Carry on.
As in hand luggage.
As in, “Go on, continue sharing your story, I’m listening.”
As in, “Keep going, you’ve got this.”
A short phrase, but one that encompasses so much—travel and mental health and connection all tangled up together, as is so often the case for me.
I’ll be honest: I’m here because I’m tired of reading travel recommendations from writers who don’t know how it feels to navigate the world as a neurodivergent person or as a part of the queer community.
Don’t get me wrong, those writers are doing a great service for the rest of the world. But realistically, their recommendations aren’t going to help someone like me plan a safe or enjoyable trip anytime soon.
I know plenty of other queer and neurodivergent travelers who have been on a similar quest to find travel inspiration and advice from trusted resources within our communities too, trying to figure out which destinations are safe for them to visit and what to do when they get there.
And recently it dawned on me that, Oh, shit—as a bisexual AuDHD travel writer, this might actually be my purpose.
To be the reassuring friend that can show other queer and neurodivergent travelers that there are welcoming and safe spaces all over the world for them to explore, whether they follow along from the comfort of home or from out on the road.
To offer opportunities for connection to those who might otherwise feel isolated or marginalized during their travels, and to serve as a reminder that they are not alone.
To create a space where the wanderlust of the LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities can be seen, heard, and celebrated.
And most importantly: To build a more inclusive, diverse, and accessible travel community around the world.
Whether you opt for a free or paid subscription, I hope you’ll join me. Let’s do this.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Free subscribers can enjoy a weekly newsletter featuring:
Inclusive LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-friendly travel inspiration
Tried-and-true travel tips and curated roundups of must-have travel products
Conversations about mental health and the role it plays in our ability to navigate the world around us
Insights into the trials and tribulations of life as an American expat and travel author living abroad in Amsterdam
Paid subscribers will also get exclusive access to resources like:
In-depth itineraries for adventures in welcoming destinations around the world
Sensory-friendly packing lists for stress-free travels
Behind-the-scenes looks at book project updates and the travel writing process
Q&As, community discussions, and occasional interviews with other creative members of the queer and neurodivergent communities
My eternal gratitude, because every person who signs up for a paid subscription is directly supporting me and my work
About Me
Hi! I’m Alicia Valenski, an American author living in Amsterdam. I’m currently working on a book about LGBTQ+ travel with Lonely Planet. My writing about mental health, travel, and LGBTQ+ life has been featured by theSkimm, Elite Daily, and more. My TikTok, @gal.pal.al.val, is focused on my personal experiences with queer identity, mental health, and—of course—travel.
I earned degrees in journalism, Spanish, and international studies from Penn State (We Are!), just a short drive from the small Pennsylvania town I grew up in. I studied abroad in Seville in a homestay with a single Spanish host mom as a queer 20-year-old adjusting to life in what felt like a very straight country (ever heard of piropos?). And I have first-hand experience struggling to find neurodivergent- and LGBTQ+ friendly experiences in each of the places I’ve lived since then, from New York to North Carolina to Virginia.
I now live in the Netherlands with my partner of 11 years and our sweet dog, Stella. When I’m not writing or traveling to queer- and neurodivergent-friendly destinations around the world, you can find me at my local yoga studio, with my nose in a book, or on my couch re-watching RuPaul’s Drag Race for the umpteenth time.
