The person behind the passport
Hi! I'm Kevin.
My friends kept asking me for travel recommendations so… I created this blog instead! I'm a travel enthusiast & backpacker based out of San Francisco, CA. On Getawayguide, I write detailed getaway guides based on my firsthand travel experiences.
Whether it's your next 2 week vacation or 6 month sabbatical, my guides are here to help! Getawayguide is where I write about what I actually found — the best beaches, pristine alpine lakes, once in a lifetime experiences, most memorable hostels or the boring travel logistics.
How this started
In 2023, I left my job in investment banking with no real plan. A week later, I found myself on a flight to Istanbul with nothing but my wallet, passport and a small backpack. I had never actually traveled solo before and was anxious about what came next.
It was a wild ride. I've squeezed myself into Ryanair seats, slept in less than ideal places, introduced myself to countless strangers (and set my savings account on fire in the process). With the discomfort came the most incredible experiences. I've visited places that I've only dreamed of and even more beautiful places I didn't even know existed.
I met the most amazing, unique people from every corner of the world. I would land in a country, not knowing a single soul and leave with a new group of friends. I've heard the most insane life stories and explored different cultures.
My love of travel didn't end there. Since then, I've gone on many trips (and the destination list keeps growing…). I keep getting asked for travel recommendations so I created this blog to help share them. I invest countless hours in meticulous research and planning before each trip. On my trips, I love documenting and taking photos.
How I travel
I've done every type of travel: 5 star resorts, dingy hostels and weekend international trips. My preference right now is solo backpacking. There's a thrill to it that can't be matched! Almost always overland when possible — I've taken more buses than I can count, a lot of slow overnight trains, a few cargo boats. I stay in a mix of hostels, guesthouses and hotels. I try to eat the local foods and immerse myself in the cultures.
Not every country is my favorite. The blog is a record of that. Not a highlight reel. There is nothing worse than reading an SEO optimized travel blog with no real content, AI slop and full of affiliate links. I aim to write honest guides about what a place is really like to travel in — costs, safety, logistics, the things traditional travel guides leave out. I write about the things that go wrong as much as the things that go right.
What I'm working on
Honestly, I have zero expectations for this travel blog. If 1 person reads it and it helps them with their next trip, then amazing. This is just a side project to document my travels, practice writing articles and learn some web design in the process.
Right now I'm slowly building out the destination guides — each country page will eventually have a full write-up with itineraries, logistics, and recommended reads. It's a long project. Subscribe to the newsletter if you want to know when new ones land.