What if you stopped planning trips based on what everyone else says you “have to see”… and started planning around how you actually want to feel?

Instead of building trips around crowded checklists, we share how to reverse engineer your dream trip by focusing on personal preferences, meaningful experiences, and alignment.

This conversation will shift how you think about travel planning!

🎙️ In This Episode:

• What it means to “reverse engineer” your travel plans
• Why starting with how you want to feel changes everything
• How Nithya chooses destinations for worldschooling with her children
• Airbnb vs. hotels — how to decide based on trip length and goals
• Balancing planned activities with open space for spontaneity
• Why local walking tours are one of the best ways to connect with a place
• How to start with easier destinations, and when to push beyond your comfort zone
• Turning travel into growth instead of just a vacation

Travel doesn’t have to be overwhelming or overly structured. When you plan intentionally, it becomes more meaningful, more aligned, and often more transformative.

If you’ve been craving travel that feels purposeful, not just busy, this episode will help you rethink how you plan your next adventure.

Connect with Nithya Karia:

- Website: www.nithyakaria.com

- Instagram and Facebook: @nithyakaria

Planning a trip can feel overwhelming, especially when life is already busy. In this episode, I’m sharing a calmer, more intentional way to plan without burning yourself out.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why trip planning often feels exhausting

• How choosing the right time to plan makes a difference

• How breaking planning into small, manageable steps can make the entire process feel easier.

If you’ve been putting off planning because it feels like too much, this episode will help you slow down, protect your energy, and move forward with confidence.

Find more ideas and travel planning support at

traveltheworldconfidently.com

What if slowing down could make travel feel easier, and more affordable?

In this episode, we visit with Suzy May, a financial educator and nurse who has spent the past three years slow traveling with her family between Spain and Colorado. Suzy shares how extended stays can reduce costs, build confidence, and create deeper, more meaningful travel experiences.

We talk about practical ways to afford slow travel, including home exchanges, house sitting, and travel credit cards, along with why intentional planning matters more than trying to see everything in one trip. Suzy also explains how small “test trips” and travel communities can help travelers feel more supported and confident over time.

This episode is for anyone curious about slow travel and looking for a calmer, more confident way to explore, solo, as a couple, or with family.

You can connect with Suzy:

- Wander Worldschool: A Slow and Long Term Family Travel Podcast

- Money coaching at suzymaywander.com

- Instagram, Facebook, Substack and Youtube at @suzymay.wander

January is the perfect time to slow down, dream big, and start planning meaningful travel experiences.

In this episode of Travel the World Confidently, we talk about why the beginning of the year is ideal for travel planning, how confidence grows through intention and preparation, and simple ways to turn travel dreams into realistic plans.

You’ll also learn how to create a travel vision board that helps you stay focused, inspired, and excited about future trips, without pressure or overwhelm.

In this episode, Certified Health & Wellness Coach Tess Cheng joins me to talk about staying healthy while traveling, without making it complicated.

💬 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Easy ways to keep up healthy habits while on the road
• How to enjoy local food without feeling like you’ve “fallen off track”
• Simple movement ideas for hotels, airports, or busy travel days
• What to do when you feel sluggish or out of routine
• How to find balance between health and fun while traveling

Tess shares simple, realistic ways to feel your best on the go, from making smart food choices and staying active to boosting energy and creating balance when routines shift.

Whether you’re heading out on a weekend getaway or a longer adventure, you’ll love her down-to-earth approach to wellness that anyone can follow.

Click here for Tess's Travel Guide.

Thinking about traveling solo but not ready to fly across the country? This episode is for you!

I’m sharing five easy ways to start your solo travel journey without leaving your state—from day trips and mini road trips to staycations and solo dining adventures.

These small, confidence-building experiences are perfect for first-timers who want to explore, relax, and learn to enjoy their own company. Tune in and discover how fun—and freeing—solo travel can be!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why starting solo travel close to home is a smart first step

• 5 easy solo adventures you can try without leaving your state

• How day trips and mini road trips build confidence

• Simple tips for enjoying dining out solo

• Everyday activities that make great “practice runs” for solo travel

  
  

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for more tips on solo travel, couple adventures, and U.S. destinations. And if you know someone who’s curious about solo travel, share this episode to give them a confidence boost!

Discover how to turn travel points and miles into unforgettable trips in this episode with travel points expert Carrie Madison.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Carrie's journey of using points to stretch travel budgets,
• The difference between airline miles and hotel points
• How to earn them through credit card rewards and loyalty programs
• Learn practical strategies for redeeming points for flights, hotels, and even car rentals
• Tips for navigating recent changes in airline and hotel policies.

Whether you’re new to travel rewards or looking to maximize your points, this episode will help you travel more and spend less.

In this episode of Travel the World Confidently, I chat with Deonne about her unforgettable solo Mediterranean cruise and how it deepened her love for life at sea. From off-the-beaten-path excursions to her dream of one day living full-time on a cruise ship, Deonne shares how cruising can be both empowering and adventurous, especially when you travel solo.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Deonne chose a Mediterranean cruise and what made it so special
• Booking excursions through the cruise line
• Her favorite “off-the-beaten-path” discoveries at different ports
• Tips for solo cruisers and what made the experience empowering
• How she handles seasickness, luggage, and getting around on board
• What you really need to know about drink packages
• Her dream of retiring and living on a cruise ship full-time
• Encouragement for new cruisers to give it a try—even solo!

In this episode of Travel the World Confidently, I talk with Sarah-Jayne McNaughton, a personal transformation coach and passionate solo traveler, about the joy and freedom that come from taking a trip, especially when no one else can accompany you.

Sarah-Jayne shares her personal experiences exploring Disneyland Tokyo and Disneyland Paris, and how different cultural expectations, language barriers, and park logistics shaped each adventure. Whether you’re dreaming of a solo Disney trip or curious about travel in Japan, this conversation is full of encouragement, practical tips, and inspiration.

We discuss:

• What makes solo travel so empowering and transformative
• Differences between Disneyland Tokyo and Disneyland Paris
• How to navigate cultural and language differences with confidence
• The surprising ease of buying tickets and getting help in Japan
• Why organization and pre-planning help you feel more confident abroad
• Encouragement to take the trip, even if no one else joins you

🎧 Connect with Sarah-Jayne McNaughton:

Instagram: @PowerPeaceProsper

In this episode of Travel the World Confidently, I sit down with writer, memoirist, and oral storyteller Anne Marie Wells to talk about her unforgettable solo adventure in Iceland. From hitchhiking and local chats to camping outdoors, Anne’s journey was filled with discovery and connections, which gave her lots of stories to tell!

We delve into her favorite hidden gems, her solo navigation of Iceland, and the powerful experiences that inspired her upcoming travel memoir, Happy Iceland. If you’ve ever been curious about solo travel in a chilly but magical place, this one’s for you!

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Anne Marie explored Iceland through hitchhiking and local connections
• Why talking to locals leads to richer, more memorable travel experiences
• Her tips for navigating Iceland solo
• The inspiration behind her travel memoir, Happy Iceland
• Our shared experiences of traveling solo in Iceland
• Encouragement to travel with curiosity—even when it’s cold!

Connect with Anne Marie Wells:

Website: annemariewellswriter.com

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @AnneMarieWellsWriter