One of the best things about traveling is the people you meet and relationships you build that turn into lifelong friendships. While the majority of the time I travel "solo", it doesn't mean I'm alone the entire time. Along the way, I meet people from all over the world whether it be at a hostel, restaurant, or just roaming the streets. To this day, some of my closest friends are those I met while traveling.
Here are some of my amazing friends and fellow travel enthusiasts. Find out their favorite places, worst travel experiences, travel tips, and more below!
Alex Germerott – Germany
Language(s) spoken: German, English, French, and a bit of Portuguese
Current location: Germany
Favorite place: Well it’s pretty hard to say which one was my favorite place. I liked the clear blue water in Rio de Janeiro but also the massive buildings in Tokyo.
Best travel experience: This is also hard to say, but one of my best experiences was the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Also, our last trip to Tokyo to meet up again.
Worst travel experience: When some pickpocketers tried to steal our bag at Ipanema Beach in Rio.
Travel tip(s): You definitely have to come to good old Germany and try German beer.
How we met: We met in Rio during the 2016 Olympics. It was a pleasure for me to work with you on the golf course.
Brent Folan – United States
Language(s) spoken: English and conversational Spanish
Current location: Central America (sidenote: Brent doesn’t sit still)
Favorite place: Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Cape Town, Mumbai, or Hong Kong
Best travel experience: The 2016 Summer Olympics or my 412 day trip around the world! Both have been so life-changing.
Worst travel experience: Actually very tough to think of one…food poisoning is never fun anywhere.
Travel tip(s):
1) Always wear a smile! Talk to the locals, they all have a story to tell.
2) Always step out of your comfort zone, it makes for the best stories.
How we met: 2016 Summer Olympics
Link(s): Instagram (@brentfolan) | Folan Finds
Donna Oosterbeek – Netherlands
Language(s) spoken: Dutch and English
Current location: Netherlands
Favorite place: Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica and Rome, Italy
Best travel experience: No doubt the Traveling Spanish Classroom.
Worst travel experience: No doubt as well, Lloret de Mar, Spain. Way too many (sex) tourists and drunk people.
Travel tip(s):
1) The Traveling Spanish Classroom was an awesome experience. I recommend it to other people who want to combine traveling and learning Spanish.
2) Thailand is very nice. Pai in the north is very relaxing and chill. The Koh Pha-Ngan islands are very beautiful.
How we met: Traveling Spanish Classroom in Panama and Costa Rica
Link(s): Instagram (@donnaoosterbeek)
Helina Alvarez – United States
Language(s) spoken: English
Current location: United States
Favorite place: I don’t know if I can pick just one. Greece and Namibia are tied!
Best travel experience: Five weeks in the Namib desert studying reptile ecology with people from Namibia, Botswana, and the US. We spent Christmas and New Years together and were able to experience such a beautiful culture.
Worst travel experience: Brazil. Although it’s a gorgeous country, being there during the 2016 Summer Olympics was insanely crowded. There was security/military standing on almost every street corner with large automatic rifles. I understand it was a safety precaution, but I didn’t feel safe there.
Travel tip(s): Be as respectful and polite as possible. Each culture, religion, and country can be very different from what you’re used to.
How we met: We were roommates for 2 days in Rio.
Link(s): Instagram (@caligirl_helina)
Karol Yela – Colombia
Language(s) spoken: Spanish and English
Current location: Bogotá
Favorite place: Rincon del Mar, Sucre, Colombia
Best travel experience: The Olympic Games Rio 2016
Worst travel experience: None
Travel tip(s):
1) Ask local people for the best places to visit and the best way to do it.
2) Always visit the downtown and most popular neighborhoods to find the best food and customs.
3) Be open to the idea that everything is part of the trip, even the bad things. Don’t get mad because things didn’t go as expected. Just be patient to get out of trouble and keep going!
How we met: We were roommates in Rio de Janeiro.
Link(s): Instagram (@karolyc01)
Kaley Desher – United States
Language(s) spoken: English and Spanish
Current location: Spain
Favorite place: Barcelona
Best travel experience: Stargazing in the Sahara desert.
Worst travel experience: Getting lost in Seville.
Travel tip(s):
1) Be open to new experiences.
2) Be friendly with everyone you meet.
3) Embrace spontaneity.
How we met: We were roommates in Rio de Janeiro!
Link(s): Instagram (@kaleydesh)
Madi Brown – United States
Language(s) spoken: English and Spanish
Current location: California
Favorite place: Antigua, Guatemala and Stockholm, Sweden
Best travel experience: Getting to visit people who I met earlier in my trip and being able to stay in touch with so many people from around the world.
Worst travel experience: Getting parasites in Peru.
Travel tip(s):
1) Don’t be afraid to travel solo.
2) Do your research.
3) Talk to people.
4) Do what you enjoy doing.
5) Don’t be afraid to get off the beaten path.
How we met: Traveling Spanish Classroom in Panama.
Link(s): Instagram (@madi01brown)
Maximilian (Max) Germerott – Germany
Language(s) spoken: German, English, some French, and a little Portuguese
Current location: Germany (just returned from Tokyo)
Favorite place: South Africa
Best travel experience: Safari in South Africa and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Worst travel experience: Being on the verge of a shootout in Paris.
Travel tip(s): Try to visit every place you’re interested in. Each trip is a lifetime memory.
How we met: During the Olympics in Rio. You worked with my brother.
Tamara Marzouk – United States
Language(s) spoken: English and intermediate Spanish
Current location: Los Angeles
Favorite place: Samara, Costa Rica
Best travel experience: I spent two months in Costa Rica and spent time with an amazing group of doulas and a midwife!
Worst travel experience: I get seasick, so I’ve had trouble on a few boat rides in different places in the world.
Travel tip(s):
1) Be careful about over-packing! You’ll regret it later. You can always buy essentials as you travel, so don’t lug too much around.
2) Take risks! Say yes to something you thought you would never say yes to, even if it scares you. Pushing your comfort zone can be a great opportunity for growth!
How we met: We met at a Spanish school in Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Tiffany Alvord – United States
Language(s) spoken: English, some Korean, and some German
Current location: South Korea
Favorite place: Everywhere I’ve gone but I’d have to say La Gonave, Haiti. Gorgeous views! The views from the plane literally made my jaw drop.
Best travel experience: I was in Haiti visiting family and we were in Anse-a-Galat waiting to take a boat (I use that word loosely – this “boat” was barely bigger than a rowboat and frighteningly rickety) to the small island of La Gonave. The views from the private dock were unbelievable! The views from the “boat” were incredible as well even though I held on for dear life the entire time. Still enjoyable.
Worst travel experience: I had a solo trip to Thailand and was on the last leg. I headed to Bangkok, got there later in the evening and decided to check out a night food market. I had the exact address and everything, but I ended up walking for two hours (after getting lost a few times) to find that the market was not where my GPS said it was. I was in some shady neighborhood. I booked it out of there and went back to the hostel exhausted, starving, and frustrated. I ordered a pizza and ate it on the rooftop deck…so I guess the ending wasn’t that bad!
Travel tip(s):
1) Always exchange more money than you think you will need at the airport. You never know if your cards will stop working or places will only accept cash.
2) Take trips by yourself! I’m literally scared of everything, but traveling solo has proven to me that I’m capable of so much more than I thought.
3) Try the “strange” local food. I tried a silkworm pupa where I’m living in South Korea and even though it was awful (so squishy!), it’s something I’ll never forget.
4) Be prepared for plans to go awry. Roll with the punches and just move on to plan B and sometimes plan C. It’s all part of traveling.
How we met: We worked at the same bank in Michigan
Link(s): Instagram (@tiffany.j.alvord) | Three If By Sky
Victor Firmino – Brazil
Language(s) spoken: Portuguese, English, and some Danish
Current location: Ireland
Favorite place: New York City
Best travel experience: London
Worst travel experience: Keflavik
Travel tip(s):
1) Use Skyscanner for plane tickets.
2) Always book a hostel directly with them.
3) Try to always travel with just a carry-on bag.
How we met: We were staying at the same hostel in Rio
William (Will) McInerney – Australia
Language(s) spoken: English and some basic phrases in other languages
Current location: Home (Adelaide, South Australia)
Favorite place: Egypt is my favorite country! The history of the country is fascinating and how so many ancient monuments have been preserved/restored is incredible. The tombs inside Valley of the Kings are in such good condition…like they were made last week – mind-blowing!
Best travel experience: Being some of the first people of the day to explore places like Machu Picchu and Petra. Having few people around you just allows you to soak in everything and enjoy it at your own pace. Our guide to one of the best vantage points of the Treasury at Petra was a 7-year-old boy and the route to get there involves scaling rock faces. When we got up there he left us up there to find our own way down so we got to do some exploring to find our own way down which was all part of the adventure!
Worst travel experience: When trekking for Silverback Mountain Gorillas in Uganda, our tracker was attacked and mauled by a Blackback (juvenile Silverback) and surrounded by three Silverbacks all trying to grab him. One Silverback charged within a meter or two of me straight towards the tracker. It turns out we did not see that a mother and baby had joined the rest of the family and the males were trying to protect them. Apparently, it is rare for this to happen and everyone was okay, but it was pretty terrifying!
Travel tip(s):
1) Pack light and embrace everything!
2) Get up early and beat the crowds.
3) Do what you can when you can!
How we met: Volunteering at the Olympic Golf Course at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Link(s): Instagram (@wilburrrrr) | Instagram (@wherethereswilltherestravel)
Zandra (Zandy) Treviño – Mexico
Language(s) spoken: Spanish, English, Portuguese, and German
Current location: Mexico (just returned from Asia)
Favorite place: Perito Moreno, Calafate, Argentina
Best travel experience: Guanajuato, Mexico
Worst travel experience: I can’t think of one.
Travel tip(s):
1) Travel with a student card to get discounts to museums and temples.
2) Always bring an extra lock.
3) Carry Advil with you.
4) Always bring a swimsuit and a jacket.
5) Start your trip with half of your bags empty.
6) You can bring things like tequila or local candy to give to the people you meet during your trip.
How we met: In a hostel in Montevideo, Uruguay
Link(s): Instagram (@zandytr)
