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How much money do you need to travel?

March 27, 2015 by Marie 12 Comments

“How much money do you need to travel?”

This is a question I’ve asked myself many times over the years. When I was younger, I thought it was an unreachable amount. As a university student, I gave up the chance to travel in order to work for $10/hour and contribute a small amount to my education. Money means a lot when you are pouring it into a chasm of debt.

Then, I moved to South Korea and saved $15,000 in one year without really even trying. I went backpacking in four countries over the course of four months, and returned home with around $6,000. This was enough to last me through a couple of months of unemployment and a move across the country. When I started working again, I literally had less than nothing. I owed more on my visa than I had in my bank account. I still would count myself luckier than most, a few hundred dollars was the extent of my debt.

That being said, my attitude towards money was completely different back then. To go from nothing to $15,000 in a year feels like winning the lottery. I’d never seen that kind of money. And I wasn’t afraid to spend it. That’s not to say that I regret any of my experiences, but that I may have splurged on a few too many cocktails and five-dollar coffees along the way.

Let’s talk numbers

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Travel Research for Lazy Planners: Money stuff

December 8, 2014 by Marie 16 Comments

Everything comes down to money: whether you have it, you don’t, you think of it as a means to an end, or an end in itself (hint: don’t do this). Throughout university, I saw money as the goal. Coming from a rural town where big money was a rarity, I was taught to pursue a stable life of financial security.

My first long-term experience abroad came when I moved to South Korea following graduation. For the first time, I had a regular income that allowed me to actually save money. After saving over $15,000 in a year, I was both hesitant in spending and completely unprepared (too disorganized to keep a strict budget). I found myself eating into my savings in Australia and New Zealand, and becoming saddened by the fact that I would come home with very little after working hard for that money for a year.

Today, I find myself saving to travel long term again. I’m not a pro-saver, but I manage to live frugally. That sadness of coming home with nothing turned into depression that I could have lived happily on the road for a couple more months if I’d been a little more practical. To that end, here is my guide for constructing and sticking to your own travel budget.

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Travel research for lazy planners: Destinations

November 12, 2014 by Marie 4 Comments

I’m lazy when it comes to planning. I pass it off as being laid-back, going-with-the-flow. But, honestly, I’ve had better experiences by doing just a little bit of research in advance. Through my time traveling, I’ve cultivated research methods that work for me with minimal effort. These may be decision-making tactics, the first sites I visit, or general tips I’ve picked up throughout my time abroad.

As it so happens, I’m planning two trip with very different goals for the coming year: one short trip and one longer backpacking adventure. Hopefully, this will be a series that follows my lazy planning techniques and also motivates me to try a little harder at being organized. Maybe I plan ahead more than you, maybe less–it all depends on personal preference and experience. Either way, let’s start at the beginning.

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How to find the motivation to write

November 10, 2014 by Marie 14 Comments

I’ve been trying to write more frequently for several weeks now and have made an effort to post here three times per week. Coming from the habit of dwelling on a topic for days before picking up my metaphorical pen, it’s certainly a change of pace. However, some strange things happen when you dedicate yourself more fully to something: you gain more confidence as you go. Who knew? After a while, that confidence helps you develop a bit more momentum, but getting to that point (and staying there) can take some serious self motivation. Here are a few things I like to keep in mind. They are probably pretty obvious, but we can all use a reminder once in a while.

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Sustainable Travel for Beginners

June 20, 2014 by Marie Leave a Comment

Sustainable tourism has become a trendy term. While this is definitely a positive sign for sustainability supporters, it also means we are flooded with a lot of misinformation and greenwashing. Keep reading for some tips on how to wade through all the information and make sure your “sustainable” trip is as sustainable as it sounds.

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How to prepare for a weekend trip

May 16, 2014 by Marie 2 Comments

Victoria Day weekend is a long-celebrated and anticipated long weekend for Canadians. It signifies the start to the summer season—if only symbolically, since it is still dipping below freezing at times here in Edmonton. Camping, hiking, fishing, barbecuing, and (perhaps most importantly) drinking are common traditions of choice. Luckily for me, I also get to celebrate my birthday this weekend. With that in mind, Tim and I decided that a trip to Jasper National Park would give us a good chance to celebrate, while also getting to know our new province a little better.

Since I’m hoping to write (and film) more about Jasper during and after the trip, I’ve decided to share a few of my ritual preparations for a trip like this. I’m assuming that the initial planning and prep has already been done, so this is mostly about the day or two leading up to departure. Keep reading!

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