Jane Meighan, author of Runaway Jane, is an expert blogger who has an unwavering passion for travel.  She uses this passion to encourage and motivate others in their travel endeavors and puts forth sound advice on how to travel for longer periods of time and in a more cost-effective way.  Jane started her adventures at the early age of 17 when she first stepped foot in Australia.  Since then, she has frequented over 30 countries and devoted her time to helping people make their travel dreams a reality.  Whether you’re looking to take a small vacation or searching for a long term excursion, Runaway Jane has the tips and tools necessary to help you achieve your travel goals.  Tours4Fun had the opportunity to interview this enthusiastic self-starter, and today we’d like to share her valuable thoughts and opinions with you.  Enjoy!

Tours4Fun: What have you found to be the most difficult part about travel? When you were younger, did you ever picture yourself living a traveler’s lifestyle?
Jane: The most difficult part about travel is really just financing it all and trying not to spend too much while I’m away. Even though I earn a full-time income from travel blogging, it’s important to spend my money wisely while abroad or I’ll end up back home! Travel wasn’t on my radar until I reached 17 and started thinking about what I wanted to do when I left school. However, having a career that I loved was always a priority, and travel blogging is certainly a career that I love.

Tours4Fun: In your blog you state that you went to Australia spur of the moment when you were 17. Why Australia? What thoughts and feelings rushed through you when you booked your ticket and took that first step?
Jane: I picked Australia because I knew someone who had travelled there already and loved it. The idea of flying half way around the world solo at 17 was also too exiting for me to pass by, even though I was also very scared.

Tours4Fun: When in a foreign country, how do you usually get to know your environment? What is your first call of action?
Jane: First thing is get a city map! Second thing is go out for a walk and explore the area. That’s really all there is to it!

Tours4Fun: What do you generally look forward to the most when you arrive at a new destination?
Jane: Experiencing something new. Finding the unexpected.

Tours4Fun: Why do you choose to travel alone as opposed to traveling with people? Do you think a travel experience will greatly differ depending on whether you go by yourself or with someone else?
Jane: Travelling alone is easier because I can do what I want when I want, and I can change my plans at a moments notice. It can be surprisingly hard to find someone who has the time, money, and desire to go travelling with you and when/where you want to do it, and even if you do find someone they often back out or have commitments which mean they can’t leave home. Over 70% of backpackers do so solo for that reason, but most people are surprised by that statistic!

Tours4Fun: Do you ever get homesick? How would one combat this or lessen its intensity?
Jane: Occasionally, but not really homesick. I just miss home comforts sometimes when I’m ill, or I miss my family occasionally when I’ve been away a long time. A quick Skype call home or the check of a few facebook status and usually I’m fine again though!

Tours4Fun: What was the most exhilarating thing you have experienced in your travels?
Jane: There are so many it’s hard to choose, but camping out in the Sahara Desert was pretty hard to beat!

Tours4Fun: How do you handle the culture shock when you visit foreign countries? Do you feel a reverse culture shock when you go back home?
Jane: When I’m travelling in Europe (which I’ve done a lot recently) not so much, but in certain countries I do a little bit. Especially Middle Eastern & North African countries where the way of life for women can be so different from my home country, I did at times feel very out of my comfort zone. However, it was also one of the best experiences of my life because of that! After my first trip to Australia I did definitely get a reverse culture shock after being so long away from home to returning feeling like I’d never left, but you do get over it. It’s just the coming home blues. Everyone gets it after their first trip!

Tours4Fun: You post quite a few videos on your blog site. How does a video differ from a regular blog post in terms of engagement and reaction? Are there specific topics that can only be conveyed through a video?
Jane: My videos are a bit different to standard travel videos because I don’t usually do city guides, I do vlogs. In all my recent videos I try to enthuse my sense of humor greatly and I have found this tactic works greatly in terms of engagement on youtube and across my other social networking sites. I hope to do lots more videos in the near future too!

Tours4Fun: Finally, where will your next adventure be?
Jane: I’m off to the Canary Islands on Monday for 2 weeks for some winter sunshine, coming back on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas at home and then spend 2 weeks touring my home country of Scotland! In the New Year I will be choosing and going to a new country I haven’t been to before, but as to what that new place will be though I haven’t decided yet!