also save you a nights worth of money on accommodation. 

Accommodation

Hostels are a backpackers best friend when it comes to accommodation. Never ever ever opt for a hotel if you’re traveling alone. You will lose money, you wont make any friends, and you won’t get any free perks that a hostel can offer you. With hostels, you can get free breakfast, free walking tours, discounted pub crawls, laundry annemidies, local workers that are actually willing to help you, discounts on partnering hostels in other cities or countries, and you can make some of the best friends and memories you ever thought possible. If staying in a room with a lot of strangers isn’t for you, you can still get a private room in a hostel. It is going to be a little more expensive, but you still get all the perks that a hotel can never give you if you’re on a budget. The other option, make friends and couch surf. There are thousands of people all over the world willing to offer up a couch for a night or 2 to help out a fellow traveler or to be able to learn about another culture different from their own. 

Food

Food is a priority no matter where you are in the world, but if you aren’t carful, you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on food without even realizing it. Trust me, I’ve done this. Instead, opt for cooking your own food. Hostels and Airbnbs always have a kitchen that you can cook just about anything you want, or somewhere there can anyway. If you aren’t into cooking for yourself, do what I do. Street food. Kebabs are my go to lunch and dinner options, especially when I’m traveling by myself. Ask the locals as well, there are always people willing to recommend you their favorite snack bar in town, then make friends with the workers at the restaurant. You never know when you have the chance to get a discount or a free meal if you aren’t willing to ask. 

 Take Advantage 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYTHING THAT IS FREE OR ON SALE. When booking a hostel for example, book the one that has free breakfast and free walking tours. You’ll be fulled up for the first start of the day and can skip lunch, and then walk around and learn all about the city, all for free. NEVER take a taxi to and from the airport. Nine times out of ten there is some kind of public transportation for this that can take you to the general location of where you need to be. 

Another thing that is common amongst most European cities at least, that will be a huge shock for Americans, having to pay to use the bathroom. Yes, this is a thing, and yes I have tricks. First thing, always find the McDonalds in whatever city you are in. They always have a public restroom that you can use if need be. Don’t ever go at a train or bus station either if you can help. Go before or when you get on. If for some reason there is an emergency, American nickels are around the same size as a Euro coin, use a nickel when having to pay, it will trigger the machine since it’s the same size. It may only be 1 Euro, but that adds up after while. 

So there you have it, my top ways of saving money while traveling! Of course there is more, there is always more. I’ve started rolling my own cigarettes, I’ve lived in a van, camped in tents in peoples back yards and on hostel patios, I’ve slept in the car, lived off of bread and apples for days, and so many other things when I’m in desperate need to save money. Be willing to be adventurous and experimental and the world will be yours! 

While I have been traveling for the past 3 years, I have managed to rack up a lot of journals on my way; 5 to be exact, with 1 in process. I’m one of the those people who write down EVERYTHING. Everything including ideas, budgets, lists, more lists, thoughts, experiences, and so on. I do this because I know how I am to forget things, and If it’s written down, I know its important to me for some apparent reason.

I write a lot more when I am gone opposed to when I am home, especially when I am by myself. It’s a great way to track everything, and to remember what I’ve done, where I’ve been, and the person I was during this time. Not only do I write down my plans and the experiences I’ve had, I also write a lot of random things that have some kind of meaning, and I hope, in some way, you can find meaning in them too. I’m not going to publish my entire series of travel journals, but I would like to share some exerts.

Rekyavik, Iceland:

For the past 2 hours, I have been siting outside smoking ciggy’s, in below freezing temperature, talking to an older local gentleman. Originally from America, currently residing in Iceland. He told me all about his life; he’s been all over the world and has so many stories. One of his best friends was Jimi Hendrix (super cool), he has dual citizenship, has a masters in Psychology, and actually believes that Trump can make America great again. Now, his home is being taken away for new tourist accommodation and he is being forced out. But, this doesn’t bother him from continuing his life; his new goal is to make it to India and to live out the rest of his life there and in Sri Lanka. I don’t know what his name was, and I know I will never see this person again, but talking to him made my whole day. Traveling shows you that the world really isn’t all that bad of a place and there are genuine people every where, you just have to be open and willing to share experiences with strangers. I’ll never forget his face; I pray he is safe, happy, and that someday, he finally makes it to India.

Budapest, Hungary 

I’ll really miss Budapest and the person that I was while I was here. I hadn’t smiled this much in a long time like I did this week. Until next time and until I return again, which I will 100%. 

I’ll never get over the magic of Budapest. When I hiked up Gellert hill one day to stand with Budapest Liberty State, over looking the Danube River, with views of the whole city, it was perfect. Just standing there gazing, makes you wonder and realize just how small you are and how small your problems are in the world. I started to look at all the little sections of the city, all unique in their own little way. Budapest is a lot bigger when you are up higher.

There was this one house and I kept coming back to it. It wasn’t anything special, not too big not too small, nothing fancy, only simple. Still in the city, the Buda side, but the placement of the trees around it, reminded me a little of home in the country. Still close enough to walk to the hustle and bustle, but still secluded enough to get away from it all and relax. If I’d ever move to Hungary, I would come back to Budapest and this is where I’d want to live with the love of my life.

Somewhere on a Bus to Italy

THOUGHTS: I like when the sun and the moon are both out at the same time. I like the in-betweens. The world kind of slows down for a while. You have a gray area. It’s not quite nighttime, but it’s not quite daytime either. You’re not quite sure where you are or what to do, but at the same time you’re content. You know that come nightfall, you’ll be at peace with your troubles. I think people are like this too. Just as the sun and the moon put life into a gray area, people can be put into gray areas, and they can put other people into them as well as work, relationships, or life events in general. However, gray areas can be both good and bad. There is worry and anxiety, yet, faith and hope. I believe that these gray areas in life will change you in some aspect, in some way. You don’t know what you’re thinking or feeling, or maybe even who you are, but overtime this makes things stronger and more important. I like the grey areas most because after they are over, the night time comes, the peacefulness comes, even if for only a little while. 

Making the decision to become a full time traveler is something that I’m sure thousands of people dream of, but never actually take the leap out of their comfort zone to make it a reality. For the ones that do, you are part of a community of other people with the same mind set as you. You also become part of a community of people who do not care what others think of you, no matter how crazy some of the stuff is that you find yourself doing. 

Although becoming this type of person and developing this mind set my take some time, there are always certain questions that you are asked by others, never fails. People who don’t have this kind of lifestyle are, confused, nosey, or jealous, so I’ve come to realize in my experience anyway. The following are the top 5 questions that I’ve grown to, along with other backpackers of the world, hate

1. When are you going to get a real job?

You went to high school, and graduated. You went to university, and graduated. Whats next? This is the time when people start looking for a ‘real’ job, a starting point in their career maybe, or continue their education with an MA or PhD.  But what about those people who aren’t quite ready for that yet, or have a different view of life than the average graduate? There is another option that’s becoming quite popular among younger graduates, taking a gap year. After going to school for 17 years straight, I don’t blame people one bit for taking a break. People need a break, school can be exhausting, I know I’ve been there. My gap year however, turned into 2, and then into 3, and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon to be honest. To make this a reality though, I’ve obviously had to find jobs overseas. Which is a crazy concept for a lot of foreigners that an American would come to, Romania for example, to find work. 

I don’t want to spend my life working and doing something that I hate. I don’t think that the only way to live, is to get a job, and work your life away. I may not be using my degree, that I paid thousands and thousands of dollars for, but I do have a ‘real’ job. A traveling freelance worker may not be ideal, but it’s very real. And it works, Im living proof.

2. Why aren’t you going back to school? 

This question is along the lines of the first; why are you not going back to university after graduating with an undergraduate degree? There are various reasons for this. For starters, 17 straight years of school is a long time, I was burnt out by the time I finished university. Even had I of went back to school, I don’t think I would have succeeded and I would have really struggled. 

In case there is someone who isn’t aware of how university works in the United States, I’m here to tell you that it is freakin’ expensive. Like, ridiculous expensive. I am one of the lucky Americans who managed to get an undergraduate degree and have NO STUDENTS LOANS. I am debt free, I have no money to pay back and for that I am very grateful. However, I also have a degree that can’t really be used, without having a Masters degree. I love psychology and I will never regret picking that at the subject to major in, it’s helped me a lot while traveling. However, I cant use it, and even if I could, I’m still not exactly sure what I want to do with it. Until I figure that out, I see no reason to go back to school, and waste thousands of dollars, to get a degree that I don’t even want. 

3. Where do you get all the money to travel full time?

I’m not going to go into a whole lot of detail here, mainly because I think that peoples finances are their own business and other people shouldn’t be concerned. What people don’t realize though is that traveling isn’t as expensive as one would think. It’s not cheap, but it’s doable. I knew for a long time that this is something I was determined to do after I graduated from university, so I started preparing early. I researched for a good year, on ways to save money on traveling abroad, how to find cheap flights, and various other tricks, so I had a general idea of how much money I needed to have saved before I left. So, when I was in university full time, I worked 4 JOBS. Yes you read that right, 4 jobs, and I’m still constantly working and I NEVER have just one stream of income. 

Now, I’m not saying that I’ve never had help, because I have. I didn’t start out as a ‘professional’ and I made a lot of mistakes that cost me a lot of money, but luckily I had a supportive family to help me out when I needed it. 

4. Aren’t foreign countries dangerous?

In case people aren’t aware that we are in the 21st century, all countries are dangerous. When I am home, I live in Ohio, USA. Ohio, right now, is the top state in the country for human trafficking, and one of the top 5 worst states in drug trade and trafficking. Now, it may not be as dangerous as say, Chicago or LA, but as a whole, the United States really isn’t all the safe of a country. But just as dangerous as a country is, you can always find a safe place, no matter how far away that place is from your home. 

I think a lot of people view other countries as ‘dangerous’ because they’ve never experienced any country other than their own. Well yeah, that’s going to be a little scary at first, arriving in a new land, not being able to read the language, being unaware of certain customs. I think a lot of people mistake a place as being dangerous, when in all reality they are just nervous and afraid and not use to something new. 

I’m not saying there aren’t dangerous countries in the world, because there are. I also know that there are certain places in the world, that really is too dangerous for me to be traveling to alone, especially as a woman. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go to these places, I do, and someday I will. I just have to take a different approach when traveling to these countries, do my research, and see the difference in perspective. 

5. When are you going to stop and settle down?

This is a controversial question. I know tons of people my age that are married, have their own house, have become parents, and are settled down into little families and I am SO HAPPY FOR THEM. If that’s what you want to do with your life and if that is what makes you happy, you go for it! More power to you, but that’s not the only way to do it, and I have no desire to live an ordinary life and be settled down by the time I’m like, 30. No thank you. Would I like to get married one day? Well yeah, sure I would. But, Ive just recently found me a boyfriend, the first one in 5 years might I add. It’s not so easy trying to maintain a relationship when you’re apart for months at a time. So I don’t see myself getting married anytime soon, and that’s completely okay. 

There are hundreds of families, that are developed later in life, and hundreds of families that still aren’t ‘settled.’ Life isn’t a race, and I think a lot of people don’t get that. They see all their friends getting married and having babies, that they take the first chance they get. Then 5 years down the road, their settled, but they’re also miserable. I don’t want to be like this. When and if the time ever comes for me to settle down, I’ll do it on my own time, in a way that makes me happy. 

I don’t think that this kind of lifestyle will ever be fully understood and excepted by the world. I think it’s getting better, but it’s never going to be a concept that is normal and not questioned. But that’s okay, I’m not normal. I’ve always been a little different, and I always knew I would end up doing something different than everyone else. I didn’t, however, realize I’d be living a life of my dreams and challenging the status quo everyday. Funny how things end up working out like you never could have expected. 

I absolutely hate packing. In my opinion, it’s always one of the most stressful parts of traveling. I also have to start packing at least 1-2 weeks before a trip.  But seriously, it’s extremely difficult to fit a years worth of your life into 1 backpack. Not only am I a solo traveler but I am also a budget traveler. So this means I like to save money in any way that I can, this includes baggage. I don’t think a lot of people realize how expensive it is to check a bag on an airplane. There have been various times where my checked luggage has been more expensive than the actual plane ticket. In just the past 2 years I’ve been on over 50 flights. If I checked a bag on every flight, for $40 a bag, I’d be spending like a years worth of transportation funds. 

Now, very rarely do I check a bag. I’m one of those people that cram everything to one backpack and 1 small tote, another reason why packing is so stressful to me. Since I bring everything on board with me, I really have to be careful about what I pack. On most international airlines, a passenger is aloud 1 carry on bag and 1 personal item at no extra cost, as long as size and regulations are met. This way I don’t have to pay the extra fees, and so there is no chance of having my luggage get lost. (Ive had to deal with that before and it is a huge pain in the ass.) 

On the few occasions where I do decide to check my luggage, I still always have a small tote for my carry on that has all of my most important items and in flights necessaries. In this bag are the things that are non replaceable, expensive, or what I need during and after my flight. This varies from flight to flight, depending on the distance or occasion, but there are certain items I will always have on me. Take a look inside my carry on! 

Most Important 

Passport- Your key to the world. Obviously, there are various times your passport or some kind of identification is needed through out the airport, and during your first day of traveling. 

Money/Wallet- NEVER PUT YOUR WALLET IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE. I cannot stress this enough. I thought this was common sense? Apparently not. You wouldn’t believe the amount of people I’ve met that packed their wallet or credit cards in their checked luggage and, surprise, its not there anymore when they get it back. 

Phone-My smartphone is in this category because my phone is not only my phone. My phone has EVERYTHING on it, my life is in that 1 little object. I have copies of everything listed above, as well as boarding passes, tickets, reservations, emails, phone numbers, everything. My phone is also my music supply, and music is very important when it comes to long haul flights. 

Medicine-I’m sure this wont apply to everyone, but if you have any kind of medications that you take on a daily basis, put it in your carry on bag. Don’t risk the chance of your luggage getting lost for god knows how long and not having access to that medicine. Depending on what it is, not having that could ruin your trip all together. And trust me, it can really be a hassle trying to get certain medications outside of your home country. Even simple things like Tylenol or Benadryl is an over the counter prescription in a lot of places. 

Lighter- Yes, you can take a lighter in your carry bag, but apparently you cannot take 10 lighters in your carry on bag. This is something else that won’t apply to everyone, but to me it is very important. There is nothing worse than getting off of a 10 hour flight and going outside to smoke and realizing you have no lighter. 

Technology

Computer- I load up on technology items for long haul flights. Your computer can be used for various things when in flight. I do a lot of writing and work on planes and in airports, sometimes I even book flights with longer layovers so I have some time alone to do computer work. Not only this, your computer is fragile, keep it safe with you. It’s expensive, breakable, and they aren’t always carful when loading and unloading baggage on a plane.

iPad- I haven’t always taken my iPad abroad with me. But when I’m flying a lot and know I’ll have some down time, it’s nice to have. I’ve downloaded so many books, and the only time I have to read is when I’m in transit. It’s also a backup music device in the event my phone dies. 

Headphones- No headphones, no music or on flight entertainment such as downloaded movies or audio books. Simple as that. Never a bad idea to pack a spare pair of headphones as well. 

Chargers- Chargers aren’t as important in your carry on, it really just depends. A charger for my computer, phone, and iPad, or at least a charged battery pack is what I would normally bring. However, I also splurged and bought a phone case with a built in battery and it’s the best thing ever. My phone can now always be charging, even on the go, and, has double the battery life!

Miscellaneous/Comfort

Toothbrush/toothpaste- This is really the only toiletry item I bring on board with me. I’m just really anal when it comes to brushing my teeth, and it also wakes me up a little bit and makes me a more rejuvenated after hours in the air. 

Chapstick- I always carry chapstick everywhere, I don’t know how people get through life without it. Pretty self explanatory. 

Pillow-I use to think neck pillows were a hassle to bring and weren’t of much importance. This is a lie it is not true. I had the absolute best micro fiber neck pillow. Perfect for napping on airplanes. It now belongs to one lucky woman that happened to use the bathroom at the Hamburg Am Main train station and found it after I left it hanging on the back of the door. I bought another one and I don’t regret it. 

Glasses- My contacts get extremely dry on flights. I don’t know if this is a common thing for everyone, but It a regularly occurring event for me. I always make sure I pack my glasses in my carry on bag. Not being able to see when arriving in a new country would be a huge problem that I hope to never have to deal with. Sunglasses are almost just as important when in sunny or tropical destinations. 

Blanket Scarf- This could be negotiable. I don’t technically need it, but this is the only clothing accessory that has successfully made it with me on any trip in the last 3 years. It’s fashionable, it’s warm, it’s multi functional, and blanket scarfs just rock in general. 

Thats it! Thats whats inside of my carry on bag, 95% of the time anyway. There’s always the random items or last minute purchases that make it inside too. Other suggestions to pack for long haul flights could be water and snacks, an eye-mask, earplugs, face wipes and moisturizer. Something else to keep in mind, some of the more expensive or luxurious airlines supply a lot of these items for you, all your have to do is ask! Enjoy your flight and happy packing! 

I think that traveling solo is something that everyone should do at least once in their life. Im not gonna be one of those people that say it’s going to help you ‘find yourself,’ because thats not the reasoning. Traveling by yourself makes you take a giant step out of your comfort zone and helps you discover what you’re truly capable of. It has been one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, but its also been one of the best things I’ve ever done. 

When your travel with people, there are obviously perks. You always have company, always have someone to make memories with. You can split the costs of everything, and you have someone else to take pictures for you. But did you know there are various perks and advantages of traveling solo as well? 

Easier to make friends 

Just because I usually travel solo, doesn’t mean that Im always alone. I have met so many great people on the road and I have friends from all over the world. Sometimes this can be a challenge, depending on how much of an introverted person you are, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. Being by myself a lot has forced me to meet people and put myself out there. Talk to people in your hostel, talk to the locals, 9 times out of 10 it will blossom into a great friendship, even if for only just a couple days. 

Make your own schedule

I’m to the point now that I don’t always have a plan or a schedule or know where I’m going or what I’m doing. If I’m not tied to a job abroad, then the possibilities are endless. Even on my first trip, my route changed various times. If I would have stuck to my original plan, I would have missed out on some of the best experiences. Being alone, and meeting new people, gave me more opportunities to change my plans and maybe travel with people, or stay in a city a few days longer than planned. Maybe you arrived to a new country and you hate it, if no one is with you, then no problem, book a ticket out the next day. Traveling solo gives you the chance to go at your own pace, be comfortable and travel the way that you want to. 

Gain confidence 

One of the biggest confidence boosters of your life is being forced to do things outside of your comfort zone, and actually succeeding. Traveling solo enables you to gain skills that you never thought you would have even needed. It challenges your limits and teaches you how to cope with obstacles. Before I started traveling, I never would have dreamt I would be capable of some of the things I am now. If you don’t have confidence now, pretend! Pretend you know exactly what your’e doing, and the real thing will come. Until then, be an inspiration to someone else, boost their confidence and see how it makes you feel. 

More apt to be helped on the road 

One of the main things that I always get asked and something people always worry about it is, what happens when you’re alone abroad and need help? Now, I’m sure this isn’t true for everyone, but in my case, once people find out I’m alone, they are actually MORE apt to help me out. I think in a lot of cases, when people see a female that is traveling alone, there are some protective instincts that kick in. It’s a lot more dangerous for a woman to do what I do, and people realize that. I’m not saying this is true 100% of the time. Trust me, being alone has gotten me into a lot of bad and scary situations abroad. However, there are genuine people all over the world, that want to help. 

“To travel is to discover than everyone is wrong about other countries.” -Aldous Huxley 

Saving on finances 

Yes, you read that right. In my case, I actually SAVE money most of the time when I travel alone. I’ve mentioned before in other posts that traveling with a group of friends is a way to save money, and it is, for some people. I am not one of those people. When I travel with someone else, I feel obligated to do things that they want to do, things I have no desire to see at all, even if those things cost money and it makes my travel buddy happy. I’ll go out a lot more at night as well when I’m with people. Its a lot more fun, and safe, to spend all night at a bar when you’re with a group of friends. 

For me, It’s easier to save money because Im also willing to do a lot of things while traveling, that a lot of people wouldn’t feel comfortable doing. I’ll book a plane ticket with a 15 hour layover if that means i’ll save some money. I’ll also sleep in airport, train station, or street, for a couple of nights if that means keeping my bank account the same for a few more days. 

Traveling solo has lead me to some of the best times of my life. There are things that I have gotten do to that I know for a fact I wouldn’t have experienced if I was doing this with someone else. I’ve been forced to make friends and forced to talk to locals. I’ve been forced to take risks and forced to asked questions. I’ve also been forced to use a selfie stick, tripod, or asking a stranger to help me take pictures. Taking a solo trip is something I would encourage everyone to do at some point in their life. Sure, traveling with someone is easier, safer, and more realistic, but doing it alone will change your life, I promise. 

Since traveling has became a lot more popular in recent years, seems like accommodation has expanded as well. There are so many options available these days, but on average, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 that I use most frequently. Hostels and Airbnbs. When I’m working jobs abroad, usually I’m also supplied with housing, but when I have time off these are my 2 go to options.

There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to accommodation. How are you going to get the most for your money and what are you looking for specifically in housing? Once you know the answers to those questions, the comparison between hostels and airbnbs becomes a lot easier. When I am choosing accommodation, I look at 4 major factors:

• Pricing 
• Location
• Comfort & Private Space 
• Miscellaneous

Pricing 

I am no millionaire, I am always looking for ways to save money, accommodation included. When I am traveling by myself, which is the majority of the time, hostels are usually the ways to do that. I’ve slept in some really nice hostels, for really cheap prices. Like, less than $10 prices. Just because the price is lower, doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with where you’re staying.

Hostels were designed for people just like me. My favorite website to find a good hostel is hostelworld.com Be careful though, make sure to ALWAYS READ THE REVIEWS.

Now don’t get me wrong, you can find a lot of nice Airbnb’s for a really low price. But with this usually comes a bad locations or a lot less annemidies and assistance. If I’m traveling with a group of people, which I do quite often as well, most of  the time we will all split the price of a big Airbnb apartment. The more people, likely the less money you’ll have to spend.

Location 

Location preferences differ for everyone. Some want a city center location, some may want a location closer to popular sights and monuments. Myself, I prefer a location that is closest to the station I’m retuning and departing from. If I’m returning and departing by air, then it really doesn’t matter. But if I’m arriving my bus or train, then it matters. The less distance I have to walk with my backpack the better. The bag is heavy, really heavy. If I book something close to the station, odds are its going to be relatively close the the center, and major sights. So it’s a win win for everywhere. 

Hostels are usually located with the city center, or a small distance from it. Travelers want to be somewhat close to things in the city, obviously or they wouldn’t of came to that city. It this case, hostels are more ideal. Yeah, you can find airbnbs all over the city, but the closer to the center, usually the higher the price.

Comfort & Private Space

Comfort is something you don’t get much as a backpacker, but when you do get it, it feels so good. Being able to go back to some place at night thats comfortable. You have a nice bed, lots of space, lots of private space your own bathroom, maybe even a balcony. Airbnbs can offer a lot more comfort than hostels. I love having my own apartment when I’m traveling, even if its only for a couple days. You get a break, you can slow down and actually relax. 

Hostels don’t offer much relaxing, unless you stay in a hostel specifically for relaxing. Those do exist, but usually these are more expensive and less fun. When staying in a hostel, you share a room with god knows how many people. People who snore and make weird noises in their sleep, people who are up at all hours of the night banging around and flipping on lights, people that can really get on your nerves. You don’t get private space in a hostel, you share everything. You share bathrooms, showers, kitchens and whatever else is available. 

Hostels can offer lots of comfort though. You have the comfort of being surrounded by like minded people who have the same mind set as you. You’re in a different world, and you get to meet so many people. I’ve made some amazing friends from all over the world, friends I still have connections with and see from time to time; and a lot of those relationships started in a hostel. 

Miscellaneous and City Tips 

Finding accommodation that offers free breakfast, free tours, ticket booking options, laundry facilities, towels, toiletry items and free wifi, is hard work. But, its possible, depending on what your thoughts are on the above topics, it’s very easy to find accommodation with all these things included. Hostels and Airbnbs. Hostels usually offer more with less effort, such as free breakfast and reservation options. Need a bus to a new country? No problem, hostel has got it covered. Want to see the city but don’t know where to start? Ask your hostels about guided tours, and if they don’t, they know one that does. A hostel is also a lot more apt to offer guidance and advice on what to see and do in a new city. They want you to enjoy your time, not just make a couple extra dollars. 

This usually isn’t too big of a factor when looking for accommodation. That is until I’m out of clean clothes, this is when I look for a place with laundry facilities. Trying to find a laundry mat in a foreign city that you can actually figure out how to work, is so aggravating and just a pain in the ass in general. I do like free breakfast, and I never have my own towel, but laundry is my main concern. 

Obviously, having free housing provided for me is the most ideal. I don’t really have to stress about having a place to sleep, it’s all taken care of. But that’s not always the case, and I’m glad its not. I have stayed at some amazing hostels and some of my best stories all started at a hostel, and I’ve met the best people. The people always make it better. I’ve also had some really nice ass Airbnb rentals. There are pros and cons to both options, you just have to know what you’re looking for. 

Just in case neither hostels or air bnbs suites your fancy, there are always other options. Hotels and motels are always going to be around, no worries. Camping is always a fun and cheap way to go too, its one of my favorites.  Or, you could try out couchsurfing at couchsurfing.com. I know this isn’t for everyone, but I think everyone should try it at least once. There are thousands of people willing to offer up their couches to swap stories and help out a fellow citizen of the world. Best part, its free! 

When I first decided to go overseas and live out of a backpack, people thought I was crazy. Not just because living out of a backpack just isn’t ideal for most people, and not just because the world is viewed as a dangerous place. But because I never had to fully rely on only myself for a period of time longer than a couple days. And that, apparently made people anxious.

Adulting, is a new term being used quite often that is, the practice of behaving in a way of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks. Before I left home, I had never had to do the adult thing, because I always had someone around to do those things for me. Things such as cooking, doing laundry, scheduling appointments or reservations, or taking public transportation. The last time I tried to cook I burnt ramen noodles and blew up a microwave.

“Coffee; because adulting is hard.”

Step 1

I knew that when I would be traveling, obviously I would have to eat, and eating out 3 times a day would eventually start to add up and be very expensive. I tried to book as many hostels as I could the had free breakfast, so theres one meal covered. Still had lunch and dinner to worry about though. I did eat out a lot I’m not gonna lie, I could easily find some street food most places; you can never go wrong with a doner kebab. I also made a lot of friends that were willing to let me share their food. But I did try some cooking as well.

I always watch people in hostels, see what they are cooking, usually it’s something easy, but it’s also usually for more than one person. I managed to whip up some soup and some scrambled eggs one day, big accomplishment. But I also managed to torch a pizza and set of the fire alarm for a whole apartment building.

When I was in Germany, I stayed with my Uncle for about a week. Now, I don’t speak German, and I couldn’t get him to understand the fact that I had never cooked before. But here I am left in charge of dinner which is steak, sausage and french fries. I was freaking out, I couldn’t even turn the stove of for starters, or the grill. I called my Nan, who is the best cook in the world, and had her walk me through every step. I made my first steak dinner in Germany, and it tasted pretty good, if I do say so myself. I also can make super good guacamole now thanks to some Romanians, its my specialty.

Step 1 of adulting; making progress. 

Step 2

The average American household has a laundry room, with a washing machine, and a dryer. That is what I’ve always been use to. I’ve also always been use to having to just put away my laundry after it was washed and dried. At this point I don’t even know how to sort clothes into different piles; honestly I still don’t know how to do that, everything goes in one pile.

Obviously, only having a backpack, I had to do laundry quite often on my trip. I hand washed a lot of stuff, smaller things like socks and under wear. But the first time I had to use an actual machine was totally unfair. The machine was a 2 in 1, washer and dryer, so already I’m confused, how does this work? The best part? It’s all in HUNGARIAN. In case you aren’t aware, I do not speak one bit of Hungarian.

This ended with about 25% of my clothes shrunken, and I had the whole apartment covered with dripping wet clothes because, surprise, I never figured out the dryer, and there is no clothes line. 2 years later, I still shrink my clothes & avoid laundry as much as possible.

Step 2 of adulting; ehhh. 

Step 3

Being an adult means having to make all kinds of aggravating phone calls. This could be anything from making doctor and dentist appointments, to having to call some one from India to fix your computer, over the phone. Adulting also comes with having to be the one who is in charge of reservations and bookings. This is where my organizational skills and computer skills came in handy.

I had had some experience in this before, always being in charge of making bookings for vacations with my friends. But that was only for a couple times, a couple weekends. I did screw up a couple reservations by reserving the wrong dates, but 9 times out of 10 things went smoothly. However I ended up cancelling or changing a lot of the reservations, because of changed travel plans.But, Im now also really really good at redesigning plans in a hurry, finding cheap deals now on plane tickets, hostels and air bnbs. 

Step 3 of adulting; Successful.

Step 4

Now, Im from a small town in Ohio, like a village. There are no taxis, no buses, no trains, and the closest airport is 2 hours away. There are no metros, no trams, no nothing. If you don’t have a car, you don’t go anywhere. Even when I’ve been in a big city in the USA that has public transportation, I’ve still always had a car. So arriving in Germany and having to take public transportation by myself, just sounds like a complete mess waiting to happen.

I got off the plane, went downstairs to the train station, and jumped on the first train that came. Luckily it was the correct one, theres only 1 direct train to downtown from the Berlin Scofield airport. 

German is a hard language, but, this makes all the words very distinguishable, for the most part. The maps of the metros were super easily laid out and every thing is color coordinated. So as long as I knew what train I needed, I just followed that color line to my destination. And it worked! I never worry about having to take a train or metro now, I actually prefer it. Public buses are a little more confusing, as there are thousands of bus routes, so i usually only take the bus if I’m able to pull up directions on my phone, that way i know which bus to get on.

Step 4 of adulting; success, for the most part. 

Adulting is hard, and there’s so much more to it than what I’ve listed above. Theres paying bills, keeping paperwork in order, and don’t even get me started on insurance. I’ve learned so much the past 3 years of traveling. Ive gained a lot of new skills, its pretty cool. I like being independent and only having myself to rely on. I also really like being able to say I’ve proved my point.

Now, I still need help sometimes, Im not quite a professional yet when it comes to adulting. I screw up a lot of stuff, trust me, like all the time. I can see why a lot of people thought it was a bad idea for someone like me to go out wandering in foreign countries all by herself. But I’ve learned more about so many things while traveling, things I never even knew I didn’t know. 

My first solo trip was nothing short of amazing and I had the absolute best time. It was also the kick off to a journey I never saw coming. I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and see some of Europes most famous cities and sights in 8 different countries! However, getting to travel to a bunch of different places and getting to take pictures of some famous landmarks were not always to most amazing things that happened.

The moments and experiences while being in these places and seeing these things is what made my trip so special. The way you feel when you get to live your dreams for the first time is a feeling I can’t describe. These 5 things are reminders of 5 times when everything was almost perfect. 

1. Seeing the Northern Lights; Iceland

I’m not one to make bucket lists, only plans. However, the Northern Lights are an exception. This has been at the top of my list for as long as I can remember. The first time I saw the lights were on my way into Iceland. From the plane, you could see the green lights dancing up and down out the window. I knew that second that I was in for an amazing time. Seeing the lights from the ground was even more beautiful. You could see all the colors light up the whole sky.

There are a lot of tour groups in Iceland, most out of Reykjavik, that offer night time bus tours to chase the Northern Lights. This will cost you a pretty penny on something that you may, or may nor even get to see. I opted for renting a car for the week, so I had my own way of transportation to see the lights myself. For 4 nights, myself along with some new friends, would drive about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik to Thingvellir National Park. This gave the best views as there are no lights from the city, no lights from anywhere, other than the sky. I was lucky to see the lights every night I chased them (I had really good weather the whole time I was in Iceland so no clouds). My next Northern Lights dreams is to watch them from underneath the sky from a bubble! Yes, you can really do that in Iceland.

2. St. Patricks day in Budapest; Hungary

There really is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow, as long as that rainbow ends in Budapest. My Grandfather was from Ireland so I always love getting all dressed up in green and celebrating St. Patricks day. Budapest is one of my favorite cities in all of Europe so putting both of them together ended up being a great match. For the whole weekend, the chain bridge uniting Buda and Pest, lights up the sky in all green. On Saturday the streets were filled with bagpipe players and green leprechaun hats. I remember having the biggest smile of my face and being so excited. My friend and I even ended up IN the St. Patricks day parade that day, ending in the downtown Irish pub where we listed to live music, and enjoyed the holiday the whole night long.

3. 4/20 in Amsterdam; Netherlands

Spending 420 in Amsterdam was an all-time dream come true for me. Even though I only got to experience the city for one day, I did exactly what I wanted to do and I had the best time. A friend of mine ended up being here this same day too, so we got to spend our day together. Bouncing around from coffee shop to coffee shop, trying all kinds of different foods, adventuring through the canals, and ending the day exploring and laughing around the famous red light district. This being one of my last days on my trip made the farewell to Europe a little sweeter.

4. Auschwitz; Poland

The main reason I went to Poland was to see Auschwitz. Im not really a big history freak, except when it comes to Hitler and the Nazis. Im fascinated, and it amazes me that there are so many people who don’t understand what happened in Germany in the 1940s. Standing in the concentration camps in Auschwitz gave you and eerie feeling, a hard to explain feeling. The housing, the gas chambers, the streets, all of it was just, cold. What really got me though, was the piles of shoes, and glasses, and suitcases, and hair; all things that I take for granted everyday. It’s something you just have to see. 

Im not a very emotional person, but I think about Auschwitz a lot. This is something I would recommend everyone to to go visit at least once in their lifetime. 

Auschwitz camps 1 and 2 have free entry to all visitors and there are guided tours inside in a variety of different languages. Shuttle buses are available for transportation between camps, as well as on site street food carts. There are dozens of tours groups that go to Auschwitz at a reasonable price. However, the cheapest route i suggest would be to find a private mini bus and my ticket was only $6.  

I also encourage everyone, if you don’t understand what happened during the time of Auschwitz, do some research. Watch the movies, read the books, I promise it will change your life.

5. Visiting my Uncle Wolfgang; Germany

It’s a blessing to have family that live in other countries. The first time I met my Uncle Wolfgang, was on the trip, and I spent a week with him in North Eastern, rural Germany. It was one of the best, but also one of the hardest weeks of my life. We couldn’t communicate very well, my German is awful, and his English wasn’t much better.

We still had the best time together though. It was weird, in a small village in Germany, having everyone already know you because of who your family is. Everyone in town have a lot of respect for my uncles Wolfgang and Mike. This felt like being home for a little while, even though I was thousands of miles away. 

You know the old classic stories written by the Grimm Brothers, and Fairytale lane? This real life world was right around the corner. I seen castles and villages these fairytales were inspired by. A world I never would known ever even existed, I got to experience with someone really special. 

Keep and eye out for more of my upcoming posts. Each of these destinations have more than just one story. I’ll break each country down with tips and tricks to broaden your mind!