Real Travelers.
Real Advice. Always.

Olivia Carter

Lead Travel Editor & Founder · Smart Travel Advices

I started Smart Travel Advices in 2018 out of frustration. I was planning my first solo trip to Southeast Asia and found that most travel websites either buried practical information under affiliate links or gave advice so generic it could apply to any destination on earth. I wanted something better — so I built it.

Over the past 12 years, I've visited more than 60 countries across six continents. I've done budget backpacking through Central America on $25 a day, lived as a digital nomad for three years across Chiang Mai, Lisbon, and Medellín, and slow-traveled through North Africa, the Balkans, and the Caucasus. I've made every mistake a traveler can make — and I've written them all down so you don't have to.

Before founding this site, I worked as a travel correspondent and contributed to several established publications. I hold a BA in Geography and Journalism and am a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). My writing has been cited in travel research, and this site has helped more than a million travelers plan smarter, more confident trips.

My Editorial Philosophy

Every article on Smart Travel Advices has to clear one test: would this information genuinely help someone plan a better trip? Not just rank well in Google, not just satisfy an affiliate brief — actually help a real person make a real decision.

That means I write about visa rejections I've personally experienced, the neighbourhoods I'd avoid, the budget estimates based on actual receipts, and the safety concerns no tourism board will tell you about. Travel advice should be honest, current, and specific — not a repackaged marketing brochure.