About
Oh hey there! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I’m so happy that you found me.
My name is Hannah. I’m a curvy, travel-addict with a habit of getting into (mis)adventures.
I love scuba diving, exploring castles, and wildlife. I adore Indiana Jones and I’m sucker for ancient myths and legends (although I’m secretly afraid of ghosts). I’m insatiably curious and have been accused for being a bit of a dare devil. But like every traveller, I’m in love with the world.
So, what makes me different from every other female travel blogger out there?
To start with, I don’t look like your typical solo female traveller. At least not the kind you see in travel ads or circulating in the most viral social media posts. I identify as plus size and make sure that comes to play in my brand in an effort to promote body diversity and help make the travel industry more inclusive and accessible.
I’m best known for my honesty and my sense of humour. I tell it like it is and share both the good and the bad. I want everyone to love travel as much as I do, but I also want to ensure everyone feels safe and prepared while doing it. I firmly believe that sharing my honest experiences will help set other travellers up for success.
How I Caught the Travel Bug
It all started in 2011 when an impulsive decision to live abroad changed my life. After graduating university, I decided to move to Galway, Ireland. Up until that point, I had never travelled. I’d never even been on a plane. But I shrugged off the non-believers and went anyways.
Alone.
It was the best decision of my life; not only did I fall in love with Ireland, but I fell in love with travel. Fast forward to today and I have now been to 80+ countries, most of them solo. But, don’t let my travel experience fool you. I’m still the queen of misadventures!
What I Do
It all started here, on the blog which I originally started as a travel journal way back on 2012. I wanted to share my experiences as a curvy solo female traveller trying to navigate the magic of this world. Storytelling has always been my biggest passion and the basis everything I do. While my blog has grown over the years, so has my business as a storyteller.
On top of the blog I work a freelance writer with bylines in outlets such as Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, Forbes, and more.
In 2023, after over a decade of solo travel, I expanded my business to include group trips. Every year I run about 4 trips to various places around the world and invite my followers to come with me. We’ve been snorkelling with hammerhead sharks in the Galápagos Islands, cruising through the Greek Islands by sailboat, wildlife spotting on Safari throughout eastern and Southern Africa, and looking for penguins in Antarctica. You can learn more about my group trip opportunities here.
My most recent endeavour is writing a novel which is a project I started in 2024. I’m aiming for spring 2025 publication but more on that to come soon!
I’ve traded the traditional desk-job for a lifestyle that allows me to travel the world as much as possible. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and I’ll be the first to admit it isn’t easy. But I wouldn’t trade it. Travel has made me a stronger, more independent, and confident woman. My adventures have given me some of the best experiences of my life; I’ve done and seen amazing things, met tons of incredible people, and I have some pretty awesome stories to share.
My biggest hope is that my escapades, stories, and guides inspire you set off on your own adventures-wherever they may take you-and encourage you to pursue the lifestyle you have always dreamed of.
Want to get in touch? Here’s my contact page.
I’m also quite active on social media. You can find me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok sharing travel, adventures, and my day-to-day life.
Great 😀
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So great to see others ditch the 9-5 for something different and challenging! My Pacific Crest Trail name is Rawhide, but Freedom Panda is my other call sign: Freedom because I do charity adventures for human trafficking awareness, and Panda from the bamboo bicycle I rode across the USA on once! 🙂 It’s my Instagram too lol
Amazing blog& very well written, fantastic!
That is incredible!! Good for you. Also, random fact, pandas are my favourite animal so loving your name!
Amazing!
Hannah! Just finished binge-reading your entire blog and followed you on insta! What a complete inspiration you are….I am from Ottawa as well but have lived in the USA for last 10yrs. Look forward to more posts 😍
Thank you for the kind feedback Tina!!! I really appreciate that! Hopeful that I can get back to travelling safely soon!
I think you are a force of nature!
BTW I commented on your Intrepid blog post about sailing the Greek Islands.
Aw thank you 🙂
omg u did meeting with our school omg so inspired…… #kars on the rideau public school
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Finally a female solo traveller that’s also plus-sized! This truly helps a lot considering experiences you will have while travelling as that will be different than for the regular-sized ladies.
I’ve read a few of your blogs and of course followed you on Insta. You are an inspiration and I cannot wait to see what 2022 has in store for you!
Greetings from a Dutch solo traveller who is more inspired and less afraid now (in doubt) to just go and see more of the world. I am thinking of travelling to Latvia and Malta for my birthday in Feb. You gave some amazing tips for those destinations 🙂
Oh yay I’m glad to hear that! I hope you do get to travel for your birthday, I had a great time both Malta and Latvia.
Hannah so happy to meet you today. You are an inspiration to many solo female travellers.
I wish you many happy times in the future.
Best Wishes Chris
Thanks Chris! Great to meet you as well!
Hi Hannah, I am a recently separated 57 year old woman who has never eaten alone in a restaurant or for that matter sat in a coffee shop alone, gone to a movie alone etc. all I’ve done is lived alone. I have booked a 16 day Greece island hopping trip (Athens and 3 islands) with a friend who is no longer coming. I either cancel or make my final payment in 1 week and go it alone. Part of me feels this presented itself for a reason and going alone could bring personal growth. The other part of me is scared to death! Scared of feelings and being in my own head. Scared of getting lost. Scared of sitting in a restaurant all by myself especially at night and feeling like a loser. In my regular life I am blessed with an amazing group of friends who are all encouraging me to go. Unfortunately it is expensive and no one can afford to go with me at this last minute change. I am going at the end of September but have to pay the entire trip in 1 week. Air, transfers and accommodations (hotels) are included. Everything else is up to me.
I say go for it! It can be scary at times. It can be lonely at times. But the good of solo travel, for me, always outweighs the bad! I suggest getting an eSim ahead of time so you can have data as soon as you land. Google maps can be a big help if you are worried about getting lost! In Greece they eat much later than in North America. Like 8pm onwards. You can go a bit earlier if you don’t want it to be super crowded but don’t worry about being alone. If you feel awkward, bring a book! Sign up for some day trips (I use GetYourGuide) to meet some fellow travellers and try a walking tour in Athens. I hope you have an amazing time.
Hi Hannah, thrilled to have found you and have checked out all your shopping pages (bought my first Lululemon) Mom (92) & I are going to New Zealand & Australia in March ‘24. We are so totally pumped! I loved the eSIM idea and will be checking out those packing cubes. Needless to say, I want to keep our luggage down, even though we’ll be out of Canada for six weeks. I’ve checked the blog by the Man in Seat 61 and now plan a lot of train travel in NZ. If you think of any advice for older, decrepit gals – do share! I’m sure you’ve met travellers like us whilst on your many journeys. Happy trails! Robin
Sounds like a great adventure! I haven’t been to NZ yet so can’t provide any travel tips for there unfortunately. But I hear kiwis are super friendly and I’m sure if you need help while on the trains people will be willing!