For a lesson on how to see the world on a shoestring budget, read on.
Schoolteacher Lucy Hsu, from San Francisco, has officially visited all 195 countries as recognized by the United Nations, with Syria being the final spot she ticked off in May 2023.
In a bid to achieve her goal, the 42-year-old employed a number of cost-cutting measures – revealing that doing volunteer exchange programs and homestays allowed her to save thousands of dollars.
She told NBC that she used Workaway, which is a subscription-based website that matches volunteers with vetted hosts and lodging is provided in exchange for services.
Schoolteacher Lucy Hsu, from San Francisco, has officially visited all 195 countries as recognized by the United Nations, with Syria being her final spot to tick off in May 2023
In a bid to achieve her goal, the 42-year old (pictured in Antarctica) employed a number of cost-cutting measures
The globetrotter (seen in Sudan) used Workaway, which is a subscription-based website that matches volunteers with vetted hosts and lodging is provided in exchange for services
Over time, Lucy has been able to save travel rewards through credit cards and grow loyalty points with certain airlines. Above, pictured in Lebanon
Lucy explained that if she did need to pay for accommodation on her travels, she would search for budget hostels via HostelWorld instead of checking into a hotel.
And when it came to transportation, buses and trains would be her preferred mode of getting around instead of booking expensive flights to cross borders or make an internal connection.
Over time, she has also been able to save travel rewards through credit cards and grow loyalty points with certain airlines.
She hopes that her purse-friendly travels will inspire others to go on their own adventures.
The globetrotter explained: ‘There’s still a lot of misconceptions about travel being unattainable… or that it’s very unsafe or unaffordable.
‘Travel is attainable if you’ve learned ways to do it in a budget-conscious way. And those methods are out there if you want to research.’
Lucy, who is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, got her first passport when she was 23.
Her first trip involved backpacking around Europe before she returned to the US to complete a master’s degree.
In a Facebook post she said that at the time, she ‘never imagined’ that she would go on to visit every country in the world.
Reflecting on what she has learned from her 19 years of travel which has led her everywhere from the wilds of Antarctica to the ancient sands of Sudan, she adds: ‘I’m so grateful for this journey that has taught me the greatest lessons in life: patience, gratitude, perseverance, love, acceptance, kindness, balance, and more!
‘I can best describe it as picking up a book, being captivated by every page and never wanting to put it down.
Lucy, who is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, got her first passport when she was 23
A shot of Lucy at the Denakil Depression in Ethiopia – one of the hottest places on the planet – where she witnessed ‘120F degree heat for three days with no facilities’ while camping
The avid traveler met the Dalai Lama in India this April and said it was a day she will ‘never forget’
‘And now that I’ve read the last page, it only makes me want to reread favorite parts, and go back to sections I may have missed or skimmed too quickly.’
The California native says some of her most memorable trips include Mongolia for its ‘undiscovered adventure,’ and Kenya for the hospitable locals.
Meanwhile, she also met the Dalai Lama in India this April and said it was a day she will ‘never forget.’
When it came to visiting her final country, Syria, Lucy said she had to wait until it was open to Americans again. When the time finally came, she was ‘excited’ to complete her mission.
Currently Syria is on the United States Department of State’s ‘Do Not Travel’ list, but Lucy said that she had no problems when she was there.
Detailing her Syria trip on Facebook, she wrote: ‘Visiting Aleppo is a must – once the largest city in the Syrian region, it is now an UNESCO site with its famous citadel and souks… wandering through, you’re transported back to the time of the Arabs, Mongols, and Ottomans.
‘Continuing to Hama, we visited the famous ancient wooden waterwheels. Finally Homs, once a major industrial center, still stands in rubble from the civil war over 10 years ago.’
Some of the other risky spots Lucy has been to on the map include Afghanistan and North Korea. However, thanks to her meticulous planning, she had smooth experiences in both countries.
Offering advice to others who are eager to visit every country, Lucy recommends planning wisely and trying to see countries that are ‘clustered together,’ so you tick several places off on the same trip.
She also recommends joining networks of international travelers, as these can be a great resource for finding things such as guides and translators, and learning about local rules.
