Hiya, we’re Jess & Julia!

Welcome to The Lavender Travelers — a space for budget-conscious, culturally curious travelers who want more out of their trips than hostel pub crawls (though if that’s your thing, no judgment — we’ve just been there, done that!).

What We’re About

Whether you’re in your 30s like us, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or just craving richer, more meaningful travel experiences, you’re in the right place.

We’re here to help you plan and actually pull off the kind of trip that leaves you inspired, not exhausted.

That means practical budget tips, culture-focused travel guides that aren’t too chaotic, and honest stories to help you skip the stress and focus on the good stuff.

How We Travel

Between the two of us, we’ve explored 57 countries (and counting) across Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, and the US.

We mostly travel overland (trains, buses, ferries, you name it) because it’s cheaper, more sustainable, and lets you actually see the places in between — though we’ll hop on a flight if it’s the only way or the alternative is a 30-hour ferry over choppy seas.

Our Current Travel Style

We’ve done the ultra-budget backpacking thing, but these days our travels are a little different: fewer 20-bed dorms and pub crawls, more cozy guesthouses, local food, and long bus rides to places that don’t make the top ten on must-travel lists.

We’ll happily try the local beer or spirit, but you won’t find us chasing party destinations. Not only is it not our vibe, but those spots are often overpriced, overcrowded, and tough on local communities.

We’ve found it’s more enjoyable — and sustainable — to explore elsewhere.

At the heart of it all, we want to help you experience places with respect, curiosity and intention.

  • Two women standing on a boat with the ocean in the background with their arms around each other wearing thick wetsuits posing with the jaws of a Great White shark in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
  • Two women posing closely together sitting down in front of a stone tower with a face carved into it at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

What You’ll Find on The Lavender Travelers

  • Budget tips that go beyond just “eat street food”
  • Culture-focused travel guides that highlight authentic, immersive experiences
  • Queer traveler insights so you can explore confidently
  • Suggestions for nature-lovers and introverts who want beauty without extreme adventure
  • Stories from the road — the wins, the fails, and the in-betweens

Our Story

We met at a hostel in Australia (so cute we know), and since our first date at a laundromat, we’ve snorkeled in Koh Tao, road-tripped through the Australian Outback, crossed mountains in Albania, and explored over a dozen countries together — all on a backpacker’s budget.

After two years of living in Australia and multiple trips across Southeast Asia, we’re now building a home-base in the UK to explore more on this side of the world.

Why We’re Here

After years of travel — solo, together, and everywhere in between — we’ve learned that the most meaningful trips are the ones that balance budget, culture, and sustainability.

Our goal is to give you the tools, ideas, and encouragement to plan trips that feel intentional and true to you.

Welcome to the journey. 💜

If you have any questions, please get in touch (we’d love to chat)!

  • Two woman smiling while standing in the basket of a hot air ballon with the mountains of Vang Vieng, Laos in the background.
  • Two women sitting cross legged on the bamboo train located in Battambang, Cambodia.