Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Davis.
Hi Chelsea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Name: Chelsea Davis Age: 29
Background: African-American, Christian, born and raised in the Bay Area.
Occupation: Attorney
Location: SF-Bay Area
I’m currently on a 8-month solo travel journey around the world. I started March 31st and now I’m currently halfway through and visited 18 countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, Spain, Morocco, Andorra, Senegal, the Gambia, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Egypt, Albania, Kosovo, and San Marino. In total, I have visited 76 countries and would love to visit all 195.
I knew that I wanted to fulfill my wildest dream of traveling the world someday. It was just a matter of when. I got the travel bug in 2017 when I unintentionally started solo traveling in Europe and Asia. I was based in Prague, Czech Republic for an internship and could only be in the Schengen zone visa-free for a maximum of three months. My visa didn’t get processed in time so I had to travel to non-Schengen countries to not violate visa policies. I went solo to Croatia, Scotland, Montenegro, Bosnia, Ireland, Bali, and Dubai for two months and discovered how life-changing international travel is. The exposure to new sights, tastes, and cultures was an experience of a lifetime and expanded my worldview.
I’m hoping to be immersed in different cultures, especially Afro-Latinx and indigenous communities. I’d like to learn how to surf, hike up volcanoes, and improve my Spanish.
My sisters have been very supportive and encouraged me to take the leap. My mom has been supportive as well but preferred that I do a shorter trip instead. I feel like I’m walking in my purpose and grateful to have the opportunity to fulfill my dream of traveling the world. I’m beyond excited. I have solo traveled for months before and consider myself an expert traveler so I am not worried about this trip.
This trip took months of planning. I had to figure out what my budget would be, where I would start when I would quit my job, and what I would do. Because of the ever-changing Covid restrictions, I knew it wouldn’t be good to plan too far in advance. I started with Central America because there are less restrictions, it’d be dry season during the time I’d start my trip, it’s safe for solo female travelers, and I’ve traveled there before. I don’t have every single detail planned out but I do have a sense of what adventurous excursions I want to do.
My budget of an estimated 15k for eight months is based on mostly staying in hostels and traveling to cities with a significantly lower cost of living than in the US. I also will use points I’ve accumulated through Amex Platinum and Chase Preferred travel credit cards to pay for a good portion of flights. It will be a budget-friendly trip.
I don’t have kids, a house, or a partner so it was somewhat easy for me to leave my job and pursue my dream while I still have the chance. I’m not sure what I’ll do when I get back but I do know I’ll be rich in experiences.
My goal is to diversify representation in the travel industry and inspire others to partake in outdoor adventures.
Link to IG: https://www.instagram.com/chelseadoestravel/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseadoestravel
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m almost halfway through my journey and I’m happy to say I’ve run into very few issues along the way. I am not fluent in any other language, I’m directionally challenged, and I’m traveling alone but I’ve still been able to safely reach destinations and get around. I will say that it is exhausting to wear many hats as a travel content creator. I am a photographer, videographer, travel planner, editor, accountant, social media manager, and model all in one. Doing this alone is difficult but I am up for the challenge and it’s my passion for travel that keeps me going.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an adventure travel enthusiast, photographer, and content creator who aims to diversify the travel space. My goal is to normalize the image of Black people as outdoor enthusiasts and travelers. Social media in particular is one of the biggest sources of inspiration for travelers and by sharing my story and images across social media platforms, I hope to demystify the notion that Black people don’t do nature or travel. Travel is a trillion-dollar industry and we should see more of us represented in this space.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I found Facebook groups as a great way to network with like-minded people!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseadoestravel/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseadoestravel
- https://linktr.ee/chelseadoestravel?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=3ff18a43-d983-4b11-9289-9398544e9750
