Frequently Asked Questions

Questions? I’ve probably overthought them too.

Solo travel, full-time travel, planning, money, life on the road, working with me – and the random personal stuff people always seem to want to know.

If you’re wondering about it, there’s a good chance I’ve answered it below.

Ask away.

01 / ABOUT MIA

A little more about me.

The quick version of who I am, where I came from and how Mia Without Borders became part of the story.

Who is Mia?

Hi, I’m Mia. I’m a Canadian full-time traveller, writer and creator who spends most of her time somewhere other than home.

Before this version of my life, I raised my family, earned a couple of degrees, built a career and eventually became a CEO. These days, I’m usually exploring a new city, searching for something good to eat, talking to strangers or figuring out where I’m going next.

Mia Without Borders is where I share what happens along the way.

Where are you from?

I’m from Canada, although “Where do you live?” has become a considerably harder question.

I travel full-time, so home tends to be wherever my suitcase, laptop and I happen to be at the moment.

What did you do before travelling full-time?

Before travelling became my full-time life, I spent years in leadership and executive roles and eventually became a CEO.

I loved parts of that chapter and worked incredibly hard to build it. Leaving wasn’t about deciding that everything before travel had been wrong. It was about realizing I wanted to find out what else my life could look like.

What is Mia Without Borders?

Mia Without Borders is part travel guide, part storytelling space and part very honest look at what life on the road actually looks like.

I share destinations, solo travel, practical tips, resources, food, culture, people, beautiful experiences, questionable decisions and the moments that never make it into a perfectly planned itinerary.

Basically, the useful stuff and the real stuff.

Where did "Get Lost to Find More!" come from?

It actually started before Mia Without Borders did.

On my 45th birthday in Rome, I decided I was going to resign from my job. That night, I celebrated at a speakeasy by getting a tattoo: a plane, a wine glass and the words Get Lost to Find More!

At the time, it was something I needed to tell myself.

Eventually, it became the philosophy behind everything I’m building here.

Why did you start Mia Without Borders?

At first, I simply wanted somewhere to document the places I was going and the things I was learning.

Then I realized I wanted it to be useful too.

I wanted a place where I could share honest destination advice, solo travel, practical resources and recommendations while still telling the stories that make travel memorable in the first place.

It has grown alongside the journey, and I have a feeling we’re both still figuring out what comes next.

02 / SOLO + FULL-TIME TRAVEL

The honest version of travelling alone.

Solo travel can be exciting, freeing, awkward, lonely, social, empowering and occasionally a little chaotic.

These are the questions I get most about doing it full-time.

Do you really travel alone?

Most of the time, yes.

I travel solo, but that definitely does not mean I spend all of my time alone.

I meet people in hostels, on tours, in cafés, at dance nights, on buses and sometimes simply because one of us started talking to the other.

One of the things I love most about solo travel is that I can have complete independence and still build connections everywhere I go.

Were you scared to start travelling solo?

Absolutely.
I did not magically become fearless before I booked the ticket.
A lot of my confidence came afterward from navigating unfamiliar places, solving problems on my own and realizing that I was much more capable than I sometimes gave myself credit for.
I still get nervous about things.
I just no longer interpret being nervous as a reason not to go.

Is solo female travel safe?

There is no destination or type of travel that is completely risk-free, so I do not believe in pretending solo female travel is automatically safe everywhere.

I research destinations, pay attention to where I stay, trust my instincts, think carefully about transportation and nightlife, and adjust how I move through a place when needed.

Being prepared matters much more to me than trying to be fearless.

How do you meet people when you travel alone?

Honestly, everywhere.

Hostels are one of the easiest ways, but I also meet people through walking tours, activities, restaurants, cafés, dance classes, nightlife and random conversations.

Solo travel actually makes me more likely to talk to people because I am not automatically spending all of my time with someone I already know.

Some of my favourite friendships started with a conversation I could easily have avoided.

Do you ever get lonely?

Of course. Travelling full-time does not magically remove loneliness.

There are moments when I wish I had someone familiar beside me, especially after a long travel day or when something amazing happens and there is nobody who already knows the backstory.

But being alone and being lonely are not the same thing.

I have also learned that I genuinely enjoy my own company, and I have built a life where connection is something I can create rather than something that has to already be waiting for me.

Do you stay in hostels in your 40s?

Yes. And I am very particular about them.

I look for places that are social but clean, comfortable and well-reviewed. Air-conditioning matters in hot climates, and I am much more interested in a good social atmosphere than a 4 a.m. party dorm.

Hostels have given me some of the easiest ways to meet people while travelling solo. Age has never been the deciding factor for me.

The vibe is.

Do you eat and go out alone?

Yes, although it felt much stranger at first than it does now.

I eat alone, go to cafés alone, explore alone and occasionally go out at night alone.

The funny thing is that once you stop waiting for someone else to join you, these things become very normal.

And quite often, I do not stay alone for long anyway.

What are your must-haves for solo female travel?

There are a handful of things I carry because they make travelling alone easier, safer or simply less annoying.

Everything from practical travel accessories to tech and personal-care items has to earn its space in my bag.

Do you have a home base?

Right now, my life is intentionally mobile.

I travel full-time rather than returning to one permanent home between trips.

That may change someday, but I am not in a rush to decide what the next version has to look like.

One of the biggest things this chapter has taught me is that not every question needs an immediate answer.

Do you ever get tired of travelling full-time?

Yes.

Full-time travel is still real life.

Sometimes I need a slower week, fewer plans, a private room, laundry, familiar food and absolutely no interest in seeing another attraction.

I have learned that slowing down is not wasting the trip. Sometimes it is what allows me to keep enjoying it.

03 / TRAVEL PLANNING

The planning part before the good stories happen.

Flights, accommodation, itineraries, packing, visas and all the little details between deciding to go somewhere and actually arriving.

How do you decide where to go next?

Sometimes there is a very sensible reason.

Weather, visa limits, flight routes, cost and where I need to be later all play a part.

Other times I hear about somewhere interesting, meet someone who loved it or realize I am surprisingly close to a place I have always wanted to see.

I usually have a bigger route in mind, but I leave enough flexibility for the journey to change along the way.

How far ahead do you plan your travel?

I usually plan the bigger pieces first and leave the smaller details flexible. If there is something date-specific, expensive or likely to sell out, I book it ahead.

But I do not want every day of a trip scheduled before I arrive.

Some of my favourite experiences have happened because I had enough room in the itinerary to say yes to something I did not know existed.

How do you build your itineraries?

I start with the places I genuinely want to experience, then look at geography, transportation, how long each stop deserves and whether the route actually makes sense.

I would rather move logically through a country than constantly backtrack just because somebody else’s “top 10” list says I should. And I deliberately build in slower stretches.

Full-time travel gets exhausting very quickly if every third day is a travel day.

How do you choose accommodation?

Location comes first.

Then I look closely at recent reviews, cleanliness, safety, air-conditioning when I am somewhere hot, Wi-Fi if I need to work and the general atmosphere of the property.

Sometimes I want a social hostel. Sometimes I want a beautiful hotel.

Sometimes what I really need is a quiet room, a comfortable bed and nobody speaking to me until breakfast.

The right accommodation depends on what I need from that particular stop.

How do you find affordable flights?

I compare routes rather than automatically booking the first obvious option.

Being flexible with dates, nearby airports and where I connect can make a big difference.

I also look at the entire cost rather than just the headline fare. A cheap flight becomes considerably less exciting once you add baggage, seat fees, airport transfers and an overnight layover.

And occasionally I decide the better flight is worth paying more for. Cheap and good value are not always the same thing.

Do you plan a travel budget before you go?

Yes, especially for longer stretches of travel.

I look at accommodation, food, transportation, activities and the general cost of the destination, then give myself some room for the things I did not know I was going to want.

Because there is almost always something.

My goal is not to travel as cheaply as humanly possible.

It is to spend intentionally so I can keep travelling while still enjoying the experiences that matter to me.

How do you know whether you need a visa?

I check the entry requirements for my passport before travelling and I check again close to departure because immigration rules can change.

I also pay attention to how long I am allowed to stay, whether an onward ticket is required and whether there are any entry forms, fees or other requirements.

This is one area where I never rely solely on a travel blog or social media post.

I always verify important entry information through official government or immigration sources.

Do you buy travel insurance?

Travel insurance is something I consider part of planning rather than an exciting optional extra.

What you need depends on your trip, destination and personal circumstances, so I always recommend reading the actual policy rather than assuming every plan covers the same things.

The important part is understanding what is and is not covered before you need it.

I have provided you an excellent option for insurance here.

How do you stay connected while travelling?

It varies by country.

I use Wi-Fi where it is reliable and arrange mobile data through a local SIM or eSIM when that makes more sense.

Because I work while travelling, dependable internet matters to me considerably more than it did when travel was simply a vacation.

I also download important information before travel days whenever possible.

I have provided you an excellent option for an eSIM service here.

What do you pack for a long trip?

Less than I want to and probably more than I should.

For long-term travel, I focus on things I will actually use repeatedly rather than packing for every imaginary situation that could possibly happen.

Clothes have to work together, electronics have to justify the weight and anything taking up valuable luggage space should be doing a job.

I am still very much a work in progress on the “packing light” part.

What travel products do you actually recommend?

Only things I genuinely use, like or believe are worth considering.

When you travel full-time, bad purchases are especially annoying because you have to carry them around afterward.

My Travel Shop is where I keep the luggage, packing gear, technology, beauty products and travel essentials that have earned a place in my bag.

How do you decide what is worth splurging on?

I ask myself whether spending more will meaningfully improve the experience.

I am happy to save on things I do not care much about so I can spend more on the things I do.

That might mean taking the bus one week and booking an incredible hotel, meal or once-in-a-lifetime experience the next.

My travel budget is not about making every decision as cheaply as possible.

It is about knowing what is worth the money to me.

04 / PARTNERSHIPS + UGC

Want to work together? Start here.

Hotels, destinations, tourism brands and travel businesses – these are the questions I get most about partnerships, UGC and content creation.

Do you work with hotels, destinations, and travel brands?

Yes.

I work with hotels, resorts, tourism organizations, destinations and travel-related brands to create content that helps people imagine themselves actually experiencing a place or product.

Depending on the project, that may include UGC, short-form video, travel photography, written storytelling or a combination of content.

What type of content do you create?

Depending on the partnership, I can create short-form vertical video, hotel and destination content, travel photography, voice-over videos, lifestyle content, product demonstrations, written travel content and other storytelling assets.

The goal is always the same: create something that feels natural, useful and visually strong while still serving the brand’s marketing goals.

Do I need to hire you as an influencer to work with you?

No.

UGC and influencer partnerships are not the same thing.

For UGC projects, I create content for the brand to use on its own channels, so the value is in the content itself rather than the size of my personal audience.

Some collaborations may also include posting on Mia Without Borders, but that depends on the project and agreement.

Do you offer hotel and resort content creation?

Yes.

Hospitality content is one of the areas I particularly enjoy creating and specialize in.

I can capture the property, rooms, amenities, food, atmosphere and guest experience in a way that helps potential travellers understand what staying there actually feels like.

That can include both polished visual content and more natural UGC-style storytelling.

Do you accept complimentary or gifted stays?

I consider gifted stays when the property, destination and collaboration are genuinely aligned with Mia Without Borders.

A complimentary stay does not automatically include a full package of professional content or usage rights.

If a hotel or brand needs specific deliverables, UGC, advertising content or licensing, we can discuss a paid partnership based on the scope of the project.

Do you create travel photography as well as video?

Yes.

I can create both photography and video depending on what the project needs.

That might include rooms, property details, food and beverage, lifestyle imagery, destination experiences or photographs designed specifically for social media and web use.

Can you write travel content for a hotel, destination, or publication?

Yes.

Writing and storytelling are an important part of Mia Without Borders.

I am available for travel articles, destination content, hotel features, blog content and other travel-focused editorial work depending on the project.

Where can I see examples of your work?

My portfolio includes examples of travel, hospitality and UGC content.

How do I inquire about a collaboration?

The easiest way is through my Work With Me page.

Tell me a little about your property, destination or brand, what you are looking for and any dates or deliverables you already have in mind.

If it feels like a good fit, we can take it from there.

05 / CONTENT + RESOURCES

Looking for something useful? It’s probably around here somewhere.

Destination guides, travel tips, stories, packing lists, recommendations and resources I create to make planning and actually travelling, a little easier.

Where should I start on Mia Without Borders?

It depends on what brought you here.

If you are planning a destination, start with Travel.

If you want the stories, mishaps and things that happened between destinations, head to the Blog.

If you need help planning, packing, budgeting or preparing for a trip, Tips + Resources is probably where you want to be.

And if you are mainly here to see what I actually use while travelling, you will want the Travel Shop.

Do you create destination guides?

Yes.

As I travel, I am building destination pages and guides based on places I have actually visited.

I want them to include the practical information you need, but also the things I would tell a friend: where I stayed, what I ate, what I loved, what I would skip and what I wish I had known before arriving.

What will I find on the blog?

The blog is where the useful information and the actual stories get to live together.

Some posts will help you plan a trip. Some will tell you exactly what I would do differently.

And some exist because something happened on the road that was simply too good, strange or memorable not to write about.

Do you offer free travel resources?

Yes.

I am creating free checklists, planning tools and other useful downloads for travellers.

Some resources may ask for your email address so I can send the download directly to you.

You can unsubscribe from my emails whenever you want.

Do you sell travel planners, guides or digital products?

Yes – I am building a collection of practical travel resources designed around the things I actually use and think about while travelling.

That will include resources for trip planning, packing, budgeting, travel safety, bucket-list experiences and earning while travelling.

Some are still being created, so this part of the site will continue growing.

What is the Travel Shop?

The Travel Shop is where I collect the products, gear, tech, beauty items and travel essentials that I genuinely use, like or think are worth considering.

Full-time travel makes you surprisingly opinionated about things like luggage, charging cables and how much space a toiletry bag deserves.

Do you use affiliate links?

Yes, some links on Mia Without Borders are affiliate links.

That means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through one of those links, at no additional cost to you.

I only want to recommend products, services and experiences I genuinely use, like or believe are worth considering.

Affiliate partnerships help support the work that goes into creating the website and free content.

Are your recommendations sponsored?

Sometimes I work with travel brands, hotels or destinations, but sponsored content will always be disclosed.

A partnership does not automatically mean something gets a glowing recommendation.

I want anything I share here to remain useful and credible, whether I paid for the experience myself or worked with a brand.

How do I know when something is an affiliate link or paid partnership?

I will disclose affiliate relationships and paid or gifted partnerships where required.

If I may earn a commission from a link, or if a brand has provided something as part of a collaboration, I want that relationship to be clear.

Trust matters more to me than pretending every experience appeared magically and for free.

06 / GET TO KNOW MIA

The questions that have absolutely nothing to do with visas.

A few of the more personal questions about me, what I love, how I travel and the things I will almost always say yes to.

How old are you?

I’m in my 40s and very happily making the most of them.

One of the reasons I talk about age openly is because I think we are sold a strange idea that adventure, reinvention and doing something completely different belong to a much younger version of ourselves.

I strongly disagree.

If anything, I know myself better now, care considerably less about doing life the “right” way and have much better taste in wine.

Do you have children?

Yes. My children are grown, which is part of what made this chapter of full-time travel possible.

I spent a huge part of my adult life raising a family and building a career.

This season looks very different, and I am enjoying getting to discover who I am when I am not responsible for organizing absolutely everyone else.

What does "Mimi" mean?

I’m a grandmother.

“Mimi” is my grandmother name, and it is one of my favourite titles I have ever had.

Yes, you can be a grandmother and still stay in hostels, travel the world solo, dance until far too late and occasionally have no idea which country you will be in next month.

Apparently, there are no rules.

What kind of traveller are you?

I am a city, culture, food, people and experiences traveller.

Give me beautiful architecture, an old cathedral, colourful streets, a neighbourhood café, a great restaurant, local markets, street art and somewhere to dance later and I am very happy.

I like seeing how people actually live somewhere.

I am considerably less interested in conquering mountains simply because they exist.

So ... you're not really a hiker?

Let’s just say hiking and I have agreed to maintain a respectful distance.

I will absolutely walk around a city for hours without noticing.

Tell me we are walking uphill for six hours specifically to reach the top of something and suddenly I have several follow-up questions.

I appreciate mountains. I just often prefer appreciating them from somewhere with a chair.

What is your perfect travel day?

A slow morning, good coffee and no alarm would be an excellent start.

Then wandering through a neighbourhood, finding beautiful architecture, eating something local, talking to people, discovering somewhere I did not plan to find and finishing the day with a great dinner or somewhere to dance.

Basically, enough of a plan to know where I am and enough freedom to have absolutely no idea how the day will end.

What will you always spend money on while travelling?

Food. Without hesitation.

I am perfectly capable of taking the bus, sleeping in a hostel and saving money in plenty of other places.

But tell me there is an incredible restaurant, a local dish I have to try or a once-in-a-lifetime meal nearby and suddenly my budget develops tremendous flexibility.

What do you love most about travelling?

The people.

I love the places, food, architecture and experiences, but so many of my strongest memories are attached to people I never expected to meet.

A stranger who became a friend. Someone who invited me somewhere. A conversation that changed how I understood a place.

Those connections are one of the biggest reasons I keep going.

What is something you are surprisingly bad at after travelling this much?

Packing light. Still.

I travel full-time, so logically I should now possess some kind of advanced degree in minimalist packing.

Instead, every packing day becomes a small negotiation between what I actually need and the apparently compelling argument that I may require six versions of the same thing.

Progress has been made. Perfection has not.

Do you know where you eventually want to settle down?

Not yet. And that answer would have made an earlier version of me deeply uncomfortable.

I used to feel like I needed to know what came next.

Now I am much more interested in paying attention to the places, people and opportunities that make me want to stay a little longer.

Maybe somewhere will eventually feel like home. For now, I am enjoying not forcing the answer.

What is on your bucket list?

A lot.

My bucket list is less of a tidy checklist and more of an ongoing document that keeps getting longer every time somebody tells me about somewhere incredible.

There are countries I want to explore, foods I want to try, festivals I want to experience, trains I want to take and plenty of things I do not even know belong on the list yet.

That last category might be my favourite.

What are you trying to find through all of this?

I don’t think I am searching for one final answer anymore.

I’m interested in the places, people and experiences that make life feel bigger, more interesting and more alive.

That is really what Get Lost to Find More! means to me.

Sometimes you have to move away from the path you thought you were supposed to follow before you can see what else might be waiting.

STILL CURIOUS?

There’s plenty more to explore.

Whether you’re planning a trip, looking for a good story or trying to figure out what to pack, there’s probably something here that can help.

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

Send me your question.

If you’re wondering about it, there’s a good chance someone else is too and it may even become a future guide, FAQ or blog post.

Questions? I’ve probably overthought them too.

A little more about me.

The honest version of travelling alone.

The planning part before the good stories happen.

Want to work together? Start here.

Looking for something useful? It’s probably around here somewhere.

The questions that have absolutely nothing to do with visas.

There’s plenty more to explore.

Explore the World

Plan Your Trip

Stories From the Road

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

Explore

Get in touch

GOOD TO KNOW

Questions? I’ve probably overthought them too.

A little more about me.

The honest version of travelling alone.

The planning part before the good stories happen.

Want to work together? Start here.

Looking for something useful? It’s probably around here somewhere.

The questions that have absolutely nothing to do with visas.

There’s plenty more to explore.

Explore the World

Plan Your Trip

Stories From the Road

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

Get Your Free Packing Checklist

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