Woman who's been backpacking for two years spends just £700 a month seeing the world

A full-time travel influencer has revealed that globetrotting isn't as pricey as one might assume.

Alexis Malan, who's been for two years, spends a mere £700 per month on her escapades - she's so committed to her budget that she'll even snooze on the beach or a boat dock to save a few quid.

Interestingly, her monthly travel expenses are less than the average rent in England, which stood at £1,301 per month as of May 2024, according to the The 28-year-old plus-size content creator has journeyed through South America, visiting countries like , and Europe, with pit stops in the UK and Spain.

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She shares her adventures with her 29,000 followers on Alexis, hailing from Rexburg, Idaho, insists that travelling can be done on a shoestring budget if you're willing to make some sacrifices.

Speaking to she said: "You never have a routine and you are never around the same people.

"I have been traveling on an extremely slim budget. I spend $800-$900 (£616.62-£693.53) on every travel expense per month, no matter where I am in the .

"It has led to not eating some days sleeping on a boat dock or getting a nap on a beach. [But] I would not trade my travels for anything. Every lifestyle comes with its good and bad parts and full-time travel is no exception.

"[But] you have to constantly be on your toes because disasters or last minute changes happen all of the time so there are rarely ever long periods of calm."

Despite her joy in sharing her travel experiences online as a plus-size influencer, Alexis often finds herself dealing with negative comments about her body and even unwanted physical contact.

She reveals that some individuals choose to "not interact" with her due to her size. Alexis shared: "If you go to people will talk about you being fat. Not especially backpackers but locals definitely will. I've had so many people touch my stomach, people telling me to walk more, and little kids asking me if I'm pregnant.

"A lot of people stare. Also, airplanes, buses, trains, and small boats can be difficult. I've managed to luckily do everything but it can be super uncomfortable."

However, she insists the positive experiences far outweigh the negatives. She added: "A lot of people talk about how lucky I am to travel this way and while I absolutely am, there are also many difficult things that come with this lifestyle.

"I will say that dealing with all the crazy parts of travel has skyrocketed the confidence I have in myself because I always know no matter what type of situation comes up I will be able to handle it - because I have dealt with some crazy things and got through them on my own just fine!"