June 24, 2025 • 36 mins
What drives a woman to sell everything she owns, travel halfway around the world, and jump on yachts with complete strangers? For Tess Millhollon, author and founder of Her House, it was the desperate need to reclaim her sense of self after surviving sexual assault in college.
Tess shares her remarkable journey of healing through solo travel in Australia, where she discovered that recreating her comfortable bartending life from Texas wasn't enough. The pivotal moment came when she spotted a hostel job board posting: "yacht crew wanted, no experience necessary." This spontaneous decision led to her learning to sail and "yacht hopping" up the Australian coastline—what she humorously calls "extreme hitchhiking"—creating the adventure of a lifetime.
Throughout her seven-month journey, Tess encountered what she calls "persons of peace"—strangers who became divine connections offering safety and community when she needed it most. One particularly meaningful encounter with a woman at an airport who later connected her with hosts became the inspiration for Her House, her current venture connecting solo women travelers for safe accommodations worldwide.
The conversation delves into the emotional challenges of long-term solo travel, including homesickness and the importance of bringing small comfort items like fuzzy socks or a familiar pillowcase. Tess beautifully articulates how solo travel teaches you to trust your intuition—knowing when to push forward and when a journey should end. "No one had done what I'd done, no one had felt what I felt...like I had me," she explains, highlighting how self-reliance during travel transfers powerfully to everyday life.
For women considering solo adventures, Tess recommends establishing connections in your destination before arriving—exactly what Her House facilitates through its community of background-checked members spanning all generations. Whether you're in your twenties like Tess was or a retiree seeking new experiences, this growing network offers both safety and authentic cultural immersion.
Ready to find your own healing journey? Download the Her House app, visit herhouseco.com to explore membership options, or read Tess's full story in her book "Sherbet Skies"—a testament that no matter how far you travel, you're never truly alone.
JOIN THE HER HOUSE Community.
www.herhouse.co
Remote Trails RadioRemote Trails Radio is a laid-back and engaging podcast where two friends share...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Instagram @solotraveladventures50
Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, sister travelers, welcome to Solo
Travel Adventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch, your host,solo travel advocate and travel
coach.
Well, if you've been listeninga while, you know that
occasionally I like to bringguests on and if you're new,
welcome.
I like to bring guests onbecause I love having them share
(00:21):
their stories here on the showand to give you examples of how
women have faced their fears,stepped out of their comfort
zone and solo traveled.
I've had some epic guests onwith some really great stories
and by doing this, I hope toinspire you to do the same in
your life and have your owntransformative solo travel
(00:42):
experience.
Well, today's guest is noexception, with her story of
adventure to discover herselfand find healing I have.
Tess Milholland is a publishedauthor and founder of Her House,
an app community that bringssolo women travelers together so
they can host each other andfind safe and free
(01:03):
accommodations across the globe.
Tess lives outside San Antonio,texas, with her husband and son
.
She enjoys hiking, reading anda good craft beer.
Well, let's listen in to ourconversation and I'm hoping you
feel inspired and to join thecommunity as well.
Well, hello, tess, welcome tothe show.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Cheryl, thank you so much for having me.
This is so much fun.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I know Well, as we were talking off air, that just
we have such a there's, thissmall community.
We find that we're connected inother ways somehow, right
through mutual people that weknow.
So happy to have you on and Iam so excited to share your
story because I was inspired byyour story.
I actually resonated a lot withyour story as far as what you
(01:50):
wrote in your book.
So I'd like you to actuallystart with a little bit of your
story, but I'm very keen onhaving you share what prompted
such an epic adventure, soloadventure that you went on what?
Seven months, I guess or so.
So tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh yeah, well, for those of you who are not super
familiar with me, my name isTess Milholland, I am an author
and founder of Her House, and sowhat happened is I actually
went to Australia right after Igraduated college.
Actually, I spent the firstyear out of college just like
totally lost and I didn't knowwhat I wanted to do with my life
(02:30):
like a lot of new graduates doand I ended up selling
everything that I had and Iended up just going overseas and
solo backpacking.
I mean, a big reason why I wentover there was because I felt
lost and I didn't know what todo with my next steps in life.
But I also went through somehard stuff while I was in
(02:54):
college.
I went through a sexual assaultwhile I was in college and so I
was in this place in my lifewhere I didn't want to be around
men and I was like reallyscared of men and I was healing
and I really needed to just getaway from everything and really
kind of like reclaim myself,reclaim my body and figure out
who I was.
(03:14):
And I really felt like solotraveling had a huge part in
that process of like me meetingGod on the other side of the
world on sailboats.
You know and I won't give toomuch of a way what's in the book
, but it was just a reallybeautiful experience of solo
traveling and that's why I'mreally so passionate and so
(03:37):
excited to help more women havesolo travel experiences too.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I, you were very vulnerable with that and sharing
why.
You know what prompted sort ofthis need to, you know, find
some healing and finding thatacross the ocean, like on the
other side of the world for youI wish I had known and the
reason you resonate and I'll bevulnerable.
You were vulnerable, I'll bevulnerable, but I was in college
(04:04):
.
I was raped twice, so Iunderstand, but I wish I had
known the, the magic of behind,how much travel could have
helped me heal, based on mypersonality too, cause I loved
to travel even back then.
Um, but unfortunately that'snot what I did when that
happened to me.
So I am so happy you found thatavenue and I know while you
(04:30):
were on that journey you hadsome very incredible I like some
people call them God winks, orjust you know you could see
God's hand in the differentpaths and different things that
were happening.
God's hand in the differentpaths and different things that
were happening.
Can you share you know?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
when you actually experienced that a time or two
when you were over in Australia.
Well, I will say that, evenbefore I left, I had someone
tell me before yeah, before Ileft that I would be always
provided a person of peace andthat God would continue to bring
your person of peace into thejourney with you.
And I was like I don't reallyknow what that means, but I'm
like I'll take it.
(05:13):
And so, over and over again, Ifound God bringing people into
my life to help take care of mealong the journey.
One of the really big momentsfor me and it was actually one
of the most inspirational pointsof my journey that led me to
(05:33):
create Her House was when I wastraveling from Brisbane to or,
excuse me, I was traveling fromMelbourne to Sydney.
I was in the airport and I had,you know, my big backpack on.
You know, backpackers are verycommon in Australia, you know,
you see them all over the place.
And so I struck up aconversation with a woman behind
me.
She was there with her kids andthey were traveling, and I was
(05:55):
like, oh, I like your dress.
And she's like oh, you know,you're traveling, when are you
from?
And I was like, oh, I'mAmerican, you know.
So we were like just chitchatting for a while and then I
said, OK, well, I got to go.
And so I started heading overto my gate and she runs after me
in the airport and taps me onthe shoulder and I was like
she's like, I'm so sorry, Idon't mean to startle you, but
are you going to Queenslandsometime soon?
(06:17):
No-transcript my way of payingit forward, because you remind
(06:57):
me of her.
And I was like, wow, Okay.
So she's like here's my email.
If you need a place to stay inQueensland, reach out.
And I was like, okay.
So she's like here's my email.
If you need a place to stay inQueensland, reach out.
And I was like, okay.
So I kept her, I kept hercontact info.
A few weeks later I was inBrisbane, didn't know what my
next step was going to be.
I ended up reaching out to herand I ended up staying with her
parents, Fran and Alan, down inthe Koolangatta area just south
(07:22):
of Surfer's Paradise, for abouta week.
They hosted me for a whole weekand it was such a beautiful
experience that, like God, youknow, just brings people into
your life like, especially as asolo woman traveler.
I think that solo women theylike people just come out of the
word, work to help you andsupport you and it was like such
a beautiful experience to behosted by complete strangers.
(07:43):
And it was really one ofbeautiful experience to be
hosted by complete strangers andit was really one of the most
inspirational points that helpedme really inspire me to create
her house.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yes, yes, I know that's important.
You know, just in general, thewhole safety thing and where you
stay plays a huge part intothat.
You know, sometimes I know Irun into the fact where you know
I try to book something onlineand you know, maybe it's not in
the greatest place, right, andyou know.
(08:13):
Or you know you got to share ifyou're in a hostel, you got to
share, you know, a bunk bed roomwith other people that you
don't know, and you know it canbe a little unnerving.
So it's amazing that you have.
You found people along the waythat helped reach out to you and
helped you in that avenue, andthat you know we'll talk a
(08:35):
little bit more, maybe at theend, but I just, I really truly
love your concept for her houseand we'll talk about that a
little later, but definitely isa need out there for us women,
solo travelers, for sure.
I want to talk just a littlebit about, too, what I found
very amazing is, withoutexperience and without, like you
(09:00):
know, telling the whole story,but you did spend some time on
boats while you were over there.
I don't have any experiencewith boats.
I don't think you did eitherbefore you did this.
So how did that?
Well, I guess, how did youlearn like to cause?
I know you were actually havingto do a lot of the work on the
(09:20):
boat.
You weren't just a passenger,you were actually doing some of
the manual labor.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
I mean, how did you learn all that while you were
there?
So how it came up?
So I was actually living in theGold Coast, I had a working
holiday visa so I could getlegal, I could work legally and
earn money in Australia while Iwas over there.
Yeah, I was wondering that too.
Yeah, I had a special visa thatallowed me to do that.
So I was actually bartending.
I was bartending at a five-starrestaurant in the Gold Coast
(09:51):
and I got a flat.
So I was like creating a wholenew life in Australia and it was
like amazing and I loved it.
But the thing was is that Iremember this one day I was like
walking to the grocery storebecause I didn't have a car or
anything.
So I was like walking to thegrocery store and I was like,
okay, I get up at like 11, 12and I hang out for a little bit,
(10:15):
I go to the restaurant and Ibartend all night and I go to
bed at like two or three in themorning.
And I was just like this isexactly what I was doing in
Texas.
But I'm doing the exact.
I'm like living the exact samelife that I was living in Texas,
in Australia, and I'm like whatam I doing?
(10:35):
And that's that's what reallyhit me, that I was like I came
to the other side of the worldto live the exact same life that
I was living in Texas.
I'm like, no, I need to dosomething like totally different
.
And so, before I had gottenthat flat.
I was living in hostels for awhile, like when I wasn't like
staying with hosts and stuff.
I was like living in hostelshere and there and a lot of
(10:57):
times I'll have like job boardson hostels because backpackers
are always work.
And it said I saw one that said,because backpackers are always
work, and it said I saw one thatsaid yacht crew wanted no
experience necessary.
So I was like, oh, that soundscool, right, so I take the
number and I keep it in mybackpack and I kept it I happen
(11:18):
to still have this number and soI call this guy and he's like,
yeah, you know, we're heading.
It's just this dude is this oldguy who is what they need to do
is they need to take theiryachts from the Gold Coast area
up to Airlie Beach, so, likebecause of their cyclone season,
so they're needing to take allof their yachts up north for the
(11:41):
cyclone season and so like,well, we're leaving to um head
north like around the end of may.
So if you want to come, uh, youknow let's go.
So I went out to go see his boatand it was a.
It's a 35 foot monohull, soit's technically a yacht, um,
(12:02):
but it's not like a mega yachtor anything like that.
They're like smaller yachts andstuff that have, like you know,
of course, like sleepingquarters and stuff like
underneath and stuff.
And so I had a few lessons withhim.
He took me out and taught mehow to turn the yacht and how to
do stuff.
I can't remember now it's beenso long since I like I knew all
(12:25):
those terms like what every, allthe ropes were called and stuff
like that but he kind of liketaught me how to do it.
And then it was me, him, andthen another Australian woman
and we just started sailing andI stayed on their yacht for
about two weeks and then Istarted yacht hopping about two
weeks and then I started yachthopping.
So yeah, I call it extremehitchhiking Like I would never
(12:52):
hit, like but I like ended upgetting on yachts with people
like this is substantially moredangerous than getting in a car.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
People when I was reading your book about that, I
was like holy cow, like I, justI, I couldn't imagine doing that
.
Honestly, I think that was socourageous, I mean, and I like
how you came to the realizationthat, hey, I want to do
something completely differentthan what I was doing back in
(13:17):
the States.
And why not?
Right, you were trying tocreate this new life, so to
speak, or just you know, thisnew experience for yourself.
Right, get yourself out of thatcomfort zone, because you know
bartending was comfortable foryou.
Right, because you've done itbefore.
Right, so here's somethingcompletely new and I'll be
completely honest, I don't think, maybe when I was in my
(13:38):
twenties when, like you were,but I'm in my fifties and I I
don't, you know, I feel likethere's many of us that are
older, that I'm not saying therearen't.
There aren't older ladies outthere that wouldn't jump on that
type of opportunity where youhave to learn a new skill, which
I think is admirable, really Iwould.
I mean that is a huge, hugething, but that's quite an
(14:03):
adventure.
I mean that's that's huge, toto actually learn something
completely new and, like yousaid, do some dangerous
hitchhiking.
You know, it's crazy.
It's exciting, though, rightWasn't it?
Speaker 2 (14:20):
exciting it was.
It was so exciting Just likethe adventure of a lifetime.
And I really, you know, I wastelling when I was like working
at the bar and I was like, ohyeah, so I'm going to go sail up
to the Whitsunday Islands, likejust like nonchalantly, and
they like stopped and like doyou know that Aussies like go
(14:40):
their whole lives wanting to dothis and never doing this?
Like what you're doing is likea once in a lifetime opportunity
and so so, because I reallylike thought about just like
staying and because I wasfinally like getting money again
and and having some stability,but I think, like what I really
learned from that is like whenopportunities present themselves
, you have to go for it, becauseotherwise, like these
(15:02):
opportunities may pass you byand you'll you'll never get them
.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So, yeah, that's probably my biggest takeaway
from this, yeah, and, like yousaid, the area that you were
cruising or you know yachting, Imean it's remarkable.
I mean, like you said, I meanthat is going on.
That type of trip is a trip ofa lifetime, honestly, and I'm
just a little jealous that youdid it a lifetime honestly and
(15:33):
I'm just a little jealous thatyou did it.
So you did that for a while andI know that you came to a point
where, well, your original goalwas to be gone a whole year,
Correct.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, I had a year long visa, year-long visa, um.
But I think you got to a pointwhere you discovered that it was
time, um, tell us a little bitabout how that came about and
really you know how you knew itwas the right time to leave yeah
, you know, cheryl, it'sinteresting because, like when
(16:06):
you're long-term solo travelingwhat I did like you'll get
homesick and reallyuncomfortable, like all
throughout the journey andyou'll go through days when
you're like I don't want to dothis anymore, I just want to go
home and I want to go where,like, things are comfortable
again and because you'reobviously like completely out of
your comfort zone for anextended period of time and it
(16:26):
can be like a lot on you, likementally and physically.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
On a daily basis too.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
It is, it is, yeah, so like if you deal with
homesickness like that's totallynormal, like when you're solo
traveling, and I would gothrough like bouts of it and
then it would kind of go awayand then I would like start to
feel better again and excitedabout the journey again.
But what happened during, likethose weeks leading up to me
(16:53):
finally making that decision tostop my trip early, is that
sensation of like I feel likeI'm done, like this season is
closing, like I'm done Like thisthis season is closing.
(17:13):
And I remember I was at theMarina in Airlie Beach, just
like watching the boats andwatching these people with their
family and I just likecontinued to feel alone and it
was like a switch, like flippedin my head.
I was like I was of switch,like flipped in my head.
I was like I was.
I was like done.
I was done Like I didn't havethis, like longing, needing to
(17:33):
leave and to adventure, like Iwas ready to go home, and so
that kind of happened and thenand then I went out cruising for
a little bit longer after thathappened and it just never went
away.
I was just like ready to go homeand a lot of it had to do with
well, he was my boyfriend at thetime but my now husband.
Like it's you know, it's a lovestory in the end of it Like my
(17:59):
book is a love story too and Iwas just like ready, ready to go
home and ready to be with him.
So I think it's just somethingthat happens in your heart, like
you'll know, in your heart whenit's time to go home and it
feels different from just beinghomesick.
It's hard to explain.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Yeah, Like well, would you say.
You definitely had a pieceabout your decision to go home.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yeah, definitely I felt.
I felt like ready to just headhome and I didn't feel the
gnawing need to leave, cause,like before, before I had that
epiphany, before I had thatexperience, I just had this
desire to leave and to gosomewhere and just just to
(18:48):
adventure, and that's all Icared about and that's just like
where I was at, just in myjourney and in my life.
And then all of a sudden itstopped and I was like ready to
go.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
I like how you also gave yourself grace that you
weren't being so hard onyourself that, oh my gosh, I
committed to a year and now I'mlike not making the year and you
know like we set these goalsand we can, you know, hold
ourselves to them.
Maybe not in the right way,meaning that you know it's all
(19:19):
for the wrong reasons.
I should say Right, but itsounds like you gave yourself
that grace and you had a pieceabout you know finishing, you
know being done a little earlierthan you had anticipated.
So I think that's, I thinkthat's also just part of of of
travel in general.
You know just, you know makingsure that you are flexible and
(19:40):
you are, you know, like you said, following the adventure, maybe
, or or knowing when it's timeto leave or time to move on to
another place.
So I appreciate that insightthere.
How did you?
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:54):
go ahead.
No, I was just gonna say like,I think that, like, as a solo
traveler, you really get to knowyourself on a deeper level than
than you've ever had before inyour life, and so you really get
to know what you truly want inyour heart and you know how to
decipher it and you get reallygood at making decisions.
(20:17):
Because before I went to solotravel, I always felt like I
needed to ask everyone's opinionin order to make a decision.
Right, I would ask my mom, mydad, my boyfriend, you know, my
brother, you know.
I would ask people what theythought, and I went through
things that I talk about this inmy book how there are things
(20:38):
that I was going through that noone else could understand, like
when I was like getting ondifferent yachts and and I like
was trying to explain thesituation.
But the thing is is like no one, no one could give me insight
on what to do.
No one had done what I'd done,no one had felt what I felt.
No one has seen what I seen.
(20:59):
Like I had me so much beyondthat specific trip, Like being
able to make your own decisions,know in your heart what you
want and then be able to go forit has served me tremendously
(21:22):
throughout my professional lifeeven.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Yes, absolutely, I totally agree and I think, like
you said, solo travel it reallygives you those skills I should
say right To, like you said,understand yourself, make
decisions, be self-reliant, Imean all these things that can,
like you said, carry over intoeveryday life.
(21:46):
So, absolutely, that's why I'ma big encourager, advocate of
solo travel, because there's somuch you can, like you said, you
can learn about yourself whileyou are solo traveling.
How did you handle thehomesickness and the loneliness?
What were some things that youdid to combat that while you
(22:09):
were gone?
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So I think that, as I was solo traveling, I needed to
anchor myself in some kind ofcomfort, because you're just or
you're uncomfortable, like allthe time, right.
So, there's a couple of thingsthat I actually carried with me
while I was solo traveling.
(22:32):
One of them was a pair, a pairof like fuzzy socks with like
grippies on the bottom of themthat acted kind of like slippers
and, um, I would wear them.
Like in my hostel, in my posthome, I would wear them.
You know, it was something thatwas able to give me comfort
(22:53):
when I felt so far away fromhome.
Another thing that I carriedwith me when I was living in the
Gold Coast I had gotten youknow a flat and I got sheets for
a bed.
Had gotten you know a flat andI got sheets for a bed, and I
remember when I was about toleave and go sailing, I had to
(23:16):
leave the sheets behind and Iliterally like broke down before
, like I was like holding thesesheets and like hugging these
like sheets, cause they're likereally soft.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Like they were, like like flannel sheets.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I love, I love flannel sheets and and I was
just like I was like cryingbecause I was, I didn't want to
leave my sheets.
I was like I come all the wayto the other side of the world.
I've left my boyfriend and myparents and everything in my
whole life and this is mybreaking point like sheets, like
how, what in the world, and Ithink it was just like.
(23:47):
Like sheets, like how, what inthe world?
and I think it was just like itgave me comfort, yeah, when I
was so uncomfortable for so long, and so what I did is I I kept
my pillowcase, so I I broughtthat pillowcase with me, like on
the boats and you know, I think.
I don't know if I might stilleven have that pillowcase today.
Um, because I think that we needto like have these little items
(24:10):
of comfort, like while we're sofar away from home that we can
like hold and find yeah, justlike find comfort in.
I think that having somethinglike that was is really really
good like items to carry thatare not like heavy.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I agree.
I mean I get the sheet thingbecause I do a lot of house
sitting and I actually take myown sheets with me.
I just, it's just, I like mysheets, like I, you know, just
want to know that I'm going tobe comfortable when I sleep.
So I get that.
But I have heard from othermostly nomads, you know, people
(24:46):
that are long-term traveling andthey might be somewhere, you
know, a few months here, a fewmonths there that they do the
same thing.
They have their comfort itemsthat they whatever it may be for
them that they bring with them,you know, whether it's like a
picture frame or a trinket orsomething that just makes them
feel more connected to home, andI love that.
(25:08):
So, no judgment, I think that'sa great idea actually.
So if someone is, you know,considering some of that long
term travel, you know, take somesort of comfort from home with
you.
I love that.
What about some other tips,maybe for solo women travelers?
I know there's a lot, I'm sureyou have a lot that you could
(25:29):
share, but what would be onegolden nugget that would apply
to, I guess, any age of a solowomen traveler?
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Yeah, well, I think solo traveling spans all
generations.
I know we have ladies in herhouse that are in their twenties
, like me, but then we have likeretirees, like 60 plus, who are
, you know, empty nesters orwidows, and they are ready there
, they want to continue livinglife, and so, um, it spans all
generations.
Um, I think I think one of thereally magical things and tips
(26:06):
that I have for women who arewanting to solo travel is to
somehow find community in, like,upcoming locations before you
get there, and that's like whatwe're building inside of her
house is to help facilitatethose types of connections so
that you can have friends,hopefully have hosts, in the
(26:28):
upcoming city or country ofwherever you're going, so you
have not only potentially a safeplace to stay, but you have a
friend who can probablyintroduce you to her network,
and then you can continue tostart networking and finding
friends throughout the area,because being able to connect
with locals is a really, reallyspecial way to solo travel.
(26:52):
You're able to, uh, reallyimmerse yourself in a culture um
, that, like you can't get,staying in a hotel, you know you
just can't get that fully.
So, um like and I know that themajority of ladies who are in
her house and who want toconnect with others, they want
that type of immersive, um, asolo travel experience.
(27:16):
So that's one thing that Iwould really recommend doing,
whether you do it in her houseor if you just like, work within
your like, your personalnetwork, do everything you can
to like find people in.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Well, and, like you said, I think that also prevents
solo travelers from feelinglonely, you know, or or finding
themselves sitting in theirhotel at night with nothing to
do, right, so it's a great way.
I like that you said.
You specifically said toconnect before you go, because I
think that's been the downfall.
(27:46):
I've tried to do is to do itonce I've gotten there, and I
can say probably haven't been assuccessful as if I probably had
done some pre-work, you know,before I got to my destination,
on trying to find communitiesbefore I got there.
So out of your travels, withthis long-term trip you did to
(28:07):
Australia, came this idea of herhouse, and so you just talked a
little bit about what you guysdo.
If you want to share a littlebit more and then I know you
have an app coming out for it orit is kind of out in beta
testing, right, but go ahead,share about it.
I'm excited because I love theidea.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
No, it's so exciting, cheryl, so it's called HerHouse
all one word HerHouse and webring solo women travelers
together so that we can hosteach other and find free
accommodation all over the world.
And so it's more than justfinding free accommodation.
(28:46):
It's really a community ofwomen who get it.
They understand your desire tosolo travel and they want to
encourage you on your journey.
A lot of women some women canhost in her house, some women
can't, but I know a lot of themare really excited to meet each
other.
Like that's the whole point.
(29:07):
You know that we want to meeteach other and foster
relationships.
And so then you're like, oh, Ihave this friend, like I have
this friend in Japan, I havethis friend in you know Florida
who, like you know, we get alongand you know she's going to
come visit me or I'm going to govisit her.
(29:27):
And I think, like that's reallythe point of it all.
Like sometimes we have ladiescome in who are wanting hosts in
specific locations and maybe wedon't have them in that exact
location yet in specificlocations, and maybe we don't
have them in that exact locationyet, but we are growing and
currently we do have an app inthe app store that I actually
(29:48):
built personally with software.
It's a little rough but it hasworked.
It does work.
It is a functioning app.
It's just not fabulous, but wehave actually acquired, or we
have, a new investor and we arenow building the app
professionally and so that isgoing to be released like
(30:09):
mid-July, and so we're reallyexcited about that and it's
going to make like connectingwith other women throughout the
whole world easier than ever.
Connecting on different likes,like if you like someone or if
someone is into hiking andkayaking or going to antique
stores or something like that.
(30:30):
You know, it's going to helpfacilitate those connections so
that you can start likedeveloping friendships and then
going and visiting and stayingwith each other.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
And you forgot to mention cause.
I know safety is a bit of aconcern for women.
That part of your process forher house which I really
appreciate is that you willbackground check um people to
make sure.
So I think that's a great, youknow, security measure for
people that maybe you know wantto make sure who they're staying
with they're going to feel safethere.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
So Absolutely yeah.
We have background checks forall members inside of her house.
Whether you know you're a hostor a traveler, you know if
you're a member in her housethen you'll have a background
check so you can feelcomfortable.
If someone reaches out to youin the her house community, you
know that she's been backgroundchecked and verified.
(31:29):
So that always makes us feel alot better.
I know we're all scared.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
I mean it's like a reoccurring theme that we're all
like nervous about solotraveling and so us all coming
together, I think, will continueto help keep us safer.
I agree, I agree and I love thecommunity aspect of it.
So it's not just because thereare some other whether it's
(31:56):
Facebook communities or thingslike that that people you know
like host, a sister kind ofthing, but they're not vetted
and typically those kind ofsetups they're not.
You know, besides not beingvetted, it's mostly it's not
about community Cause it's justlike I just want a free place to
stay, kind of idea is usuallywhat I'm sensing from those
(32:20):
groups.
So I love the community ideaand I I mean I would love it,
because when I get to a place, Idon't know the place, like that
person does, that lives thereand they are probably, they have
some hidden gems in their backpocket, I'm sure, or less known
places that they can, you know,expose you to as a traveler.
(32:42):
So I do love that and we'llkeep, I'll keep helping you plug
it here as best I can.
But you also have, if you wantto hear the rest of Tessa's
story she did write a book aboutit, her hitchhiking I got my
extreme hitchhiking.
(33:04):
So you can get that on Amazon.
It's called Sherbet Skies andit's available on Amazon.
That's where I got my copy, soI'm sure it's.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Indeed, yeah, okay.
Yeah, I am needing to record itfor audible.
I've just had so much on myplate with the business.
But that is on my list recordedfor audible.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
That would be fun Cause I I love audible books,
you know when I'm driving, andstuff like that but, still, it
was a wonderful read, so I don't.
I didn't have a hard timereading it, you know, I know,
but I'm an avid reader, so Well,I appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Thank you so much for those kind words.
It was such a joy to write andI hope that people that do read
my book like can really feelthat like it wasn't a hard
process for me.
It was literally a joy to writethat book and to relive the
days of like sailing up theAustralian coastline and that I
hope it, you know, inspires youand excites you and helps you
(34:04):
meet God in a new way.
That God's going to meet you onyour journey and like, no
matter how far you go, like youcould be like on a boat in the
middle of the ocean and likehe's going to meet you there and
like it's going to be great.
So that's something that Iwould, that I really learned in
the process yes, I love that.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Yeah, because he is everywhere, so, and I love that
he was guiding you along the waytoo, so that's really
inspirational, definitely.
Well, tess, it's been apleasure and I can feel that
we're probably going to connectagain at some point in the
future and, like you said, wegot this small community travel.
We'll find each other again,but I appreciate you being here
(34:49):
and all the inspiration you haveprovided and your amazing app
that's coming out Her House, sowe'll keep tabs on that and
thank you again for your time.
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Thank you so much, Cheryl.
I really appreciate it.
You guys have a good one.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Well, sister travelers, I hope you enjoyed
the conversation I had with Tess.
I loved it and I can't waittill I can meet her I'm hoping
soon in person, but if you wantto get in on this her house
opportunity, please go to herwebsite at herhouseco, and she
(35:24):
has three types of membershipsfor you to choose from.
You can do a month to month,there's a six month option and
even an annual year membership,and you could also become a host
as well, and so go to thewebsite to get more information
and to get signed up so we canbuild this community and we can
(35:44):
start to come visit each otherin different parts of the world.
Sister Travelers, get out thereand have that adventure.
Hello, sister travelers, welcome to Solo
Travel Adventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch, your host,solo travel advocate and travel
coach.
Well, if you've been listeninga while, you know that
occasionally I like to bringguests on and if you're new,
welcome.
I like to bring guests onbecause I love having them share
(00:21):
their stories here on the showand to give you examples of how
women have faced their fears,stepped out of their comfort
zone and solo traveled.
I've had some epic guests onwith some really great stories
and by doing this, I hope toinspire you to do the same in
your life and have your owntransformative solo travel
(00:42):
experience.
Well, today's guest is noexception, with her story of
adventure to discover herselfand find healing I have.
Tess Milholland is a publishedauthor and founder of Her House,
an app community that bringssolo women travelers together so
they can host each other andfind safe and free
(01:03):
accommodations across the globe.
Tess lives outside San Antonio,texas, with her husband and son
.
She enjoys hiking, reading anda good craft beer.
Well, let's listen in to ourconversation and I'm hoping you
feel inspired and to join thecommunity as well.
Well, hello, tess, welcome tothe show.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Cheryl, thank you so much for having me.
This is so much fun.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I know Well, as we were talking off air, that just
we have such a there's, thissmall community.
We find that we're connected inother ways somehow, right
through mutual people that weknow.
So happy to have you on and Iam so excited to share your
story because I was inspired byyour story.
I actually resonated a lot withyour story as far as what you
(01:50):
wrote in your book.
So I'd like you to actuallystart with a little bit of your
story, but I'm very keen onhaving you share what prompted
such an epic adventure, soloadventure that you went on what?
Seven months, I guess or so.
So tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh yeah, well, for those of you who are not super
familiar with me, my name isTess Milholland, I am an author
and founder of Her House, and sowhat happened is I actually
went to Australia right after Igraduated college.
Actually, I spent the firstyear out of college just like
totally lost and I didn't knowwhat I wanted to do with my life
(02:30):
like a lot of new graduates doand I ended up selling
everything that I had and Iended up just going overseas and
solo backpacking.
I mean, a big reason why I wentover there was because I felt
lost and I didn't know what todo with my next steps in life.
But I also went through somehard stuff while I was in
(02:54):
college.
I went through a sexual assaultwhile I was in college and so I
was in this place in my lifewhere I didn't want to be around
men and I was like reallyscared of men and I was healing
and I really needed to just getaway from everything and really
kind of like reclaim myself,reclaim my body and figure out
who I was.
(03:14):
And I really felt like solotraveling had a huge part in
that process of like me meetingGod on the other side of the
world on sailboats.
You know and I won't give toomuch of a way what's in the book
, but it was just a reallybeautiful experience of solo
traveling and that's why I'mreally so passionate and so
(03:37):
excited to help more women havesolo travel experiences too.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I, you were very vulnerable with that and sharing
why.
You know what prompted sort ofthis need to, you know, find
some healing and finding thatacross the ocean, like on the
other side of the world for youI wish I had known and the
reason you resonate and I'll bevulnerable.
You were vulnerable, I'll bevulnerable, but I was in college
(04:04):
.
I was raped twice, so Iunderstand, but I wish I had
known the, the magic of behind,how much travel could have
helped me heal, based on mypersonality too, cause I loved
to travel even back then.
Um, but unfortunately that'snot what I did when that
happened to me.
So I am so happy you found thatavenue and I know while you
(04:30):
were on that journey you hadsome very incredible I like some
people call them God winks, orjust you know you could see
God's hand in the differentpaths and different things that
were happening.
God's hand in the differentpaths and different things that
were happening.
Can you share you know?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
when you actually experienced that a time or two
when you were over in Australia.
Well, I will say that, evenbefore I left, I had someone
tell me before yeah, before Ileft that I would be always
provided a person of peace andthat God would continue to bring
your person of peace into thejourney with you.
And I was like I don't reallyknow what that means, but I'm
like I'll take it.
(05:13):
And so, over and over again, Ifound God bringing people into
my life to help take care of mealong the journey.
One of the really big momentsfor me and it was actually one
of the most inspirational pointsof my journey that led me to
(05:33):
create Her House was when I wastraveling from Brisbane to or,
excuse me, I was traveling fromMelbourne to Sydney.
I was in the airport and I had,you know, my big backpack on.
You know, backpackers are verycommon in Australia, you know,
you see them all over the place.
And so I struck up aconversation with a woman behind
me.
She was there with her kids andthey were traveling, and I was
(05:55):
like, oh, I like your dress.
And she's like oh, you know,you're traveling, when are you
from?
And I was like, oh, I'mAmerican, you know.
So we were like just chitchatting for a while and then I
said, OK, well, I got to go.
And so I started heading overto my gate and she runs after me
in the airport and taps me onthe shoulder and I was like
she's like, I'm so sorry, Idon't mean to startle you, but
are you going to Queenslandsometime soon?
(06:17):
No-transcript my way of payingit forward, because you remind
(06:57):
me of her.
And I was like, wow, Okay.
So she's like here's my email.
If you need a place to stay inQueensland, reach out.
And I was like, okay.
So she's like here's my email.
If you need a place to stay inQueensland, reach out.
And I was like, okay.
So I kept her, I kept hercontact info.
A few weeks later I was inBrisbane, didn't know what my
next step was going to be.
I ended up reaching out to herand I ended up staying with her
parents, Fran and Alan, down inthe Koolangatta area just south
(07:22):
of Surfer's Paradise, for abouta week.
They hosted me for a whole weekand it was such a beautiful
experience that, like God, youknow, just brings people into
your life like, especially as asolo woman traveler.
I think that solo women theylike people just come out of the
word, work to help you andsupport you and it was like such
a beautiful experience to behosted by complete strangers.
(07:43):
And it was really one ofbeautiful experience to be
hosted by complete strangers andit was really one of the most
inspirational points that helpedme really inspire me to create
her house.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yes, yes, I know that's important.
You know, just in general, thewhole safety thing and where you
stay plays a huge part intothat.
You know, sometimes I know Irun into the fact where you know
I try to book something onlineand you know, maybe it's not in
the greatest place, right, andyou know.
(08:13):
Or you know you got to share ifyou're in a hostel, you got to
share, you know, a bunk bed roomwith other people that you
don't know, and you know it canbe a little unnerving.
So it's amazing that you have.
You found people along the waythat helped reach out to you and
helped you in that avenue, andthat you know we'll talk a
(08:35):
little bit more, maybe at theend, but I just, I really truly
love your concept for her houseand we'll talk about that a
little later, but definitely isa need out there for us women,
solo travelers, for sure.
I want to talk just a littlebit about, too, what I found
very amazing is, withoutexperience and without, like you
(09:00):
know, telling the whole story,but you did spend some time on
boats while you were over there.
I don't have any experiencewith boats.
I don't think you did eitherbefore you did this.
So how did that?
Well, I guess, how did youlearn like to cause?
I know you were actually havingto do a lot of the work on the
(09:20):
boat.
You weren't just a passenger,you were actually doing some of
the manual labor.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
I mean, how did you learn all that while you were
there?
So how it came up?
So I was actually living in theGold Coast, I had a working
holiday visa so I could getlegal, I could work legally and
earn money in Australia while Iwas over there.
Yeah, I was wondering that too.
Yeah, I had a special visa thatallowed me to do that.
So I was actually bartending.
I was bartending at a five-starrestaurant in the Gold Coast
(09:51):
and I got a flat.
So I was like creating a wholenew life in Australia and it was
like amazing and I loved it.
But the thing was is that Iremember this one day I was like
walking to the grocery storebecause I didn't have a car or
anything.
So I was like walking to thegrocery store and I was like,
okay, I get up at like 11, 12and I hang out for a little bit,
(10:15):
I go to the restaurant and Ibartend all night and I go to
bed at like two or three in themorning.
And I was just like this isexactly what I was doing in
Texas.
But I'm doing the exact.
I'm like living the exact samelife that I was living in Texas,
in Australia, and I'm like whatam I doing?
(10:35):
And that's that's what reallyhit me, that I was like I came
to the other side of the worldto live the exact same life that
I was living in Texas.
I'm like, no, I need to dosomething like totally different
.
And so, before I had gottenthat flat.
I was living in hostels for awhile, like when I wasn't like
staying with hosts and stuff.
I was like living in hostelshere and there and a lot of
(10:57):
times I'll have like job boardson hostels because backpackers
are always work.
And it said I saw one that said,because backpackers are always
work, and it said I saw one thatsaid yacht crew wanted no
experience necessary.
So I was like, oh, that soundscool, right, so I take the
number and I keep it in mybackpack and I kept it I happen
(11:18):
to still have this number and soI call this guy and he's like,
yeah, you know, we're heading.
It's just this dude is this oldguy who is what they need to do
is they need to take theiryachts from the Gold Coast area
up to Airlie Beach, so, likebecause of their cyclone season,
so they're needing to take allof their yachts up north for the
(11:41):
cyclone season and so like,well, we're leaving to um head
north like around the end of may.
So if you want to come, uh, youknow let's go.
So I went out to go see his boatand it was a.
It's a 35 foot monohull, soit's technically a yacht, um,
(12:02):
but it's not like a mega yachtor anything like that.
They're like smaller yachts andstuff that have, like you know,
of course, like sleepingquarters and stuff like
underneath and stuff.
And so I had a few lessons withhim.
He took me out and taught mehow to turn the yacht and how to
do stuff.
I can't remember now it's beenso long since I like I knew all
(12:25):
those terms like what every, allthe ropes were called and stuff
like that but he kind of liketaught me how to do it.
And then it was me, him, andthen another Australian woman
and we just started sailing andI stayed on their yacht for
about two weeks and then Istarted yacht hopping about two
weeks and then I started yachthopping.
So yeah, I call it extremehitchhiking Like I would never
(12:52):
hit, like but I like ended upgetting on yachts with people
like this is substantially moredangerous than getting in a car.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
People when I was reading your book about that, I
was like holy cow, like I, justI, I couldn't imagine doing that
.
Honestly, I think that was socourageous, I mean, and I like
how you came to the realizationthat, hey, I want to do
something completely differentthan what I was doing back in
(13:17):
the States.
And why not?
Right, you were trying tocreate this new life, so to
speak, or just you know, thisnew experience for yourself.
Right, get yourself out of thatcomfort zone, because you know
bartending was comfortable foryou.
Right, because you've done itbefore.
Right, so here's somethingcompletely new and I'll be
completely honest, I don't think, maybe when I was in my
(13:38):
twenties when, like you were,but I'm in my fifties and I I
don't, you know, I feel likethere's many of us that are
older, that I'm not saying therearen't.
There aren't older ladies outthere that wouldn't jump on that
type of opportunity where youhave to learn a new skill, which
I think is admirable, really Iwould.
I mean that is a huge, hugething, but that's quite an
(14:03):
adventure.
I mean that's that's huge, toto actually learn something
completely new and, like yousaid, do some dangerous
hitchhiking.
You know, it's crazy.
It's exciting, though, rightWasn't it?
Speaker 2 (14:20):
exciting it was.
It was so exciting Just likethe adventure of a lifetime.
And I really, you know, I wastelling when I was like working
at the bar and I was like, ohyeah, so I'm going to go sail up
to the Whitsunday Islands, likejust like nonchalantly, and
they like stopped and like doyou know that Aussies like go
(14:40):
their whole lives wanting to dothis and never doing this?
Like what you're doing is likea once in a lifetime opportunity
and so so, because I reallylike thought about just like
staying and because I wasfinally like getting money again
and and having some stability,but I think, like what I really
learned from that is like whenopportunities present themselves
, you have to go for it, becauseotherwise, like these
(15:02):
opportunities may pass you byand you'll you'll never get them
.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So, yeah, that's probably my biggest takeaway
from this, yeah, and, like yousaid, the area that you were
cruising or you know yachting, Imean it's remarkable.
I mean, like you said, I meanthat is going on.
That type of trip is a trip ofa lifetime, honestly, and I'm
just a little jealous that youdid it a lifetime honestly and
(15:33):
I'm just a little jealous thatyou did it.
So you did that for a while andI know that you came to a point
where, well, your original goalwas to be gone a whole year,
Correct.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, I had a year long visa, year-long visa, um.
But I think you got to a pointwhere you discovered that it was
time, um, tell us a little bitabout how that came about and
really you know how you knew itwas the right time to leave yeah
, you know, cheryl, it'sinteresting because, like when
(16:06):
you're long-term solo travelingwhat I did like you'll get
homesick and reallyuncomfortable, like all
throughout the journey andyou'll go through days when
you're like I don't want to dothis anymore, I just want to go
home and I want to go where,like, things are comfortable
again and because you'reobviously like completely out of
your comfort zone for anextended period of time and it
(16:26):
can be like a lot on you, likementally and physically.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
On a daily basis too.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
It is, it is, yeah, so like if you deal with
homesickness like that's totallynormal, like when you're solo
traveling, and I would gothrough like bouts of it and
then it would kind of go awayand then I would like start to
feel better again and excitedabout the journey again.
But what happened during, likethose weeks leading up to me
(16:53):
finally making that decision tostop my trip early, is that
sensation of like I feel likeI'm done, like this season is
closing, like I'm done Like thisthis season is closing.
(17:13):
And I remember I was at theMarina in Airlie Beach, just
like watching the boats andwatching these people with their
family and I just likecontinued to feel alone and it
was like a switch, like flippedin my head.
I was like I was of switch,like flipped in my head.
I was like I was.
I was like done.
I was done Like I didn't havethis, like longing, needing to
(17:33):
leave and to adventure, like Iwas ready to go home, and so
that kind of happened and thenand then I went out cruising for
a little bit longer after thathappened and it just never went
away.
I was just like ready to go homeand a lot of it had to do with
well, he was my boyfriend at thetime but my now husband.
Like it's you know, it's a lovestory in the end of it Like my
(17:59):
book is a love story too and Iwas just like ready, ready to go
home and ready to be with him.
So I think it's just somethingthat happens in your heart, like
you'll know, in your heart whenit's time to go home and it
feels different from just beinghomesick.
It's hard to explain.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Yeah, Like well, would you say.
You definitely had a pieceabout your decision to go home.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yeah, definitely I felt.
I felt like ready to just headhome and I didn't feel the
gnawing need to leave, cause,like before, before I had that
epiphany, before I had thatexperience, I just had this
desire to leave and to gosomewhere and just just to
(18:48):
adventure, and that's all Icared about and that's just like
where I was at, just in myjourney and in my life.
And then all of a sudden itstopped and I was like ready to
go.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
I like how you also gave yourself grace that you
weren't being so hard onyourself that, oh my gosh, I
committed to a year and now I'mlike not making the year and you
know like we set these goalsand we can, you know, hold
ourselves to them.
Maybe not in the right way,meaning that you know it's all
(19:19):
for the wrong reasons.
I should say Right, but itsounds like you gave yourself
that grace and you had a pieceabout you know finishing, you
know being done a little earlierthan you had anticipated.
So I think that's, I thinkthat's also just part of of of
travel in general.
You know just, you know makingsure that you are flexible and
(19:40):
you are, you know, like you said, following the adventure, maybe
, or or knowing when it's timeto leave or time to move on to
another place.
So I appreciate that insightthere.
How did you?
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:54):
go ahead.
No, I was just gonna say like,I think that, like, as a solo
traveler, you really get to knowyourself on a deeper level than
than you've ever had before inyour life, and so you really get
to know what you truly want inyour heart and you know how to
decipher it and you get reallygood at making decisions.
(20:17):
Because before I went to solotravel, I always felt like I
needed to ask everyone's opinionin order to make a decision.
Right, I would ask my mom, mydad, my boyfriend, you know, my
brother, you know.
I would ask people what theythought, and I went through
things that I talk about this inmy book how there are things
(20:38):
that I was going through that noone else could understand, like
when I was like getting ondifferent yachts and and I like
was trying to explain thesituation.
But the thing is is like no one, no one could give me insight
on what to do.
No one had done what I'd done,no one had felt what I felt.
No one has seen what I seen.
(20:59):
Like I had me so much beyondthat specific trip, Like being
able to make your own decisions,know in your heart what you
want and then be able to go forit has served me tremendously
(21:22):
throughout my professional lifeeven.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Yes, absolutely, I totally agree and I think, like
you said, solo travel it reallygives you those skills I should
say right To, like you said,understand yourself, make
decisions, be self-reliant, Imean all these things that can,
like you said, carry over intoeveryday life.
(21:46):
So, absolutely, that's why I'ma big encourager, advocate of
solo travel, because there's somuch you can, like you said, you
can learn about yourself whileyou are solo traveling.
How did you handle thehomesickness and the loneliness?
What were some things that youdid to combat that while you
(22:09):
were gone?
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So I think that, as I was solo traveling, I needed to
anchor myself in some kind ofcomfort, because you're just or
you're uncomfortable, like allthe time, right.
So, there's a couple of thingsthat I actually carried with me
while I was solo traveling.
(22:32):
One of them was a pair, a pairof like fuzzy socks with like
grippies on the bottom of themthat acted kind of like slippers
and, um, I would wear them.
Like in my hostel, in my posthome, I would wear them.
You know, it was something thatwas able to give me comfort
(22:53):
when I felt so far away fromhome.
Another thing that I carriedwith me when I was living in the
Gold Coast I had gotten youknow a flat and I got sheets for
a bed.
Had gotten you know a flat andI got sheets for a bed, and I
remember when I was about toleave and go sailing, I had to
(23:16):
leave the sheets behind and Iliterally like broke down before
, like I was like holding thesesheets and like hugging these
like sheets, cause they're likereally soft.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Like they were, like like flannel sheets.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I love, I love flannel sheets and and I was
just like I was like cryingbecause I was, I didn't want to
leave my sheets.
I was like I come all the wayto the other side of the world.
I've left my boyfriend and myparents and everything in my
whole life and this is mybreaking point like sheets, like
how, what in the world, and Ithink it was just like.
(23:47):
Like sheets, like how, what inthe world?
and I think it was just like itgave me comfort, yeah, when I
was so uncomfortable for so long, and so what I did is I I kept
my pillowcase, so I I broughtthat pillowcase with me, like on
the boats and you know, I think.
I don't know if I might stilleven have that pillowcase today.
Um, because I think that we needto like have these little items
(24:10):
of comfort, like while we're sofar away from home that we can
like hold and find yeah, justlike find comfort in.
I think that having somethinglike that was is really really
good like items to carry thatare not like heavy.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I agree.
I mean I get the sheet thingbecause I do a lot of house
sitting and I actually take myown sheets with me.
I just, it's just, I like mysheets, like I, you know, just
want to know that I'm going tobe comfortable when I sleep.
So I get that.
But I have heard from othermostly nomads, you know, people
(24:46):
that are long-term traveling andthey might be somewhere, you
know, a few months here, a fewmonths there that they do the
same thing.
They have their comfort itemsthat they whatever it may be for
them that they bring with them,you know, whether it's like a
picture frame or a trinket orsomething that just makes them
feel more connected to home, andI love that.
(25:08):
So, no judgment, I think that'sa great idea actually.
So if someone is, you know,considering some of that long
term travel, you know, take somesort of comfort from home with
you.
I love that.
What about some other tips,maybe for solo women travelers?
I know there's a lot, I'm sureyou have a lot that you could
(25:29):
share, but what would be onegolden nugget that would apply
to, I guess, any age of a solowomen traveler?
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Yeah, well, I think solo traveling spans all
generations.
I know we have ladies in herhouse that are in their twenties
, like me, but then we have likeretirees, like 60 plus, who are
, you know, empty nesters orwidows, and they are ready there
, they want to continue livinglife, and so, um, it spans all
generations.
Um, I think I think one of thereally magical things and tips
(26:06):
that I have for women who arewanting to solo travel is to
somehow find community in, like,upcoming locations before you
get there, and that's like whatwe're building inside of her
house is to help facilitatethose types of connections so
that you can have friends,hopefully have hosts, in the
(26:28):
upcoming city or country ofwherever you're going, so you
have not only potentially a safeplace to stay, but you have a
friend who can probablyintroduce you to her network,
and then you can continue tostart networking and finding
friends throughout the area,because being able to connect
with locals is a really, reallyspecial way to solo travel.
(26:52):
You're able to, uh, reallyimmerse yourself in a culture um
, that, like you can't get,staying in a hotel, you know you
just can't get that fully.
So, um like and I know that themajority of ladies who are in
her house and who want toconnect with others, they want
that type of immersive, um, asolo travel experience.
(27:16):
So that's one thing that Iwould really recommend doing,
whether you do it in her houseor if you just like, work within
your like, your personalnetwork, do everything you can
to like find people in.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Well, and, like you said, I think that also prevents
solo travelers from feelinglonely, you know, or or finding
themselves sitting in theirhotel at night with nothing to
do, right, so it's a great way.
I like that you said.
You specifically said toconnect before you go, because I
think that's been the downfall.
(27:46):
I've tried to do is to do itonce I've gotten there, and I
can say probably haven't been assuccessful as if I probably had
done some pre-work, you know,before I got to my destination,
on trying to find communitiesbefore I got there.
So out of your travels, withthis long-term trip you did to
(28:07):
Australia, came this idea of herhouse, and so you just talked a
little bit about what you guysdo.
If you want to share a littlebit more and then I know you
have an app coming out for it orit is kind of out in beta
testing, right, but go ahead,share about it.
I'm excited because I love theidea.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
No, it's so exciting, cheryl, so it's called HerHouse
all one word HerHouse and webring solo women travelers
together so that we can hosteach other and find free
accommodation all over the world.
And so it's more than justfinding free accommodation.
(28:46):
It's really a community ofwomen who get it.
They understand your desire tosolo travel and they want to
encourage you on your journey.
A lot of women some women canhost in her house, some women
can't, but I know a lot of themare really excited to meet each
other.
Like that's the whole point.
(29:07):
You know that we want to meeteach other and foster
relationships.
And so then you're like, oh, Ihave this friend, like I have
this friend in Japan, I havethis friend in you know Florida
who, like you know, we get alongand you know she's going to
come visit me or I'm going to govisit her.
(29:27):
And I think, like that's reallythe point of it all.
Like sometimes we have ladiescome in who are wanting hosts in
specific locations and maybe wedon't have them in that exact
location yet in specificlocations, and maybe we don't
have them in that exact locationyet, but we are growing and
currently we do have an app inthe app store that I actually
(29:48):
built personally with software.
It's a little rough but it hasworked.
It does work.
It is a functioning app.
It's just not fabulous, but wehave actually acquired, or we
have, a new investor and we arenow building the app
professionally and so that isgoing to be released like
(30:09):
mid-July, and so we're reallyexcited about that and it's
going to make like connectingwith other women throughout the
whole world easier than ever.
Connecting on different likes,like if you like someone or if
someone is into hiking andkayaking or going to antique
stores or something like that.
(30:30):
You know, it's going to helpfacilitate those connections so
that you can start likedeveloping friendships and then
going and visiting and stayingwith each other.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
And you forgot to mention cause.
I know safety is a bit of aconcern for women.
That part of your process forher house which I really
appreciate is that you willbackground check um people to
make sure.
So I think that's a great, youknow, security measure for
people that maybe you know wantto make sure who they're staying
with they're going to feel safethere.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
So Absolutely yeah.
We have background checks forall members inside of her house.
Whether you know you're a hostor a traveler, you know if
you're a member in her housethen you'll have a background
check so you can feelcomfortable.
If someone reaches out to youin the her house community, you
know that she's been backgroundchecked and verified.
(31:29):
So that always makes us feel alot better.
I know we're all scared.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
I mean it's like a reoccurring theme that we're all
like nervous about solotraveling and so us all coming
together, I think, will continueto help keep us safer.
I agree, I agree and I love thecommunity aspect of it.
So it's not just because thereare some other whether it's
(31:56):
Facebook communities or thingslike that that people you know
like host, a sister kind ofthing, but they're not vetted
and typically those kind ofsetups they're not.
You know, besides not beingvetted, it's mostly it's not
about community Cause it's justlike I just want a free place to
stay, kind of idea is usuallywhat I'm sensing from those
(32:20):
groups.
So I love the community ideaand I I mean I would love it,
because when I get to a place, Idon't know the place, like that
person does, that lives thereand they are probably, they have
some hidden gems in their backpocket, I'm sure, or less known
places that they can, you know,expose you to as a traveler.
(32:42):
So I do love that and we'llkeep, I'll keep helping you plug
it here as best I can.
But you also have, if you wantto hear the rest of Tessa's
story she did write a book aboutit, her hitchhiking I got my
extreme hitchhiking.
(33:04):
So you can get that on Amazon.
It's called Sherbet Skies andit's available on Amazon.
That's where I got my copy, soI'm sure it's.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Indeed, yeah, okay.
Yeah, I am needing to record itfor audible.
I've just had so much on myplate with the business.
But that is on my list recordedfor audible.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
That would be fun Cause I I love audible books,
you know when I'm driving, andstuff like that but, still, it
was a wonderful read, so I don't.
I didn't have a hard timereading it, you know, I know,
but I'm an avid reader, so Well,I appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Thank you so much for those kind words.
It was such a joy to write andI hope that people that do read
my book like can really feelthat like it wasn't a hard
process for me.
It was literally a joy to writethat book and to relive the
days of like sailing up theAustralian coastline and that I
hope it, you know, inspires youand excites you and helps you
(34:04):
meet God in a new way.
That God's going to meet you onyour journey and like, no
matter how far you go, like youcould be like on a boat in the
middle of the ocean and likehe's going to meet you there and
like it's going to be great.
So that's something that Iwould, that I really learned in
the process yes, I love that.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Yeah, because he is everywhere, so, and I love that
he was guiding you along the waytoo, so that's really
inspirational, definitely.
Well, tess, it's been apleasure and I can feel that
we're probably going to connectagain at some point in the
future and, like you said, wegot this small community travel.
We'll find each other again,but I appreciate you being here
(34:49):
and all the inspiration you haveprovided and your amazing app
that's coming out Her House, sowe'll keep tabs on that and
thank you again for your time.
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Thank you so much, Cheryl.
I really appreciate it.
You guys have a good one.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Well, sister travelers, I hope you enjoyed
the conversation I had with Tess.
I loved it and I can't waittill I can meet her I'm hoping
soon in person, but if you wantto get in on this her house
opportunity, please go to herwebsite at herhouseco, and she
(35:24):
has three types of membershipsfor you to choose from.
You can do a month to month,there's a six month option and
even an annual year membership,and you could also become a host
as well, and so go to thewebsite to get more information
and to get signed up so we canbuild this community and we can
(35:44):
start to come visit each otherin different parts of the world.
Sister Travelers, get out thereand have that adventure.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.