Travel Blogger Interview – Betsy Wuebker
Authors of PassingThru, Betsy and Pete left their comfort zone and pursued their dream of becoming location independents. Learn how they achieved their travel goals by following them across social media channels: Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
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First of all, tell us a quick background about you as a couple…
We’re a boomer couple, empty nesters with no grand kids (yet!). We’ve been location independent since 2011, and now are completely nomadic. After we were married in 2006, we quickly realized that we were not going to have the kind of traditional retirement our parents had enjoyed and that many of our peers look forward to. There were no pensions and very little savings. We took some unexpected hits in real estate with the recession, etc. So we decided we’d better play offense as well as defense. Since we’d be still working in our later years, online business seemed to be a good fit. And, as we really loved to travel, we decided to try to combine these interests into a group of diverse income streams, figuring this would make us less financially vulnerable if something didn’t pan out.
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Why Passing Thru?
We envisioned PassingThru in 2008 as an online hub around which the other businesses and income streams would revolve. The blog chronicles our travels, thoughts and experiences with online work, location independence and the type of mindset you need to develop to be successful with this type of lifestyle. It also links into our other efforts – our online stores, the books we’ve written, our business resource recommendations, and our consulting services. PassingThru, like many other lifestyle blogs, is a window into who we are and what we do.
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What is your travel style?
Our travel style has evolved. When we were dating and first married, we camped a lot. Gradually, we decided we liked a few more creature comforts, so got rid of the camping equipment and changed to hotel stays. We collected a lot of hotel points that have served us well throughout our travels. We road-tripped around North America using Pete‘s vacation time before he quit his day job, testing our ability to work on our businesses from the road. Then we took a fateful trip to Hawaii and decided we wanted to move out of the chilly midwest to paradise. So we sold everything on the mainland and did just that. For a year, we just exhaled on the island of Kaua’i and didn’t travel anywhere. Then we made an epic journey to Europe and traveled over land to Russia for the Winter Olympics. While we had a blast, we realized that a faster pace just wasn’t us anymore. It’s no fun packing up and schlepping to a new location every few days. When we returned home to Kaua’i we decided we’d travel the world for two years, which would allow us to stay longer in each location.
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What places have you visited so far?
By the end of 2014, together we’ll have visited 36 states, 5 Canadian provinces, 3 continents and 16 countries so far. Our goal is 7 continents, 50 states together (anything we did separately before we were married doesn’t count!).
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Have you experienced challenges being location independent entrepreneurs?
So far we’ve liked just about everywhere we’ve been, and would have liked to stay longer than planned! We’re hoping that slowing the pace will give us the time we want to get to know places in more depth. It’s amazing how conditioned we all are to compress our travels just as if we have a limited amount of vacation time. Breaking out of that mindset has been liberating, but still we tend to lapse.
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How do you fund your travels?
We have both business and investment income sources. We’ve reduced expenses significantly since we became “deliberately homeless,” as you might imagine. People mistakenly think you have to be rich to live this way. Actually, we’re spending less traveling as we do because we’re not maintaining a traditional lifestyle with all the expenses associated with that. Additionally, we’re house sitting when we can, caring for pets and property while homeowners have a getaway themselves. This eliminates accommodation expenses. Once those are gone, it’s really amazing how little you can get by on.
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Do you take advantage of airline credit cards to save on flights? If so, which card do you use?
Yes, we do! Our favorite airline miles card has been the U.S. Airways Mastercard, which will soon roll into the American Airlines program as part of the merger. We’re looking forward to that because we think the program will be more flexible in terms of international flight planning.
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What are the things that you cannot travel without?
Our technology! We each have a MacBook (Betsy an Air and Peter a Pro), iPad and iPhones. We carry along a Time Machine for daily backups, and a network modem. We also have various accessories – surface chargers, bluetooth mouse, converters, etc. It all comes along in “The Office” a wheeled compartmented business case, which gets carried aboard.
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What are the places that are still in your bucket list?
Is “everywhere” an acceptable answer? 😉 Okay, to name a few: Trans-Siberian Railroad; Africa: Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda; a Southeast Asia run to include Thailand. Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam; a Scandinavia/Baltic circle tour – Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway. We’re also planning on returning to Europe starting with a visit to Spain next year and would like to walk the Camino de Santiago.
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Do you have any major travel regrets?
Only those long past. We’re trying our best to live regret-free these days. You tend to think you have all the time in the world when you’re younger, so you pass up opportunities. Fortunately, we’ve been able to put some of those regrets to rest. We’re very aware that, at our age, we’ve got a finite amount of time. More recently, we were invited by a couple we’d met on the street in Prague to join them for an early lunch. We declined because we’d just eaten. We should have said yes. We’ll never pass up an opportunity to get to know local people again.
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What is your greatest learning in travelling?
People are people. We are most assuredly not our governments. We all want similar things in life: health, happiness, safety and freedom. Most people are good-hearted. When you project loving kindness you receive it back.
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Travel Blogger Interview – Catherine McHugh
Catherine Mchugh is the author of Ever Changing Scenery where she inspires people to make every day an adventure. Get a glimpse of how her adventures unfold thru Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest; and learn how you can turn every single day into small and big adventures as well.
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First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself….
Hello! I’m Catherine, a recent graduate who is currently living a fairly normal life in York, England. I’m working away in my first ‘real’ job while making plans to escape the nine to five and travel full time. I love making an every day an adventure, whether I’m at home or abroad.
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What inspired you to start your blog?
A few months before I started Ever Changing Scenery, I became obsessed with reading other people’s travel blogs online. I could spend hours soaking up all the information I could find on how to travel long-term, the best places to go and the top things to see and do. Once I committed to the idea of travelling full-time and making my own life more adventurous, I knew I wanted to share it with the people who had inspired me, and to hopefully one day inspire someone else.
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How do you make your everyday an adventure?
When most people think of adventure, they think of travelling the world, swimming with sharks or jumping out of an airplane. The definition of an adventure is actually ‘an unusual and exciting experience’, and anyone can make this a part of their every day. I love taking a walk in an area I haven’t explored before, trying an unusual dish at a local restaurant or going on a weekend away to a city I haven’t visited before. For me this is what adventure is all about, just doing something different and getting out of your comfort zone.
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When was your first trip ever? Where did you go and how was the experience
The first place I went abroad was to Albufeira in Portugal, but as I was just three years old I don’t remember a lot of details! As luck would have it, I will actually be returning to the same city later this year, so I’ll be able to tell you a lot more about the destination very soon!
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What places have you visited so far, what is your favourite among them?
To date I have visited a total of thirteen countries, and India has by far been my favourite. I spent a month in Mumbai, and it was actually the first time I left Europe. I think it is this that made it so special; everything was so completely different to anything I had experienced before. There are no words to describe the sights, smells and sounds that India has to offer, but it truly is a magical place.
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How do you fund your travels?
At the moment we’re saving as much as possible to get us going, and once we’re on the road we plan to keep our costs to a minimum and last as long as possible with the money we start with. Ultimately I’d love to be able to carve out a ‘location independent career’ and get paid for travel writing, but I know it will take time to secure a steady income this way and I’m prepared for the fact that I will have to get a more hands-on job wherever we are when the cash runs out. Whether it’s teaching English in Asia, working on a farm in Australia or doing some bar work in America, I’m fairly certain it will be more exciting than an office job here in England!
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Do you take advantage of airline credit cards to save on flights? If so, which card do you use?
No, unfortunately not. A few years back I did have a credit card, but I got into a bad habit of spending too much and not paying the bills off. The debt quickly added up and after spending so long paying it off I’ve been a little scared to risk taking out another credit card. It might mean I could end up with free flights, but I just don’t trust myself and know I’d be more likely to end up with lots of debt!
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What places are still in your bucket list?
Everywhere, or at least that’s what it feels like. Top of the list is South East Asia. I’d love to experience everything Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have to offer, and they’re some of the countries we plan on visiting first on our long-term travels. Japan and South Korea are very high on the list too, but the higher cost of living in these countries has pushed them a bit further down. Mexico and South America are places I’d also love to visit, as is pretty much everywhere else in the world!
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Do you have any major travel regrets?
Only not having started travelling sooner. Until I discovered this world of travel blogs I didn’t even realise long-term travel was an option, other than the typical gap year. I just wish I hadn’t spend so long wondering what to do with my life and had spent more time saving money and getting ready to go!
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What is your advice to young travellers who are still about to begin realising their travel dream?
Just go for it! What’s the worst that can happen?
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Travel Blogger Interview – Natalie Sayin
Natalie Sayin is the author of Turkish Travel Blog. And with her passion in history, she shows us the beauty of Turkey through her lens and writing. Follow her travels thru Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and visit Turkey without having to leave your home.
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First of all, tell us a quick background of who you are...
I am 38 years old, live on the Aegean coast of Turkey and have made it my aim in life to explore as much of the country as I can, with specific aims to learning about the culture and history.
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What is it about Turkey that has you obsessed about?
I am really not sure. When I first came to Turkey in 2001, it just felt like home and that vibe has stayed with me ever since. A tarot card reader did tell me once, that I had a past life in Turkey but I prefer to believe that it is because I just feel comfortable and it is my destiny to live here.
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What is your inspiration to start your blog?
It was meant to be an online diary so I could track my travels but over time, it grew with readers who also had a passionate interest in the country. Then I discovered that many readers were also researching Turkey because they planned to visit for the first time, and they wanted advice on where to go and what to do.
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Of all the places you have visited, what is the most memorable one?
This is hard to answer because I have been to a lot of places which are all fantastic. I really liked the Northeast of Turkey because the area is so green and delving into the traditions and culture of the Laz and Hemsin communities was great fun.
This year, I also did a four night gulet boat trip from Fethiye to Olympos on the Mediterranean coast and that was just surreal. We slept on deck, explored ancient ruins, spotted loggerheads turtles, and docked into scenic coastal villages. I would like to do some more sailing of the Aegean and Med coasts.
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Have you ever experienced any challenges in traveling solo?
No, because it is easier to travel solo. I don’t have to take into account the needs and wants of other people. I can go where I want and do anything that interests me. The worst aspect is that unless I take selfies, I am not in many of my holiday photos!
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How do you fund your travel?
I am a freelance travel writer so all my trips are good for work as well as leisure. Rather than write generic articles, I can be specific and detailed with information which makes it easier to sell anything I write.
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Do you take advantage of airline credit cards to save on flights? If so, which card do you use?
I don’t fly that much while traveling. Most trips consist of moving onto the next town or district so I use road transport more, than domestic flights. This is something I should look into though because I have heard the concept of air miles is a great way to save money.
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What places are still in your bucket list?
There is too many to mention but I would like to visit Gallipoli, which was the site of the Anzac landings in 1915. Now, it is a memorial to the fallen soldiers. Close by is the UNESCO site of Troy. I would also like to visit Bursa and Safranbolu because they are prominent in Ottoman history. The Eastern district of Van is also appealing. It has a large lake and many ruins of Armenian churches.
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Do you have any major travel regrets?
No, I have always gained something from every trip or place I have visited. I keep an open mind when traveling and this often provides more memorable experiences, than disappointment.
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What has been your greatest learning in travelling Turkey?
That it is impossible to stereotype Turkish culture. From the east to the west, regional traditions are strong and for example, someone who has grown up in Western Istanbul will not think or act the same as someone who grew up in Mardin, which is in the east. The diversity is amazing. I have also learnt a lot about the history of Turkey and it is mind-baffling at times.
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What advice can you give to young travelers out there?
Keep an open mind and your experiences will be much more memorable, no matter where in the world you go. Don’t plan to the last detail and be prepared just to go with the flow.
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Travel Perks of Owning a Credit Card
Credit cards are usually stereotyped as a bad thing. From overspending to late fees and consequent bury in debt, many have nightmares when it comes to handling their credit cards. Yes, this is true. In fact, they can be your convenient enemies.
Credit cards, however, have advantages. So long as you pay your bill timely, you will appreciate that they’re free short term loan. They enable you to track your spending easier than cash. More than that, if you are a traveler, you are entitled to enjoy impressive travel perks.
Whether you already have your credit card or planning to get one, learn more how you can take advantage of the special deals that credit card companies provide.
Airline Miles
Airline miles are rewards that you can get from your credit cards. The more you spend, the more points you earn. Accordingly, the more points you make, the more airline miles you have the chance to redeem for flight tickets, booking discounts, seat upgrades, hotel and vacation packages, and other travel-related expenses.
Automatic Car Rental Insurance
You don’t need to waste money on insurance whenever you rent a car on your travels. Your credit card company provides secondary coverage against theft and collision. So, decline the rental car company’s waiver insurance for loss, damages and collision; charge your car rental to your card and enjoy this particular advantage.
Concierge Staff Assistance
To simplify your life, your credit card company provides a 24-hour concierge staff to assist your personal travel needs. This includes event ticket purchases, dinner reservations, business arrangements and coordination, and more.
Price and Purchase Protection
When you purchase an item using your card, you have the privilege to get a refund from an item that you see advertised for less in prints within 60 days. This excludes online purchases and certain indicated items. Also, you are protected against theft, accidental breakage and fire within 90 days from the purchase date.
Lost Luggage Coverage
There are credit card companies that cover your lost luggage costs whenever you charge your entire carrier fare to your card. This credit card benefit covers damaged, stolen or permanently lost baggage. Thus, you travel secured and insured.
Trip Interruption or Cancellation Coverage
Perhaps you get sick before your scheduled holiday trip or you get yourself into an emergency. If the trip you booked using your credit card is interrupted or cancelled, you receive a certain amount to, at least, reimburse any cancellation fee.
Automatic Extended Warranty
When you buy an item using your credit card, you automatically have extended warranty of up to one year from the date of purchase.
If you are not yet getting freebies from your credit card, know that you should be. Always remember that your credit card success lies in proper management. So, squeeze out everything that your credit card is worth and enjoy your travel.
Amazing Reads of the Week!
Getting the Heart of Fijian Island Culture on a Village Visit – The World on My Necklace
Cheap Travel: Granada, Spain, For Less Than $25 A Day – Jessie on a Journey
A Weekend In Cambridge: Day One – Everchanging Scenery
Photos of Venice, Italy – D Travels ‘Round
20 Ideas For Your Winter Bucket List – Bucket List Journey
Go Local: A Weekend in Washington, D.C. – Let’s Roam Wild
The Changi Airport Ritual – Glamourous Traveller
Travel Tips For India That You Won’t find in Guidebooks! – Backpack Me
Ludwigsburg: Fairytale Palace and Gardens – Passing Thru
Absolute-must-do Things to Do in Croatia – Chasing the Donkey
The Southeast Asia Highlights – That Backpacker
This Place Surprised us the Most on our Trip to Canadian Rockies – Traveling Canucks
Caribbean Crisis: How Eating Lionfish Can Help Save The Planet – Epicure Culture
Which Country Do You Want to Read About? You Pick, I’ll Go – Be My Travel Muse
Rome Under Wraps – Besudesu Abroad
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Travel Blogger Interview – Annette White
In search of experiences noteworthy in her bucket list, Annette White takes us into her adventures around the globe. Follow her on Twitter, visit her on Facebook and connect with her on Google+. Meanwhile, let us know more about Annette and how her travel passion came to be.
1. First, tell us a little bit of yourself…
I’m Annette, the owner of a Michelin recommended restaurant in Northern California, freelance travel writer and creator of the award winning blog Bucket List Journey. As an obsessed new experience collector, my writing centers around exploring the world in search of once-in-a-lifetime adventures.
2. What gave you the inspiration to start your blog?
3. How does being a restaurateur influence you as a traveler?
4. Have you experienced some challenges to becoming both a restaurateur and traveler?
5. I noticed you mentioned that there was a time in your life when fear makes your decision, how did you overcome it?
6. What has been your bucket list experiences and what was your favorite among them?
7. How do you fund your travel?
There are two things that help support my travels. The first is my blog, Bucket List Journey. I make a teeny weenie amount of money by selling advertisements and earning commissions through affiliate programs. But, what has been most helpful in regards to blogging is that many tourism boards and other companies will sponsor my travels in hopes that I will find their activities bucket list worthy enough for me to write about. These “media trips” have been an important part to me being able to accomplish many of the goals on my list.
Secondly, my husband and I own a successful Italian restaurant in Northern California that gives me a degree of financial freedom. With that said, we have worked diligently for the past several years in order to set it up to fit around my traveling lifestyle.
Let me also say that I believe that some of the reason I can afford traveling is because it is what I choose to be able to afford, it is what I am truly passionate about. I would forgo designer clothes, fancy coffee or a manicure any day of the week if it were in exchange for a memorable experience.
8. Do you take advantage of airline credit cards to save on flights? If so, which card do you use?
9. What experiences are still on your bucket list?
10. Do you have any major travel regrets?
11. What is your advice to young travelers who are still controlled by their fear against making their travel dream come true?
It doesn’t matter how slowly you are moving towards your dream, it just matters that you are taking steps towards it every day.
