How a Solo Mama Funded a Seven-Country Trip for (Almost) Nothing

A cabin window framing open ocean can flip your idea of what life can look like. I’m recording from a stateroom between incredible ports, walking you through how I am revealing the strategies that means I took my three‑year‑old across seven countries while keeping costs near zero… no gimmicks, no corners cut, just five layered strategies that turn travel into a smarter version of everyday life. Think the most crazy per person per night on a cruise that includes our accommodation, meals, theatre, and a kids’ club that frees up time to work and rest. Watching your child discover the world is an incredible blessing.

We get practical about freedom lifestyle: why I split time between my UK cottage and sunlit itineraries, how to choose routes that fit family rhythms, and where bundled value beats piecemeal bookings. I share how you can get the exact systems that made this trip possible. The methods that don’t require selling or spamming. If you’ve got only two weeks of vacation, you’ll still find wins here; if you’re ready for longer stretches, you’ll see how to stack tactics for outsized results. Along the way, I share what the numbers really look like, why childcare included in travel can beat staying home, and how to balance work with wonder without burning out.

There’s also a personal thread: coming back strong after surgery, finding gratitude for a healthy body, and riding a wave of business momentum with my one‑to‑one coaching clients. The throughline is choice; choosing when to be rooted and when to roam, when to slow down and when to leap. If you’re a parent, a builder, or simply travel‑curious, this conversation offers a clear path to more life for less money, and a kinder pace while you get there.

If it helps, please share the episode, leave a review, and tell me where you’re going next.

Want more? Sign up to my mailing list https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/1NgltywGkcNXlZxGIH3r?notrack=true so you can grab the lessons and latest episodes straight to your inbox.

How I Travel For Free: The Mini Course

The real trip. The real numbers. The exact strategies I used to turn a £12,723 adventure into a free experience.

This is not theory. This is the actual blueprint anyone can use from a seven country, month long trip that most families would pay five figures for.

You get to see exactly how I did it, and how you can start doing it too.

https://courses.laurenriley.co.uk/minicourse  ✨

Transcript

Ocean View and Trip Reveal

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back. Do I have an exciting episode for you? First of all, spoiler alert, looking out the window. Oh my gosh. So I'm so delighted that I've been able to bring you through onto this trip with me. So what we are looking at outside there, so I'm in my cabin. This is live footage of the ocean, live footage of the actual sea. Amazing. If we see dolphins leaping outside the window as we're filming, then maybe we'll be going viral, guys. But otherwise, um, I still think it's a pretty cool view. Um, for this is obviously for anybody watching on YouTube. If you're not following and subscribing to the YouTube channel, it's Miss Lauren Riley. Please hop over there and subscribe now, and then you can um view along too. But for anybody that's just listening, welcome, you also welcome whichever channel you've chosen to join us from today. So, um last time we spoke, I was teasing a little bit that I had an epic trip coming up, and I wasn't doing that for some content creator trickery, I was teasing it because I hadn't actually booked it and I didn't want to. I I had how I book travel typically is I feel into it, like particularly seasonally. So when we set off on this trip, I am usually resident in the UK, so you know, those dark nights are starting to creep in, the weather was starting to get a bit grey, a bit rainy, the sunshine. I felt like we'd had every last drop of sunshine. Um, over the end of the summer, we'd gone to around Scotland and travelling all around the UK. So I did a lot of that, which I was really proud of, and we had a lovely time as well. Travel, freedom lifestyle is not just about being abroad. However, my gosh, have I got some some news for you? I've got some things to take you on. This is so so exciting, guys. So, welcome along, thank you very much for joining me. So, um, yeah, so I hadn't booked it last time we spoke, and I obviously have booked it now, have booked it, I'm living it, and that is a really great example of freedom lifestyle. So, September and October are my absolute classic months that I love more than if I was just living in Barbados, for example, which I do quite often, and I spent the entire month there. Obviously, I'm really fortunate too that I love that, but a true freedom lifestyle is actually being able to choose and live between both. So I spent the first half of September in the UK in

Freedom Lifestyle By Design

SPEAKER_00 2:45

our country cottage, did a little bit of travel in the UK, went down to the Cotswolds, for example, one weekend in September. Um lived in my country cottage, walked the dog, whom I love so much, Wilbur. Um, anybody that's been following through for a while will know about him. So we spent that quality time with friends, family. You know, there's lots of things I love about my hometown, my beautiful house. And then the second half of September, I was like, right, off we go, we get on the plane. Me, it's just me and my daughter travelling. Like 90% of the trips that I do will just be me and her because I'm a solo parent. So it's just me and her travelling on the plane. We go. Our first destination was New York City, which I'm not gonna lie, guys, I was a little bit nervous about because I have never travelled, like I've taken her to London once, so and she's still only three. So I'm gonna do a whole thing about New York City, but um, that was our first stop, and it went really well. I'll break it

UK Roots to NYC With a Toddler

SPEAKER_00 3:50

down for you at some further stage, and then um, yeah, we then went to the Caribbean and we're traveling, and we've got the most incredible itinerary. I'm gonna run you through all the places that we're going, and it's just it's just epic, and I'm so pro I'm so proud of myself. I'm gonna take a moment, like props to me as a single parent being able to do this. Like, I know this is what I do, like it's been almost 20 years I've been doing this, so like I've got so many, so much experience, so many strategies that how I can live this lifestyle, and it's a lot easier for me. But you know, there's still that moment when I'm booking this trip, being like, this is a lot to buy off, Lauren. You are gonna take your three-year-old daughter solo to seven countries. Like, anybody out there that's saying that that's an easy job or even easy mentally to be like, I'm gonna commit to that. I don't believe them because I have a higher risk appetite than most people, I think. I have more experience at this than almost anybody I know, and I still had to go okay, putting the brave face on, putting the big girl pants on, we are doing this, but and I still have to like I still have to push past that to get on these trips, but I did it. I'm proud of myself. We are here, we have had the time of our life. So, why oh god, I've got I've got so much to tell you. I'm I'm promising to keep these episodes quite small because I could just talk to you for hours and hours and hours about this stuff, and I've got so much to tell you, like, I don't even know where to start. If you're following me on social media, my handle is Miss Lauren Riley. So on Instagram, I've been sharing as much of my trip, particularly my stories. I haven't posted that much to the grid yet because I've been living in the moment, and that's really really important for me. Um, but I've put quite a bit out there and I'll be sharing so much more of the trips. If you're not following me on Instagram, Miss Lauren Riley is the place to go get that. But I do have an exciting announcement, and I'm not just talking to you about this trip because it's me and I'm living it and I'm embodying Freedom Lifestyle, although I am. Um I'm doing it because I've got a way for you to do it too, which hopefully you'll be really excited about. So a little while ago, I launched like a mini course, and I've I've talked about it a little bit on my social media, but literally only on one of them, and only for the last couple of months, and I'm already gonna replace it because I can see a way of giving you greater value. So the and anybody that's bought the original mini course will get the new one completely free because we're all about loyalty, we're all about following along for the journey, and the variations of a theme. So, my original mini course told you the story and the strategies about how I was able to live in Barbados for a month for without without costing me anything, which is really cool, and still holds true to this day, those strategies would still work for you. But what I'm recognising is a lot of people following me are people with um, I'm gonna be careful how I phrase this because I don't want to put any limiting beliefs out there because I do believe that anybody can live that lifestyle, you might just need to do some one-on-one work with me around how we get you mobile, how we get your location independent, rather, if you've got a fixed employment or a business, etc. But we we can do that. But I do recognise that this is not everybody wants to live somewhere else for an entire month, or maybe you've got a sick relative or like a pet that you couldn't leave for for whatever. But nearly everybody, and particularly if you're listening to this, if you don't want to go on holiday and don't want to travel at all, then this is probably not your channel, guys. I do share business advice, and I obviously I'm a business coach and I've run companies for 12 years, so we will we would touch on that, but really, this is about freedom lifestyle and travel. So I hope at the

Seven Countries, Solo Parenting Courage

SPEAKER_00 7:45

very minimum people are what who are listening want to do that. So I recognise that my original um mini course was just maybe like quite specific to people who wanted to do freedom lifestyle digital nomading living in one place for a long time, which is still amazing, still highly recommended. But these, this new mini course, you could use even if you just wanted to go on holiday. Say you've only got two weeks, so you work in America, those guys hardly get any vacations. I'm sorry, I don't know how you guys are doing it, but you could use this for your two weeks vacation a year and still get loads and loads of value out of it. So the new mini course that I'm launching very, very soon. So if you bought the existing one, so even if you were to go out there and buy the existing one now, you'll actually get both of them because I'm giving whoever bought the original course the next one for free. But this one, this new mini course is breaking down the exact steps, the exact strategies that I use to get this trip that I'm on now without spending any money, or very, very, very little. I've not finished the trip, so I've just got to figure out the final final total that I've spent. But have I so far I've got it without spending anything, and if I do have to spend something, because like I said, not quite the end of the trip, it will be minimal, and I have not scrimped on a thing. Like I am living like a queen, like an absolute queen, traveling and living my best life, and it still not cost me anything yet. If you want to know how to do that, it's a properly a great example lived in real time of exactly the websites that I went to, exactly the tactics I use, the strategies, and with this, this mini course teaches you how to layer different strategies. So the original one when I was in Barbados for a month had two strategies in it, and that's how I got that free for a month. This has got five strategies in it, all layered on top of each other to show you how you can get this type of trip without costing you anything, um, which is amazing. I will do a drum roll total maybe in the next episode because I can tell you exactly what I spent and I can break that down pounds and pence. Um, but right now it's looking to be very, very minimal or nothing. And I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true. Here I am, living proof, pinch me real. Um, I'm living it and I'm loving it, and we've had such a good time. So go out and grab that mini course, it's

Why I Share Less, Live More

SPEAKER_00 10:25

such a value, it's only £22. So £22 to be able to go on holiday without costing anything, or very, very minimally. So even if we remove one of the strategies where I teach you how to earn money from the fact that you're here, we're not content creating, we're not selling anything to anybody, there's no pyramid schemes involved, nothing like that. But even if you took that final strategy away and you just spent to be here, like this trip, the way I found it, and the strategies I use to get this trip is insane. So I have spent £40 a night to be on this cruise. £40 a night. That's like amazing value. So um each, sorry, each, same for me, same for my daughter. Like, let's just take a context example. In like I live in the UK most of the year, obviously, when I'm not travelling, so I know

The New Mini Course Announcement

SPEAKER_00 11:25

the costs vary, different parts of the UK, different parts of the world, but just bear with me a second. So for childcare for the day, in the UK, we would spend about £70 a day for childcare. And then if you wanted a babysitter in the evening, somewhere between £15 and £20 an hour per hour for that member that person to come and look after your child. So three hours, the kids' club here is open in the evening, so that's £45 just for the evening shift, £70 for the day shift. So just in childcare, that would cost me £115 a day to have somebody look after my child. Here it's completely free. And I well, well, it's free because it's included in the price, and I paid £40 for it. So that's before we've talked about food, entertainment, accommodation. Just in childcare, I am saving £80 a day just by being here. Like oh maths, maths is not my strong point, but you know what, you know what I'm saying? I've saved like so much money just by being here. Um talk about accommodation. Like, where could you stay for £40 a night? Maybe a BB in Blackpool if you're familiar with that location, maybe they're still doing £40 a night. But this includes all the food as well. We're eating lobster, steak, salmon, prawns, like four, three meals a day, plus snacks, plus I mean, it's just like the list goes on. So even if you're just looking to holiday, and I'm not even saying that you have to go on a cruise because cruising is not my typical holiday either, and I'm gonna do a whole episode for you on like how I found cruising, like a really honest um take on that. Now, none of my posts, none of my well sorry, none of my podcasts are sponsored. So these are just my opinions, these are how I'm getting to do these things, right? Um, so yeah, I'm gonna break down whether cruising is a good methodology for you, or particularly if you're travelling with a family, like shortly, or in another episode, but right now, um yeah, I'm just living my best life over here, and I'm teaching you how to do the same thing. So the whole course, all of those strategies broken down is just £22. Like, in my opinion, it's just an absolute no-brainer, and I can't wait to hear where you guys get to with those strategies. That's just so exciting for me. Um so yeah, so what have we been doing? So, examples of things on the ship that we've enjoyed is the theatre. I've taken my daughter to two theatre productions. Now she's a high-energy kid. I wouldn't have thought she would have sat there, but she watched a saxophonist for like three quarters of the theatre production, and she watched like a kind of West End show vibe, and she sat and she watched the whole thing and she loved it, like she really loved it. So I don't know how much is a theatre ticket these days? 30 quid, 25 pounds, 40 pounds, depending on the seats that you're choosing. So that's our whole nightly spend just in that theatre. Um, and I've been because I've got babysitting facilities here, I've been going um and I can watch the I can go to the theatre myself in the evening. Like, which parents get to do that very often? Like, not not many at all. And just because, by the way, just because we have seven

How I Travel Nearly Free

SPEAKER_00 15:10

days a week kids club does not mean that's where my daughter has been, and I'm saying that you go on holiday and you put your kid in for seven days, like these are not my decisions to make, these are your children, you're raising them. Like, I'm also not stigmatizing parents that need a break. If you need to utilize that kids club and it's the best thing for your family, then go for it. If you don't want to put your kid in a kids' club because you this is a holiday for you, because remember, this is a lifestyle choice for me. I'm working as well as travelling. This is not just me kicking my heels. I, you know, I've been doing my one-to-one business coaching clients while I've been here, I've been recording a lot of content. Right now, I'm filming a podcast episode, so I'm balancing this as a lifestyle choice rather than a holiday. But if you guys are coming on holiday here, not even here, but you know what I mean, on a trip like this, using my strategies from the mini course, then whether you choose to utilize the kids' club at all or lots, like this is a no-judgment space, this is not what we're here to talk about. Um, but you know, I have utilized it and she has absolutely loved it as well. Like, my child is very, very sociable. She really loves engaging with other children, and there are other kids for her to play with. The facilities have been amazing, so she's really loving it. I have honestly had the best balance as a single parent that I think I've ever had because not only is a childcare unlimited and it's free, um, it's also like really long like hours in the day, so you could utilise it from I think it's nine in the morning till ten at night. Like, whoever gets that opportunity as a parent to have that time, and like I said, I've by no means have I utilised it all. Some days we don't use it at all, some days we use it um part of the day, some days we're going on obviously on amazing trips, so we're not using it at all. Sometimes I maybe used it in the evening one night. I went to the theatre and then I went to the gym because I I just wanted to. Um, and yeah, she's absolutely loved that. So, again, very personal balance. Um, what else have I got to tell you? So, we did the last few episodes. I've obviously talked quite a lot about the um my recovery from my operation, which I am very, very pleased to say is complete. I've still got one more hospital appointment to go, but I'm very confident that they'll sign me off and say everything's great because my scars healed really, really well. It's been over the eight weeks since I had the operation now, so I can lift everything. I'm backlifting up my daughter. Oh, like that's just so so precious. And which is great because obviously I've had to do a lot of lifting around here. Um, I am back in the gym, which is amazing. Like, honestly, I'm so so grateful. Like, if you are in a poor place health-wise, then like please give yourself grace. If you're in a good place health-wise, just please let this be your sign. Just take a moment of gratitude for your health because health is wealth. We talk

The £40-a-Night Cruise Math

SPEAKER_00 18:20

about freedom lifestyle, we talk about business, we talk about parenting, we talk about healing and wellness. You can't do any of that without your health. So, if you are blessed enough to have your health right now, take a moment to be grateful for it. So, I've got so much to tell you, but I'm gonna spread it out over a few episodes because I'm hyper aware I don't want these to be too long. I hope that was exciting. Um I have to say, I think September 2025 was probably one of my best months ever. And the reason being is partly to do with all of the healing work that I've done, it's partly to do with where I'm at with my business. Like I've got some amazing business coaching client on board, which is just super exciting. The summer was actually one of the best times for me to bring in clients that I've ever had, and people slow down for the summer and say, Oh, yeah, people won't buy things in August. But that wasn't the case for me. I I brought on three new one-to-one clients in completely different stages, um, which I just loved, I absolutely loved. So, um, yeah, so I'm in a really good place with work, I'm loving what I do. I the one-to-one stuff I'm doing is exclusively with women, and I'm just loving making that difference. I'm loving being the reason that they're propelling in life and in business, so that's a blessing. And the obvious one, I mean, look around it. I'm in my stateroom on a ship in the middle of the ocean with my daughter, talking to you guys, being able to teach you guys how to do this for like either nothing or next to nothing. That's like a privilege to be, like, particularly mums, like the content will work for anybody. It's not just if you've got children, it's not just if you're a woman, but me just for a moment speaking to the mums out there that want to travel more with their children, that find it challenging, that find it financially difficult to be able to afford to do this. Like, this is my gift to you. My mini course is £22 to learn five different ways to save money on travel and/or get it completely free. I would love your feedback. If you do the mini course and you learn some stuff and you book a trip, or even if you just know where you're gonna go as a result of the knowledge that you've got from listening to the mini course, from understanding how I've done this exact trip, seven whole countries, and it's not cost me anything, or when I do the final toll at the end, it's probably gonna have cost me near enough been free. I would love to hear where you guys go with it. Like, please do keep me in the loop. So for now, September has been an amazing month. Like I said at the start of this, half of the time in the UK with Wilbur, who I love to pieces, in my beautiful country cottage, soaking up the very last drops of the UK sunshine, and half of it in New York, in the Caribbean, just living our absolute best lives as a result of all the Freedom Lifestyle strategies that I know, love, and now teach. So I hope this episode was useful to you. Like I said, I'm gonna keep them short enough to do quite a few of them for you in hopefully a short space of time now, and I'm gonna share just so much more of these travels, so much more of this journey, so much more of my knowledge as well. So, tune in for the next episode of the Business of Lifestyle podcast, and I can't wait to see you guys there.