All about your Girl...

Hi! My name is Celeste, and I love to travel.

No, this isn’t a support group for travel addicts. It’s a blog about a woman who loves travel, food, and a really good deal. I wanted to bring it all together to share some of the fabulous places I’ve been and the amazing food I’ve eaten, all while staying on a budget.

How It All Started

I’m an actor by trade, and if you know anything about acting, you know you’re an actor by trade, auditioner by profession, and you often pay the bills doing something entirely different. My journey into international travel started a lot later than most because, honestly, I just didn’t think I could afford it.

There were a million places I wanted to see, but most of the time, I stuck to exploring things closer to home because that budget was not budgeting. But that led me to discover so many wonderful hidden gems nearby. Fun weekend escapes, delicious bites, and local adventures are all things I plan to share here.

My First Big Leap

My game-changing moment came in 2016 when I booked a trip to Greece. I was working as a second-grade teacher at the time, had a little more money in the bank than usual, and had paid vacation days to use. When I saw that Greece was on sale, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.

I was supposed to go with a friend, but she couldn’t make it work. Still, the stars had aligned with both time and dollar signs, and I had to take the leap. So, I hopped on a plane to Greece by myself, assuming I’d meet people along the way on tours and excursions.

I won’t lie, I was nervous. I was navigating a new country alone, which wasn’t the scariest part, but Greece has its own alphabet, so the language barrier was real. Luckily, a coworker’s family was Greek, and she gave me helpful tips, key phrases, and the name of an amazing Airbnb host.

The Journey Begins

It all began with a red-eye flight from Dulles Airport on Turkish Airlines. I was flying economy, of course, because budget. The airport felt quiet and calm that late at night. I had a window seat, which I was excited about until I saw the legroom. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either.

Knowing it would be a long flight, I took a Tylenol PM, got comfortable with my neck pillow, leaned against the window, and did my best to sleep.

I won’t give you a play-by-play of the entire trip, but I do have to mention one thing before we land. I don’t remember much about the in-flight meal, but that Turkish coffee might have been the best part of the flight.

Finding Myself in Greece

Fast forward a bit. My first real solo trip, and guess what? I didn’t meet anyone on my tours. In fact, several of them were just me, since I’d booked during the off-season. That’s probably why the tickets were so cheap.

But my Airbnb host’s sister invited me out one night with her daughter, and it was an absolute blast. While I did feel lonely at times, that’s when the travel bug really took hold. I was seeing incredible, ancient, and majestic places, wondering what I’d been missing out on all these years.

The food was unreal, especially the Greek yogurt. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was nothing like the kind we have here. I wish I could have bottled it up and brought it home.

A New Chapter

That trip was the beginning of something new, not just a journey into the world but into myself. Travel changed me. It made me braver, more curious, and more connected. When I got back to D.C., I was already thinking about where to go next.

Since then, I’ve been to Costa Rica, Vietnam, South Africa, Scotland, Spain, Canada, and Mexico. I’ve gone from exploring my own backyard to embracing the wider world we’re all part of, all while living on what was sometimes a very tight budget.

Why A Cents of Adventure Exists

This blog is for all the dreamers, bucket-listers, and anyone who feels like travel might be out of reach. I’m here to tell you, it isn’t. You can travel. You should travel. You deserve it.

My hope is to make it just a little easier for you to turn those travel dreams into reality.

Welcome to A Cents of Adventure. Because let’s face it, we might not be able to buy a house right now, but we can go and stay in a nice one.

Come along for the journey! ✈️