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Where to Buy The Best Liverpool FC Merchandise

Updated September 2020

This post may contain affiliate links and I might earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

Over the last few years, I’ve become an extreme minimalist living out of my suitcase while traveling full-time.  I hardly buy anything now but when I do shop it’s usually for travel gear or Liverpool FC gear and I purchase everything online!

Since I am obsessed with purchasing Liverpool FC gear and representing my club in any way possible I thought I would share some of my favorite websites where I find my favorite gear.  I might be biased but I think these are the best places for Liverpool FC supporters to shop online.????

Anfield Shop

The Anfield Shop is where I purchase a lot of my Liverpool FC gear and for several reasons.  They are a local shop for North American Liverpool supporters and they sell home jerseys, away jerseys, women’s jerseys, training kits, other Nike gear, and more.

I purchase my new Liverpool FC jerseys from the Anfield shop every year.  

My favorite out everything that the Anfield Shop sells is the player t-shirts!  I have been buying these player t-shirts for years which are sold for both men and women.  The t-shirts are an affordable option for those who don’t want to shell out the money for a brand new Liverpool FC jersey.  What I like about these player t-shirts is that they usually come with a nice design on the front and a name and the player’s name and number are always on the back.

In Mexico wearing the new player t-shirt that the Anfield Shop is currently selling in 2020

Wearing the Firmino player t-shirt in Utah in 2018.  This was the men’s t-shirt and the Anfield Shop is now selling an updated version of the player t-shirts. 

I also purchase coats, jackets, scarves, caps, and more from the Anfield Shop.  I prefer to shop with them over the big corporate stores because they are local to North America, it’s a female-owned business, the owner is well connected with supporters groups in North America, and the company has fantastic customer service.  The only drawback for my readers is for those who are located outside of the USA and Canada.  Unfortunately, the Anfield Shop only ships to addresses in these two countries.

 Wearing the 2019-2020 Liverpool FC Newbalance coat that I purchased from the Anfield Shop.  

If you’re an LFC supporter living in The United States or Canada then I highly recommended checking out what they are selling.  Click here to go to their website.

This is another t-shirt design from The Anfield Shop.  They seriously sell some of the best gear!  

Love Follow Conquer

I LOVE THIS BRAND!

Love Follow Conquer is an independently owned Liverpool based company selling some of the most unique Liverpool FC t-shirts out there.   Not only are they offering really cool gear but they donate 10% of their profits to local Liverpool food banks and charities.  During the pandemic, they’ve donated over 4,000 pounds to local charities!

Love Follow Conquer sells unique Liverpool FC shirts such as this Allez Allez Allez shirt!

Love Follow Conquer also sells unique player t-shirts and Klopp t-shirts.  I got this Mo shirt that I just had to wear in front of the Egyptian Pyramids!

Love Follow Conquer sells Liverpool FC themed t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, and jackets.  The company delivers their merchandise within the UK, Europe, USA, and in many other countries across the world.  They also sometimes offer special deals for USA supporters including free shipping!  Just check out the latest on their website here.

Amazon

I have been ordering a lot of Liverpool FC face masks from Amazon and I’m going to share links to my two favorites here.

This versatile black and white LFC face mask is my absolute favorite!  Click here to check this out on Amazon.

I also love this red Liverpool FC face mask.  Click here to buy this one on Amazon.

American Scouser

This is my new favorite brand selling Liverpool FC gear!  The only catch to buying from American Scouser is that they ship to USA addresses only.  However, if you are located in the United States then you won’t be disappointed by what they are selling.  Check out this unique Liverpool 19 Champions shirt below that I have from them!

The American Scouser guys are selling American Scouser themed t-shirts, Never Give Up t-shirts, Unbearables t-shirts, Liverpool leggings, and more!  I love their attire and if you’re a supporter based out of the United States you should check them out by clicking here.

SketchGraphics

The last company I’ll mention here is SketchGraphics!  I love this company because it’s a female-owned business with great customer service offering items that are perfect gifts for holidays and birthdays!  You can actually purchase football items for any major Premier League club but the owner is a Liverpool FC supporter.????

As many of you know, I am a full-time nomad and I don’t have an actual home, however, I do keep a few items at my parent’s house including my favorite Liverpool FC mug.  Check out the photo below with the awesome 19 Champions mug from SketchGraphics.

SketchGraphics offers free shipping within the UK and global shipping for a fee.  I plan to purchase quite a few items with them for gifts for friends for the upcoming holidays!

Thanks for reading my blog post!  I know there are lots of places where you can buy Liverpool FC gear now, however, these are my personal favorites.  If you have a favorite online shop where you purchase gear then let me know in the comments below.  Also, if you plan to order from these online shops I’ve recommended then I would love to hear from you as well!

Traveling to Mexico During the Pandemic: What to Expect

**Please note, this post contains affiliate links to products and services. At no additional cost to you, I might receive a commission for purchases made through these links, which helps me keep the blog up and running.

Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. passport was one of the strongest passports in the world.  U.S. citizens were able to travel visa-free to many countries and almost every country was happy to welcome the American traveler.  However, a lot has changed during the pandemic.  Since the U.S. had some of the highest amounts of cases of the COVID-19 virus many countries have closed their borders to U.S. passport holders.

There are only a few countries that currently accept U.S. citizens without any travel restrictions, and one of those countries is Mexico.  This is one of the main reasons why I chose to travel to Mexico.  Mexico is accepting passport holders from certain other countries and I would check with your own government’s travel updates to determine if you are able to travel to Mexico with your passport as well.

Since Mexico is one of the only countries currently accepting U.S. citizens without any restrictions, it has quickly become one of the top destinations to visit during the pandemic.  Many travelers are keen to understand what it is like to travel to Mexico right now, and that’s why I decided to write a blog post about my experience traveling to the state of Quintana Roo.  

But should anyone travel right now? 

I am not writing this post in order to encourage anyone to travel right now.  If you do decide to travel during this pandemic then that is your personal choice.  There are many reasons why people are choosing to either travel or choosing to not travel right now, and I’ll quickly explain below why I’ve embraced a bit of travel during this time.

Exploring My Options To Relocate to Mexico

The main reason I traveled to Mexico is for relocation purposes.  Prior to the pandemic, I was a digital nomad who was completely homeless bouncing from country to country while working from my laptop.  I traveled to 53 countries in 6 years and I wrote a blog post explaining the story as to how I was able to afford to travel so much.

Working remotely from a beach bar in Cozumel, Mexico.

I was in East Africa at the beginning of 2020 and I had zero intentions to move back to the U.S. this year.  However, the pandemic forced me to quickly choose my quarantine location.  Most people quarantined in their own homes but since I don’t have an actual home, I decided to quarantine with family and friends.  So on March 17, 2020, I flew from Rwanda to Florida where I stayed put for a few months.

As time has passed during this pandemic I started to realize I needed to find a new permanent residence.  I didn’t want to stay in Florida and when a limited amount of travel opened up during the summer, I started to weigh my options.  I looked at relocating to Barbados or Mexico and I finally decided I wanted to explore my options to move to Mexico.  This is why I flew to Cancun.

Flying to Mexico

I traveled to Cancun on a direct flight from Orlando on August 7, 2020. I flew with JetBlue which in my opinion, is one of the best airlines to fly with right now during the pandemic.  Almost all airlines are requiring passengers to wear face masks for the duration of the flight right now, however, not all airlines are enforcing social distancing measures.

I thought JetBlue did a great job enforcing social distancing measures.  Not only is JetBlue blocking off all of their middle seats on flights until at least October 2020, but they also enforced social distancing during the boarding and deplaning process.  The attendants and gate agents made several announcements requesting passengers to practice social distancing and just about every passenger followed these directions.

I almost booked a flight with American Airlines but I decided to book with JetBlue because I had read reviews from other travelers that American Airlines were not blocking the middle seats.  Most American Airlines flights have been full during this time of the pandemic.

Immigration in Cancun, Mexico

Upon arriving in Cancun the immigration process was as usual for travel to Mexico except this time tourists were expected to submit answers to a COVID-19 questionnaire and agree to a temperature screening.  The questionnaire form was very simple to fill out as I had to either check yes or no if I had symptoms.  The form is handed to the immigration officer who inspected my passport.

If you have any symptoms then it’s a no-brainer to not travel.  I also recommend taking a COVID-19 test within a few days prior to traveling as I personally feel that this is the responsible thing to do.  However, having COVID-19 test results is not a requirement for entry into Mexico.

I’m not certain what the government will do with someone who arrives at an airport in Mexico with temperature, however, I have been told that there are certain rooms at resorts that are reserved for travelers who do have symptoms.  Apparently many of these resorts have an on-site doctor and provide COVID-19 testing.

The Cancun airport seemed a bit quiet when I initially flew there in early August and it took only about 15-20 minutes to get through immigration.  However, when I arrived at the airport three weeks later to pick up my rental car the airport seemed to be much busier with a lot more arrivals.  This part of Mexico seemed to get busier and busier with tourists as the time went by.

Pandemic Precautions in Quintana Roo, Mexico

I spent several weeks exploring a few cities and small towns in the state of Quintana Roo, and I can only share my travel experiences in Mexico based on how the pandemic is being handled in that specific state.

There was a bit of a difference in how each area of Quintana Roo was handling the pandemic.  Keep in mind that my experiences listed below all took place in August and early September.  A lot can change with this pandemic and although the laws in Mexico seem to remain firm, the laws are also not as strict in some parts and they might not be as enforced.

Mask Mandate

The entire country is currently under a strict mask mandate.  When I mention strict, I mean that every person is expected to wear a mask everywhere in public.  Whether someone is walking down a street, shopping in a grocery store, walking into a restaurant, or even driving a vehicle, that person is expected to wear a mask.

Although the entire country is under a mask mandate I noticed that not everyone was following this law in the state of Quintana Roo.  I traveled to the island of Cozumel, to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and the island of Holbox and in some of these locations, people were strictly following the mask mandate.  However, in other locations, the mandate just seemed to be a second thought.

I spent the first two weeks of my trip on the island of Cozumel, and during my time there I would say that approximately 95% of people were following the mask mandate law.  I almost never noticed anyone outside of their home without a mask.  Even when I was walking around the streets I was shocked to see that just about everyone was wearing a mask (I was shocked because so many people in my home state of Florida have been protesting any sort of mask mandate).

I wore a mask everywhere in Mexico even when walking along the streets.

I spent some time in Cancun next and about 80-90% of people were following the mask mandate law in the city.  I even attended a show where the performers were wearing masks.  Everywhere I went in Cancun and Cozumel the mask mandate was enforced at restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, tour companies, etc.

Next, I spent some time in Akumal, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and the island of Holbox.  I would say that about 50% of people in these areas were wearing masks.   When I was in Cozumel the locals told me that the police would stop them if they weren’t wearing their mask properly but in Playa del Carmen so many people were walking around without a mask.  I noticed plenty of police officers driving around in these cities/towns but not one officer was enforcing the mask mandate.

I will mention that in any public shopping area, in grocery stores, hotels, and upscale restaurants all employees were always wearing masks.  In smaller and in more local restaurants, a lot of people would skip wearing masks so if you’re traveling to Mexico, keep that in mind.

The mask mandate was strictly enforced when I entered the Cancun International Airport, the shopping centers, grocery stores, and the ferry to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen (as well as the return ferry).  The mask mandate was also mostly enforced with the tours I booked and when I stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun the mask mandate was strictly enforced.

Make sure to bring a few masks with you to Mexico because it’s mandatory to wear one out in public and I did end up losing a few while traveling.  It helped to have a few extra masks in my suitcase!

Social Distancing and Temperature Taking Measures

Just as there is a nation-wide mask mandate in Mexico all public establishments are expected to take temperatures upon entry and enforce social distancing measures.  If you travel to Mexico you will notice many signs outside in public areas just as the ones I have below.

All public establishments will have COVID-19 precaution signs inside.  In Quintana Roo these signs are usually listed in both Spanish and English.

Every public establishment I visited had hand sanitizer readily available upon entry.  I believe it is mandatory for all public establishments to have guests use hand sanitizer upon entry and to step their feet on sanitizer which is usually placed on a mat on the ground just beyond the front entrance door.

Unfortunately, not all public establishments are enforcing these mandates.  In Cozumel, almost every restaurant was taking temperatures and there was usually someone at the front entrance holding a bottle of hand sanitizer.  I went to one beach bar where they had a fancy high-tech machine that took my temperature.

I was very impressed by the Money Bar Beach Club in Cozumel which had this fancy thermometer taking temperatures upon entry.  

If you visit any of the restaurants at the major hotels and resorts or the fancier upscale restaurants in Quintana Roo then you will have your temperature taken upon entry every time.  However, at small local restaurants, they are hardly taking temperatures or handing out sanitizer.  The sanitizer is available everywhere but at many small establishments, the use of the sanitizer is not enforced.

Hotels and Resorts:  COVID-19 Precautions 

For a few days in August, I stayed at the Riu all-inclusive resort in Cancun and they were strictly enforcing all COVID-19 precautions.  I have been told by other travelers that all major hotels and resorts in the Riviera Maya are enforcing these same precautions.

Upon arrival at the Riu Hotel Cancun, I was advised to use sanitizer on my hands and feet and I had my temperature taken by a high-tech standalone machine.  When I checked in at guest services there was a clear barrier shield in between myself and the hotel staff.  The staff also advised of all COVID-19 precautions which I needed to follow during my stay.  It was mandatory to wear a mask everywhere on the property except while eating and drinking or while swimming.  All guests were complying and following this mandate.

I had one other hotel stay experience in Mexico as at the end of August, I stayed at the Del Sol Beachfront Hotel in Akumal.  However, I had a very different experience at this hotel.

Akumal is a small beach town located in between Playa del Carmen and Tulum along the coast of the Riviera Maya.  Akumal is usually a busy tourist hotspot because it’s one of the only places in the world where people can swim with sea turtles.  However, it was so quiet when I was there and during my 3-night stay at my hotel, I only noticed only two other guests.  It was so quiet that the restaurant at my hotel was closed and the management was offering contactless check-in.  I didn’t need to have my temperature taken and social distancing measures weren’t enforced because there just weren’t any people around.

Social distancing in my hammock at the Del Sol Beachfront Hotel in Akumal. 

Airbnb:  COVID-19 Precautions

Airbnb is my accommodation of choice because it’s nice to book a home or an apartment while traveling long-term.  I’m also usually able to find much better deals on accommodation by booking on Airbnb rather than by booking a hotel.

I booked an Airbnb apartment for two weeks in Cozumel and another Airbnb apartment for almost two weeks in Playa del Carmen.  Once again, my experience in Cozumel was that the Airbnb owner was taking more COVID-19 precautions than in Playa Del Carmen.  As a whole, the island of Cozumel seemed to be taking the pandemic more seriously than anywhere else I’ve been to in Mexico during this time.

I loved my Airbnb stay in Cozumel and I highly recommend booking this place if you visit the island as the owner highlights a lot of COVID-19 precautions in the listing.  The owner offered contactless check-in and she explained the sanitizing measures she was taking for all guests.  Moreover, the owner advised that she does not allow for guest check-in on the same day that another guest would check-out.  Due to COV ID-19, the apartment remained vacant for 24 hours prior to guest check-in and these precautions made me feel comfortable about my stay.

I also enjoyed my Airbnb stay in Playa del Carmen but the owner of this apartment wasn’t as strict with their COVID-19 precautions.  The owner highlighted the sanitizing measures in the listing but there was no mention as to how long the apartment would be vacant before a new guest would be able to check-in.  However, this Airbnb listing offered contactless check-in as well.

Tour Companies:  COVID-19 Precautions

I reached out to a lot of tour companies prior to my trip and during my trip.  I ended up booking 5-day trips with 4 different tour companies so I have a good idea as to how the tour companies in Quintana Roo are handling this pandemic.

When I initially reached out to tour companies at the end of July and in early August I was advised by many that they were only running a handful of tours.  At that time, almost all of the Mayan ruins were closed such as the famous Chichen Itza.  However, all of these Mayan ruins have reopened during the month of September.

Also, many of the tour companies didn’t have enough bookings which is why many of the operators weren’t offering all of their usual tours.  Many operators advised that they were only offering private tours with a minimum of two guests.  This wouldn’t work for me since I was traveling alone for most of the trip, therefore, I mostly had to find operators which were offering group tours.

The tour operator I felt was taking the most precautions was Cozumel Cruise Excursions.  As I’ve mentioned throughout this blog post, I felt overall that the people in Cozumel were taking the most precautions during this pandemic and Cozumel Cruise Excursions did a fantastic job enforcing all of these precautions.  Not only did the company have a great handle on this pandemic but they also had fantastic customer service and I loved my tour guides!  You should note that I didn’t receive a sponsored tour or a discount from this company.  I’m only recommending them because I was very happy with my tours and I highly recommend booking with them if you do visit Cozumel.

I booked two tours with Cozumel Cruise Excursions.  The first tour was a private jeep tour.  Other companies were offering a group jeep tour but Cozumel Cruise Excursions was strictly enforcing social distancing rules and they only offered a private jeep tour which took me all over the island on a day trip.

My Cozumel jeep tour guide took me to remote parts of Cozumel and it was easy to social distance from everyone during this private day trip. 

The second tour I booked in Cozumel was a snorkeling tour to El Cielo which is the most famous beach on the island.  Snorkeling tours offer the best opportunity for social distancing even if it’s a group tour that is booked.  If you visit Mexico during this pandemic I highly recommend booking a snorkeling tour in Cozumel or anywhere else in the Riviera Maya.

I also booked two different day tours from Playa del Carmen with two different companies and I booked a day tour from Cancun.  The law in Mexico advises that tour companies are supposed to operate at 50% capacity only.  All of the tours I booked involved boat excursions and every company I booked with was operating at this capacity on their boats.

However, most of the companies were not operating at 50% capacity with their transfers.  When the vans came to pick me up from my accommodation in the morning they were mostly full until we arrived at the boat dock.  I found this to be disappointing considering that most of the tour companies were advertising their social distancing measures.

Accessing tourist sites and beaches

The Mexican government had the entire country under a strict lockdown from mid-March until early June.  Once the lockdown was lifted only part of the country was re-opened and the tourist sites and beaches have been opened in stages.

The public beaches in Quintana Roo have been closed (I’ve only been able to access beaches at hotels and restaurants), however, they are supposed to open during the month of September.  Also, the Mayan ruin sites in Quintana Roo and the Yucatan state have been closed up until September.  All of these sites have been opened in stages.  The most famous ruins of Chichen Itza are supposed to open during the third week of September.

Lastly, most of the cenotes are open but not all of them are currently accessible.  All of them should be open by September but this can change at any time.

Keep in mind that many of the tourist sites have a maximum daily capacity.  For example, Chichen Itza is only allowing for a maximum of 3,000 visitors per day when the site usually has 8,000-10,000 visitors per day.  I would recommend either booking an early morning tour or renting a car and arriving when these sites open.

I was able to visit a few ancient Mayan sites in Quintana Roo but these were very small sites that were either free and open to the public or located within the Punta Sur Ecological Park in Cozumel.

This Mayan site was completely open to the public located in the square in a small town in Cozumel.  

If you’re traveling to Mexico during this pandemic my best advice is to reach out to the companies and inquire about the precautions they are taking during this pandemic. 

A lot of companies are abiding by the laws but many are not.  I would recommend reading websites and reaching out to Airbnb owners, hotel management, and tour operators prior to booking.  Ask about mask mandates and social distancing with transfers and tours.

Also, please note that the insight I’m providing here pertains only to the state of Quintana Roo.  I plan to visit both the states of Yucatan and Oaxaca in October and November and I’ll report on the COVID-19 precautions being taken in those states after I’ve traveled there.

I was told by locals in Quintana Roo that the state of Yucatan has been much more strict than Quintana Roo.  I have been told that alcohol is not being sold in the state at all.  Not even in restaurants or at hotels! However, I’m sure that this can change at any moment.

Also, someone I’m connected with on Instagram told me that when she traveled to the state of Nayarit at the end of August that she had a much different experience than I did in Quintana Roo.  Apparently, almost no one there is wearing masks, and the only temperature checks she experienced were at the airport and at her hotel.  Apparently, local businesses are not checking temperatures as they were mostly doing so in Quintana Roo.  So I would not take my experience of traveling in Quintana Roo and assume that the rest of Mexico will be like this.

If you are keen to travel to Mexico right now then I hope that you’ve found this blog post to be helpful.  Please feel free to comment below with any questions and/or feedback you might have.  I understand some people wonder if it’s safe to travel to Mexico and I’ve written an entire blog post on this topic.  After spending several weeks traveling alone in different regions in Mexico I’ve weighed in on the topic of travel safety in Mexico and you can read my blog post out here.

Also, if you do travel, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance and make sure that your insurance includes COVID-19 coverage!  I highly recommend purchasing with World Nomads which does offer this type of coverage during the pandemic.  You can review World Nomads insurance rates by clicking here or by using the quote widget below.

 

 

Solo Female Travel in Mexico: Is it Safe?

Mexico is one of my favorite destinations and I have traveled solo to several different regions in the country.

Even though I have consistently traveled alone around the world for several years, many of my friends and family are worried when I tell them I plan to travel alone to Mexico.

I’m not surprised by this reaction.  Considering my own president and the media are both very unfavorable to Mexico, it feels we are constantly presented with the narrative that the country is full of drug cartels and other dangerous criminals.  I used to be afraid to travel to Mexico and I don’t blame people for jumping to conclusions about the country.

However, I’ve been lucky to travel to Mexico five times now and I’ve fallen in love with the country so much that I’ve considered moving there.  I’ve learned that the narrative that Mexico is dangerous couldn’t be further from the truth.

Traveling Alone in Countries That Are Considered to Be Dangerous

I will acknowledge that there are dangerous places in Mexico just as there are dangerous places in the U.S. (and in just about any country). However, it’s unfair to classify an entire country as safe or unsafe.

I have traveled alone to 9 predominantly Muslim countries and 10 Latin American countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.  These countries are often considered to be unsafe travel destinations, but I have had minimal problems traveling alone in all of these countries.

When I travel in the U.S. I obviously will avoid dangerous areas in the country such as Skid Row in Los Angeles and the Southside region of Chicago.  Naturally, I avoid visiting dangerous areas when I travel anywhere else in the world.  I know that I have mostly felt safe in Mexico, other countries in Latin America, and the Middle East because I’m smart about how I travel, and I am sticking to exploring in the tourist trails in all of these destinations.

There is something else to note about my experiences traveling alone in Mexico.  I have spent weeks at a time in the country living mostly like a local and I have still felt safe.  I usually book local Airbnb apartment rentals, I shop at grocery stores, I take local transportation, and although I have booked a few day trips with tour companies I do not have a guide with me on a regular basis.

I’ve literally spent several weeks as an obvious foreigner walking around the busy streets of Mexico City and Guanajuato.  I’ve also driven around alone in the Sonora Desert and the Riviera Maya and I have had only minimal issues.  I’ve never been sexually harassed (I’ve had men flirt with me but I’ve never experienced extreme harassment), I have yet to come across any drug cartel in Mexico, and I haven’t been attacked or mugged.

Where I’ve traveled in Mexico

Safety in Mexico City

In 2019 I spent almost one month living in an apartment in Mexico City which is the largest and most populous city not only in the country but in all of North America.  When I was there I was completely blown away with how modern and beautiful the city is.

I did have a few minor issues dealing with the owner of the Airbnb rental where I stayed, however, this is something that can happen anywhere in the world.  I felt safe and enjoyed exploring the neighborhoods of Centro/downtown, Reforma, San Angel, and Coyoacan.  I took public transportation to destinations in and outside of the city and I was surprised by how safe I really felt everywhere I went.

I even spent one-day touring graveyards and neighborhoods in order to celebrate the Day of the Dead holiday.  I found the people in Mexico City to be so friendly.  In fact, many of the people I met in the city asked me if I was enjoying my time in Mexico and invited me to join their own Day of the Dead family celebrations!

Safety in Guanajuato City

After spending one month in Mexico City I decided to spend one week in the city of Guanajuato which was a 3 to 4-hour bus ride north.  I absolutely fell in love with this city and my only regret is that I didn’t stay longer!

Guanajuato might just be Mexico’s most magical city with beautiful cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and countless cafes and cozy restaurants.  A visit to Guanajuato City will have any traveler feel as if they are exploring a small village in Spain or Italy!

I felt very safe while exploring the city both day and night. I don’t usually venture out alone in the evening in foreign cities, but I felt so safe in Guanajuato that I had no hesitations doing so.

Safety in Puerto Penasco and the Sonora Desert

In 2016 and in 2019 (I repeated this same trip) I decided to rent a car and drive alone across the border into Mexico from Lukeville, Arizona.  I drove 3 hours south from Phoenix to the border and 1-2 hours even further south to Puerto Penasco (known as Rocky Point) which is a small fishing/tourist village located on the northern shores of the Sea of Cortez.

Puerto Penasco is a very safe place to visit and it is a tourist hot spot.  The town is known as “Arizona’s Beach” since it offers the closest beach to Arizona cities such as Yuma, Phoenix, and Tucson.

I will admit that I felt a bit uneasy about traveling across the border and driving in the town of Puerto Penasco but that’s only because I’m not the most confident driver.  In my experience, a lot of locals in Mexico don’t follow many of the laws and safety precautions while driving and this made me feel uneasy at times.

Otherwise, I had zero issues visiting Puerto Penasco and if you decide you would like to drive across the USA/Mexico border then I highly recommend visiting this town and the Lukeville, Arizona border crossing.

Safety in Cancun and the Riviera Maya

The state of Quintana Roo is the most touristy region in Mexico and for good reason. With some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in the world, crystal clear water, ancient Mayan ruins, and beautiful cenotes millions of tourists visit this region every year.

I have overall felt mostly safe during both of the trips I have taken to this region of Mexico.  I’ve visited Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Akumal, Puerto Morelos and I had minimal issues exploring these cities and small towns.

The only safety concern I had with visiting this region was driving a rental car or a scooter.  As I mentioned about my visit to Puerto Penasco, the local drivers in Mexico don’t always follow the laws and I found driving here to be intimidating.

Moreover, the police in Cancun and Cozumel pulled me over on three different occasions demanding bribe money for running red lights and driving in unauthorized areas.  Since I have dealt with similar situations in other countries I felt that I was prepared to easily talk my way out of paying these bribes.

However, I do understand that this type of situation might make others feel very uncomfortable.  If this is something that would make you personally feel unsafe then I recommend not rent a vehicle in this region.  There is plenty of private transfer and public transportation options in Quintana Roo anyway!

Since the state of Quintana Roo heavily relies on tourism, the Mexican government works hard to ensure that the Riviera Maya and the city of Cancun remain as safe as possible.  Of course, there is some crime in the region just as crime can be found almost anywhere in the world.  However, I feel that this is probably one of the safest and easiest regions to visit in the country.

If anyone is ever hesitant to visit Mexico, I will always recommend booking an all-inclusive stay in Cancun or along the stunning coast of the Riviera Maya.

Luxury Travel vs. Budget Travel/Backpacking

Whenever I receive travel safety advice from someone there are usually two things I take into consideration.  I first ask myself if this person has the same travel style that I have.  If someone is a luxury traveler staying at resorts, booking tours with guides, and booking private transfers then they are going to have a much different experience than I will have.

As a budget traveler, I am really putting myself out there engaging with locals while roaming around alone.  I don’t have a tour guide to help me navigate while exploring and there isn’t anyone to translate my conversations with locals.

As a budget traveler, I also don’t have the buffer and safety net that luxury travelers will usually have while staying at fancy resorts with extra security.  I don’t have a guide or resort staff to help me and I have to be much more aware of my surroundings.

This is one of the reasons I feel confident providing Mexico travel safety advice to others.  I have weeks of experience as a budget traveler in Mexico and I have almost always felt safe while traveling alone.

Solo Female Travel vs. Solo Male Travel vs. Group Travel

Whenever I receive travel safety advice, I also take into consideration the person’s gender and if the person has had experience traveling alone.  I have learned this the hard way.

I’ve traveled alone to destinations based on travel advice from friends who have traveled with a tour group or even a man.  There have been many times when my travel experiences have been completely different and that’s because I am a woman traveling alone.

The most prominent issue I’ve had traveling the world alone has been dealing with sexual harassment.  I have been harassed on every continent (except Antarctica), and unfortunately, I have been groped and assaulted in some places.  There have also been a few places where I’ve been bullied and intimidated by men.

One of the main reasons I feel it is overall safe for a woman to travel alone in Mexico is because of my own personal experiences.  I clearly stand out as a foreigner and I could be considered to be vulnerable since I’m a woman traveling all alone.  If anyone is going to get mugged, harassed, or kidnapped in Mexico it’s going to be me!

However, I have yet to experience severe sexual harassment in Mexico.  I’ve had a few men flirt with me, but I’ve never felt threatened or unsafe because of it.  I also have never been bullied by any men in Mexico and I’ve almost never felt intimidated.

My Best Safety Tips for Mexico

  • Learn some basic Spanish phrases if you don’t know Spanish already.  If you visit Cancun or the Riviera Maya almost everyone will speak English, however, in the other places I’ve been to in Mexico (and Latin America in general) almost no one speaks English.  I do not expect anyone to speak English and even though my Spanish speaking skills are very basic, I have been able to communicate with locals and I have been able to navigate around the country without too many problems.
  • Don’t carry all of your cash and credit cards on you all at once.  Whenever I travel I never carry all of my money on me at once because if I am robbed, then I’ve lost everything.  I usually use a money belt to store some cash and at least one credit card, and then I might place additional cash and credit cards in my backpack I’m carrying or I will usually keep these items locked up in my Airbnb or hotel.
  • Research extensively and have everything planned out already.  You should make sure that your hotel or Airbnb is located in a good neighborhood.  You should also have your transportation booked and figured out ahead of time in order to avoid getting scammed by fake tour guides and taxi drivers.
  • Use Uber instead of local taxi drivers.  I use Uber when I can anywhere in the world because the driving fees are highly regulated.  I do not have to be able to speak the local language in order to book transport with Uber and I can track where my driver is going in order to avoid getting charged too much.  I’ve used Uber a lot in Mexico although the service is unavailable in the state of Quintana Roo and other areas.
  • Stick to exploring during the day.  I have ventured out a bit in the evening in some places in Mexico but this is rare.  This is the same advice I would share with anyone for most destinations in the world, and especially for solo travelers.
  • Don’t get drunk if you’re traveling alone.  I love to party and to drink but only when I am with friends and only if I feel that I’m in a safe place.  I might have a glass of wine or two with dinner while traveling alone but I won’t get drunk.  I think it’s always important to stay aware of your surroundings while traveling abroad!

Don’t Be Afraid to Travel to Mexico! 

Some of my all-time favorite travel experiences have taken place in Mexico and I hope this blog post will help travelers understand that Mexico isn’t the scary place that it seems to be.  I personally feel that the media is incredibly unfair to Mexico and most of the media outlets love to sensationalize any news coming from Latin America and the Middle East.

I have more upcoming blog posts with my best Mexico travel tips, and I hope that I can inspire others to have some of the same incredible experiences.  If I have convinced you that it’s safe to travel to Mexico, then please drop a comment below.  If you’ve ever traveled to Mexico, then I would love to hear from you as well!

Also, if you do travel, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance and make sure that your insurance includes COVID-19 coverage!  I highly recommend purchasing with World Nomads which does offer this type of coverage during the pandemic.  You can review World Nomads insurance rates by clicking here or by using the quote widget below.

 

My Experience Getting the COVID-19 Test

Yes, that is a photo of me getting the COViD-19 nose swab and one of the most unflattering photos you’ll ever see me share.????

On April 21 I went to the local drive-through testing center in Melbourne, Florida in order to receive the COVID-19 nose swab test and the COVID-19 antibody (immunity) test. I am writing this blog post in order to share my COVID-19 testing experience, to explain why I decided to get the test and to spread awareness because I believe access to widespread testing is an important part of the process in order to contain this virus.

So let me first explain why I decided to get tested…

I just took the test two days ago although I currently do not have COVID-19 symptoms, I decided to get the antibody test because I fell very ill when I was in Tanzania in early February. At the time when I ended up in the hospital, I was experiencing many of the symptoms that are associated with COVID-19. I had a headache, a fever, I had nausea (not everyone with COVID-19 experiences this symptom but some do), I had a sore throat for the first two days I was experiencing symptoms, and I had a dry cough that lasted for an entire month!

I had just started experiencing these symptoms during my safari tour in Tanzania after I spent 1.5 weeks in Zanzibar. Zanzibar is an island in East Africa that happens to be a big tourist hotspot for European travelers. When I initially fell ill I did not suspect that I had COVID-19 because there were zero confirmed cases of the virus in Tanzania at the time. However, this is because testing was not available and over time I started realizing that there was a possibility I could have been sick from the virus.

Once I left Zanzibar I flew to Arusha, Tanzania where I embarked on a 4-day safari tour of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park. I fell ill during this safari and I made light of it until I ended up in the hospital. The hospital diagnosed me with a bacterial infection based on the results of my blood work. If you are a tourist who ends up in the hospital in certain parts of Africa they will automatically recommend an analysis of bloodwork in order to rule out malaria, yellow fever, etc.

I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection caused by the bug bites I had on my body (thanks to camping in the Serengeti lol) and the urinary tract infection I had (thanks to being so dehydrated from being stuck in a jeep all day without access to a toilet and not drinking enough water). However, the bacterial infection didn’t explain my dry cough and the reason why I had such difficulty breathing. In mid-February in Tanzania COVID-19 testing was not available and it wasn’t until I returned to the U.S. in mid-March that I started wondering if I had ended up with the virus while traveling.

When I returned to the U.S. in mid-March I was closely monitoring the COVID-19 testing situation. When I first arrived virus testing was limited but now (toward the end of April) it seems there are many testing centers located across the country.

I’ll share my own personal experience with the COVID-19 test here in Melbourne, Florida…

On Wednesday, April, 15 I read an article stating that the COVID-19 antibody test was finally available in Melbourne, Florida. Testing was taking place at Omni Healthcare which is about 20 minutes away from where I am currently staying. I called the number listed on the news article and I was told that I needed to leave my name and number in order to have someone call me back for a COVID-19 virus testing screening. I called three times to leave my name and number and I finally received a return phone call on Monday, April 20.

The woman I spoke to asked me various questions about my current symptoms and/or any COVID-19 symptoms I have experienced within the last few weeks. I explained to her the symptoms I had back in February and she confirmed that I was a candidate in order to receive the COVID-19 antibody test. However, she also advised I needed to first receive the COVID-19 nose swab test before I would be eligible to receive the COVID-19 antibody test.

The woman on the phone advised I should confirm an appointment in order to receive both tests back-to-back and that if I had health insurance the co-payment is currently being waived for both tests. If I did not have health insurance it would cost $50 in order to receive the COVID-19 nose swab test and $100 in order to receive the antibody test. It was a total of $150 for both without insurance. Thankfully, I do have insurance and both of the tests were free for me!

I was told on the phone that the COVID-19 testing procedure was drive-through only. I would need to drive up to the testing center in my car where I would present my identification in order to confirm my appointment. I had already provided my health insurance information over the phone.

When I arrived at Omni Healthcare in Melbourne, Florida I drove into the parking lot where I followed signs pointing drivers toward the COVID-19 testing center. When I pulled up I handed a medical care worker my Florida driver’s license and I provided them with my appointment time. The medical worker confirmed my appointment and shared instructions for the testing procedure. I was told to drive up to the drive through testing line full of cars. I waited in this line for about 20 minutes until a nurse approached my vehicle.

The nurse asked me for my identification once again and she brought it into the building with her while I waited outside in my car. She returned with my ID and a testing kit which was placed on the hood/windshield of my car. I pulled my vehicle further forward until a nurse approached my car and started to provide instructions as to what would happen for my test. As you saw from the photo I shared at the beginning of my blog post (and shared once again below) this was not a comfortable testing process.

I have a video of the entire test uploaded on my @KerrySomewhere Instagram and Facebook stories and I’ll add it to my COVID-19 Instagram highlights in case you miss the 24-hour window to be able to watch. It might be a bit awkward and weird to watch but worth watching to know what to expect if you have to take the test!

I was told I would receive my test results by phone within 2-3 days and I can confirm that I did receive a phone call and voice message 2 days after my test on Friday. Unfortunately, I have missed the phone calls from Omni and I have not yet received the test results in order to determine if I currently have the virus. I only took the test in order to qualify for the anti-body test so I’m not too worried about it. I’m sure I’ll connect with someone on the phone soon.

Anyway, immediately after I received the COVID-19 nose swab test I was directed to park my car next to a building where I would receive the antibody test. I entered the building and I was pointed in the direction of the elevator. The antibody testing at Omni in Melbourne, Florida was taking place on the second floor which was entirely dedicated to testing.

The staff on the second floor greeted me by asking me to sign in for my appointment and then they directed me to sit down and wait until I was called for my test. The waiting area had all testing patients sitting at least 6 feet apart. Everyone was social distancing and wearing masks and gloves.

After about 10 minutes of waiting, I was called by a nurse to sit down in front of her and prepare for my test. I was told I would receive a small prick to my finger and blood would be collected in order to determine if I had previously contracted the virus. The staff at Omni were referring to the antibody test as an immunity test.

This test was painless and not nearly as uncomfortable as the COVID-19 nose swab test. My finger was pricked and within 1 minute the nurse collected all of the blood that was needed and placed the samples on a white plastic testing kit. I was told I should sit back down in the waiting room as I would be called back again by the same nurse within 10-15 minutes in order to receive my results.

When the nurse called me back to speak with her I was told my results were negative. She told me I had not previously contracted the virus and I needed to take normal precautions by social distancing as well as wearing a mask and gloves while out in public.

I was also told that these antibody tests are not 100% accurate. In fact, approximately 30% of test results that have provided a negative result should have actually provided a positive for the virus.

So why did I decide to take a test that is not 100% accurate?

I am highly in favor of rapid and widespread testing during this pandemic. South Korea has proved that the country can contain the virus with a widespread testing strategy combined with tracing. South Korea did not implement strict lockdown orders like many countries have, however, South Korea did quickly implement a widespread testing strategy which has provided citizens with access to free testing at many drive-through and walk-in testing centers across the country.

Even though I understood that the COVID-19 antibody test was not a 100% accurate test I wanted to try to contribute and participate in research in any way possible. If I had been provided with a positive result and if I did have the antibodies I would have offered to donate my plasma.

Also, the COVID-19 nose swab and antibody test were free for me as Omni healthcare (as well as many testing centers across the country) are waiving co-payments for patients with insurance. I didn’t have much to lose by taking this test except for a few hours of my time.

I think it’s great that there is finally widespread testing available in my country, however, I am disappointed that citizens aren’t able to receive free access to testing. A $50 payment for those without insurance is a lot of money for someone to spend who has recently lost their job.

I understand that many countries do not offer COVID-19 testing at all and/or only offer limited testing to healthcare workers and those in the hospital. I believe we should be setting our standards here in the U.S. based on what South Korea has done to contain this virus. As my country’s government has made many mistakes during this pandemic and continues to do so, I am proud that we at least do provide most citizens with access to testing. As I’ve mentioned, I just wish it was available at no cost to everyone.

I would love to hear from you and understand the testing situation in your own state and/or country. Please feel free to comment below if you have contracted the virus, if you’ve been tested for the virus, and/or if you have any insight into the testing procedures in your own country. Stay safe everyone!

My experience Traveling to 5 Countries During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Before anyone judges me for the title of this blog post I want to clarify that I am currently not traveling. I am being socially responsible as I am in a self-quarantine mode in Florida after flying back to the U.S. from Rwanda on March 17. I am writing this blog post to share my immigration experience while I was crossing borders and flying to 5 different countries from the end of January until mid-March (I started traveling shortly after the coronavirus outbreak was announced).

For the past 7 weeks, I have traveled from the USA to 4 countries in East Africa and back to the USA all while the coronavirus Pandemic has been taking place. Ever since the virus outbreak, I have cleared immigration at 3 international airports and at 2 international border crossings. I have been screened for the coronavirus at every immigration checkpoint except one. The only country which has NOT SCREENED ME FOR CORONAVIRUS HAS BEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I arrived at the Dar es Salaam International Airport in Tanzania at the end of January and my temperature was taken before I could clear immigration. Three weeks later when I crossed the border from Tanzania to Kenya my temperature was also taken. It was a requirement to have my temperature taken in order to enter both Tanzania and Kenya and if I had a fever I would have been denied entry into these countries.

On March 3rd I flew from Nairobi to Kigali where I received an intense coronavirus screening. Prior to clearing immigration, I had to wait in line in order to be screened by a health official. I was asked questions about where I had traveled within the past few weeks and I was asked if I had any coronavirus symptoms such as a dry cough or difficulty breathing.

The health official in Kigali, Rwanda told me that my temperature had been taken and confirmed I did not have a fever. I asked him how my temperature was taken since he was not holding a thermometer. He pointed to a large object about 20 feet away and explained that the device was capturing the temperature of all arriving passengers. I had no idea that such technology even existed!

After arriving in Rwanda I crossed the border into Uganda the next day for my gorilla trekking tour.

I was very impressed with the amount of health screening that was taking place at the Rwanda and Uganda border. Not only were the Uganda government officials screening for ebola but they were screening for the coronavirus and if I had a high temperature I would have been denied entry into the country.

After my gorilla trekking tour in Uganda, I returned to Rwanda and my temperature was taken prior to crossing the border once again. I remained in Rwanda for one week before I was supposed to fly to Kampala, Uganda where I was going to explore a new part of the country. Unfortunately, I was unable to fly and return to Uganda as the government closed the borders to 16 different passport holders including U.S. citizens.

It was at this point, I decided I needed to leave Africa one month early and book a flight back to the U.S. Trump had just announced a travel ban on flights returning to the U.S. from Europe (although American citizens were allowed to return) and I started becoming worried that I might get stuck in East Africa since so many flights returning to my country had layovers in Europe.

I booked a one-way flight on Qatar Airways leaving Kigali, Rwanda on Monday, March 16th and arriving in the U.S. on Tuesday, March 17th. My total travel time from Kigali to Orlando was 30 hours with two layovers in Doha and NYC. Prior to entering the airport in Rwanda, there were health officials who were conducting coronavirus screenings. My temperature was taken and I would have been refused to board an aircraft if I had a fever.

Considering what I had experienced clearing immigration in 4 different countries in East Africa I just assumed I would also be screened for the coronavirus when I returned to the U.S. Moreover, there were media reports warning travelers that they should expect long lines and delays at U.S. airports due to coronavirus checkpoints.

Unfortunately, this was not my experience when I arrived at JFK airport in NYC. When I was boarding my flight from Doha to NYC an airline attendant handed me a United States Traveler Health Declaration Form. The attendant advised that all travelers returning to the United States needed to declare our potential exposure to the coronavirus as well as any symptoms we might have.

I filled out the Traveler Health Declaration form but when I arrived in NYC no one asked me for this form. Not one passenger on my flight was asked to turn in this form. No one in immigration asked me or any other passengers about any potential coronavirus symptoms, and unlike my immigration experiences in Africa, there were not any health officials taking temperatures.

I just traveled to 4 countries in East Africa where my temperature was taken and I would have had a fever I would have been denied entry into the country. Even when I was leaving Rwanda there were health officials at the airport taking temperatures and if someone had a fever they would have been denied entry into the airport. The government in Rwanda didn’t want anyone leaving if that meant they would spread the virus to other passengers on a flight.

Needless to say, I was shocked that my own country is allowing travelers to arrive on a flight with hundreds of people from around the world with no questions asked. Since I have Global Entry I was able to clear immigration in approximately 5 minutes. I was only asked where I traveled to and then I was told: “Welcome back to the United States.”

The U.S. government let me walk through immigration in minutes without screening me and checking my temperature which is completely reckless and dangerous. Our government might have every excuse right now as to why there aren’t enough coronavirus tests but there is no excuse for not being able to screen every passenger that arrives in the U.S. If I had cleared immigration with the virus I could have infected everyone on my flight to the U.S., I could have infected some of the immigration officials, as well as other passengers and airport workers I came across at the JFK airport while on my layover. Moreover, I had one more connecting flight at this point and I could have infected those on my flight from NYC to Orlando!

There are no excuses for this. It doesn’t matter that I was traveling from a region where the virus didn’t exist for most of my trip (the first case of the virus was only announced in Rwanda 2 days before my departure). The virus probably existed already in the country since not everyone is getting tested and I was just on 2 different flights for over 20 hours where I could have been exposed to the virus.

Considering Doha is such a major airline hub there were hundreds of people from around the world I was exposed to while I was on my layover. I could have easily been exposed to the virus and everyone on my flight should have been screened. I am shocked, outraged, and appalled by how the U.S. government is handling this pandemic and if you are an American you should be outraged too.

Since our government isn’t taking this pandemic as seriously as they should be we should all be doing our part by staying home. Even though the U.S. government didn’t advise me to do a 2-week quarantine upon my return, I have volunteered to do so anyway. This is the responsible thing to do in case I am a carrier of this virus.

I am currently under quarantine in Melbourne Beach, Florida at a friend’s house and after my 2 weeks is up I will continue to practice social distancing. I hope everyone else is being responsible and doing the same (except key workers such as nurses, doctors, emergency personnel, etc.). Please, everyone, stay home, stay safe & stay healthy!

How To Experience the best of Stone Town With Zan Art Tours & Safari

A lot of tourists visit Zanzibar to relax on the world-famous beaches.

However, a lot of people also visit Zanzibar in order to experience the unique history and culture of Stone Town. I spent one week in Zanzibar and I booked an incredible Stone Town Walking Tour with Zan Art Tours & Safari and I highly recommend this tour if you visit Zanzibar!

The islands of Zanzibar in Tanzania are so unique and Stone Town in Zanzibar is an incredible place to explore. Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City which is the main city of Zanzibar.

Stone Town is a city of prominent historical and cultural influence in East Africa. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 due to the diverse influences of the city and all of Zanzibar. Stone Town offers a unique mix of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European architecture, food, and culture. In order to fully understand the complex and unique history and culture of Stone Town, it’s important to book a tour.

I decided to book a Stone Town walking tour & Prison Island tour with Zanzibar Art Tours & Safari because on TripAdvisor they have all 5-star reviews and the guides are all properly certified. In Zanzibar, guides have to graduate from the local college in order to become masters of the local history and culture and to become certified. I also loved the fact that these guys at Zan Art Tours speak multiple languages including Swahili, English, and French.

If you book a tour with Zan Art Tours you can be certain that all of the guides are properly certified. I want to mention this because unfortunately, I came across two fake tour guides in Zanzibar. I use the term “fake” because these guides didn’t seem to properly understand the history of Zanzibar. I overheard one tour guide on Prison Island providing false information to a group of tourists. This individual could have easily used Google to share correct information about Prison Island but instead, he was sharing incorrect information. It is important to book a tour with a reputable guide and company and to support locals who have spent time and money to graduate from the university in Zanzibar. This is one of the reasons why I highly recommend Zan Art Tours & Safari.

When I initially booked the tour with Zan Art Tours & Safari they suggested I start with visiting Prison Island and then explore the rest of Stone Town. However, I asked if we could do the tour in reverse and of course, they were very flexible with me!

We started the day by exploring the unique architecture and the doors of Stone Town. If you visit Stone Town and book this tour get your camera ready because you will love the architecture and all of the beautiful doors here!

We also visited the Old Slave Market in Stone Town which was the most emotional and difficult part of the tour for me. I grew up in the U.S. so learning about the transatlantic slave trade isn’t anything new to me. However, I broke down and cried hard here when I came face-to-face with the slave chambers. I am a kinesthetic type of learner and exploring this museum was one of the most emotional and sobering experiences I’ve ever had while traveling.

What you will learn at the Old Slave Market is that Stone Town was the flourishing center of the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century. Zanzibar has a very complex and somewhat dark history. You will learn about all of this if you book a walking tour of the historical city center.

I also had the chance to visit the historical market during my tour and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the seafood and produce markets. As a vegetarian, I couldn’t stomach visiting the butcher section but if you eat meat then you should see this. As you walk through the stalls you will notice the historical and cultural significance of this market which is not to be missed.

At the end of the walking tour, my guide took me to the Old Fort (also known as Arab Fort) and the House of Wonders which are both historical landmarks in Stone Town. I really loved the Old Fort which was built by Omani Arabs after expelling the Portuguese in 1699. It was used as a garrison and prison in the 19th century and is located on the main seafront. I have part of the Old Fort pictured below.

Late in the afternoon, my guide took me to Prison Island (known by locals as Changu Island) by boat and the views of the Stone Town waterfront were just stunning. Once we arrived at Prison Island I was completely enamored by the beautiful aqua water. The beaches in Zanzibar City and Stone Town aren’t as nice as many on the rest of the island, therefore, if you are wanting to visit beautiful beaches in close proximity to Stone Town then I highly recommend taking a short boat ride to this island. If you book this tour with Zan Art Tours then you’ll get to visit these beautiful beaches anyway!

My guide took me around Prison Island which consists of a visit to view the giant tortoises (a gift from Seychelles) and the historical prison which was built on the island to initially hold prisoners but which never actually did! The island initially became a quarantine for yellow fever cases and more recently, the island has become a government-owned resort area. The island is beautiful and certainly worth a visit!

I would rank Zanzibar as one of my top favorite places in the world and I highly recommend a visit here in East Africa. If you travel to Zanzibar there are many tours you can book including snorkeling, boating, and historical and cultural tours in Stone Town. I even booked a tour to visit the rare red colobus monkeys in Jozani National Forest and I highly recommend this tour as well.

If you want to book a tour with the operator I used please reach out to Aball Halim with the following information:

Info@zanarttour.xyz

Www.zanarttour.xyz

+255776333100 on WhatsApp

As always, please feel free to comment below with any questions!

S

How To Get Tickets to Watch a Liverpool Match

Hi, my name is Kerry.  I’m a travel addict and a die-hard Liverpool supporter who has spent the last few years traveling full-time worldwide while bouncing from country to country.  I’ve also traveled quite a bit to Liverpool and watched 20+ games at Anfield.

I’m introducing myself here because, for some of you, this might be the first blog post you read from me, and I want to reassure you that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to planning a trip to Liverpool!  Many people ask how I can afford to travel so much, and you can read my story here: http://kerrysomewhere.com/i-have-traveled-to-over-50-countries-in-6-years-this-is-how//a>.

Since I’m not from the U.K., but I’m often posting about traveling to Liverpool on social media, I thought I would share how international supporters can get match tickets.  Almost every Liverpool supporter knows how difficult it is to get match tickets, and many supporters assume it’s impossible unless they purchase through a scalper.  

PLEASE DON’T EVER PURCHASE TICKETS FROM A TOUT/SCALPER.  This is illegal, and there are legitimate options if you want to plan your dream trip to watch a match at Anfield.  Keep reading below!   

Purchasing a Trip Through Quest Sports Travel

My friend Ken Solomon has been running trips to Liverpool for years, and if you’re an international supporter, this is most likely your best bet for match tickets.  

Ken runs his tours through Quest Sports Travel, and he offers an entire package, including hospitality tickets, a 4-star hotel stay in Liverpool, and transportation in the U.K., including airport transfers.  These tours also incorporate local activities in Liverpool, such as private meetings with former Liverpool players, private meetings with local Liverpool FC sportswriters, Beatles tours, Peter Carney’s Soccer in the City tours (historical Liverpool matchday tours), and a visit to the iconic Anfield neighborhood bakery Homebaked. 

If you book with Ken, your trip to Liverpool will include a Beatles tour and a Soccer in the City Tour, which will take you to many iconic sites around the city.

Ken’s tours usually run for 4-5 days, and I’ve participated in some of the activities he provides for his groups.  One of the reasons I recommend Ken’s trips is because I know that they are great!  

I recommend booking a trip with Ken because you are guaranteed match tickets for the games he advertises.  Ken offers trips to Liverpool for Champions League and Premier League games.  If you are an international supporter, these packages will be one of the only opportunities to watch a Champions League match.  

Booking with Ken is your best ticket guarantee because it is difficult to secure tickets on your own as an international supporter.  Once Ken announces his tour dates with a specific match, you are guaranteed match tickets if you book with him.  On the other hand, if you try to secure match tickets directly through Liverpool hospitality (please read below to learn more about the hospitality experience at Anfield) or through your Liverpool membership, there is no guarantee.  There’s a possibility, but from my experience, the options can be slim (please read below to understand the process of booking tickets on your own). 

Moreover, since Ken offers a complete program for your trip to Liverpool, you won’t have to spend hours figuring out where to stay, how to get around, or what to see in the city.  Ken does all of the hard work for you to ensure that you have the best possible trip to the best city in the world! 

Ken usually offers multiple trips to Liverpool each season and announces his journeys on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Trips-to-Anfield-2292314100981380).  The prices vary for each trip, so you’ll have to reach out to Ken or wait for his announcements if you’d like to ask about the price.  You can also contact Ken on social media or at ksolomon@questsportstravel.com

The photo below is with Ken and a few from his tour group for the match at Anfield against Manchester City in November 2019.

Purchasing Match Tickets Through your Local Official Liverpool Supporters Group (OLSC)

If you are a member of your local officially recognized Liverpool supporter’s group (OLSC) and have a membership directly with the club, you can apply for match tickets.  As I mentioned above, it is often challenging to be able to secure match tickets on your own, but it’s not impossible. 

Liverpool offers three membership tiers for international supporters:  Full, Light, and International.  You can check out all three memberships and what they offer here:  https://www.liverpoolfc.com/membership/adult.

To qualify for match tickets, you must sign up for Full or Light membership.  Do not sign up for the International membership if you want access to tickets, as this membership doesn’t qualify. 

When you sign up for Full or Light membership, you will receive a membership number and place your membership I.D. under your local OLSC group to qualify for tickets.  You will need to apply for match tickets through your group, and the committee of your supporter’s group will be able to assist you with this process. 

As one of the co-founders of the OLSC group in Orlando, I am very familiar with the process that needs to take place to apply for match tickets.  A few years ago, when I was chair of the group, I helped a few of our members apply for tickets and secured a few match tickets for myself.  Keep reading below for more details of this process.  

Below is the detailed process to apply for match tickets through your official LFC membership and your local OLSC:

  • You’ll need to purchase a Light or Full membership from https://www.liverpoolfc.com/membership/adult and place your membership under your local OLSC group.  Unfortunately, unofficial Liverpool supporter groups won’t qualify for tickets.  You can find a list of the officially recognized groups on the Liverpool website:  https://www.liverpoolfc.com/fans/official-lfc-supporters-clubs.
  • Your local group’s committee should announce when the OLSCs can place ticket requests.  For the first half of the season (August – December), each group will usually need to put in ticket requests sometime in July.   For the second half of the season (January – May), the window to submit ticket requests usually takes place sometime in October.  There is a hard deadline for these ticket requests, and your group’s committee might limit the number of ticket requests you are allowed to make per season.  Just ask your chair/committee, as I usually put in a few ticket requests per season with my OLSC.
  • Shortly after the ticket request is submitted, your supporter’s group will receive the notification as to which ticket requests were approved.  Do not make travel plans until you know for sure because a lot of ticket requests are denied!
  • Approximately four weeks before the game, Liverpool FC will contact your supporter’s group committee to inform them that the tickets need to be paid for.  There is a 24-hour window for the tickets to be purchased, so ensure you stay on top of this.  The payment must be made online, and your group’s committee can help you with this process.  Your membership number is handy as the ticket is attached to this number.

    Things to know and keep in mind:

      • Tickets are never guaranteed; whenever I’ve requested tickets through my OLSC, I have been denied more than approved (denied through LFC, not the OLSC). 
      • Only Premier League match tickets can be requested.  OLSCs don’t have access to cup matches, Champions League, or away games. 
      • For some reason, I have always sat in the Kop or the Main Stand for every match ticket I’ve purchased with my membership.  However, I have heard of others receiving OLSC tickets in the Anfield Road stand.  
      • The process I’m sharing in this post has been in place for several years.  The rules may change anytime, and the process did shift a bit during the pandemic. 
      • You can purchase disability tickets upon request.  Your OLSC committee can contact Liverpool FC to ask about these tickets. 
      • Your match ticket is attached to your membership number.  Previously, supporters would swipe their membership cards to enter Anfield.  However, LFC has a new process using Apple Pay or Google Pay.  Once purchased, LFC will send instructions for accessing the ticket on your phone.  
      • If you are managing or are a part of an unofficial Liverpool supporters group, please feel free to contact me at kerrysomewhere@gmail.com, as I can give you some guidance to apply to become an OLSC. 

Purchasing Hospitality Match Tickets Directly Through Liverpool FC

I want to mention that I have only purchased hospitality match tickets once, and this was for one of the charity matches.  However, I had a conversation with my friend Donna, who bought quite a few Liverpool hospitality tickets for Anfield over the years, and she provided me with many details I’ll share with you here. 

It’s never a guarantee that you’ll be able to purchase hospitality tickets directly through the club, but it is a possibility.  If you want to purchase hospitality tickets for a Premier League match at Anfield against, let’s say, Watford, you’ll most likely be able to get your hands on a ticket if you attempt to purchase this early on.  If you want to purchase hospitality tickets for a match at Anfield against Manchester United, you’ll have difficulty getting your hands on a ticket as these sell out fast.

You can check the website at https://hospitality.liverpoolfc.com/ for availability, or you can make a call to Liverpool FC to purchase hospitality tickets.  These tickets will typically cost about 200 to 320 pounds, depending on the game you want to attend.  The hospitality match tickets against Manchester United or Chelsea will usually run about 320 pounds or even more.  

If you purchase hospitality tickets directly through LFC, you can buy tickets for either Premier League games or Champions League games, and it’s not a requirement to have a membership with the club.  I don’t know for sure, but I’m assuming if the tickets are available that anyone can purchase hospitality tickets for a cup match as well. 

The hospitality ticket experience will vary, with some packages providing a sit-down meal, and some packages will provide a meet and greet with a former player.  Other packages will only provide you with exclusive access to an area where you can purchase food and beverages without long lines and crowds of people that you’ll find in the food and beverage areas in other stands. 

As far as I know, the hospitality tickets will have you sit in the new Main Stand or the King Kenny stand, but I can confirm that hospitality tickets are never located in the Kop.  

When I purchased the hospitality tickets for the charity match, I sat on the upper level of the Main Stand, and I had access to the Carlsberg Dugout before the game started and at half-time.  The Carlsberg Dugout is an exclusive area where hospitality ticket holders can purchase food and drink without the long lines and waits that match-goers will have in other stands. 

The hospitality ticket option might be pricey, but it’s the best chance for many supporters to be able to watch a game. 

Purchasing Tickets at Anfield on Match Day

I’ve heard that people can get a ticket for a match at Anfield every once in a while by waiting in line at the ticket window.  I’ve never tried to purchase a ticket with this process, but I can imagine that the opportunity for this is becoming rare since the club’s popularity has been rising.  Matches at Anfield are always sold out, and getting a ticket is challenging for almost everyone. 

I’m doubtful someone would be able to walk up to Anfield to get a ticket, but I wanted to include this in case I’m incorrect!  If anyone has experience purchasing a ticket at Anfield on matchday, please reach out to me at kerrysomewhere@gmail.com so I can update this post.    

Purchasing Tickets Through a Tout/Scalper

I ask that you PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS.  

If you see tickets listed for sale on a website other than the official Liverpool FC website, then steer clear of these tickets.  The club does not permit the resale of tickets, and you could get in trouble if you purchase these tickets.  I have heard of Liverpool FC confiscating ticket cards, and you don’t want to get involved in this situation. 

Also, these tickets are almost always priced higher than face value because scalpers are only out to make a profit.  I sat next to a supporter on the train once who was excited that he had his hands on a Champions League ticket.  I asked him where he got his ticket and how much he paid, and I was shocked that he paid 500 pounds for his ticket!  This should not happen as when you legitimately purchase a match ticket; you should expect only to spend 40-75 pounds (unless you buy a hospitality ticket). 

Lastly, if you decide to purchase a ticket from a scalper, you risk purchasing a fake ticket.  I have heard plenty of stories of foreign supporters buying tickets that aren’t valid.

If you found this article helpful, please share this blog post with anyone you know who wants to get their hands on a match ticket.  I have also published an article on what to expect for the Anfield Stadium tour, and you can check that out here: http://kerrysomewhere.com/the-new-anfield-stadium-tour/.

Stay tuned as I’m sharing more blog posts over the next few weeks, including where to stay in Liverpool, what to explore in the city, what to expect on match day, the best pubs around Anfield, and more!  YNWA

How I am Able to Afford to Travel so Much

 

Hi! My name is Kerry and I’m a travel addict and a die-hard Liverpool supporter. I’m introducing myself here since for some of you, this might be the first-ever blog post you read from me.

As I mentioned, I’m a travel addict and because of this addiction, I have traveled to 40 U.S. states and 53 countries within the last six years. For almost half of the time during those six years, I traveled full-time living out of my suitcase and I’ve taken countless trips to Liverpool.  Since I share a lot of travel content on social media, I am often asked, “how can you afford to travel so much, and for so long?”

I can’t blame people for wanting to know how I am able to travel so much. Before I started traveling a lot I also found it difficult to understand how some people were constantly traveling and posting amazing travel photos from around the world on Instagram. I wanted to do the same and I ended up researching how to pull this off. I read a lot of blog posts just like this which is what had inspired me to become a nomad!

So how am I really able to afford to travel so much?  Am I rich?  Did I win the lottery or land a trust fund?  Am I really traveling solo or is someone traveling with me who helps me fund my travels? 

I am not wealthy

I want to start out by sharing that I am not rich (according to Western standards).  If I was to summarize my answer in one sentence it would be this: I have made a lot of sacrifices, I work remotely from my laptop everywhere I go, and I am a budget traveler. Most people don’t realize this, but it has taken a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifices, planning, and dedication in order to fulfill my dreams of traveling the world.

In this post, I’ll be very clear cut about exactly how I have been able to travel so much within only a few years. Although I believe most people will never want to embrace a fully nomadic lifestyle as I did, I do want to share my best tips and hacks in order to help others travel more. I’m about to get very personal here. I won’t leave you with any vague, bullshit.

Disclosure: I believe in transparency. The links below are affiliate links. This means that I earn some revenue (at no cost to you) when you click through the links and book something. I only share links to services that I would personally use and truly recommend.

Budget Travel

When most people travel it’s for a one week or two-week vacation and this travel tends to be expensive.  Short-term travel is usually expensive because people are squishing in as many experiences as they can into a short period of time.  Most people are booking accommodation at a nice hotel, booking a tour for their entire trip or multiple tours, and eating out for every meal. 

As a full-time traveler, I am not on vacation as I am working remotely from my laptop and I have embraced slow travel.  When I travel, I live like a local for a short amount of time.  I generally book local apartments/accommodation on Airbnb, I will walk to my destination or I’ll often take advantage of local transportation.  I also enjoy eating local restaurants which cost a lot less than touristy restaurants. 

For example, when I traveled to Egypt I spent three weeks in the country and only booked a handful of day tours. I traveled up and down the country by train from Cairo to the Sudan border. Most packaged tours to Egypt will cost several thousand dollars but I spent less than $1000 for my three-week trip.

Traveling to Inexpensive Countries

While many destinations such as the Caribbean and Europe tend to be the most popular travel destinations, these are also some of the most expensive areas of the world to travel to.  I have traveled quite a bit throughout Europe and some in the Caribbean, however, I also spend a lot of time traveling in inexpensive countries. 

I also often travel to countries that most people aren’t willing to travel to.  For example, I’ve spent one month in Indonesia (not just in Bali but I explored 15 different islands in Indonesia).  I also spent one month in Guatemala, several weeks in other inexpensive countries in Central America such as Panama, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, I have spent one month in Mexico (twice), several weeks in India, two weeks in Lebanon, and one month in Turkey.  I was able to spend less than $1000 in all of these destinations and I’ve traveled to plenty of other inexpensive countries as well.

If I travel to an inexpensive country and live like a local I can actually save money by traveling abroad rather than live in the U.S.

Accommodation

Accommodation is my largest travel expense and it’s usually the largest expense for most people. I’m mostly a budget traveler so I try to book accommodation in between $10-40 per night. There have been times when I’ve gone to the extreme of booking weeks of accommodation with no air conditioning just to be able to save money ( in Central America and East Africa), however, there have also been times when I’ve splurged and booked a 5-star hotel deal for $80 per night (in Malaysia).

I often book my accommodation with Airbnb which I find is usually much cheaper than booking a hotel.  For example, I was recently in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico where I booked an apartment studio for $170 for the entire week. If you’ve traveled to the Riviera Maya then you’ll know that most people stay at swanky resorts in the area for $170 USD per night! If you’re not using Airbnb then you should and you can use my link to sign up in order to receive up to $50 off your first stay:  https://www.airbnb.com/c/kerrym1485?referral_share_id=ddcf6993-e9ab-465f-b08c-d4a025b09151

I also have landed free accommodation through housesitting.  Housesitting has saved me thousands of dollars in accommodation per year and I’m able to take care of adorable cats, dogs, ferrets, and birds in exchange for a free place to stay.  It’s a win-win since I love animals so much!  I have an entire blog post explaining in detail how housesitting works and you can check that out here: http://kerrysomewhere.com/how-i-travel-the-world-with-free-accommodation-as-a-housesitter/

If you would like to sign up as a housesitter, you can use my link for the best housesitting website:  http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=5759&awinaffid=502997

I also sometimes book hostel and boutique hotel stays.  I don’t book dorm rooms in hostels but since many hostels offer private rooms, I am often able to get great deals.  I have been able to book private rooms in hostels for as low as $9 per night including breakfast.  You can sign up for Hostel World here:  https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l43kh

Sometimes I will book a hotel room because I am able to land a deal and one of my favorite websites is Hotels.com.  I book with this website because after 10 bookings I’m able to book my 11th night for free.  If you’re not using Hotels.com you can sign up and book here:  http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-8525321-12113366.

Flights

As a solo full-time traveler, I often book flights based on price and not necessarily destination.  For instance, I’ll decide to travel to a destination based on an open-ended search using Skyscanner.  I’ll search for the cheapest flight from my current local airport and book a flight based on price not necessarily based on a destination. 

As a result, I’ve booked last-minute trips for super cheap to Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, United Kingdom, and more.  I highly recommend using Skyscanner to search for inexpensive flights from any destinations and to sign up for price alerts:  http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-8525321-12532525

I also usually fly within the same airline network and I use the airline network’s credit card in order to rack up airline miles.  I’ve flown with American Airlines and their partners for years, and as a result, I have flown 8 times to Europe with miles (only paying taxes).  I highly recommend flying within the same airline network and signing up for a credit card that supports this network.  I’ve racked up so many miles with this method that I’ve even been able to donate air miles to friends for their own flights. 

Traveling Independently

Another major cost of travel is booking tours.  Many people will book tours to destinations such as Egypt, China, Jordan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Mexico, and more for several thousand dollars.  These destinations (with the exception of Jordan) are very inexpensive if you are willing to travel independently without a packaged tour. Traveling independently isn’t always easy, (especially traveling alone like this as a woman) but it is the less expensive method. 

The Digital Nomad Lifestyle

A lot of people who end up traveling the world long-term do so by quitting their jobs and living off of their savings. During my travels, I came across a lot of backpackers who were traveling on a shoe-string budget while taking buses or trains from one country to the next and staying in a dorm room in a hostel. Although I am a budget traveler I do enjoy some comforts, and I decided this was not how I wanted to travel the world.

Working full-time from my laptop

Many people want to know exactly what I do working from my laptop so I’ll be very transparent and explain here. 

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and for a few years after college, I was a teacher in my hometown in Florida.  It ended up that I truly despised teaching and I gave up on this career.  I took a massive pay cut in order to launch a new career and start at the bottom of the ladder in the corporate world of educational technology.  

Over the years I finally worked my way up the corporate ladder working in sales, marketing, and K-12 educational content development.  When I started working remotely from my laptop six years ago the company I was working for at the time sent me on international business trips to India, Germany, and the U.K.  This is how I started to get a taste for international travel.  

Since then I started traveling while working remotely from my laptop.  I’ve gone back and forth between working directly for this company and working as a freelancer for various companies.  

Most people just assume I have won the lottery or gotten lucky in life, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.  I worked hard to build my career up to the point where I am now.  Up until 6 years ago I almost never took off of work for vacation and I almost never took any personal trips.  

Not only have I worked remotely in the educational technology industry, but I have also spent a lot of time to build this blog.  Managing this blog has become a part-time job and over the years I have juggled full-time travel with a full-time freelance gig in the educational technology industry, and I have worked part-time as a travel blogger.  I’ve basically worked my ass off to get to where I need to be.  

My work as a travel blogger has been somewhat lucrative providing part-time income but it has also helped me save a lot of money off of travel expenses.  I have created blog posts and various content in exchange for discounted and/or completely sponsored flights, tours, hotels, etc.  It seems like such an easy gig but it’s actually a lot of behind the scenes work to create the content for these collaborations.

Since I juggle both a full-time and a part-time job while traveling I almost never feel as if I can just be on vacation.  This is actually one of the main reasons why I have traveled solo because it’s just easier to be alone rather than to disappoint a travel companion who wants to travel on a proper vacation.

Sacrifices

Since I post a lot of travel photos on social media a lot of peope ask if I have won the lottery!????  What no one sees is what goes behind the scenes in order to create a full-time nomadic lifestyle.  Since I am not wealthy, I have focused on making sacrifices in my life in order to be able to afford to travel so much.

Embracing a minimalistic lifestyle

I’ve never been a materialistic person, but it wasn’t until I became an extreme minimalist that I was able to afford to travel more.

So, what does it mean to be a minimalist? Minimalism is just simply owning fewer possessions. A minimalist intentionally lives with only the things that a person needs.

Six years ago, I slowly started embracing this lifestyle when I stopped buying an excessive amount of clothes, shoes, and accessories. I decided to purchase flights instead of jewelry. I spent my money on experiences rather than the latest tech gadgets.

Becoming homeless

I eventually became such an extreme minimalist that I decided to take the plunge and embrace a fully nomadic lifestyle. I officially became homeless at the end of May 2017.

At that point in my life, I decided to not renew my lease where I was living in Florida. I began to sell and donate most of my possessions. I sold and donated most of my clothes, I sold my furniture, I gave my brother all of my kitchenware, and I packed only a few important items to store in boxes at my parent’s house.

Without having to pay rent or utility bills I was able to afford to travel a lot more. I suddenly had more money to book flights, accommodation, tours, bus trips, and more. At the end of May 2017, I booked a one-way flight to Southeast Asia and I’ve been traveling full-time since then (well, until the COVID-19 pandemic halted all travel).

For 3 years from 2017-2020, I traveled the world without having a place to call home and I traveled to a new country every week or month living in Airbnbs, hotels, and hostels. Everything I currently own fits into a small backpack (my laptop, DSLR camera, GoPro, wallet, and passport) and a larger backpack (all of my Liverpool shirts, the rest of my clothes, shoes, and cosmetics).

Most people would never go to the extreme of giving up their home and embrace a fully nomadic lifestyle. Of course, it’s more difficult for someone who has a family, a house, etc.  Although, if you do a Google search there are nomadic families and family travel bloggers out there!

Committing to a fully nomadic lifestyle is kind of a crazy idea and in many ways, it is a huge risk. It’s been a big sacrifice and risk but one that I have been willing to embrace for 3 years in order to fulfill my dream of traveling the world.

Traveling solo and remaining single

While most people seem to end up getting married, spend years in long-term relationships, or jump from relationship to relationship, I’ve spent much of my adult life being single. I’ve always been very independent but when I embraced a fully-nomadic lifestyle I also became dedicated to remaining single.

Of course, if someone would like to become a full-time traveler that person does not have to travel alone. During most of my travels, I have noticed that most people are traveling with someone else. I see other solo travelers on Instagram and I do come across other solo travelers out there in the world but most people I meet while traveling are not traveling alone like me. Most people certainly aren’t traveling alone for several years at a time.

I travel alone because I simply do not have a romantic partner and I don’t want the fact that I am single to hold me back from achieving my dreams of traveling the world.

Back in 2014 when I initially started traveling abroad I was mostly traveling alone because I had a flexible lifestyle by working remotely from my laptop. I didn’t want to have to wait for someone else to be able to have the funds or to have vacation time off in order to travel with me. I just decided I wanted to travel more so I just got off my ass and did it.

Instead of dating, I’ve been focusing on myself and focusing on achieving my own dreams. I have traveled so much in the last 3 years that it has been impossible to be in one place for any length of time in order to develop a relationship anyway. 

Passport Privilege

Most of the reasons why I am able to travel so much have nothing to do with luck. However, passport privilege is the one thing that has everything to do with luck.

A lot of people don’t realize what passport privilege is or even that they have it. If you have a passport from the USA, Japan, Singapore, UAE, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, etc. then you also have passport privilege. What this means is that you can travel visa-free to most countries in the world. Passport privilege saves travelers a lot of time and money and without this, I probably wouldn’t be able to travel as much as I do.

Although having a weak passport does make travel a lot more difficult, I do have plenty of friends who have figured out ways to make it happen. My friends from India, Thailand, and the Philippines, have figured out how to travel abroad and many of them have even traveled to Liverpool to watch games at Anfield. If you have passport privilege then I think after reading this you’ll realize that you don’t have to be wealthy to travel and you have no excuse!????

Full-Time Travel is Not For Everyone

Even though this lifestyle is not for everyone I hope this article has been helpful. If you enjoy knowing where you’ll sleep every night then the life of full-time travel is not for you. However, if you do want to travel more then I’m sure you’ll find some of the information in this post to be useful.

Full-Time travel also isn’t easy, and especially as a solo female traveler. A lot of people look at my travel photos and assume everything is bliss. I do often share that traveling abroad isn’t as scary as the media will present it to be. However, I will admit I have gotten into quite a few sticky situations as a woman roaming around alone. I’ve been robbed multiple times, and I’ve been scammed, bullied, and harassed by men on every continent. Most of my travel experiences are incredible, however, there are quite a few uncomfortable moments that can and will happen with long-term travel.

I haven’t had a home in years, and just about everything I own fits in my backpack the I travel the world with. I don’t have a husband/significant other, children, or pets.  I know my life is crazy and I don’t have what most people have, but what I do have is the freedom to see the world.  It’s not easy to live like this but it’s well worth it for me.  My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner!