Heather Jasper is a travel writer based in Cusco, Peru. Originally from the US, she’s lived in France, Morocco, Türkiye, and Bangladesh before moving to Peru in 2019. Her articles about South America have been published in BBC Travel, Matador Network, Lonely Planet and many more. She is the author of Peru’s Best, the first travel guide app for Peru.

Heather Jasper is passionate about interviewing residents of the countries she visits and sharing their stories. She’s traveled through 24 countries, 19 of those solo and has lived in 6 countries and 4 US states, though she is more interested in visiting more regions of Peru than more countries at this time.

In this conversation, Heather Jasper shares her extensive travel experiences, insights on solo travel, and the importance of language in connecting with cultures.

She discusses her journey with mental health, the challenges of managing it while traveling, and the strategies she employs to maintain her well-being.

Heather also highlights her passion for storytelling through travel writing and her creation of the 'Peru's Best' travel app, emphasizing the significance of sharing lesser-known destinations.

You can follow her on Instagram (@)HeatherJasperTravels and read her full anthology of work at HeatherJasper.com

In this episode, I speak with Remiah, a Canadian teacher and travel content creator living in the UAE. Together, we dive into Remiah's journey into solo travel, her experiences as an expat, and why diversity in travel is so important.

Remiah opens up about navigating safety as a Black female traveler, the excitement of her first solo trip to Paris, and the unexpected warmth she found in Italy. Our conversation also touches on travel finances, the differences in healthcare between the UAE and Canada, and how the discussion around mental health is growing in the UAE.

Ultimately, Remiah reflects on how her perspective on travel has evolved, highlighting the personal growth and connections she’s gained with each journey.

In this first episode of Roaming Realities, Traveler Tales: Unpacked, host Kim, interviews Hillary, @queenoftheexitrow, who has been a full-time traveler for over two years. We dive into her incredible journey, starting from her first solo domestic trip to Charleston and her maiden international adventure to Ireland. Hillary opens up about her strategies for avoiding cultural misunderstandings and faux pas, emphasizing the importance of being open-minded, observant, and adaptable in new places. We explore the challenges of navigating healthcare and dealing with illnesses while on the road. She also shares invaluable budget travel tips, such as the perks of house-sitting, and the delicate balance between spontaneity and advance planning. We delve into the significance of prioritizing mental health and self-care amid the constant movement, and discuss how to maintain a sense of routine and normalcy. Hillary candidly talks about the temptation to do everything at a destination versus taking the time to truly savor the experience.