In this space in August, we told readers about a lucky Chattanooga family who won a year of free travel accommodation in the “Live Anywhere on Airbnb” competition.
Now Stephanie Hays, her husband, Peter Woolcock, and 2-year-old son, Hays, are halfway through their trip around the world.
They are among 12 travel groups around the world chosen from 314,000 applicants to participate in the Airbnb promotion. Hays is a former brand manager for Chattanooga Tourism Co., and Woolcock previously ran an after-school football program here.
We met Shephanie Hays recently as the family moved to Cape Town, South Africa after spending several months in Europe. Below is an email Q&A outlining their journeys so far.
Q: When did you leave Chattanooga and what has been your itinerary so far?
Hay: We left on September 1. We spent four weeks in Rome and then four weeks in Athens. Then we visited friends in Istanbul for a few days before heading to Marrakech. [Morocco]or U.S [stayed] for three weeks. For Thanksgiving we had already planned to visit Pete’s family in Cornwall [U.K.]so we will stay there for two weeks before going to Bangkok, Thailand, for a month. [We spent] January in Sri Lanka. We try to remain flexible due to ever-changing COVID situations and restrictions. Stay safe and keep [son] Hays safe is our number 1 priority, of course.
Q: Were you able to choose the accommodations at each stop and were they pleasant?
Hay: Yes, Airbnb’s “Live Anywhere” program (we are participants along with 11 other people and their companions) is all about better understanding what it means to live long-term in Airbnbs. We are on a budget and are allowed to book homes in any location as long as we spend at least four weeks in each listing.
Since we choose them, they are as nice as we choose. Prior to this program, Pete and I had stayed at over 40 Airbnbs in 19 countries, so we know what we like. And so far we haven’t come across anything unexpected.
In Rome and Athens, we prioritized location above all else (and saved a bit of budget for a few side trips), so our apartments were quite modest. In Rome, we were right in front of an incredible playground. We knew this when we booked but didn’t realize how perfect it would be for Hays to burn off energy and interact with other kids every day.
We stayed in our own riad (a riad is a type of family home centered around a courtyard) in Marrakech’s medina (old town.) It was absolutely amazing.
Our current location in Cape Town dates back to 1905 and is the first Airbnb we have stayed in where the host had actually lived (and is staying between bookings I think) so it really feels like home. We were surprised at how much of an impact this had on our stay. I think we might have been a little homesick, but having a private place, despite not being “our” home, totally scratched that itch.
We were also amazed at how well Hays adapted. He calls each place “new home” for our first week or so, but other than that he seems unfazed.
Q: Have your parents (Ken and Ellen Hays, from Chattanooga, joined you for part of the trip so far?
Hay: Yes. My parents try to meet us as much as possible. We call them our “bonus companions” because Airbnb names me as the participant and Pete and Hays as my “companions” (each participant is allowed three people). They joined us for a few days in Rome (they were already traveling in France) and in Bangkok and Sri Lanka. My father also met us in Athens and we visited Greek islands.
Q: Did you encounter any unexpected challenges?
Hay: Following COVID restrictions is tricky, but expected. While we were in Marrakech and traveling to the UK to visit Pete’s family immediately afterwards, Morocco banned UK visitors. Our British Airways flight from Marrakech to London was therefore cancelled, but as soon as we heard the news we had already booked with a stopover in Lisbon. .
Honestly, we’re amazed that COVID hasn’t derailed us even more (knock on wood!) It certainly forced us to change plans, but we probably wouldn’t be in Cape Town in that case, so we could still see the the bright side.
In the minor challenge category, of course we always appreciate EPB when we experience the speed of the internet, the majority of the world has to put up with it.
Q. Without getting too personal, has the travel economy worked so far?
Hay: Peter and I had been saving up to take a year off and travel, but we weren’t planning on going until early 2023 (at the earliest). So when we saw the Airbnb program, we thought it was worth applying and accelerating our plans.
Quitting our jobs is scary – even though Pete likes the unknown more than I do! – but it’s a once in a lifetime experience. Airbnb covers our accommodation, and we stay in much nicer places than we could have our own, and they also provided a transportation allowance.
We have a massive Google spreadsheet where we track every expense so we know where our money is going and can budget accordingly. And we try to balance places to visit in Western Europe (which are more expensive) with cheaper destinations, like Southeast Asia. Traveling slowly, as we do, also means that we have many evenings where we cook at home and can spread out museums and attractions over the month. We don’t have to do everything in a short time.
Additionally, we have listed our own [Chattanooga] at my place on Airbnb, and it works very well. So it was very nice – to have an income to compensate for our travels. We’ve been Airbnb hosts since 2012 (still a room in our house, not the whole house like now), and we really appreciate it (aside from the financial perks.) It’s so nice to know that while we’re leaving, others get to enjoy our home in the Southside.
Q: What does traveling with a young child look like?
Hay: Surprisingly, traveling with Hays was easier than we imagined. He’s so adaptable, and any challenges of traveling with a toddler are more than outweighed by seeing him experience so many different things.
We originally planned to travel when he was 3 or 4 as we thought 2 might be too young. But it’s such a fun age.
I don’t think traveling with a toddler is necessarily for everyone, but we were delighted to find that we love traveling with Hays as much as we enjoyed it without him. It wasn’t necessarily a given, and you don’t really know until you try it, so we’re glad it worked out that way.
Q: Have you kept a journal on your blog or posted on social media?
Hay: I post daily on Instagram (@awaywithhays), and we started a YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/StephandPete (or just search for “Away with Hays”). We try to follow both things regularly so that Hays has photos and videos to watch because he obviously won’t remember the crazy year he had at 2! It motivates me.
Q: How would you rate the experience so far? Did it meet or exceed your expectations?
Hay: How would we rate it? ! It is absolutely a dream. It still doesn’t feel real. I wake up every morning and go to bed every night (and everything) so grateful for this experience and this time with Pete and Hays. It’s 100% a dream come true in every way, assuming I can find a job at the end of the year.
My favorite thing in the world is to travel and, more specifically, to plan a trip; and now I spend every waking moment doing just that. But there’s literally nothing else I love doing more. When we were selected, I was touched by how many friends said “oh yeah, that makes sense” – but that’s because they know I’m obsessed with travel. We are so, so lucky.
This interview has been edited for length.
Life Stories is published on Mondays. Contact Mark Kennedy at [email protected] or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPcolumnist.
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