All the S**t I've Learned Abroad

Airline loyalty programs are supposed to reward us… but lately, they feel more complicated than ever. In this episode, Steph and Andrea break down how airline status actually works, from points vs tier credits to alliances like oneworld and Star Alliance. They share the ways they've earned status, the hacks we’ve used, and the psychology behind why it’s so easy to get sucked in. With recent change...

Remember when travelling meant printing directions, wildly gesturing instead of actually communicating, and just hoping your suitcase would show up eventually? We sure do! In this episode, Steph and Andrea rewind 10 to 15 years and reflect on long-haul journeys, early solo travel adventures, and navigating cities, airports and languages with far less help than we have now. We talk about the travel...

It’s our annual New Year’s resolution episode, recorded in real time as Steph rings in 2026 in Melbourne (fireworks included) while Andrea is still very much stuck in 2025. We rewind to last year’s resolutions and ask the hard questions: did we actually do what we said we would? Were the big travel goals met, quietly abandoned, or derailed in truly on-brand fashion? From unexpected detours and sol...

Travel opens doors to amazing places, and usually, some pretty amazing people. But let's be real, not every encounter is heartwarming. Sometimes, you do meet people who are rude, shady, or just flat out awful. So in todays episode Steph and Andrea share some of those rare but unforgettable run-ins with the worst kinds of people that they've met abroad. They're not the kinds of stories you hope for...

Have you ever landed in a new place with no plans, just your backpack and a sense of adventure, only to stumble into something incredible? A surprise street festival, a local holiday, or maybe a once a year cultural celebration that you never saw coming? Tune in as we dive into magical moments experienced abroad where no itinerary turned out to be the best plan of all! Support this show http://sup...

Ever felt personally victimised by a hotel charging more because you dared to travel alone? Or been awkwardly denied a two-seat table like you're some kind of pariah? SAME. In this fiery episode, Andrea and Steph wave the flag for solo adventurers everywhere. From the sky-high single supplement to being rejected by restaurant hosts for daring to dine without a plus-one, the girls share their recen...

It's time for a catch up after some amazing travel adventures! With Andrea just getting back from Brazil and Peru, checking off not one but two wonders of the world, and Steph who's been road tripping through the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand, they swap stories, share some travel tips as always and relive some of the epic, unforgettable moments they got to experience on these trips. Suppo...

Let's talk all the shit we didn't see abroad! Steph and Andrea have been to some pretty amazing places around the world and in these amazing places there are plenty of famous landmarks and attractions that we didn't see while there. Now does that matter? Not at all. Because the real magic of travel isn't about the sites that you should see or the things that you should do, but in the moments that...

Life is too short to wait for the perfect time, so it's time to encourage you to just book. that. trip. Money will come and go but time is finite, it's something you can't get back. So Andrea and Steph want you to pack your bags, take that leap, and let adventure be your guide. You will never regret traveling, but you will regret not going. So it's time to dive into why you should just book the tr...

It's time to dive into the world of travel apps. Let's face it, the app world is blowing up. If you're not using apps in your trip planning, you're already falling behind. That said, which ones are actually worth downloading? Steph and Ange talk about their favourite travel apps that make their trip planning so much easier from packing your suitcase to booking your activities and everything in bet...

In this episode of All the S**t I've Learned Abroad it's a full on planning session! With our New Years travel resolutions fresh on our. minds, we really want to make sure we get them all ticked off the list this year! So in this episode, Steph walks us through her New Zealand trip planning all in real-time. So from flights, car rental, and hostel accommodation (yes, we said hostel!) we're searchi...

Happy 2025! What better way to kick off the new year than with All the S**t I've Learned Abroad's annual travel resolution episode. Join Steph Paige and Andrea Gillis as they revisit their 2024 travel resolutions to see which were actually achieved, and then let's look ahead to their 2025 travel goals and resolutions to get your inspired for your own travel journey! What will be on the list this y...

In this episode we're talking all things no-plan travel today. Have you ever planned an unplanned trip? Bit of an oxymoron there! For the spontaneous and 'non planner' people out there, mystery trips are growing in popularity, so what are you mystery trip options? Want to learn more about the sites we talk about in this episode? Check out: Black Tomato's Get Lost - The Ultimate Adventure Wowcher U...

Group travel at it's core is often the perfect blend of solo travelers at heart who want to experience a new place whilst still having the camaraderie of traveling with others with a built-in support system, making it easier to navigate new places, handle unexpected situations, and enjoy diverse perspectives and ideas. Joined by Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, Bruce shares the company's i...

It's all about priorities! Ask yourself, are you making travel a priority in your life? If the answer is no, then why not? While we have many priorities in life, we often forget to add travel as one of them. For many reasons, like mental and physical health, creating long lasting memories, and becoming more cultured, Steph and Andrea discuss why travel should always be included as a priority in yo...

It's time to dive into the world of artificial intelligence, also known as AI! While still in its infancy, is becoming more popular for travellers looking to simplify their travel planning. From finding hidden gems to crafting personalised itineraries, we test out different AI prompts to help us plan for our next upcoming trips. Does it live up to the hype? Tune in to find out! 00:00:00 - Introduc...

In 2024 solo travel is becoming more popular than ever, but it can still be very daunting for those who have yet to take their first solo trip. So we give you our hot tips on great things you can do while solo traveling and while your might be alone, you'll never feel lonely! 00:02:01 - Booking Flights and Work Trips 00:02:21 - Airbnb Hosting Experiences 00:12:30 - Benefits of Walking Tours 00:15:...

This is a spicy one! Steph and Andrea get into a very intense debate... to recline or not to recline your airplane seat?! When we're flying, while we do have the option to push our seats back, is it always acceptable to do so? How long does a flight need to be before it's acceptable to recline your seat? And is it even your problem if the person behind you is too tall? Ultimately we need to ask th...

How does social media impact your travel experiences? Is social media ruining travel experiences or making them better? Are we too obsessed with getting the right content instead of taking in the experience? Are we focusing too much on FOMO and what we see online? And are we traveling to some of these places we see online for the right reasons? Let's dive in! 00:00:00 - Social Media's Impact on Tr...

Valentine's Day may have passed but it did get us thinking about love languages! Love languages are all about how you give and receive love, for and from others. But how do these relate into your travel style? Quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, gift giving and physical touch. We chat through these five love languages and how you can integrate these into travel to get the most out...

It's time to talk Dubai! Steph recently dipped her toes into Middle Eastern culture by visiting Dubai and the Middle East for the first time. As Andrea has been a few times, we talk through out own experiences, what talk about what we loved about to Dubai, what we didn't love and ultimately... would we move there? 00:00:00 - Introduction to Dubai Experiences 00:00:59 - Content Creation Retreat in...

It's not about the destination, it's all about the journey! Join us as we discuss travel journeys and how our travel styles have evolved during them. Everyone is starting their own travel journey at different times in their lives and in different travel styles. How we can be supportive as a travel community for everyone along their journey, wherever they may be on that path? 00:05:45 Everyone's un...

Am I the A**hole? Steph and Andrea dig into Reddit's AITA forum to find the best travel related AITA scenarios to debate. Tying in hostel etiquette, traveling with significant others, friends and family as also airplane entitlement - A**hole, or not? Tune in now and make sure you let us know if you agree with our verdicts! 00:04:22 - Airport Lounge Access and Etiquette 00:09:14 - Discussing Seat S...

Happy 2024 - It's time for our annual new years travel resolutions episode! As always, we revisit last years resolutions to see if and what we actually achieved and then discuss our travel goals and resolutions for the upcoming year as well - and we've got some big ons that we hope will inspire you as well! 00:00:00 - New Year's Travel Resolutions 00:05:34 - The Power of Writing Down Goals 00:06:1...

It's time to talk about van life in Outback Queensland! What’s the best way to plan your route through the Outback and does it feel safe if you do it as a solo traveller? What is a pig race and why is Steph using her ability to starfish as a system of measurement? And most importantly, what’s the biggest travel hack we’ve learned on how you can live the van life for next to no cost. Resources: Lea...