One woman quit her job five years ago and never looked back – now she’s found a way to fund her travels and has already ticked off 23 countries
A woman who quit her job five years ago to travel the world says she has never looked back, nor does she plan to return to a full-time job.
Samantha Oppenheimer was working in a marketing role in New York City, but says that in 2018 she decided to quit her job to go and explore the world, adding that she has “no plans to stop travelling or return to my corporate role”. Her travels have seen her explore over 23 countries, not to mention ticking off bucket list experiences such as watching the sunrise in Hawaii, or seeing the Northern Lights in Lapland.
While she is no longer in full-time work, Samantha told travel site Omio that she’s found ways to fund her travels from pet-sitting to volunteering in hostels, as well as a year-long stint selling rooftop tents online.
Admitting that on the first stint she booked an airfare “with no return ticket”, she explained that research is key before heading abroad. She explained: “On our first big travel leap, we booked tickets to Iceland, Paris, Athens, and Thailand with no return ticket. Once we reached Thailand, we did some further research and also went to Kuala Lumpur, Bali and Singapore before heading back to the States.”
Unsurprisingly, Samantha has also picked up some great tips for keeping your holiday budget low. “The most cost-effective way to travel is to plan your trip ahead of time,” the savvy holidaymaker said. “For example, booking accommodation at the last minute can be pretty expensive so make sure to plan out the route that you would like to take and where you will be staying. This especially applies if you are visiting a country during its peak tourism season, for example, New York at Christmas.”
“If you plan to stay in one country for a long time, then purchasing bus and train passes will prevent you from spending money on transport every single day. Also, plan the activities you would like to do and book tickets online. Sometimes the website will offer additional discounts that you would not receive if you just turned up on the day. Popular cities also often offer city passes that give you discounts on top attractions.”
For anyone booking holidays, she also recommended looking at the off-season months, which she books “often to save money and enjoy the destination with fewer crowds”.
Of course quitting your job to travel the world isn’t a viable option for most people, but the good news is that there are plenty of ways you can explore on a budget too. We’ve got a guide to all the latest holiday deals we think you’ll love, which we regularly update as we find sales, discount codes and more offers.
Want the Daily Mirror’s top travel stories and best deals straight to your inbox? Sign up to our free weekly newsletter here.