A guide to Kelia
Hi, I’m Khady-Emilia, you can call me Kelia
I have been travelling since I was a kid and it eventually became a passion.
I suffer from n.o.m.a.d.d.i.c.t.i.o.n, which is the tendency that one has to always want to travel and hates to stay in one place.
I am no longer a student so I have less free time to travel but I will do my best to keep this blog resourceful.
Below are answers to questions you had. If anything comes up, let me know as soon as possible.
Feel free to share, comment and follow me on my social media to share your adventures and to also just chat
Traveler profile: questions and answers
* For each question, I will eventually update the answers and also publish detailed posts for better in-depth answers
How many countries have you been to?
20 countries and counting
Why do you love to travel?
It is my way to escape from life routine.
I love meeting people from various parts of the world with different perspectives; I love to challenge myself doing something new and different! Travelling also makes me more culturally aware, much more tolerant and richer in knowledge. All in all, it makes me appreciate life at its simplest
What type of traveler are you?
I am generally a super-active traveler, I want to do and see everything. However, it also depends on the purpose of my vacation (and the country where I'm). I can also be a lazy traveler (especially when I travel with my parents)
How often do you travel and how do you manage to travel this much being a student?
These last four years, I traveled every three months, mostly because it fitted my university's schedule. Overall I try to travel at least twice (internationally) a year, and as much as I can domestically.
Most of my trips are paid by my parents since I mostly travel with them (we are a family of travelers). Yet, when I don't, I have to dig in my savings and find deals that fit my financial abilities :)
How do you choose your destinations?*
You might laugh at this one, but I travel by feeling. If I woke up with the desire to go to Alaska, well Alaska is next on the list!
Additionally, I pick destinations that require a lot of physically demanding activities. I do this so that when I have kids later I can visit chill places because God knows how hard it is to travel with kids when they are young. (+ they barely remember a thing when they grow up, so save up and enjoy)
How do you plan your trips?*
I generally start by checking out the country I wish to visit, visa requirements, currency equivalent and whatever needs to be known about the country. Once I have enough information, I decide whether or not I want to go there and create either a PDF or Word file with details about accommodations, activities, flight, budget etc
How do you find activities in the country where you are going?
Google, Tripadvisor, Instagram, Twitter (yuuuup !), people who have been there and mostly locals when I get in the country
How do you manage your expenses while you travel?*
I'm a hectic planner (good, bad? Story for the gods). Thus, I have a list of what I'm supposed to spend before leaving and I try to book what I can in advance. Also, during the trip, I do regular "budget check-ups" to avoid bad surprises
How do you pack? and what to pack?*
Personally, I'm everything but a light traveler!
I generally pack according to places I aim to visit and activities planned. I usually have one outfit per day ... which explains why I have two big suitcases for a two-week vacation... #Guilty
So how and what to pack depends on activities planned, countries' weather and culture, and whether or not you are a light traveler
What are "your musts" when packing?*
MY POWER BANK (life savior), my universal plugs adapters and my travel health kit (though I DON'T RECOMMEND SELF-MEDICATION)
How do you find the cheapest flights and hotels?*
Booking.com, Airbnb, Google (in general), I have some of my go-to websites and also tips on how to find the best deals that I will share later on
What do you do when you travel alone with no friends ?*
When I know I will be travelling alone, I usually choose to stay in hostels! They are the best way to meet people and make friends. If I opted for a more luxurious vacation and don't want to be in a hostel, I would usually try to find people living where I'm going on either Instagram, Twitter or any other social media and socialize. I also enjoy every little opportunity I have to talk to a local. So far, people I met turned out to be very friendly and helpful
Traveling alone oftentimes results in making friends from all over the world ;)
How do you easily make friends wherever you go?
I'm a very social person and I have an easy social contact with people. So it is not that hard for me .. I'd say smile and be happy to answer questions, don't be shy and go to people, they don't bite I promise
How easy is it for you to find a guide or would you rather be your own? Is the experience more fun for you with or without a guide? Does that depend on the location?
Finding a guide is pretty easy, you can find one on the streets, online or through one app I like #GetYourGuide. I found that having a guide is quite useful depending on the destination and also the purpose of my visit. It is not necessarily fun but it is for sure resourceful.
How do you adapt so quickly to a new country?
I consider myself to be a citizen of the world. Thus, I feel at home everywhere I go.
Why didn't you choose to have a vlog?
I am not too comfortable with the concept of filming myself wherever I go. Moreover, my photography skills aren't that good so let's not talk about video editing skills, which I definitely lack. I'd maybe consider this option if I have someone filming me. Though, I'm willing to do vlogs only exceptionally and will gather all my videos on this youtube channel
What would be the best advice you would give regarding traveling?
TALK TO PEOPLE, ASK QUESTIONS! I can't stress it enough, I got the best experiences doing this. As my mom says "It doesn't cost a thing to ask".
Lastly, Travel. Your money will return. Your time won't