Meet this week's #SoloVoyager, Maylene Angeles! She's a marketing/digital media senior at William Paterson University and the content curator of travel + lifestyle platform 'Really Maylene'. Read this exclusive interview as Maylene reveals her tips on how to travel on a budget, shares the most exhilarating aspect about traveling and discusses the top 3 goals for her blog platform.SD: Hey Maylene! Thank you for participating in this week’s #SoloVoyager interview series. Please tell us a little about yourself. MA: Hello, I'm Maylene, just a regular 21 year old trying to find her way through life. I am currently in my last year of college studying marketing and digital media. I am Dominican-American and put a significant amount of importance in my Hispanic heritage and culture as well as spreading awareness for other minority groups. As a woman, and a minority I have always aspired to leave a positive trail anywhere I go and this lasting goal has really pushed me to become the woman that I am today. SD: You are the founder of “Really Maylene”, an online platform that heavily focuses on travel, self-care, and lifestyle. What inspired you to create this blog? MA: My blog, Really Maylene, came from the lack of representation of regular women, going through regular problems in the world. I constantly found myself looking to others on how I should be living my life and comparing what I had to what they have. It became an unhealthy cycle and I slowly started realizing that I probably wasn’t the only one in this. I created my blog to show other woman that there is nothing wrong with being “regular”, and that no matter what was going on around me, this was really Maylene who I was portraying, not a fake persona created and molded by society. SD: In specific to your travel content, did you always have a passion for travel or did it developed over time? Please explain. MA: I always knew I wanted to see the world and I’ve always had an interest in learning about other cultures. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I really started to create a “bucket list” of places I wanted to see. SD: At what age did you start to travel by myself and/or with friends? How did you feel? Please tell us about the experience and what destination it was. MA: Growing up, I always traveled to the Dominican Republic every summer. I would spend all my time there with my parents or grandparents and I enjoyed every second of it. In high school I went on a cruise with neither one of my parents, but instead with my uncle, cousins, and grandmother. Even though my parents weren’t there, it wasn’t until freshman year of college, when I went on a road trip to Miami, Florida with my long term boyfriend that I actually felt like I was “an adult” on vacation. I felt free to do the activities that I wanted to do and to see the places I wanted to see. It felt exhilarating. I knew then that any other time I would travel, I would be selfish and do what I want to do, because ultimately it was my experience to have. Growing up, I always traveled to the Dominican Republic every summer. I would spend all my time there with my parents or grandparents and I enjoyed every second of it. In high school I went on a cruise with neither one of my parents, but instead with my uncle, cousins, and grandmother. Even though my parents weren’t there, it wasn’t until freshman year of college, when I went on a road trip to Miami, Florida with my long term boyfriend that I actually felt like I was “an adult” on vacation. I felt free to do the activities that I wanted to do and to see the places I wanted to see. It felt exhilarating. I knew then that any other time I would travel, I would be selfish and do what I want to do, because ultimately it was my experience to have. SD: As a college student, how are you able to afford your trips? Please share different tips and tricks to travel on a budget. MA: Money can be one of the biggest set backs you have as a college student. After my freshman year, I worked my a** off at a local restaurant waitressing so that I could save as much money as possible. At the time I was saving to move out. But that money soon became my traveling fund. Even once I had the money saved however, I tried my hardest to find deals any way I could. Some of my favorite tips and tricks are the following: * Travel apps are a must! Use apps like Hopper and Travel Pirates to find crazy deals and jump on it first chance! Don't have a specific date in mind? Try Google Flights. Here you can enter your travel destination and scroll through the year calendar to check when's the cheapest time of the year to fly! This is how I found a $350 round trip ticket to Barcelona! ️ Expedia also has a great tool on desktops that gives you suggestion on how to tweak your trips by extending it or shifting it that could save you close to $100! Have you tried Sky-scanner? Just scroll through the cheapest flights available this year. * Don't be afraid to stay local! Personally, I love Airbnb and feel that resorts can easily strip the authenticity and culture from any location. They also tend to be much more expensive being that they include cleaning, buffet, and drinking fees. Maybe try staying at an Airbnb close to some local restaurants. This way you get a true sense of what it's like to live like the locals, and help by increasing local economies! ⛱ * Unless you're on a resort, so much of your travel money ultimately gets spent on food. If you're getting at Airbnb however, get one with a kitchen and cook! Personally, I love trying new food from all over the world. So I have found it best to cut costs on breakfast! You can easily buy pancake mix or deli meat and bread and save costs of 1 meal per day! Remember, save on the little things to enjoy the big ones! * There are hundreds of free things to do! Before going on any trip you should be planing out your days and create an itinerary. This helps reduce stress and eliminates time wasted! While you plan, find some awesome attractions that are FREE. I always rely on Google to help me. Simply type in "things to do in ___" and a list of fun things to do will come up! From there, see if it costs anything, if it is a reasonable walking distance from where you are staying, or how much a simple Uber will cost! This will help you save for the big things! Look for more tips and tricks on my Instagram @reallymaylene SD: What’s the most exhilarating aspect about traveling in your experience? MA: My absolute favorite part about traveling is learning about a new culture. Every place is different, even when traveling in the country. People in Florida do things differently than people in Cali. All of these differences make each place so special. My main goal when traveling is to always come back home feeling like I really got to know a place and its people better. And when you do, the feeling is amazing. SD: How many places have you traveled to so far? Please name them as well. MA: I have traveled, so far; to 7 major states and cities (this is excluding states I have only driven through like Virginia and Georgia) and 6 countries excluding America: San Francisco Puerto Rico New Orleans Boston South Carolina Washington DC Columbus, Ohio Italy Mexico Jamaica Haiti Dominican Republic Canada SD: Out of all the places, which destination was your most favorite? Why? MA: Italy has been my favorite destination so far. Nothing ever compares to the beauty of my home country, the Dominican Republic, but my experience in Italy was truly amazing. For one, it was my first time traveling to Europe! The culture there was far different than any other I had experienced. The food was absolutely incredible and the views, the views were what sold it. In Italy we visited 6 major cities: Rome, Naples, Amalfi coast, Venice, Piza and Florence. The coast was by far the most spectacular place I have ever seen. It is number 1 on the places I want to go back to and revisit. SD: Backtracking to your platform, what are your top 3 goals for “Really Maylene”? MA: Really Maylene is a platform to show real women that it is okay to be real and regular. The platform was made to be a hub, for women to see and relate to real problems, and for them to see that their dreams are possible and that you don’t have to be some kind of celebrity to get there. My top 3 goals for 2019 is to upload as much content as possible, to start fostering a community of real, and beautiful women, and to share my experiences as a regular girl going through life so that one less person feels alone. SD: Do you plan on turning this platform into a career opportunity or is it just a hobby? MA: For now, I would like my platform to simply be a hobby, and I am not looking to monetize on it for quite some time. SD: What advice can you provide aspiring travel bloggers or women with a strong desire to jump-start their travel journey? MA: Just do it. It’s a scary thought and there is a lot that can stop you. School, money, work, family. All of these things add to your hesitation but once you hit confirm on a plane ticket to YOUR dream destination, you will feel free. And it only takes 1 big decision to encourage you to become more and more who you are meant to be. Life is short, and one of my favorite quotes reads: money spent on travel is never wasted. CHECK OUT MAYLENE'S WEBSITE + SOCIAL MEDIA
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Meet this week's #Solo-Voyager, Denver Lark! Denver is a third-year multimedia journalism student at NCAT and a Travel content curator, traveling the world and documenting her exhilarating experiences! Read this exclusive interview as Denver explains her position as a HBCU Travelers Campus Ambassador, shares the number of countries she'd traveled to in 2018 and shares your top 3 tips to travel on a budget.SD: Hey Denver! Thank you for participating in this week’s #SoloDoloExplorer interview series. Please tell us a little about yourself. DL: I am a junior multimedia journalism student at the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from PG County MD. SD: You are a travel content curator, holding the position of a HBCU Travelers Campus Ambassador and posting videos on IGTV.. What inspired you to dive into these travel platforms? DL: As far as being a HBCU Travelers Campus Ambassador I was inspired to dive into this position to show other HBCU students that literally the lives we see on social media are ones that we can live! The best time to study/intern abroad is while you are in school because it allows you to do so on someone else’s budget. HBCU Travelers not only provides scholarships to HBCU students who travel abroad but also promotes travel as more than a idea but a reality. SD: In specific to your ambassador position, please describe the process of becoming a HBCU Travelers Campus Ambassador. How did you hear about this position? What are your responsibilities? What do you love about the position? How can other get involved into this program? DL: The process was very simple, I just applied. I heard of this program through word of mouth. The VP of marketing is an alumni of my school; Jeffron Smalls informed me about the position. My responsibilities are ones I love. They include creating content which will educate students about the benefits of travel, and motivating students to explore the world themselves. Simply being able to share my story of how I studied abroad in Paris, Cape Town, and London as a CIEE Nelson Mandela Global Scholar is one I am always eager to tell. While I create social media content I also hold the responsibility of assisting with fundraising and other donations. SD: How many places have you traveled to so far? Please name all of them. DL: WHEW! By the end of the year I would have traveled to 16 countries.So far: France, South Africa, The United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Italy, U.A.E, Egypt, and Canada. My last 3 countries of the year which is a birthday trip is Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. SD: Out of all the places, which destination was your most favorite? Why? DL: My favorite place so far has been South Africa. Besides that it is affordable the culture is deeply-rooted and represented. Although like many other countries SA has become very westernized but has found a way to remain rich in history. I am appreciative of such and see myself living there upon graduation one day. SD: As a college student and content curator, balancing time between academics and other obligations can be tough. How do you manage to dedicate time to travel? DL: Well, I haven't really had the need to balance travel and school because I do not travel throughout the year because of school. Now when it comes to breaks throughout the year I book well in-advance so I can collect as many stamps throughout the year in my passport. But when it comes to creating content and balancing it with school it is a task but as a journalism student a lot of my school work is me creating my travel content. I have also learned to manage my time better so that I can always excel at both my academics, and content creation. SD: Please share your top 3 tips to travel on a budget. DL: 1. SAFETY FIRST! When it comes to traveling solo and being on a budget there are some things you cannot cut corners with. Accommodations being one. Pay the extra amount for a safe, reputable hotel rather than a Airbnb. Yes you'll pay more but your life is more important. 2. FREE TOURS. When visiting new cities of course you want to sight-see so that you can move on to your exhilarating excursions right? Well save some coins and find out what small companies offer FREE walking tours which are tip based. 3. When staying in certain countries for a certain period of time something to consider is converting money before you leave your home country. Now don't be excessive because safety first. But ordering your currency through your bank before you leave can save you from drastic ATM fees and conversion rates. SD: What’s your top destinations you want to travel to in 2019? Why? DL:
SD: What's the pros and cons of solo traveling? DL: Honestly the only con is not having your personal standby photographer, lol. As far as pros there are many. You are literally on your own time schedule which allows you to do what you like when you like. NO LIMITS! SD: What advice can you provide to other women with a strong desire to jump-start their travel journey? DL: JUST DO IT! I honestly can't say that I was hesitant to travel to any country I went. As a solo female traveler you must always walk around on your p’s and q's with you head held high. Never allow yourself to be seen as lost or unaware. As this is seen as a weakness. Just always have a plan and use common sense. Women are perceived a variety of ways throughout the world so just always be aware of these perceptions. FOLLOW THIS #SOLOVOYAGER ON INSTAGRAMMeet this week's #Solo-Voyager, Tory Lava! Tory is a PR professional + a blogger whose managed to travel at least 16 states. Read the exclusive interview as Tory recalls her earliest travel memory, talks about her big move from NJ to TN, and reveals her top 3 destinations you want to travel in 2019.SD: Hey Tory! Thank you for participating in this week's #SoloVoyage interview series. Please tell us a little about yourself. TL: I am Tory Lava and I am a college graduate from William Paterson University. I have a bachelors in Communications and my major was Public Relations. I love to read, do crafts, blog, go hiking, and exploring. I also collect crystals, do yoga, and meditate on the daily. SD: What's your earliest travel memory that you can recall? What was your destination? Why were you going to that destination? How was that memory significant to you? TL: My earliest memory of traveling was going down to the Jersey shore with my family when I was little. I must have been around maybe three or four years old. Ever since then I have always loved the beach, feeling the sand, and going into the water. SD: How many places have you traveled so far? Please name them as well. TL: I am a huge fan of road trips! I have been to a total of 16 different states mostly by car. Pennsylvania Delaware Massachusetts Vermont New York Connecticut Ohio Illinois Wisconsin Kentucky Texas Florida Virginia West Virginia Maryland And Now I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee. SD: Out of all the places you've traveled to, which destination was your most favorite? Why? TL: I love exploring and checking out different cities. Even though my first memory of traveling was to a beach, I much rather explore a city. My favorite place to visit is Salem, Massachusetts. I love the history and the culture out there, the town holds such a story and it is truly a magical place. Plus I love paranormal stories, and Salem sure does have a lot of that. SD: You've recently took a leap of faith and moved to Nashville, Tennessee with your boyfriend two months ago. Talk about adventurous!! What made you want to move from NJ to TN (besides being closer to your boo) TL: I said Salem was my favorite place to visit, but I also love Nashville, Tennessee as well. Before moving here, I already visited it three times over the past four years. I was ready for a change out of NJ and he has a career in cooking, he wanted to learned southern techniques and I wanted to have a new scenery. SD: What's your top 3 favorite aspects about Tennessee that's absolutely different from New Jersey? TL: 1) People are nicer and friendlier. 2) I have to pump my own gas. 3) Even though it is a city, it is not as congestive. SD: As a PR professional with two side platforms, how are you able to fit travel into one of your priorities? TL: Traveling and PR can go hand-in-hand. You never know who will meet or where you will end up. Traveling is one of my priorities when I have time off I love to go somewhere new, but even with exploring I am always planning a PR move. I love being able to connect with others and network in my travels. SD: What's the most exciting aspect of solo traveling? TL: I am a person who loves being with people but also enjoy being alone. Traveling solo is in adventure in itself. The most exciting aspect is creating a special memory only you can have. SD: What’s your top 3 destinations you want to travel to in 2019? Why? TL: In 2019 I would like to travel to these cities because they just seem like awesome places to visit.
SD: What advice can you provide other women with a strong desire to jump-start their travel journey? TL: Do your research, stay with an AirBNB, chat with the locals, and just go for it! FOLLOW THIS WEEK'S #SOLOVOYAGER |
Meet Chadeira.I'm a Communications student at WPU, attempting to utilize my skills + talents into something I love to do: TRAVEL. Read all about my local + national adventures, what I've learned about travel, and key ways to fit travel into your busy schedule.
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