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My overarching goal with travel is about as unclear as the sky looks as I write this. What I do know is that while my desire to see the rest of the world has not changed since I have entered it, my fundamental reasons behind this have shifted as time has passed. While many people travel for work, for refuge, for discovering their sense of purpose, I travel because it enhances my life in ways I can’t achieve by travelling to the same local coffee shop in my hometown week after week. That being said, I’m writing to you from my favorite local coffee shop in my hometown. I’m fairly new to travel and writing, but also social media. With connection being a huge part of the gig, I want to honor your requests. So, here is a quick glimpse of what travel has looked like through my eyes.  As young children, we are easily swept away by whimsy and adventure. We get caught up in curating stories and brand new worlds at recess with our friends. The world seems to be brighter, and maybe that’s because it is. It’s a vulnerable time, where skinning your knee while running on pavement might result in an hour of tears and counseling; but in the same day you find yourself believing you are king of the entire world (and like three others, because one has dragons, the other has unicorns, and the third is made entirely of cotton candy). Younger me, perhaps, didn’t even recognize her thirst for adventure at the time, but it’s become all the more apparent as I look back. Fast forward with me. By the time I reached adolescence, my need to gain new experiences had grown. Like many of us who have lived in the same town their entire lives, I yearned for more. Yet there is still a balance. Our behaviors often stem from underlying wants and needs. As my stir craziness reached its peak, the world shut down temporarily, and international travel was limited. Of course, at this time, I only had a mindset of “go big or go home”. And honestly, I am glad it was until I’d gained a stronger view of the world, that I was finally able to witness it.  Now, after only five trips abroad, I know what I really want. This does seem backwards, and although I have shaken most of my black-and-white thinking when it comes to setting personal goals, I still have a long hike ahead of me. Almost literally. As of late last year, my only achievement I wanted to obtain was to experience a true hiking trip. The bigger and more breathtaking the landscape, the better. Physical activity is another privilege that has enhanced my life I didn’t realize until I had to take a step back. After receiving some unexpected problems around my health, and body, my intentions behind travel have shifted once again. As of this moment, they have been delayed altogether. Personally, I have had nothing but good things come from my spontaneous trips, but the point I’ve missed altogether, is that there is more I can gain from experiencing the world slowly and intentionally. This has been at the forefront of my mind, as the hope to roam easily beyond the borders of one’s current home is not a dream many can have. Recognizing this doesn’t just bring self-awareness a new perspective - it also brings gratitude. I’m very reflective upon the fact I am able to see a future for myself that integrates seeing the world with passions that could become my lifelong career.  As for my future, I hope to be given many chances to practice the art of photography, which is something I admire so much. I also hope to have the chance to fairly and accurately represent many beautiful places from around the world; their people, their histories, and their cultures. There are so many things I haven’t mentioned yet. Pointers and tips I’ve learned that will better enrich my travels. But, in a world overwhelmed with information, I hope to be the opposite. Let’s learn slowly, together. There is so much beauty outside of our familiarity, and no part of it deserves to be skipped.
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So, here we are again! If traveling solo has ever seemed enticing, this is for you. Or, if you thought we were finished with this topic, then you clearly haven’t been around for long. If that is the case, then welcome, and I invite you to check out my previous blogs. Come back to this one once you have. Although my traveling journey has just begun, I’ve gained so much from it already. I believe these things are meant to be shared, so let’s get into it! I really picked my brain for this one, so there’s a lot of practical advice. If you’re the travel-hungry, adventure-seeking type, that probably won’t faze you. Picking up right where we left off:  5. PLAN YOUR PHONE SERVICE Listen, this is short and sweet. The last place you want to be is outside of your home country with no cell service. Those of you that have done this before know what I’m about to describe. The feeling of being jet-lagged and tense while trying to speed through customs, read signs in the airport, and dodge hasslers is not a pleasant one. Go easy on yourself, and plan ahead. I would recommend an E-SIM over a physical SIM, but both can be cheaper than an international cell plan. I used Holafly on my last trip, and experienced no issues, but there are several other providers to choose from. 6. PLAN YOUR AIRPORT TRANSFER No matter how well-seasoned or how comfortable and confident you are traveling, when you step off a plane into a new environment, you are vulnerable. Even if the location is safe, taxi drivers at the airport will overcharge you for the shortest of trips. This can be frustrating while trying to maintain a budget. I would advise you to do some research if you plan on just hailing a cab at the airport. New travelers, female travelers or anyone that might be labeled as a tourist, I’m looking at you! Sometimes hotels in the airport area might offer a (free) shuttle, so always check for that! It might seem like an insignificant thing, but the less decision-making you have to do, the less overwhelmed you will be. However, if you do find yourself overwhelmed by the process of researching, planning, and booking one or multiple destinations for one or multiple people, it can be done for you! If this is you, stop reading here and check out this link: www.jotform.com/form/242735891715162 Tell me all the details, and I’ll handle the rest. I’d love to make the trips you’ve been waiting for possible.  7. BE CULTURED My whole blog (and social media) might be centered around world travel, but I still have quite a few places on my list that I have yet to reach. While I haven’t experienced every culture, I make an effort to embrace and respect the ones I do encounter. Be aware of any important cultural norms such as dress code or other. Learn a few phrases in the local language (at minimum). This obviously applies if you'll be communicating with locals a lot. I even did this while in Turkey, but at the moment I could only remember hello and thank you —-- this takes a lot of repetition. I brushed up on my Spanish vocab for a couple of months before going to Costa Rica, which ended up helping me months later when I ended up in Italy. Google Translate will be your best friend in a lot of places. If you have previously learned the basics of a language, like me, the app Language Transfer was amazing for recalling vocab you don’t even remember. If you’re really trying to master it, or plan on being gone for a long time, start by looking up the 100 most commonly used words in that particular language. These are just a couple things I would use, but the amount of resources on language learning and mastering are pretty much endless.  9. YOU NEED MONEY I am ALL for budget travel. Especially when so many places are in a cost of living crisis, and being in my early twenties. However, there is only so much we can control, and when an incident occurs, the last thing you want to reach for is an empty bank account. I learned this the hard way over the summer, when I missed my connecting flight from Munich to Izmir, for reasons beyond my control. Fortunately, this was able to be rescheduled, but since everything happened so quickly, I had to pay for food and hotel before I could make any complaints to the airline for compensation. You need to have a credit card (preferably one with travel benefits) or a good amount of savings to dip into in case something happens. I would also advise you to make some decisions before your trip such as: what do I plan on spending the most money on, what will I want to splurge on, what am I okay with skipping, and what will my overall budget look like for the entire trip? Some people can be given two hundred bucks and stretch it for at least a week’s worth of food, while others (like me) would be suffering. I love to try new foods, and don’t mind sleeping in an Airbnb over a hotel, but some people prefer hotels skipping the fancy meals. Make your trip your own because we are talking about solo traveling.  10. TALK TO PEOPLE I’m sure you’ve reached your word limit with me, but there’s more things to share that I think is important. Traveling internationally and solo is an amazing feat, so reward yourself by having the best experience possible. This is easily one of the most enriching parts of traveling the world. There is such beauty in learning from people that have never seen the city or country you were born in (and vice versa). There is also a beauty in knowing that at the end of the day you can still relate to them, even if you don’t have that much in common on paper. You will definitely have many opportunities to talk to people, interact with strangers, and listen to stories while going solo. Traveling solo can be one of the most rewarding and life-changing experiences, but it comes with its own set of challenges. By planning ahead, being prepared for the unexpected, and embracing the cultures you encounter, you can make the most out of every journey. Whether it’s organizing your phone service, securing your airport transfer, or simply having enough funds to cover emergencies, these tips are here to set you up for success. Remember, travel isn’t just about the destinations—it’s about the people you meet, the lessons you learn, and the memories you create along the way. So get out there, explore with confidence, and let the world surprise you. If this blog, was helpful, let me know! And if you're looking for more content, my socials are linked below. Until next time! - Jordan  This week, I decided to gather some thoughts from my first time being abroad—a week-long volunteer trip with fourteen other people to the Dominican Republic. Part of our time was spent hearing stories from people who provided locals with clean water, education, and a sense of community—even extending their efforts to local prisons. In a second, I will describe a moment that consistently stays in the back of my mind every time I pack my bag to head to a new place. This moment is from when we had the chance to sit down with a group of men who had been on the receiving end of this generous community while still being incarcerated.  I was freshly twenty-one years old when I sat around a table full of inmates. With lush, green mountains outside the window to my right, I listened as a group of men thanked me and my team. They expressed gratitude for choosing to spend time with them instead of at the beaches, saying most people would never even consider it. The first thing they chose to use their breath for during our interaction was gratitude and praise (to God). This moment was a breath of fresh air, as I had voiced to my team beforehand that I was skeptical of stepping foot into a prison of all males. However, their words of peace and encouragement brought all my negative thoughts to a halt. They were not blind to the number of tourists coming into their country year-round on boats and planes, taking full advantage of its beauty. They prayed, we prayed together, and they prayed over us. When this fully sank in, I determined that I would never go somewhere without truly understanding its people and stories. The freedom to travel is an enormous privilege, and I plan on using it for more than just my own pleasure. That’s something I can enjoy at home. Instead, I will ask myself: what allows me to see, learn, and appreciate the most out of this place?  As always, I hope you start or continue to find places as fascinating and as wonderful as I have. If you enjoy reading these blogs, feel free to follow me on social media, where I share a lot of content, plus weekly blogs. I’m always down to learn more, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment on this page. I hope to meet with you again next week, and I can’t wait to share more.  If you’ve been following along, there’s no doubt you’re familiar with the type of travel that has my heart. While adventuring to brand new places can be exhilarating, prioritizing safety can sometimes be crucial in making sure your trip lives up to its full potential. If you haven’t I invite you to catch up through reading my latest blog posts (don’t stress, there’s only three)! However, I’m going to give you a short recap anyways. My very first international trip was a week-long volunteer excursion to the Dominican Republic in November of 2022. Around seven months later, I accompanied a friend on their vacation in Croatia, and by October I was high-tailing it to the Netherlands to stay with another dear friend for a week. By March of the next year (2024), the travel bug had bitten me so hard I drew up a ten-day solo adventure to Costa Rica. By the time I’d returned home, I’d already contacted several hosts and had solidified my plans for the summer after only a few weeks of being home. In June, I flew out to Turkey (my farthest and longest travels yet), with the intention of hanging out for a month, but after a whirlwind of events, ended up floating around southern Europe for two weeks and napping two new countries in my belt. Alright, if you’re still here, I owe you one. Actually, I owe you ten tips on international travel and safety. I enjoy sharing about this so much that I’m splitting it into two separate blog posts. Here are my first five tips on international travel (in no particular order):
2. KNOW HOW SAFE YOUR DESTINATION IS FOR YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC The reality is not everyone is able to travel everywhere. Two months before my first solo trip, you would have found me in my room binging countless online vlogs and blogs from female travelers. I wanted to research whether or not they felt safe traveling in the same cities I desired to go. While I was in the middle of my travels, I happened to meet a few families who felt very comfortable traveling through Costa Rica (they had kids in the age range of 2-14. However, I wouldn’t have been able to take this leap of faith if I didn’t do the proper research beforehand. 3. DO NOT POST YOUR CURRENT LOCATION This is definitely one you are able to play the “what if” game with. While you may have traveled to a location that has been overall safe for you, there’s a small possibility you can put yourself at risk by posting your location online. Any individual you haven’t had a previous connection to, that reaches out to you while you are in the midst of traveling, could be a risk. I know how this sounds, and while I will promote and encourage solo traveling until the end of time, minimizing risks has been what has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. There is so much beauty and richness in traveling, and the spontaneity of connecting with people. Doing it grounded and informed will allow you the space to experience these things. 4. TRAVEL INSURANCE In my very short time of traveling, I have already run into some problems where travel insurance would be needed, such as weather or flight delays. While the coverage definitely depends on who you go with, this insurance can cover things such as trip cancellations, delays, medical expenses, baggage loss, or any extreme circumstances (illness, natural disaster, job loss, family member deaths, etc.). It is definitely important to research the specific areas a particular insurance covers, and find one that best fits. 5. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS, ASK FOR HELP Planning my own adventures was one of the best decisions I’ve made, but I am well aware of the amount of information and details that come into play. It can be very easily overwhelming. So, it’s time for my shameless self-promo! This year, the travel bug bit me so bad that I decided I want to take it a step further. So, I am now an independent Travel Agent. What that means is I can gather quotes, create itineraries, and recommend the best activities to enrich your travels — free of cost. I do earn commissions back on every booking, so that’s where the benefits come in for me. However, I am also very enticed by the idea of getting to help people discover new places, visit dream destinations, and ultimately have the same fulfilling and wonderful experience I have with seeing the world. Thank you so much for reading! These blog posts are designed to help give you a picture of what travel might look like for you, and for me. As always, I might be the one out documenting random faces and places, but I will always find my way back to this space that we have. If you’re interested in creating your vacation, holiday trip, or adventure, click ‘PLAN’ at the top of the page. If you’re looking for more personal content and updates about me, my Instagram account is linked below. Feel free to drop a comment with any additional advice for international travelers, and I will meet you next time! MY travel instagram:
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AuthorHi there! My name's Jordan, and I'm a twenty-three
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