The Case for “Back Roads” Traveling
As part of our Women’s History Month series, Cinneah (the founder of Flynanced) and I co-hosted a series of incredible roundtable discussions with some of our favorite women in the personal finance space with the goal of fostering rich intersectional conversations around money.
Rebecka Zavaleta, is the founder of First Milli, where she educates us on how to invest towards our “First Milli,” and also uses her platform to highlight travelling off the beaten path. We asked her for some ways we can explore lesser known, “back roads” destinations that won't break the bank. Here’s what she had to share. (You can watch the full recording of the roundtable discussion, Creating a Travel Abundant Lifestyle, here).
Back Roads Traveling on a Budget
To me, “back roads” traveling means going to small towns that people don't usually don't travel to. It’s my favorite type of traveling because there's still a lot of culture intact and they’re not yet commercialized. I really enjoy learning about the people, culture, language, and architecture. I love the hidden gems. Anthony Bordain has definitely been one of my biggest influencers for back roads traveling.
I recommend you start with a home base. Maybe you go to Mexico City first and then you go to a bar and start having conversations with people. They might suggest unique places. It’s a great way to find something new.
I also recommend doing more “back roads” traveling after you've gotten used to traveling to other countries where you don't speak the language or maybe you’ve gotten sick and had to navigate a different healthcare system. I've been in hospitals in Brazil, helping my friend from Austria figure out what was wrong with her ear without an English translator.
In time you learn how to be flexible. Always assume everything will go wrong because it will. For example, the power may go off and you’ll have to figure out how to get the internet running with generators. You have to always be ready for the unknown.
Remote Work and Travel
With remote work, I have definitely been to a lot of hidden places by just jumping into my beat-up 2004 Honda Civic with 10 days worth of clothing, my laptop, and everything I need to have steady internet. Steady internet access is the hardest part of back roads traveling.
Everyone that travels with me knows that they better get out of my way because I'll probably kill them until I can get the internet working. I really want to make it work during the nine to five where I'm working!
Next Steps
Watch the full recording of the roundtable discussion, Creating a Travel Abundant Lifestyle, here.
Follow Rebecka on Instagram at @first.milli
About Rebecka:
Rebecka Zavaleta has worked in financial technology and is the founder of First Milli, which helps people reach their first $1 million in net worth. Rebecka was named by NextAdvisor in partnership with Time Magazine as a top money expert in 2020. She creates wealth building content from a first-gen perspective. She works in tech as a Product Manager developing software in adtech and fintech for over the last 10 years.