“No matter where you go, make sure you go for at least a year.”
After receiving that advice from another traveler, Jackie Laulainen took off for Costa Rica to spend an academic year abroad at just 18. She was immediately enamored with the country and experience, and the effect travel had on her.
Today, she is the host of The Budget Minded Traveler’s Podcast, which is helping you to travel more for less. Jackie studied abroad when she was 18, and got hooked on travel as a teenager. She’s lived in Italy, as well as nomadically, moving on every 6 months to somewhere new. She’s been to at least 35 countries, and is an expert in budget travel strategies. Her podcast and website are helping her audience save money in a very practical way while making their travel dreams come true. She also wrote The Aspiring Travelers Handbook, striving to inspire and equip others to travel this beautiful world as well, on a budget.
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Explorer's Quote:
"There are so many people who go through this world without even trying to see it that if you're one of the few who wants to do it, you have got to do it. You've gotta just go."
Jackie's Best Travel Advice:
The First Step: “The first step is just deciding to go, and then you have to do it. The hardest thing is the logistics of leaving things behind and once you get there, but don’t worry about that. You are way more resourceful than you realize. You will figure it out. The biggest thing is if you have an interest, even in the slightest, you’ve gotta go… There are so many people who go through this world without even trying to see it, that if you’re one of the few who wants to see it, you’ve gotta do it. You’ve gotta just go.
Money Saving Tip: Concentrate on airfare. Aspiring travelers don’t have miles but there are many things you can do to save hundreds or thousands.
Packing Tip: Don’t get a huge backpack. Get a small one that fits in overhead luggage. Jackie uses a 50 gallon backpack. Here's her article about how to choose a backpack.
Internet Travel Resource: Booking.com and XE Currency
Favorite Travel Book: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
Travel Gear: Her travel skirt!
Weirdest Food: Guinea Pig
Links and Resources mentioned on this show:
Jackie's book, The Aspiring Traveler's Handbook
The Budget Minded Traveler website
@budgetmtraveler
Jackie's episode on how to find the best airfare
Credits
Music Credit: Move Slow by Felxprod ft. Jess Abran (Myriad Remix), Intrepid Journey, by Aaron Static
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