Welcome to Big Travel Nut!

Hello, I’m Marie! Nice to meet you. I’ve been travelling the world solo since 1992 (well, not continuously) and in that time, I’ve managed to visit 66 countries and every continent. This is why my site is called Big Travel Nut!

Marie-France Roy at Uxmal, MexicoAlthough it feels comfortable now, travelling solo did require a leap of faith initially. Over time, I also realized that exploring the world is much cheaper than a lot of people imagine. This is now truer than ever, with all the options available from the peer-to-peer sharing economy. It can often be cheaper to travel or live abroad than stay home, which explains the proliferation of “digital nomads” out there.

That’s not me though. I have a home base in Toronto, Canada. I work when I need to, and I travel as much as I can. Although I prefer not to rough it, I still like adventure and independent travel, usually on my own. And I’ve become very good at enjoying comfortable trips on very little money.

Now in my middle years, I don’t normally do anything too extreme (well, except when I do) but I enjoy soft adventures like hiking or snorkelling, art & culture, trying out different foods, winery hopping, and discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations.

If you’re a solo traveller in your 40s, 50s or beyond, who’s active and curious (or would like to become one), and you don’t have a large budget, you’ve come to the right place! Since August 2013, Big Travel Nut has been helping travellers:

  • Get inspired and empowered to travel solo, or at least independently
  • Travel more, further, and cheaper
  • Find new places to explore
  • Learn about alternative and interesting ways of travelling
View over Máguez from the outskirts of Haría (Lanzarote away from the resorts)

On a solo trip to Lanzarote (Canary Islands) in 2017. 

Start here

Big Travel Nut is a website full of destination articles, tips, as well as travel stories and commentary. If you’re new here, you may want to start with these posts:

As well, get my free report on 15 ways to save money on every trip you take. This will also bring my monthly newsletter straight to your inbox. (You can unsubscribe whenever you want.)

The long story

If you’re the kind of person who likes the long version of every story, you can read:

Interviews

You can read more about me in these interviews I gave:

Collaborations

I have contributed to the following articles:

Other places where I’ve been featured

To read complete pieces I have written for other publications including Matador Network, Intrepid Travel, British Airways “The Club”, and Lonely Planet, check out my portfolio.

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