Hi there! My name is Laura, and I’m the founder of this blog, The Xenophile Life. I’m a 30-something working full-time as an engineer and seeing as much of the world as I can while I’m at it. I live in Minnesota with my husband and our adopted dog. I believe that everyone can incorporate travel as part of a well-balanced lifestyle, and I show you how here!

I started blogging about travel on my first trip to Europe in 2013, and have used several sites along the way. In 2016, I launched this website in order to share both travel and lifestyle articles (about topics like books, home, cooking, etc.) on how I incorporate a global perspective into my non-traveling life as well.

There are so many blogs out there about how to quit your job and travel the world, or work towards becoming “location independent”. If that’s what you’re looking for, that’s fantastic and I wish you luck! However, I love my life at home – having a dog, a job I love, a permanent home, and being able to volunteer and be part of my community. I want to show my readers that you can travel widely without quitting your job or selling all your stuff. I share tips to save money on travel, ways to plan your travels yourself, and advice on different locations I’ve visited.

FAQs

What is a xenophile anyway?

A xenophile is someone who is attracted to foreign cultures, and it’s a term I have related to strongly since I first learned of it. I have always been curious and loved learning about different cultures, languages, and places around the globe.

Where have you traveled?

I have traveled to six continents and 23 countries through a variety of trips – service trips, study abroad, vacations, etc. You can check out all of the destinations I’ve visited here! My most recent international trip was to Fiji, and my next one will be to Italy!

Do you have any tips for first-time travelers?

Yes, there is a great deal of advice on this site, from How to Plan a Cheap Long Weekend to Any US City to advice for first-time flyers, like What to Take on a Plane. But my main article for first-timers is this one: 50 Tips for Your First Trip Abroad. It tons of great tips for those who are intimidated about planning their first international trip themselves!