Hi, I'm Kristin
My vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered, brave, and confident in their abilities. Where we explore other cultures, spend more time in nature, and come to love our world more. Solo traveling is the best thing I've found to promote these qualities. We become the chief architect of our own destiny. Everything is new and our entire surroundings are an opportunity to grow. My purpose is to provide resources to make traveling more accessible, adventurous, and immersive for you.
I'm guessing that you ended up here because, like me, you're looking for the ultimate escape, a chance to get to know yourself better, or you just want to plan an immersive trip that isn't the same thing that everyone else is doing. You want the life-changing experience, the kind that only adventurers have.
Maybe you're looking for ways to maximize your paid time off, or maybe you're looking to change your life completely, leaving behind the cubicle and embracing an adventure on the other side of the world. Maybe it's something you've wanted your whole life, and nobody around you understands, but your desire for the adventure of a lifetime keeps the dream alive.
I know that's not easy, and it can be pretty scary to go somewhere you've never been before, especially if you're going it alone.
Does it sound familiar?
I totally get you.
My Story
I was born and raised in a Los Angeles suburb. For most of my life, I did what I was supposed to do - got good grades, went to college, studied abroad in Taiwan, and got a steady job in finance when I was 22. I thought this was my only option.
But my creativity didn't get a chance to shine that way. I was obsessed with painting, writing, and reading history books from a young age. The American Girl series was my jam. I was the kid who used to play Civilization and the Amazon Trail video games, who spent hours searching the weather and capital cities of far-off places around the world, just to imagine how it would feel to be there. I was a dreamer, but I didn't think I could make it into a career.
Four years into my investment banking job, I was miserable, dreaming of my Taiwan days and wondering if there was an alternative to the golden handcuffs. After a year of agonizing, I quit that fancy job, ended my lease, said goodbye to my friends and family, packed a carry on bag, bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok, and took a chance on my dream. I wanted to write, I wanted to create, and I wanted to get to know those far off places I'd dreamt of as a kid. That's when I started this blog, and it's been my job ever since.
Seven years later I've had some crazy adventures, including hitchhiking solo across China, freediving with humpback whales in the South Pacific, hiking for 14 days to over 18k feet in Nepal without a guide, leading women's adventure tours all around the world, and even becoming a Buddhist nun for 10 days.
Though I had very humble beginnings, now this blog is read by millions of people, and has become a community for solo female travelers the world over. Vogue, Buzzfeed, the Washington Post, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, and more have sought my solo travel advice for women just like you.
Welcome, and I hope that you enjoy what you find here. This is the beginning of a beautiful journey.
Want to read my blogging story more in depth? Get to know the Be My Travel Muse story here.
I'm also a new mom! Interested in my take on family travel? Check out my other project, Parenthood Adventures!
Ways to Stay Connected
Group Adventure Trips
A few times per year, I invite a small group of women to explore a new part of the world with me. Past tours included Alaska, Botswana, Galapagos, Namibia, Patagonia, and Peru. Join us in Patagonia and Africa in 2020!
YouTube
For the best look at my travel experiences, in-depth packing videos, and tutorials that make traveling (and blogging!) easier, subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Keep in touch by tuning into my daily Instagram stories and see where I'm traveling in real time. My best photography and the goofy behind the scenes of the adventures can be found here.
How to Use Be My Travel Muse
Solo Female Travel Advice
Whether it's your first or fiftieth time traveling alone, this site is full of resources to help you in any region of the world with packing, planning, staying safe, and having fun!
Destinations
Looking for destination-specific advice? My destinations page has an interactive map that allows you to select where in the world you want to visit. Get itineraries and insider tips.
Read the Blog
What's new? Read the blog in reverse-chronological order. Or, check out the archives to see every post that's ever been published. Go back in time or find a topic that fits you.
I hope this site helps you to have an adventure!
If you're new around here, start here for an introduction to Be My Travel Muse, or check out the Best of the Blog for some of the most helpful, inspirational, and wow-that-really-happened? reads.
See you around the interwebs!
Happy travels!
Hugs,
Kristin