How We Travel
June 14, 2017
How We Travel
Ivy & Joe Wilson
Over the years of our marriage, Ivy and I have had countless people ask the same questions: “How do you afford to travel so much?” “What do you do for work that allows you to travel so much?” and “How can I travel the world like you?”
There are a few different answers to these questions, but the answers are all the generally the same. It's not because we’re rich and somehow have tons of money, and it's not because we get lots of free travel through other people or companies. Most of it we have done on our own, and worked hard to pay for all we have done. And yet, together, we have not made over $25,000 in a year since our marriage.
There are five main things we give credit to why we have been able to travel so much, and I will explain them here. Through these reasons of being cheap and travel smart, we have been able to go to twenty-plus countries, live out of Utah for roughly seventeen months, and nine of those months were out of the U.S., and, best of all, we’ve been able to go to seventy-five LDS temples.
The very first thing I would like to mention is, of course, God. We try our best to keep the commandments and pay our tithing and do what is right. We give all our credit to God, because he gives us all we have, and blesses us with every good thing in our lives.
We will always give credit to God for all good things, and know that he watches over us. Yes, we have gone through hard times and life isn't perfect, yet we know we are blessed with way more than needed because of His great love.
The second reason is because of our righteous desires of traveling. We travel not just because of the joy and fun it brings, but because of a goal which Ivy and I made when we first got married: Go to every temple in the world.
This may seem like a nearly impossible goal, and when we first came up with it it was only a dream. Ivy’s parents had this goal when they first got married, but there were only twenty-one temples at that point. Now, with over 155 temples, which are all over the world, it seems like a more difficult goal, especially with a few being built every year. 
Nonetheless, Ivy and I have tried to complete this goal, even though it seemed out of reach. While writing this, we have been to seventy-five temples, and have planned to do more soon. The goal is still a ways away, yet we have been married only three and a half years and have doneso much.
We know the Lord will bless us and help us to fulfill our righteous desires, whatever they may be. While on vacation we try our best to still keep the sabbath day holy, and go to church no matter where we are. We also carry with us copies of the Book of Mormon to hopefully hand out to people we meet, and we have been able to do that as well. Doing these things also brings blessings or tender mercies that make some of the best memories.
Many people also travel to places around the world to serve and do humanitarian work or similar things. Do this as well, and you will be blessed. As I will mention, Ivy and I taught English in China and Russian, and helping those kids felt like service. Ivy did humanitarian work in Fiji, and loved it. The service you do then becomes better then the traveling, which makes it all worth it.
The next reason is because of opportunities we have taken. We had the chance to live in Texas, and we jumped on the idea and did it. Living away from home or family definitely has its benefits. It helps you grow up a little, and get out of your comfort zone. It also makes it so much easier to travel to places surrounding where you live. Because we lived in Texas we were able to do all the Texas temples, see most of the state, go to Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Tennessee.
So take chances! Don't just talk and dream about things, but do them! Live your dreams! When Ivy and I got married we had the goal to live out of Utah for a year. We didn't know how we would do that, but we did. We lived in Texas for four months, moved to Pennsylvania and lived there for four months. We were able to see nearly every state east of Utah because of this.
We then had the opportunity to go to China and teach English for four months to Chinese children through an awesome program called International Language Program, or ILP. We went ahead and did it. Because of this we saw incredible places in China, and were able to go to the Taiwan and Hong Kong Temples.
We then had the opportunity to go to Russia through ILP again. We didn't want to go, yet we did, because it felt right. We always prayed and fasted before we up and left to anywhere, and each time we had our prayers answered with a comforting feeling. This is how we knew what we were doing was right.
What one should learn from this point is to just take a leap of faith and live your dreams. Don't just sit and wait for them to come to you, but you go to them. Chase your dreams, and live them! Never give up!
The fourth reason we are able to travel is because of how we travel. As I said, we are considered poor. We hardly make any money, and have spent the past two years mostly traveling. You do not need to be rich though to travel, nor do you have to go into debt. Ivy has a credit card, but we rarely use you, and only spend what we have, making it easier to save up money when we return from a trip.
When we travel, we travel cheap. For some it is too cheap, and may be hard to travel with us, but in the end it has been worth it. Ivy's parents taught her how to travel cheap. On road trips we don't go to the nicest hotels or restaurants. We find the cheapest place available, and hardly eat out. If we do it's a special occasion, or sometimes somewhere like Taco Bell, which is Vera’s favorite.
We also carry snacks with us on road trips or while backpacking, which was taught to us by Ivy's parents, who learned it from Vera's dad Roger, and I learned this from my parents on adventures and camping trips. We snack and eat our meals on the go to not only save time, but to also save money. While backpacking Europe we carried sandwiches with us everywhere, which was cheap, quick and made for some fun picnics.
Yes, in Chicago you need to try the deep dish pizza, in Philadelphia the doughnuts and Cheesesteak, in Taiwan the shaved ice, in Belgium the waffles, Greece the Gyros and olives, and in all places their famous dishes. But this does not mean you need to eat out every meal, nor go to the most expensive restaurant. Go to the cheap hole in the wall or shack on the street. Sometimes these are the best places and most entertaining to go to.
Another thing we have done to be cheap is where we sleep. We have slept many times in our car to save on a hotel. This is the best for road trips. When not sleeping in the car or even camping somewhere, find a cheap hotel. They may be a little dirty or scary, but it's worth it saving $40-$100, sometimes more. Don't stay right on broadway, but stay just outside of the city. In many places, especially foreign, they have hostels. Especially for younger couples, share a room with a bunch of backpackers and sleep on bunk beds in a hostel. This will save you tremendously.
In Switzerland, maybe the most expensive country out there, we spent two nights with the nicest members who fed us breakfast, which saved us a ton and we made some new friends. In Santorini, Greece, where hotels usually are $100-$300, we spent $30 a night, because we stayed ten minutes from the popular sights. It was worth it, and even better in ways because it was more quiet.
Another thing you could do is find out how to spend your nights not in a hotel or hostel, but in an airport, on an airplane, train, boat or bus. Overnight travel is the best, because you get not only the transportation, but also a cheap place to stay. Buses in Europe are the best, where for $20 you can travel hundreds of miles over night and wake up somewhere new.
This is what we have done in China and Europe. We have been able to see so much, with so very little money. It is because we travel cheap and smart. We search countless websites looking for deals on flights, buses and hotels. We pick the cheapest flights usually and plan around that.
There is no need to pay for the best of everything, because it doesn't make for exciting stories. The longest nights in a train, or the dirtiest hostels, or wildest itinerary, make for the best of stories. A typical trip to Paris in a fairly good hotel and eating out at all the regular restaurants, is typical. Don't be typical, but make wild stories that you can tell to your friends and children. In Paris we did everything we wanted to do and saw it all, and spent $24. In China we took trains everywhere. A twenty-four hour train ride in China is far from comfortable, but for $48 a person to go across the country, it's worth it. It was also a great experience where we made some Chinese friends.
In August 2015 Ivy and I set out to Texas, as I have said. From that point on, over the past two years, I have only worked eight months, while Ivy worked only six, with half of that time both of us made nearly minimum wage. Although we made very little money, we were still able to travel throughout the United States, China, and Europe. It's not about how much you make, but what you choose to do with your money, and how wisely you spend it.
Reason number five is family and friends, which have made this all possible. Thanks to Ivy’s parents, who have let us live with them, making it easier for us to save money. For young couples, don't be afraid to do this! Living with my in-laws was one of the best things we have done. It saved us thousands of dollars of rent, and we in return were able to help Darcy and Vera, by doing yard and house work, and giving them good company. Don't be afraid to do this, especially if you have awesome parents or in-laws, as we do.
I also give thanks to my boss, Collins Prescott, who has provided me with a job on and off for a few years now. It is hard to find a job where you can take four months off work and then return back. I know it hasn't been the best for him or my resumé, but as he said, do it while I can, and while we’re young. This has made it easier for us to travel for sure. I also did jobs on the side when I had the time, which every dollar helped.
Traveling is something extraordinary, which most people seem to enjoy one way or another. It is preferable to have lots of money when traveling, staying in the fanciest hotels and doing the most exciting excursions, but you don't have to. If you're cheap, on a low budget, there are plenty of ways to be able to travel and still have fun. Go hungry and skip a meal every once in awhile. Instead of buying a new pair of pants or the newest accessory, go buy a plane ticket or fill up your car and go to a new destination.
Don't go about spending your money on things and items that fade with time, but spend your money and time on experiences and memories, especially with those whom you love. Don't worry about trying to get a brand new car. Keep that junker for as long as possible. I've had my same ‘99 Alero since I was 16, and it's the only car we have. A smaller apartment also means a few extra hundred dollars a month to go to traveling.
Traveling cheap is possible, and you don't need to go into debt to have a fun life. Live your life to the fullest! Never give up on your dreams! And always give thanks to God, for he is the reason we have all the spectacular things we have in life. The world is also his creation, and is meant to be enjoyed, explored, and traveled!
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