This Woman Quit Her Boring Job To Travel… And She Hasn’t Stopped Yet


Like many of us, Maartje Smit was unhappy with her job and the mundanity of climbing the corporate ladder. She yearned to travel. But unlike many of us, she actually made it happen. She quit, bought a one way airplane ticket, and left her home to explore a road less taken.

Smit has been on the move for five years now — drifting from place to place, and seeking fun and adventure wherever she lands. It’s a life that makes her happy, and Maartje feels that life is too short to be unhappy. So she works here and there, relaxes when she wants to relax, and moves on when she grows tired of the country she’s in.

I spoke with Maartje recently and she told me about her life traveling the world, and why you should always follow your dreams.


You’re traveling through Egypt right now! How long will you be there? And can you talk a little bit about the country and what you’re enjoying there?

Yes, I’m in Egypt at the moment. I came here with a one way ticket, so not sure for how long I’ll stay! It’s a special place with loads of history and it’s really safe. A lot of people asked, “why are you going there? Isn’t it dangerous!?”

But it’s far from! I feel really safe… Yes they try everything to get money from you but they don’t steal.

I’m happy that I’m traveling with a friend here because it’s not really a backpacking country. And since I like to be around locals, it’s nice to have someone with you. Because here, we are different. Especially as a blond girl traveling (not by tourist buses) but through local transport etc. People stare at you, want to touch you, want to sell something, want to help you… Everyone! Really everyone wants to talk to you or be around you.

It’s really intense and exhausting. So it’s nice to have someone with you to talk to.

What inspired you to give up your job at home and travel the world?

I always wanted to travel after my studies in business economics. For nine months I traveled through Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia. When I came back, I really wanted to work and build up a career. I worked as a project manager and was so caught up in work, work, work… I wanted to change something, I wanted to get higher up but they constantly told me that I was going too fast, was too young. So the only thing I could do was stay in the same place, and yup… That’s just not my thing… So the only thing to get higher up was getting older, (and I thought) why not travel the world in the meantime!?

My questions were, “why work so hard if I can’t go hard?” And is this what I’m going to do the rest of my life? That’s why I decided to take a break, and this break now has been five years…


How many countries have you visited?

I think it’s almost been 80! For me, it’s not that important.. I love to travel, but I don’t have the urge to see as many countries as possible. Of course I would love to see them all but I take my time! There are many countries where I stay more then three months or where I come back all the time.

I think a lot of people feel dissatisfied with their lives and are envious of the path you’ve taken. What advice do you have for others who have dreams they haven’t fulfilled yet?

Go for your dreams! If it scares you, it’s maybe a good thing to do! It’s your life, you only live once so enjoy it as much as you can! If you really want something, you’ll get it.. If something is done, if it doesn’t make you happy anymore, quit. Say goodbye to the negative things in life and go for happiness!

What’s your best advice on how to be a budget traveler?

Travel slow, figure out what the cheapest accommodation is, the cheapest places to eat, what the cheapest way is to the next destination, etc. When you travel slow (and you have no plan) you’re open for whatever and whenever. You can live really cheap. If you love it somewhere, find an apartment and stay! Monthly rents are cheaper than a stay in a hostel or hotel. I paid in Thailand and Honduras around 200 dollars a month and even in Costa Rica I got something for 50 dollars!


Do you have a favorite country or region you’ve visited?

I love Latin America! That’s definitely my favorite region… But Antartica was a dream come true. Just not a place where you want to go back, or can (because it’s too expensive) go back every time…

You meet people and form friendships quickly while traveling—but they can also fade away just as quickly. Do you ever feel lonely traveling by yourself?

I never really travel by myself, you meet so many people. Sometimes for a day, sometimes for 9 months. In general I keep in contact. So whenever you’re close to each other again, you meet again, and again… But no news is good news! I also have that with my friends at home. In the last five years I formed so many friendships it’s impossible to keep in contact with everyone.

I never really felt lonely. Sometimes I even really enjoy to be by myself, because it never really happens…

Do you have a favorite memory of wandering, where you wandered into something spectacular that you didn’t expect?

My expectations of Antarctica were high but the first glimpse of those immense icebergs when you finally arrived with the boat after two days were just so impressive — I got tears in my eyes! And I’m otherwise not that emotional!

Also, Petra in Jordan was amazing… And I got on a bike really early in the morning in Bagan, Myanmar. Biked for one hour and climbed one of the biggest pagodas to see the sunrise over the other 4000 pagodas, with air balloons and everything, magical!

What are some mistakes you’ve made along the way?

Hmmm… If you ask if I would do something differently, no. I would do everything the same as what I did. Of course, I made some small mistakes in the beginning, or still do when I’m tired and then I pay too much money but from those mistakes you learn.

That the Tuk Tuk’s in Bangkok bring you to shops along the way for extra fuel, or they bring you around the corner for the big price you paid. Even by entering Egypt, my latest mistake was that I followed the tourists to get my visa, but actually there was also another counter where you could get your visa for four euro less, oh well… But no, I didn’t made big mistakes, otherwise I would’ve remembered those…


When you get frustrated traveling or tired- What do you do that centers you?

I find a nice cafe, eat good food and drink fresh juices. If there is no good cafe, I get a coca cola and sit back somewhere and relax. I mean, most of the time I’m not in a hurry or something so I’m never really tired or frustrated.

Are you in this for the long haul or is a part of you starting to miss home or stability?

I’ve just been home after four and a half years of traveling. I tried my last job again as a project manager, did that for three weeks and then quit again to go working in a bar. I spent loads of quality time with family and friends and made some awesome new friends but the Netherlands is not my country anymore. So that’s why I left again with a one way ticket to Egypt.

As long as I’m able to travel, to go to awesome places, to go on adventures, I’m in this for the long haul!


Do you have a philosophy you follow when traveling?

I live in the moment. I really enjoy every day. I think happiness is one of the most important things in life and I think I’ve found my happiness. I love to have the freedom every day to choose what I want to do. I have the ability to work in bars, to work as a scuba dive instructor and that us what makes enough money to support myself. I don’t spent a lot of money so I don’t have to work a whole lot. Work feels like a hobby! I prefer to have a lot of free time instead of a lot of money!

Follow Maartje on Facebook and her Website!

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