Traveling is more than just a way to get away from it all – it’s a chance to discover the world, get to know new cultures and gain unique experiences. Going on a trip around the world: This is the dream of many, as there are countless beautiful places that cannot be covered in just one summer vacation a year. However, planning such a trip around the world requires a lot of organization and inspiration. We turned to the people who should know best how to go about it.
Quit your job, pack your rucksack: Jessi and Daniel’s trip around the world
Jessi and Daniel quit their jobs in 2015, sold all their possessions and boarded a plane with a one-way ticket and traveled to Thailand. Today they live on Koh Samui in Thailand and are expecting their first child. They share insights, tips and tricks on social media to show others how it’s done.
FIV: Hello, you two. You’ve already seen a lot of the world. Let’s say you only had one destination left, where would you go and why there?
Daniel and Jessi: Phew, difficult question. We’ve been traveling the world for over 5 years and have visited 39 countries. So it’s very difficult for us to limit ourselves to one destination. Each of the countries was special, but some countries were very special for us.
Thailand, for example. Our first long-distance trip was to Thailand in 2011. We immediately fell in love with the land of smiles, returned again and again, got engaged here, got married in Thailand, started our journey around the world there in 2015 and emigrated here at the end of 2020, after more than 5 years of traveling the world, which is why we made our world travel film, to the tropical island of Koh Samui.
In addition to Thailand, we were also extremely fascinated by Namibia, Mexico, Cuba, the USA, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Japan, the Maldives, Iceland (simply a magical country), Australia and the South Seas. Actually, all the other countries too. It is very difficult for us to limit ourselves to one destination.
FIV: Do you generally prefer to go on trips to discover new places or do you sometimes go with the intention of simply switching off?
Daniel and Jessi: We prefer to travel and discover countries and cultures in depth. We also love to go on vacation for a few days and relax on the beach, but after a few days we get “bummed out” and have to see something of the country, otherwise we feel like we haven’t really been there.
For us, traveling means above all that we travel from one country to the next, crossing borders and suddenly finding ourselves in a new culture, rather than being in one country and one region on a vacation. Of course, there are also holidaymakers who combine regions in one country or even 1, 2 or even 3 countries, but that is the exception rather than the rule and counts for us as a real trip rather than a vacation.
What is important here, however, is that people find the right way to explore the world for themselves. Whether it’s a single vacation, longer trips, 1 country or several countries, whether as a backpacker, luxury traveler or hotel vacationer … there is no right or wrong. Everyone should simply find their own way of traveling that makes them happy and fulfills them. And what we all have in common is the travel itself, the desire to discover countries – no matter what kind.
Adventures in Cuba and dreams of the Arctic
FIV: Which destination surprised you the most and is particularly memorable?
Daniel and Jessi: The most unusual destination for us was definitely Cuba. We got virtually nowhere with English, which is why we attended a language school for the first few weeks to learn Spanish on the spot. This was a hurdle in itself, as the Spanish teacher didn’t speak any English. After that, we spent another two weeks driving around the country in a rental car.
We really felt like we had been transported back several years. Somehow like in a country before our time. We encountered horse-drawn carriages, ox-drawn carts, cyclists and pedestrians on the highways. The roads were a pure adventure and cities like Havana or Trinidad had a very special flair, especially away from the “tourist zones”. The supermarkets were not full to the brim like in Germany, but there were often empty shelves. Internet was very limited. Sometimes we had to visit public places.
We attended a salsa class, drank the best mojito on the streets of Trinidad and bathed in the clearest and extremely turquoise sea. Cuba was definitely not easy to travel to, yet it was absolutely extraordinary and definitely needs to be mentioned here. It was also very different from a vacation in Havana, as we really traveled the country. Here we can refer back to the question above, because if you travel to Cuba as part of a package vacation, you experience a different Cuba than if you really travel the country on your own, from A to B, on to C and have to overcome a few hurdles along the way.
TIP: How to save money when traveling!
FIV: As you already have a lot of experience, can you tell us the best places to save money when planning a trip?
Daniel and Jessi: We have found that package vacations through travel agencies are often more expensive than self-planned trips. Our first vacation to Thailand through a travel agency in Cologne was well organized, but also significantly more expensive than subsequent self-planned trips there.
By comparing flights, hotels, rental cars, etc., we were able to save hundreds to thousands of euros. For us, traveling is not about saving money, but about gaining unforgettable experiences.
Therefore, we would rather save on activities and excursions than on important aspects such as a suitable rental car or a hotel that meets our needs. Ultimately, everyone should find their own way, and there is no right or wrong way.
Traveling is and remains our absolute passion
FIV: Do you still have an unexplored destination on your bucket list?
Daniel and Jessi: Antarctica is definitely at the top of our bucket list. The Arctic would also be our last continent, as we have otherwise traveled to all the other continents.
Seeing polar bears, penguins and orcas in their natural environment would be our absolute dream.
We normally prefer warmer regions, but Antarctica really appeals to us. We would also love to go to Finland in the depths of winter. Preferably at Christmas, in a cozy cabin, with lots of snow on the doorstep – maybe we’ll make this dream come true next year when our son is born and we’re no longer travelling as a couple, but as a family. Of course, we have a number of other countries on our bucket list, such as Chile, Argentina, Canada, Kenya, Tanzania, Mongolia, Taiwan, New Zealand and many more. And we would also love to travel to some countries again and then, for example, to other / further parts of the country.
Traveling is and remains our absolute passion. However, we are currently taking a short break from traveling as we are expecting our first child in July. But we already have a lot of destinations in mind for next year and then as a family, which we are particularly looking forward to, which will also change the way we travel. We will be able to see countries in a completely different way again, namely through our eyes and also through the eyes of our child. That will certainly be very special.
Maldives and insider tip for the best road trip
FIV: Which island has had the most beautiful beach for you so far?
Daniel and Jessi: We would immediately say the Maldives. A fine, light-colored sandy beach and turquoise blue water in front of it. Simply perfect.
On our trip around the world we also had some of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast of Australia, on Cuba in Varadero, in Thailand and Indonesia, but also on Iceland with the unique Diamond Beach, where huge blocks of ice are washed up like diamonds in the dark sand.
FIV: Do you have an insider tip for a place that is not overrun by the mainstream?
Daniel and Jessi: A road trip through Slovenia. This country absolutely blew us away. Incredibly beautiful lakes, clear turquoise water, beautiful cities and great to travel around in a camper. The people were also very friendly to us and yes, the country really surprised us in a positive way.
But we could add to the list here too, such as a road trip through Namibia or a camper van trip through Japan, which is also quite rare and meant we had lots of great encounters with the locals.
FIV: With your great experiences you have certainly put many people in a traveling mood. Thank you for the great interview and have lots of fun!
You can find more content from Daniel and Jessi here:
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https://fivmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/thailand-strand-meer-sommer-urlaub-weltresie-gelbeskleid-palmen-lifetogo.jpg6001200Trainee/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/fiv-magazine-logo-news-influencer-fashion-interior-travel-real-esates.svgTrainee2024-06-12 04:00:052025-01-31 11:41:29Traveling the world with Life to go: making every trip a unique experience
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