Traveller Profile - Michelle Halpern
This month, I would like to introduce you to a fellow traveller and blogger; Michelle. You can find Michelle and all her travels she shares on her travel site, Live Like It’s The Weekend. A brilliant site that jam-packed full of goodies ‘for the creative soul's incurable case of wanderlust’.
I’m Michelle and I’m a seeker, a dreamer, a podcast-listening lover of adventure, design, and 90s hip hop, and a Libra through and through. I’ve lived in practically every corner of the U.S., from Miami where I was born, to Maine where I grew up, and in NYC and Los Angeles after college where I spent a combined seven years working “traditional jobs” in fashion media and marketing.
When it comes to travel, I’m literally one of those people who has “everywhere on their list,” so don’t expect to find me city-hopping or only seeking out tropical destinations. I want to do it all.
If it weren’t for this life I chose I would have never learned to scuba dive in Indonesia, or take Spanish lessons in Argentina, witness the Northern Lights above the Arctic Circle — or spend a month exploring all over Portugal. I would have never had the courage to travel solo all over the world in countries like Iceland, Japan and Vietnam.
I don’t have a trust fund or an inheritance. I don’t have a private jet that flies me wherever I want to go. I don’t have a husband that funds all of my adventures — heck, I don’t even have a boyfriend to take my photos! I’ve just learned to put in the work and get scrappy to make this life of travel happen — and I like to do it in style, even when my bank account doesn’t necessarily reflect one of a worldwide jet setter.
So far, I’ve traveled to over 40 countries on six continents and don’t plan on slowing down any time soon.
As you might guess, I spend A LOT of my time on social media. Come join the party on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.
Why do you travel?
I travel to stay inspired, to be reminded of how beautiful this precious world is, and to find the wonder. Travel fills me up with so much gratitude for this planet and our fellow humans, and I wish that experience on everyone. We would all be kinder to each other if we could focus more on gratitude.
Tell us your favourite: place to visit, mode of transport and source to get travel info.
It's really tough to choose just one, but if we're going based on the numbers, I've been to Mexico over 20 times! My favorite mode of transport would be the car. I love road trips! And I get a lot of travel info from Instagram.
What is your favourite travel memory?
Sleeping under the stars in India is definitely a memory I will never forget.
What's the most important thing you've learned while travelling?
People are inherently good and kind and want to help. It is just our societal programming that makes us fearful of others and tells us we are not safe.
Who would you love to sit next to on your next flight?
My future husband.
What's your best money-saving tip to travel?
Learn the travel hacking game! Honestly, if you're not making your credit cards work for you, you're missing out on so much savings in the form of free flights, hotels, etc. I have saved thousands upon thousands of dollars by getting really good at travel hacking and it's a huge reason why I can travel as much as I do. I have a beginner's guide to travel hacking here that is a good starting place for those that are just learning.
How do you deal with the post-holiday blues?
Exercise and eating right! Getting back into my healthy routines after a trip is the fastest way for me to get my mood up and to ensure I feel good about myself which elevates everything else in my life.
What's one thing you like to do in every place you visit?
I love popping into a local bookstore in every place I visit. I've been a huge reader since I was little, so bookstores feel like home.
Travelling can leave a big environmental footprint, how do you minimise yours?
I contribute money every month towards Climeworks, which is a company that has the technology to remove CO2 from the air to fight climate-changing carbon emissions. It's really easy for anyone to contribute monthly at an amount that is doable for them. I highly recommend it to all travelers.
Plan an around the world trip for us, stopping in one city only on each continent.
Ooh this is such a fun one. I'm going to choose based on the places that are highest on my list right now!
Nashville > Cartagena > Cairo > Dubrovnik > Kyoto > Queenstown
Thanks so much for sharing Michelle about yourself and your incredible adventures. WARNING: hide your credit card when you take a look at Michelle’s Instagram, or you will be wanting to book flights immediately! If you haven’t already checked out Michelle’s website, it’s a must too. So much good content, you can get lost for hours.
To read past traveller profiles; click here.
Each month an enthusiastic traveller will share with us their personal stories from their adventures around the world. If you would like to be featured in the upcoming months then please drop us a note below…
