Stephanie Yoder is a girl who can’t sit still. She writes about her travels and dispenses advice at Twenty-Something Travel, and tweets at @20sTravel
Cheapflights: What is it about traveling so much that you clearly can’t get enough of?
Stephanie Yoder: I am a person who just really loves to learn, and I love the daily exploration and discovery that travel gives me. The excitement of waking up in a new place, exploring a new city or trying a new street food is what keeps me going.
CF: You write at length in your blog of the sacrifices required to be a world traveler. Care to divulge a few?
SY: When you are constantly traveling you have to give up a lot of the comforts and consistencies of home. At the moment I basically live out of my backpack: so no house, no circle of friends and no dog (sad). The hardest part for me is missing major holidays like Christmas. For me at least the sacrifices are worth it, and it does make coming home to visit extra sweet.
CF: Do you ever travel in groups or are you more of a solo traveler?
SY: I don’t really do group tours, although I’m not opposed to them. Generally I prefer the freedom of traveling alone or with my boyfriend. I like to have flexibility to do whatever I want when I feel like it – I’m spoiled that way.
CF: What’s a high point in your travels so far?
SY: There have been a lot of high points, but sitting atop the Great Wall of China was kind of a pinnacle of achievement. It’s such an iconic place and I was traveling alone that day which just sort of embodied a lot of the feelings I associate with travel.
CF: What is an absolute must on your packing list?
SY: I’m having a love affair with my Kindle right now. I am a huge book worm and it’s such a pain to try to find English language books on the road. I was skeptical at first but now I can’t imagine traveling without it.
CF: How do you recommend anxious travelers stretch their comfort zone?
SY: Part of the reason why I love to travel so much is it really does force me to push my limits and get out of my own head. For me solo travel particularly is about stretching my comfort zone.
If that is too overwhelming, people can practice at home. Go out to the movies alone or out to dinner by yourself. A large part of solo travel is just getting comfortable being on your own.
CF: Who’s the most memorable seatmate (or what’s the most memorable conversation) you’ve had on a plane?
SY: I’m actually pretty anti-social on planes. I hate making small talk so I’m usually the one plugged into her book or headphones from liftoff on.
CF: Any tips on researching a new destination before taking off?
SY: I’ve gotten much more laid back about my trip research over time. I used to pour over Lonely Planets and take copious noted. Now I get most of my information via word of mouth, which I think is really better for getting the real scoop.
CF: Is there a destination that without fail (barring floods and famine) you visit regularly?
SY: London keeps drawing me back again and again. It was my first overseas destination – I studied abroad there – and since then I’ve gone back to live and work and to visit on several occasions. It’s my favorite city in the world.
CF: How do you get around a new country if you don’t speak the language?
SY: The language barrier is actually not as big of an issue as people imagine it to be. For starters, the world’s tourism language is English, so if you know that you are ahead of the game. Secondly, when English isn’t an option, there are a surprising number of ways to get your point across.
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
