Stepping into the confined walls of the aircraft and out of the comfort of her hometown of Santa Barbara, adrenaline coursed through 20-year-old Laura Le’s veins. She was nervous but determined to discover the world on her own terms, which meant leaving America for the first time.
Arriving at her destination, Tokyo, the bustling markets and neon-lit cityscape engulfed her in their chaos, each working off the electric pulse they bestowed. For one month, she canvased the city, enjoying the low prices on clothes and technology, finding her favorite local cuisine and overcoming a variety of mishaps, including taking the wrong trains and winding up in unexpected places such as Mt. Fuji.
But that trip ignited a passion for travel that would stay with her, fueling her dream of experiencing life one destination at a time.
Le manages TikTok and Instagram accounts that detail the ups and downs of her travel experiences. In the past seven years, she has documented more than a dozen trips, five out of the country. Trying to keep it personal and positive, Le’s video diary is her way of sharing travel trips for budget-minded adventurers.
“I personally grew up not having too much money, and I know how hard it can be to want to go out and do something but not have the money to do it,” Le said. “But you don’t need to have money to have fun. There’s always a way.”
Le’s childhood was filled with movement and change.
“When I was growing up, I probably went to seven different schools and lived in a few different states,” she said. “That makes me want to go out there and travel and experience different things.”
Her desire to explore and discover the work has since become the backbone of her content creation, as she shares travel tips with her growing audience.
“You don’t need money to have fun because there’s always a way to do the things that you want to do,” she said. “You just have to tweak it a little and do your research.”
More people are traveling now than ever, according to McKinsey & Company. After a dramatic 75 percent drop in travel during 2020, the industry has been gradually recovering, with domestic travel seeing an annual growth rate of 3 percent.
One major trend contributing to the initial surge in travel post-pandemic has been “revenge travel”—the act of taking a trip that had been delayed due to the global shutdowns.
In Skift Research’s Global Travel Outlook 2024, experts predict that “2024 will be the year that the travel industry fully transitions from catch-up to true growth above pre-pandemic levels. Without revenge travel as a tailwind, we expect a more normal growth trajectory for the travel industry this year.”
Owner and founder of Checklist Travel Team Katherine Collette reflected on the post pandemic shift in attitudes.
“People are more willing to spend money on travel now than I think they have been in a long time,” Collette said. “They realize that there are places they want to go and want to see”.
The U.S. Travel Association reports that although travel demand started off slightly slower in 2024, core areas such as air travel and international trips are still going strong. The Association reported that foreign visits have jumped 24 percent compared to last year, and 93 percent of travelers are planning a trip within the next six months.
“Since the pandemic, more people are willing to spend money on travel,” Collette said. “I didn’t even realize how much I missed human connection until I could travel again. It’s that human connection that makes travel so special.”
While the boom in travel initially fueled by revenge travel is now lower, the industry’s recovery appears steady, with growth now driven by traditional factors such as leisure and exploration.
But every trip has been joyful for Le. While visiting Vietnam, she searched for an Ao Dai, the traditional Vietnamese dress, for her brother’s wedding. On the first day of looking, she encountered blunt responses from workers and limited assistance finding a dress that fit.
“So for the entire rest of the trip, it really scarred me,” Le said. “I kept thinking about that moment, and it gave me anxiety about people looking at me and thinking about me.”
An American size 12, or large, is considered an XXL in Vietnam, and sellers made rude comments about her body size.
Still, the situation didn’t get her down; she reminded herself to stay confident.
“The universe is testing me,” she said. “And if I can keep coming out still positive and alive, then it only makes me stronger.”
Le’s current adventures build on the inspiration that sparked her first trips, but her approach has grown more intentional, focused on uncovering new perspectives, rather than simply checking destinations off the list.
They’ve helped her reconnect with herself in unexpected ways.
“I was very confused for a while because I thought I knew the direction my life was going,” Le said. “But now, I’m really trying to figure it out. I know that I maybe want to be speaking more about personal growth and mental health, but mix it in with traveling.”
Similarly, her photographer, Wilson Lui, has felt a change in his confidence brought on by traveling.
“Just seeing how other people live and being curious about life outside where I’m from gives you a whole new perspective on how you want to live,” Lui said.
Lui, who has joined Le on many of her adventures, is dedicated to supporting her, even as he pursues his dream of becoming a DJ.
“I’m really just here to support her dreams,” he said. “I try to make her feel like her ideas can be conveyed in a way people will appreciate. Through photos, you can show someone’s emotions, their thoughts, and their view of the world. It helps others see how you think.”
Looking ahead, Le dreams of exploring Europe, envisioning the ultimate “Euro summer” spent wandering through Greece and Turkey. She also hopes to turn her content into a full-time career. For her, creating videos isn’t just about sharing trips—it’s about connection.
“I hope that I can be someone people relate to, someone who can get you through the day and maybe give you some ideas and inspiration,” she said. “If you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. We should be living, no matter what our circumstances are.”
