My name is Peyton—a travel enthusiast with an unquenchable thirst for adventure, great food, and exploring the world on a budget of course! 🌍✈️
I’ve spent the last year hopping around the globe, soaking up culture, meeting amazing people, and ticking off some amazing bucket list items. From swimming with sharks in Hawaii to experiencing the thrill of zip-lining through the jungles of Costa Rica, my travels have been nothing short of epic. I’ve sipped cocktails on a boat party in Croatia, sailed across the blue waters of Greece, and witnessed the breathtaking Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. But one of the highlights was definitely going on four different safaris in South Africa, where I got up close and personal with some of the wildest animals on the planet.
This blog is my way of sharing all of that with you. It’s a mix of my personal stories, tips on how to travel affordably without skimping on the experience, and some of the best hidden gems I’ve discovered along the way.
I’m always planning my next big adventure—next stops: Bali, New Zealand, and maybe even Australia! 🏝️🇳🇿
So if you’re into epic adventures, foodie finds, or just looking for some inspiration for your next trip, you’re in the right place. Let’s make travel fun, affordable, and totally unforgettable together! Feel free to follow along, ask questions, or share your own travel tips. Let’s connect and start planning that next trip!
A little more about me
Aka How I Accidentally Traded College for Sunshine, Sand, and a Lot of ‘How Did You Even Do That?!’
Okay, so picture this: It’s my senior year of high school. I’m caught in a back-and-forth between two out-of-state colleges. We’re talking almost as far as I can get from home and just close enough to the beach (because, let’s be real, the ocean is basically my second home). I’d been counting down the days to escape the cold, dreary winters and my small-town life, but there was just one teensy little problem: I had no idea what I wanted to even go to college for or what I wanted to do with my life. I mean, sure, I had a dream: live by the beach, adopt a dog, maybe start a surfboard collection and eat mangoes everyday. But, spoiler alert: none of those things were going to get me into college or had anything to even do with college.
Cue the existential crisis. As my friends locked down their college choices and my parents strongly encouraged me to stay home and go to community college (spoiler alert: I hated that idea), I was like, “Uh, no thanks. I’ve been waiting to leave this place for what feels like forever and I’m NOT about to spend another winter here.” But here’s the thing: the more I looked at schools, the more I realized my only life plan was to somehow live by the beach and avoid freezing and actually had nothing to do with college. Not exactly a solid backup plan. So, after some serious contemplation, I decided to throw a giant middle finger to the traditional path and make an executive decision: I was going to travel the world. On my own terms. Maybe with a dog. But mostly without freezing to death in the snow. Naturally, My parents were thrilled about this new life plan. Considering I also decided this as we were already looking at plane tickets to go visit these colleges. They assumed I had zero clue what I was doing (which, let’s be honest, was true). Also, I didn’t exactly have any friends who were serious about traveling, so I had no one to go with, and my mom was DEFINITELY NOT cool with the idea of me gallivanting around the world solo. So, I did what any sane person would do: I joined every travel group on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If there was a group that had the word travel in it, I was there. I downloaded every travel app imaginable and ended up on this app creating something called a “Plan” which was like a group chat people could join if they wanted to join your travel plans.
Here’s where it gets ridiculous: One random day, I decided to start a “plan” called “Move to Hawaii with Me for 1-2 Months” (because why not?). I had basically no research under my belt, no real plan, and not a single clue what I was doing, but I had always said I wanted to move to Hawaii so now seemed like the perfect time. But within a WEEK—I had over 60 people join my group.
A couple group chats and texting back and forth and next thing I know, I have a solid plan: 3 girls from the group I created, an Airbnb picked out, dates narrowed down, and yeah that’s basically it. So, in true rebel fashion, I sat down with my parents and said, “Hey, I found some new friends I met online that will go to Hawaii with me, now that I have people to go with I can go right?” And naturally, they thought I was either a) insane, b) about to be murdered by said “friends,” or c) both. But… after some convincing and planning, they agreed. I had found travel buddies, booked a place to stay, and was already 90% packed. (Honestly, if my mom had a choice, I probably still would’ve been living in my childhood bedroom, so she kind of settled for me going to Hawaii instead). And that, folks, is how I traded my college plans for palm trees, sandy beaches, and a lot of how did you even do this?! moments. Guess what? I survived—and now I’ve got a story (and a lot of questionable travel choices) to show for it.
