I first got hooked on travel at 14 when my mom took me to Belize, Honduras, and Mexico. That trip sparked a curiosity that’s stuck with me ever since.

Over the years, I’ve hatched a variety of ingenious (and occasionally questionable) plans to keep my passport stamps coming. I’ve studied abroad, volunteered, house-sat, worked remotely, backpacked solo—and I even almost became an Au Pair in Germany for the travel perks.

It’s been a whirlwind of creative travel hacks and borderline wild schemes, all designed to explore the world for less.

Now, after 15+ years of world travel and my experience working FOR the biggest travel blogger in the biz, Nomadic Matt, I’m here to share MY best-kept secrets for traveling SMART. Smart travel to me means traveling in comfort, living like a local, and enjoying authentic experiences while saving money—whether right in your own backyard or on the other side of the globe.

The world is too big and exciting to wait for the perfect moment—let’s get you traveling smarter and for LESS!