About Renee

I am a science geek who loves to travel!

Travel is MY lifestyle!

I have been fascinated by language, culture, food, and new experiences since I was a teenager doing my first student exchange trip to Hermosillo, Mexico. Since then, I have traveled the world as a student and as a volunteer while studying Medicine. I lived in Latin America for 10 years, serving as a Volunteer Doctor and Public Health Educator in impoverished communities. I lived in London when I studied Tropical Medicine and again when I got my Master’s in Public Health in Developing Countries. I had a blast discovering Europe on a student budget and learning more about art, architecture and history. During the Pandemic I became a business traveler as a Public Health Consultant and spent years perfecting the Points and Miles game so that now I can travel the globe on Points and Miles without spending my hard-earned cash. I want to share this knowledge with others so they can strategize credit card usage and airline/hotel loyalty programs to get benefits and luxury travel for free! I also want to help others realize the vacation of their dreams, explore this amazing world we live in, and expand their minds by exploring new cultures. As a travel advisor I will do the research and plan out mind-blowing experiences so that you can just show up and enjoy! I can also teach you how to save money by playing the Points and Miles game in my informative workshops, webinars and online course. Whether you want someone to plan amazing trips for you, or you want to learn how to do it yourself, I am here to support you!

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

Life in Latin America

My travel journey started in high school with student exchange trips to Mexico to learn Spanish through total immersion and learn the local culture by living with a Mexican host family. I was fascinated by the differences in food and customs, but truly inspired by the sameness of the human experience. At university, I helped to lead medical and dental brigades to Mexico every spring break to serve impoverished communities alongside local doctors. After I became a Family Medicine physician, I moved to Central America and spent 7 years volunteering in a small missions hospital in the jungles of Honduras. During that time I had opportunity to travel throughout Latin America both as a solo female traveler and as a group leader for friends or volunteers. I learned how to travel like the locals and ride the chicken buses, stay in hostels and find cheap, delicious local food. I learned how to stay safe in dangerous situations, from dealing with snakes, scorpions, and spiders, to knowing which part of town to run a red light rather than stop and get carjacked or when to hide my money in my sock or my bra. Although Latin America is a gorgeous place full of kind, caring and helpful people, there are plenty of dangers, especially for solo female travelers. Follow along in my blog or IG for safety tips!

Life in Europe

My first experience of Europe was an incredible 4 month journey during my Junior year of University. We traveled throughout Western Europe, studying art, history, architecture and Shakespearean literature. The travel bug bit me hard!!!! I was a country bumpkin biology major who was blown away by the art, culture, and excitement of European cities. I couldn’t wait to get back to Europe, so I decided to study Tropical Medicine in London at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine before moving to Honduras. When I decided to get my Masters in Public Health in Developing Countries (I like school…..) I moved back to London and had an incredible time learning alongside health professionals from all over the globe. I also re-discovered by love of West Coast Swing dancing while living in London and started traveling to different European dance events. Through the following years, even though I was living in Latin America, I would travel to Europe every chance I had to dance and stay with friends and explore the cities and the beaches and quaint little mountain towns. I’ve had the unique opportunity to explore many parts of Europe with local friends, which is such a rich experience. Although I prefer to stay with friends when I travel, I have also stayed in many hostels, AirBnBs, small Bed and Breakfasts and large luxury chain hotels. As my experience with using points and miles has grown, I have been able to stay in some amazing hotels and resorts for free by using points. When I was a University student, traveling around Europe for the first time, I never would have believed that I would stay in the historically beautiful Fitzroy Kimpton London next to Russel Square, or the Intercontinental Budapest with views of the Danube, the Castle and the famous Chain Bridge, or the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée, where I was welcomed with a bottle of wine and a buffet breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. If I knew then what I know now, my travel life would have been drastically different and much more luxurious!!! As I show photos of my amazing hotel stays to friends and family, they keep asking me what my secret is. Now, I am ready to share all the knowledge I have gained about saving money on travel and staying in swanky resorts for free! Sure, you can spend hundreds of hours reading travel websites and newsletters to learn these tips and tricks. Or, you can sign up for one of my free webinars, a live seminar at a West Coast Swing dance event, or get even more in depth information with my online course.