Schoolteacher who has visited all 195 countries in the world reveals how she could afford to travel the globe on a budget – as she dished on what it is really like in destinations on the ‘do not travel list’

Read on for a lesson on how to see the world on a budget.

San Francisco teacher Lucy Hsu has officially visited all 195 countries as recognized by the United Nations, with Syria being the last place she checked off in May 2023.

In an effort to achieve her goal, the 42-year-old implemented a number of cost-cutting measures, revealing that doing volunteer exchange programs and homestays allowed her to save thousands of dollars.

She said NBC that she used Workaway, a subscription-based website that matches volunteers with vetted hosts and offers lodging in exchange for services.

In an attempt to achieve her goal, the 42-year-old (pictured in Antarctica) has taken a number of cost-cutting measures

The globetrotter (seen in Sudan) used Workaway, a subscription-based website that matches volunteers with vetted hosts and offers lodging in exchange for services

Over time, Lucy has been able to collect travel rewards through credit cards and build loyalty points with certain airlines. Above, pictured in Lebanon

Lucy explained that if she had to pay for accommodation during her trip, she would search for cheap hostels through HostelWorld instead of checking into a hotel.

And when it came to transportation, buses and trains would be her preferred mode of transportation, rather than booking expensive flights to cross the border or make an internal connection.

Over time, she has also been able to collect travel rewards through credit cards and build loyalty points with certain airlines.

She hopes her wallet-friendly trips will inspire others to go on their own adventures.

The globetrotter explained: ‘There are still many misconceptions about travel being inaccessible… or that it is very unsafe or unaffordable.

“Travel is feasible once you’ve learned ways to do it in a budget-conscious manner. And those methods are there if you want to do research.’

Lucy, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, got her first passport when she was 23.

Her first trip involved backpacking through Europe before returning to the US to pursue a master’s degree.

In a Facebook post, she said that at the time she “never thought” she would visit every country in the world.

Reflecting on what she has learned from her 19 years of travel, which has taken her everywhere from the wilds of Antarctica to the ancient sands of Sudan, she adds: “I am so grateful for this journey that has given me the greatest lessons in life has taught. : patience, gratitude, perseverance, love, acceptance, kindness, balance and more!

‘I can best describe it as picking up a book, being captivated by every page and never wanting to put it down.

Lucy, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, got her first passport when she was 23

A shot of Lucy in Ethiopia’s Denakil Depression – one of the hottest places in the world – where she witnessed ’30 degrees Celsius heat for three days with no facilities’ while camping

The avid traveler met the Dalai Lama in India in April and said it was a day she will ‘never forget’

“And now that I’ve read the last page, all I want to do is reread my favorite parts, and go back to parts I might have missed or skimmed through too quickly.”

The California native says Mongolia is among her most memorable trips because of its ‘undiscovered adventure,’ and Kenya for the hospitable locals.

Meanwhile, she also met the Dalai Lama in India in April and said it was a day she will “never forget.”

When it came to visiting her latest country, Syria, Lucy said she had to wait for the country to reopen to Americans. When the time finally came, she was “excited” to complete her mission.

Currently, Syria is on the U.S. State Department’s “Do Not Travel” list, but Lucy said she had no problems while there.

About her trip through Syria she wrote on Facebook: ‘A visit to Aleppo is a must – once the largest city in the Syrian region, it is now a UNESCO site with its famous citadel and souks… as you wander through, you will be transported back to the time of the Arabs, Mongols and Ottomans.

‘On the way to Hama we visited the famous centuries-old wooden water wheels. After all, Homs, once an important industrial center, is still in ruins from the civil war more than ten years ago.’

Some of the other high-risk places Lucy has been on the map include Afghanistan and North Korea. However, thanks to her meticulous planning, she had smooth experiences in both countries.

Giving advice to others keen to visit every country, Lucy recommends planning wisely and trying to see countries that are ‘grouped together’ so you can tick off multiple places on the same trip.

She also recommends joining networks of international travelers, as these can be a great resource for finding things like guides and translators, as well as learning about local rules.