“How Does Lizz, Like, Have Money To Go All These Places?”: That ‘Travel Tip’ Post I’ve Promised A Million Times

If I had a dollar for each time I heard that comment—both asked in seriousness and in passive-aggressive passing—I’d use it to buy my ticket to the next stop.

I’ve had SO many people reach out to me about traveling, especially alone, and I’ve promised this post over and over. Hopefully, it will be more helpful than my scattered DM responses. 

I have to emphasis and preface this with one thing first: My trips are anything (and everything) but luxurious. I’m not running away on ‘vacations’; I don’t stay in hotels or on resorts. I have no advice on—or interest in— that type of travel. My biggest expense is always my plane ticket,and I find the cheapest option possible, usually meaning there’s multiple stops, longer than necessary travel times, and overnight layovers (but hey, that’s one less night of accommodation to pay). 

But I’m not writing this post to clear up misconceptions (okay, maybe just a little). It’s intriguing and exciting and beautiful to me that you all want this journey, too. Not to mention, humbling to be reached out to so consistently for help, advice, and empowerment to go and do it-—and I will probably never have an answer to “should I go?” other than YES, like, tomorrow.

What I usually sense from the messages I receive, though, is an almost desperation in the wonderings. A sense of awe or disbelief. A feeling that it’s not actually possible for you. And what’s most important to me, if you get nothing else from this post, is to assure you that it IS. That you CAN. That the world is waiting for you.

♥  ♥  ♥ 

The very first time I got on an airplane I was somewhere around 19 years old and alone. It was a domestic flight to Texas that I bought about ten hours before I left. It was almost $500 dollars (basically what I paid for Thailand for a month! Insane.), and a very desperate, Lizz-esque attempt to reconcile a mess I’d made of love. I ended up losing my job while I was there, considering I asked for a week off work hours before I left… But I got “him” back, so hayyy. (Hi Joely.) As ridiculous as it all was, it set the tone for plane ticket after plane ticket there..after. Spontaneous albeit impulsive. Risky, but knowing. Nuts. 

The first time I left the country, I traveled with a college class to study Spanish in Cuernavaca, Mexico. I lived with a host family for about a month, and absolutely fell in love with immersing myself into the culture of a new world. I cried so hard on the bus to the airport to fly back to America you’d have thought someone was uprooting me from my home. But something had opened up inside of me for the first time there, a piece of me that had been waiting to cross a border. I promised myself I’d find a way back.

 I’ve written a post about my decision to solo backpack for the first time on my blog here, but what I don’t really touch on is how absolutely unprepared I was. I think I was ashamed to admit it at the time that I wrote that. But truthfully, before I hopped on my 29-hour flight, I had only a few tips and a giant borrowed backpack from my niece, a list of cities within the country, and my first night in Bangkok—my first night in a hostel ever—booked. I’d never even seen a hostel. I’d never traveled alone. I’d never looked up Thailand on a map.

Next, picture me in a coffee shop day three or so of my trip overhearing someone mention Southeast Asia; picture a little question mark popping up above my head. Later that afternoon, picture me sitting on the curb beside a girl from London as she tells me about her travels through Vietnam and Cambodia. I looked out into the street in absolute awe of where I was for the first time… Wait—I’m in Asia.

I know it sounds silly, but the truth is, I was so ignorant about geography and other countries before I traveled. Drinking your way through school is a bit distracting, and I didn’t grow up in a family who traveled more than a state or two away. I don’t even remember where I thought I was going when I booked my trip (truly, I don’t think I thought at all), but what I do know now is that if I’d have been aware that Thailand was in Asia, I probably wouldn’t have gone at all. I had no real interest in visiting that part of the world. One moment my niece was lying on my bed ranting about some city named Pai and I was rummaging through my closet. The next minute, I’m in tears, telling her, I have to go. I have to go, too. I didn’t understand my reaction or my longing. I didn’t try to. I just listened. Trusted it. She found me a practically unheard-of-priced ticket on the spot. I was so desperate for solace and change that the 30 hours alone in an airport was enough for me to click ‘Confirm Booking.’ And off I went, a few short weeks later. 

Mostly I tell you those stories to assure you that I was never really prepared for any trip I’ve taken. I get a knowing that I need to go, and I go. I’m blessed in my willingness to trust and to flow and to move when I’m called to. But it’s something that traveling has helped me cultivate more than anything else. 

So, here are some tips based on my experience. I’m no backpacking expert. All I can give you are some of the tricks I’ve learned along the way. Truthfully, your experience will be what teaches you the most. So go out and get your own. That’s how I began, too. 

Cathedral in Cuernavaca, Mexico

♥ Be FLEXIBLE in your flight booking, as it’s the biggest expense you’ll have (if you’re doing it right  ). View dates on a monthly calendar instead of searching specific days. There’s often a huge difference in price even a day ahead or behind. I use Google Flights pretty much always because they include most airlines in their search, and have a great monthly calendar that highlights the cheapest options. I also check Southwest depending on where I’m going because they’re not included in Google Flights. (And your first two bags are FREE!) You can also research the airlines specific to the country you’re visiting to see if they’re offering any cheap rates that might not be included on GoogleFlights or other flight search engines. 

I’m also subscribed to Scott’s Cheap Fights newsletter which keeps you updated on flight deals all around the world. It’s amazing. Go sign up.

A warning: the least expensive options often have stops and layovers, so if you’re looking to fly direct, you might pay more. This isn’t always the case, but my scavenger ways have had me sleeping in airports one too many times. In the end, saving the money is worth it for me (though it doesn’t always feel that way in the moment…)

♥ STAY IN HOSTELS! This is my biggest piece of advice—especially if you’re alone. In fact, I’m sure you’ll figure everything out on your own if you atleast listen to me here. Hostels were completely foreign to me before Thailand because we don’t have them many places in America. (Apparently, there’s aLeonardo DiCaprio movie I should see, but I still haven’t.) Basically, they’re cheap, dorm-room-style accommodation—think bunk beds and thin mattresses and shared bathrooms. They’re anything but glamorous. However—you will meet friends from all over the world, as well as locals who can tell you the best places in their country and help you book tours, if that’s your jam. Many hostels have free activities, meals, and drinks. Often, they’re combined with a bar or restaurant. The BEST part: the most I’ve ever paid for a hostel was $15 a night. I’ve stayed in ones as low as $4 in Asia, so it really depends on the country. And there are usually private room options as well if you’re willing to spend a little more. 

This is a private bungalow at a hostel where I stayed in Pai, Thailand.

Guys—they’re so cheap and they are the TICKET to solo travel. You will never be alone if you stay in a hostel. Not to mention, they’re exciting to explore and always add character to the experience. No hostel looks or feels the same.

I use Hostel World to book, mostly. There’s an app and a website that show you amenities, pricing, and reviews—which are beyond helpful in determining what type of place you’re booking. Some hostels are “party hostels,” which can feel like bars or night clubs at night. If that’s not your scene, read reviews to find the ones that are more chill and private. I’ve stayed in both types, and there’s something to gain from each environment. There’s also always the option to just show up somewhere and look around; walk-in bookings are typical. 

♥ Don’t have a plan. Okay—for all of you rigid schedule-ers who don’t operate that way—at least keep it loose. TRUST me! Pleaseeee. You will meet people who tell you about places they’ve been, better routes to take, etc. You’ll stumble upon things you never could have premeditated. Or, better yet, you’ll meet people and want to tag along on their plans instead, especially if you’re traveling alone. My favorite parts of any trip were the ones I had no idea were coming—trips to cities and sites with humans I’d met only hours before that felt like lifelong friends, places I’ve just stumbled into after hours of wandering. 

Before a trip, I usually know a few areas of a country I want to visit, but I never, ever book rooms, flights, buses, or anything that can’t be canceled in advance. I’ve learned this the hard way more than once, by bailing on bookings and flights and wasting money because I found something I’d rather do. I (usually…) book my first night in a hostel the day before/day of getting there, and then I let things flow from there. 

I do usually use travel blogs and Instagram to read about places I’m going. Google, Trip Advisor, etc. doesn’t feel as trustworthy to me as personal stories, pictures, and recommendations. But more than anything, I just ask people. Locals and travelers. Hostel staff are amazing for this as well. 

Letting go of any “plan” I’ve had has opened up my trip again and again. Let go. Let the Universe send you what you need. Try—even in brief moments, walking down a street, talking to a stranger—to trust what will show up. And watch this extend into your entire life, even after you’re home.

Horses on the side of the road in the-middle-of-nowhere Iceland

♥ Live below your means. This is honestly one of my favorite parts. Most likely where you’re backpacking will be cheaper than America, but even when traveling to more expensive areas such as parts of Europe, find ways to save your money. Find the local grocery store or corner store and stockup on fruits, veggies, and essentials. Cook meals for yourself. Hostels always have kitchens, and they often have free breakfast. Walk instead of taking cabs or local transportation. You will find so much more that way, anyway. Rent bikes. Find groups of travelers that don’t mind if you tag along, splitting transportation, room, and food costs along the way.  

And even when you’re not traveling… Save money.  Notice where little unnecessary expenses are draining your bank account, as the little expenses can add up to a whole round trip in time. For example, for a while, I stashed all my $5 bills for “plane tickets.” It ended up being the exact price of my recent flight to Mexico. That’s how it be, y’all. Keep it simple. See what happens. 

♥ Lastly—and this one is the key, I promise—believe that it’s possible for you. I’ve spent hours scrolling mindlessly through Instagram posts and blogs, feeling my chest tighten in longing and desperation for the opportunity to travel. Maybe you know the feeling. Something happens, however, when we stop longing and step into possibility instead. When we decide to take the risk. 

It starts entirely in the mind. There’s a million dreams that sound too wild. (I’ve had people look at me like I’ve lost it again and again.) I know it’s much easier to stay in comfort and routine than to do any of the work—which might just mean find the courage—to achieve them. But the beginning and the end for me is this: my desire to see the world has won out over any fears or preconceived ideas that I don’t have the means. I stopped wishing, and I went. Period. Making it happen for myself rippled out into the rest of my life. I got home, and the possibilities came with me. They continue to lay themselves before me like an unraveling ribbon. I see it because I believe it.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” –Paulo Coelho 

Because if it’s possible for me, it’s possible for you. I have friends that go more places than I do. I meet people younger and older than me from all over the world traveling for months at a time, sometimes years. I’m by no means loaded with money. I come from a family that has never left the country, from a childhood of one beach trip a year, one state over. I come from years of fear and unknowing that traveling was accessible, from comment after comment about my “craziness,” from ideas planted in the back of my mind by others that maybe I’d be raped or killed or kidnapped, never make it back. I went anyway. The fearful commentary lessoned—both in my head and from others. I told my mom a week before I was leaving for Mexico and all she asked me was if she had to take me to the airport. 

I live by the idea, truly, that if we want something, if it is in alignment with our Trueself, the entire Universe conspires in helping us to achieve it. That Paulo Coelho quote… I take it with me every single day. So if there’s something inside of you begging you to just go, please listen. There is a way to make it work.

Personally, I build my life around the possibility to pickup and go, and I understand that not everyone’s lifestyle is that way. My job(s) are never typical 9-5’s (I tried it once, part-time, and lasted two months); I’m often running around a restaurant of some sort instead. I also always have “side gigs,” like teaching yoga and freelance writing/marketing, which I’m so lucky to be able to do from anywhere. Currently, I’m leaving restaurants behind and stepping into my “side jobs” full-time, working on the creation of my own business. I don’t have children (though I do have a friend with a son who’s been more places than I have, often with him!). So seriously, I’ve met people traveling from every occupation; I’m sure there’s some amount of time you can get off. I’m not meaning to sound pushy; I’m just sayin’ that usually underneath excuses like jobs and money is just fear of the unknown. When there is a will, there is a  way.

Last but not least, I don’t know that backpacking is for everyone. I can’t say that this kind of travel is for you. It is certainly not always white sand (or black sand) beaches and elephant baths. I have spent days on multiple forms of transportation longing for comfort, or at least a blanket. I’ve spent hours on hours not speaking to a single soul, full of loneliness. I’ve spent awkward moments in restaurants at a corner table by myself, uncomfortable moments with strangers, and moments in situations that I probably should have avoided wondering what was going to happen next.

In the end, every single moment is worth it for me. It’s another Divine gumdrop along the path. 

Whatever you do, wherever you go, all that I know is that you will come back changed forever. Because in the end, all the temples and ruins and nature and cityscapes I’ve seen are only by-products to the ways that traveling has recreated me. The connections I’ve cultivated with people around the world are p r i c e l e s s. They know no bounds—no oceans or seas or train tracks. The knowledge I’ve acquired about other countries, cultures, languages, and human beings is invaluable—and unlike anything I could have ever learned in school or from books. The humility I’ve experienced has brought me to tears over and over. 

We are so small looking over the edge of a cliff; so slight next to a giant elephant, or even, shoved into the seat beside a stranger on a ‘chicken bus.’ And yet—it’s amazing what I’ve watched a smile do for that man next to me, no matter how different our backgrounds and colors and candor. How relieved one joke from a stranger has made me after a day without conversation. How many perspectives I have changed (especially as an American traveler), just by being kind and loving and myself. 

Want to know my favorite part? No matter who I meet traveling, no matter where they’ve been or what incredible, unbelievable sight they’ve seen, they never fail to mention some guy they met last night in their hostel, or some girl they spent a week with in the last city they visited. Sometimes, they’re trying to figure out how to reroute their next flight to see them again, change their whole trip for just a few more moments of connection. If nothing else, they’re telling me about some far-away possibility that they left behind back home. 

All it proves is that we are anything but just a trivial detail sitting within a landscape photograph. We are so small on this planet, yes. But insignificant? Never. If you feel that way, you are keeping yourself there. It’s the connections we remember, the connections that run over us like rocks in a river bed, changed and worn through by them all the time. 

So know, more than anything, that this post will never prepare you. You have no idea what you’re in for on your travels. But I’m so excited for you. And I know that it’s possible for you. If I can do anything to help, or if I can at least push you to follow your heart and take off, I am honored. 

Just go. 

Everything is waiting for you.

♥ 

I have to dedicate this post to my beautiful, free-flowing niece, Kelsie, who I miss dearly as she lives out a brand new, beautiful lifetime in Australia. Without her, I would have never believed this life was possible for me, too. Thank you, thank you, thank you: for expanding my mind into the infinite possibilities of travel; for your inspiring and hilarious stories from your own; for your unwavering love and patience; for being the list-making, plan-creating Capricorn that grounds my insanity; for your hand-me-down backpack; for showing me the way. And for pushing me to leap—always. Go read her incredible, vulnerable stories about her travels on her blog here. And feel free to reach out to her with any questions as well. She’s probably better equipped to help than me anyway—and she absolutely loves to.