Lexie Alford was 21 by the time she had reached every corner of the globe. Now at just 22, she employs her on the net platforms and persona – aptly, ‘Lexie Limitless’ – to inspire budding travellers via Instagram, YouTube and her website.
We caught up with Lexie just in time for Worldwide Women’s Working day, to rejoice her title as the youngest particular person to reach every single country in the environment. At first from northern California – which she describes in our chat as “the most numerous of the American states, there’s nowhere I’d alternatively be,” she now resides full time in sunny Los Angeles.
Hey Lexie! Thank you for becoming a member of us. Firstly – have you managed to travel a lot in the past 12 months or so?
It is very mad, I was at Carnival in Brazil the day prior to the very first registered case there (in early March). So I arrived back to the US and we have been straight into complete lockdown.
But certainly, in the course of lockdown I did take care of to journey for get the job done. I went to Turkey to do a two-week road trip for my YouTube, and an additional two week highway trip in Iraqi-Kurdistan.
Did you set out with the intention of starting to be the youngest individual to achieve just about every nation in the globe?
It was a lot more of a purely natural evolution. I begun travelling when I was really younger since my mum has a journey company, a small business she started off when she was just 19. Rising up she would often pull me out of university and get me checking out with her, which was really great.
This life-style meant that by the time I was 18 I experienced travelled to around 70 nations around the world now. I had graduated early from substantial school, and received my associates diploma by 18.
But a single of my most significant desires, from becoming 12 a long time aged, was that I desired to practical experience what it was like to reside for 1 yr of my daily life with no college and no do the job. So I saved up, a ridiculous amount of money, so I could consider this gap yr and travel the earth.
I desired to see as much as I could, and understand as considerably as I could. It was in the course of that hole calendar year that it dawned on me: how quite a few international locations are there? I was only 18, I knew I had some time to do it. So I Googled the youngest person to vacation to just about every nation, and James Asquith’s Guinness Environment History came up.
When I observed that, I knew I would regret it for the relaxation of my lifetime if I did not at least try out.
A ton of individuals want almost nothing additional than to journey, but economical and time restraints can get in the way. You’ve currently said you experienced set that just one year aside – but how did you spend for it?
My undertaking was solely self-funded. I was doing the job for a really younger age, and for my mum’s journey agency. I was definitely blessed due to the fact I was not only earning dollars, but I was studying so a lot about travel – specially how I could do it on a shoestring spending budget.
I managed to extend out people discounts for a yr and a half. And through that time I picked up my digicam, begun accomplishing blogs, and learnt about social media. I was setting up to meet up with people from the business and constructed up a community. I gradually started obtaining much more of a client-base that I was crafting articles for, and which is actually what introduced my enterprise that I operate now.
It is significant to bear in intellect that when you’re climbing a actually significant mountain, if you search correct to the major you are heading to be discouraged and confused. But if you just get just one step at a time, it’s a whole lot easier to get to the major.
Do you have a favourite position that you frequented? And why?
I have a checklist, I have a best 5. But this is like possessing to pick out a favorite little one. The sites are my favourites for distinct explanations. I really like Indonesia mainly because of the diving. I’m a diver and the underwater environment there is fascinating.
Venezuela, due to the fact of its all-natural beauty, and the kindness of the men and women. Pakistan was the most hospitable place and people I visited. It has an incredible mountain landscape as very well.
Egypt for the history – its preservation is outstanding. You can nevertheless see the paint and smoke on the walls inside of the Excellent Pyramids. And Iceland. It is just this kind of a one of a kind island, the most exclusive spot in the entire world.
Is there wherever you would not go again to?
I’m usually weary when I discuss about favourite sites and minimum favorite spots for the reason that it is so subjective. I really do not there’s anyplace I would not go again to – never say never ever.
But my vacation encounter now is really different to a few decades ago. It’s significantly less about counting nations around the world, and much more about in search of out these distinctive activities, so it definitely is dependent on no matter whether the possibility is there.
Just one thing I know is that any travel working experience is all about the people. They make or split the journey. It’s the persons who make encounters last in your thoughts without end.
There is however a whole lot of stigma all around ladies travelling alone, in particular from a security point of view. But you did substantially of this journey by itself, and so youthful. Was it ever a little something that worried you?
I travelled to around 50 or so nations by myself. So that was maybe 7 or 8 months on my very own.
Just as a facet observe, I certainly assume it is one thing each and every human being, gentleman and female, should really expertise at some issue in their daily life: solo travel. It teaches you how to be independent and navigate this outrageous earth by itself. But it also will make you definitely recognize the time you get to commit with individuals, when you’re back again property, or with your household and pals.
Taking the very first stage into solo journey doesn’t have to be massive. You really do not have to go to a completely distinct lifestyle, with a absolutely unique language, and check out to figure it out. A neighbouring city, a nearer place. Just someplace that you can be with yourself and your ideas.
You can ease into these points slowly and gradually and begin learning how to navigate the environment. But it teaches us how to be grateful: for the folks we have in our life, the experiences we have in our life.
What does Worldwide Women’s Day indicate to you?
I really like that we rejoice women of all ages – the working day, Women’s History Month, and consider the time to replicate on how considerably females have occur in culture, but also how ladies are staying empowered to do things they’ve never been able to do just before. It’s about how we are excelling. We come to feel empowered to go after our goals, and there’s no just one holding us again.
It is effortless to stage out all the means that we have to have to carry on to strengthen. But we have to celebrate the progress we have made way too, and that’s what this working day is for me.
What is the 1 piece of assistance you would give to an individual searching to go after their goals?
A piece of suggestions I’ve been supplied and carried with me for many years is to by no means acquire no for an remedy. Anyone who uncertainties your ideas, who doesn’t want something to get the job done out in your favour, currently being turned down. It’s up to you to persevere.
Your social media title is Lexie Limitless, emphasis on the Limitless. Are there any travellers you would endorse men and women ought to comply with?
Bree from @eyeofshe, she’s an remarkable experience vacation creator. Andi from @destinationchaser is a different inspiring traveller who has a really unique outlook on the entire world, and Ciara from @hey_ciara is a solo female traveller, so if which is one thing you’re intrigued in make positive you are pursuing her.
If you want to know additional about Lexie and her adventures, make certain you go to her web page in which you can pre-get the initially couple chapters of her new e book, all about her experiences in vacation.
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