Manifesto/Intro
Hi there! I’m Cate. I travel a lot.
Some would call it a hobby, or perhaps an obsession, but I prefer to say it’s a lifestyle. My lifestyle—and if you’re here, presumably yours too! I like to joke that this blog is my day job, because I work night shifts as an ER nurse [more like my day internship since I'm not paid...]. I budget time and money for travel because it is a priority. I seek immersive travel experiences. I like to indulge in local food and drink, culturally significant activities, and anything that helps me to engage with the most interesting part of any new place: its people.
Friendship Pose with Amber. Tulum, Mexico.
The goal of The Budget Luxury Traveler (BLT for short) is to proverbially teach my fellow travelers to fish. My problem with researching on travel blogs and TripAdvisor is that I don’t personally know anyone on the internet. I don’t know if Jenny from the Blog likes the same sort of things I do or if I’d hate every minute of traveling with her. So how am I supposed to know if what Jenny recommends as the best hotel in Brussels is what I’ll like or not?! [sorry Jenny, I’m really railing on your here, and you’re not even a real person.]
Sometimes you need to cool off with a piña colada in Sayulita, Mexico.
Spontaneous ATV adventure in Moab, UT, USA.
What this is not: a bunch of city guides where I list things like the Top 10 Must-sees in Sydney. This is not a recipe for a vacation. I don’t know you… presumably, you’ll sort of get to know me here, but that doesn’t mean we like all the same things.
What this is: a website designed to help you become a more culturally conscious, cost effective traveler without compromising on quality or style. A place where you can hone your skills at trip research, planning, and execution. Budget Luxury Traveler will help you create the best trip for your own personal travel style. That includes budgeting in a way that feels indulgent but doesn’t break the bank. It also includes helping you figure out what the hell your own personal travel style is.
If something really stands out on a particular trip, you’ll probably see it over on my Instagram (along with some inspiring photos of places I’ve visited). Otherwise, think of BLT as a travel how-to manual, not a glossy trifold destination pamphlet. We’re gonna get into the nitty gritty of the jet set lifestyle here! BLT is about the reality of navigating out in the world once the wheels hit the tarmac at your port of call. Welcome to my Budget Luxury Travel lifestyle and mentality. I hope you enjoy the trip!
Let’s get started:
Five crash course articles to help you become a budget luxury pro:
*Staying on Budget Without Counting Coins
"Arriving at each new city, the traveler finds again a past of his that he did not know he had: the foreignness of what you no longer are or no longer possess lies in wait for you in foreign, unpossessed places."
-Italo Calvino
Me and Jess, all smiles after a great scuba dive! Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia.