12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 42 ratings

Price: 12.99

Last update: 10-21-2024


About this item

Bestselling author Jen Ruiz takes listeners on a trip around the globe in 12 Trips in 12 Months, defying societal expectations of what a woman is supposed to be—and empowering others to do the same.

The year before her thirtieth birthday, Jen Ruiz decided to change everything. Despite being professionally accomplished and contributing to the world as an attorney at a nonprofit, she had yet to achieve the most important goal, according to society: becoming a wife and mother. So, after more ghostings than a graveyard, tired of dating apps and sitting in a windowless office, Jen embarked on an epic challenge to send her twenties out in style.

Twelve months, twelve trips, no excuses.

She started booking flights instead of swiping right, teaching English online to cover costs. Over the course of the year, Jen descended into a volcano in Iceland, volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, called in sick to fly in a hot air balloon, and went scuba diving at an underwater museum in Mexico.

She ended up taking twenty trips, almost double her original goal.

In a moving and inspiring story, Jen invites listeners along through the year wherein she decided to stop waiting for others and start living for herself, discovered the power of solo travel magic, challenged herself physically and emotionally, made meaningful connections … and learned that she could feel fulfilled and happy on her own.


Top reviews from the United States

Lizzie Lau
5.0 out of 5 stars The transformative power of solo travel
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic by Jen Ruiz is a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of solo travel. In this inspiring book, Jen Ruiz, a lawyer-turned-travel-blogger, takes readers on her journey of embracing the challenge of 12 trips in 12 months. Her story is a behind-the-scenes look at the bravery required to step away from the daily grind and pursue your passions.

Ruiz’s blend of personal stories, practical advice, and motivational insights makes the book both engaging and relatable. Her writing invites readers to connect with her experiences and draws them into the idea of solo travel as a path to personal growth.

What I particularly loved was the emphasis on the transformative power of traveling alone. Ruiz shows that solo travel is not just about exploring new destinations—it's about discovering yourself. Through her adventures, she demonstrates how traveling on your own can build confidence, help you overcome fears, and leave you with unforgettable memories. This theme of self-discovery will resonate with anyone seeking more than just another vacation.

This book is a must-read for anyone thinking about solo travel or eager to step out of their comfort zone. If you need a little inspiration to kickstart your own travel journey, 12 Trips in 12 Months is the perfect place to begin.
robin
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
What an amazing book! Jen Is honest, open and straightforward! This book empowers women of every age, race, and ethnicity to Challenge themselves and create a world full of excitement and adventure through the joys of travel. I absolutely love this book and couldn’t put it down And now I am inspired as well! No longer will I wait for someone to travel with, but I will take the challenge to find happiness and joy in my own solo travel adventures!
Maria
3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024
Interesting stories by a travel blogger about getting her start and taking the plunge from full-time desk job to full-time traveler, something I would love to do. While the destinations are seemingly stunning, I don’t feel like I really got a good sense of where she went as it was more about her getting the right pictures and hopefully finding love. These are not bad things, they just weren’t what I was expecting.
Cathey Ambush
5.0 out of 5 stars I've been waiting for this book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
I've been following Jen since 2018, when her amazing idea to take 12 trips in 12 months galvanized my life. I related whole-heartedly to being miserable, stuck in an awful, windowless office job, feeling utterly unfulfilled. I bought her first e-books, followed her travel hacks, and tried to find ways to model the 12-trips blueprint as much as possible. I was ecstatic when I heard she was writing a book, and I pre-ordered it as soon as I could. I was out of town (traveling!) when it came in the mail, so I had to wait a few weeks until I could get home to read it. When I finally did, I read it in two days because it was such an engaging, personal and fun read. I knew about some of her travels because I'd followed her online for so long, but I was really interested in the why's behind her journeys--and the book didn't disappoint. Jen not only talks about the places and logistics, but she shares very intimate and vulnerable parts of herself that really touched me. The chapter about traveling with her parents was especially heartwarming. She's not afraid to share her struggles and setbacks alongside her successes and joys, and that's what I love about her. I'm also dying to know where to get her secret-weapon convertible bathing suit! This book was a delight to read, and her adventures continue to inspire me to this day. I can't wait to see what else she accomplishes!
Just One Boomer
5.0 out of 5 stars The author, Jen Ruiz, learns to love herself as she travels the world
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024
As an about to retire lawyer, I'm always drawn to memoirs by other lawyers who realize they don't want to be confined to an office; that, in fact, they want to travel the world. Jen takes us along on her trips as well as on a parallel journey where she finds that she must learn to love herself before she can find a satisfying life partner. I found the book to be very engaging and I read it in one day. (The silver lining of being confined to a hospital bed.)
em
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome travel book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024
Loved Jen’s travel stories and women power book combined into one! I have done something similar in my life and never regretted it one bit! Definitely recommending this book!
Kristin Welch
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Travel Memoir
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2024
Jen takes the reader on a trip around the world while sharing her life lessons. It was a fast read with lots of humor and great storytelling. I loved reading the descriptions of the places she visited and the activities she experienced. I thought she was very trusting by letting a taxi driver and a random French car rental guy be her tour guide of their respective countries. She also showed bravery by hiking to the top of the Angels Landing Trail in Zions National Park and experiencing two extreme adventures on the same day in Ecuador. I especially appreciated her attitude of hope for finding true love one day despite her previous relationships with men. I found the book to be uplifting and inspiring. The audiobook is read by the author and was so fun to listen to. I highly recommend it! It also made me antsy to book another trip!
N. Pierre
5.0 out of 5 stars Jen's Memoir is A Quadruple Threat!
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
Jen is certainly what we call a triple threat: funny, smart, and beautiful! However, her sense of adventure that has led her all over the world, allowing her to follow her dreams and do something only a few of us dare, makes her a quadruple threat: magical.
She infuses humor into her writing that allows her to be relatable. As a globetrotting minority woman who travels the world solo myself, I laughed, cried and nodded along with her as if I were right alongside her.
Her writing has that effect. I was very fortunate to "meet my hero" at a conference and her bright light and energy extends beyond her writing on the page. I've been a fan of hers for many years and her highly anticipated travel memoir did not disappoint. Bravo! You won't be disappointed either.

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