Haley Woods has been what she calls an "independent nomad" for about six years. In that time, she hasn't paid rent. Instead, she travels from place to place.
"When I was younger and in debt, I would often let my finances stand in my way from taking part in epic adventures," said Woods, who is the founder of Girls LOVE Travel, an engaging, fast-growing community of women ages 15-90 from around the globe.
"I will never forget going to Australia for the first time in 2000 and not climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge," she said. "It took me more than 15 years to get back on a trip in which I could make that climb and it was amazing."
She doesn't encourage traveling if it's putting the traveler in debt but does say to cut yourself a break now and then. "Not only when you are traveling but also when you are at home, if you are presented with an opportunity to do something amazing-try to not let finances be the reason you say no," she said.
"As my dad would remind me: 'It's only money, you'll make more.'"
Woods is a graduate of the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and a former back bending contortionist. On Girls LOVE Travel, she manages a team of over 60 volunteer staff from six continents. "GLT, with its navigating pillars of safety, socializing and support, encourages women to explore the world fearlessly," said Woods.
"GLT is a life-changing network where women regularly request help, find up-to-date resources during world events, access 100+ local chapters and topic-specific subgroups and connect with like-minded souls who love to travel."
She has personally met members while traveling around five continents and will be adding visits to South America and Antarctica in 2018. She plans to expand GLT's social outreach, philanthropic give back and world citizenship within GLT's member base. "I started a travel community that has grown to be much more beyond my wildest dreams," she said.
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Today, she sees that the main obstacle facing travelers is getting beyond ourselves and our comfort zones. "No matter if the planes and hotels have changed, people have to make that choice to travel and feel okay to leave their homes and explore," she said.
"All too often we, especially in the U.S., get into a routine: get up, go to work, go home, repeat. Thankfully, with the easier websites, lower airfares and opportunities with things like JoinOvernight.com/glt to have lower cost accommodations-getting past yourself is becoming easier."
The newest obstacle she said is social media. "The fear we are facing nowadays is that you see every detail of a place all over social media, so 1) it is choosing to still go somewhere even though you know all about it already prior to arrival and 2) getting past social media on your travels and actually living in the moment," she said.
The way that Woods travels is not going to be for everyone, but she said that others way of travel isn't for her either. "We all travel differently, but you should absolutely get out and travel-even if that means exploring your area nearby," she said.
"All too often we think about the world far away-and we forget to look down the street. I know when I lived in New York City and Los Angeles, I tried to pause and remind myself that people fly there every single day with excitement to explore those cities."
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Woods most beloved travel story involves her parents. "Last year over Memorial Day, my parents got their passports and the three of us went to Niagara Falls on the Canada side," she said. "My dad, who recently passed away, got his first-ever passport for that trip. I remember that Mom was so bummed that they didn't stamp their passports. The memory is really special now that dad is no longer here to have had that time with him."
Woods said that today her travels are more about the people than they are about seeing new things. "Meeting new people, connecting GLTers, making stops to see family and friends...all those mean so much and often those memories last way longer than seeing a landmark or checking off another country," she said.
Her favorite place to travel? "Last year I loved venturing to the South Island of New Zealand and going ice climbing on a glacier," she said. "It was stunning."
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