I never really had the chance to travel growing up, and coming from Hong Kong, where the culture is all about corporate and finance, I was honestly a stranger to the idea of it. It wasn’t until university, when I studied in the UK, that I truly discovered what the world had to offer.

At first, I was inspired by my friends, who were some really passionate, hardcore backpackers. They made me fall in love with travelling, experiencing new cultures, trying different cuisines, meeting people from all over the world, and doing things I’d never imagined. I realised the world was drastically different from the one I grew up in, it’s so much bigger.

But like every student, money was a limitation. 

At the time, I was living alone, and I had an idea, put away my personal belongings and rent out my home as a holiday rental while I travelled to fund my trips. It sounded simple, but it changed everything for me. It allowed me to see parts of the world I never imagined I would.

Fun fact: at my peak year, I took 54 flights, visited over 30 cities, learned to snowboard, completed an eight-hour hike in Sardinia, and met friends from all over the world. 

But there were drawbacks. 

Before every trip, I spent hours locking up my personal belongings and putting them into storage areas within the flat, deep-cleaning the place, changing the bedding, and setting out fresh towels and toiletries for guests. During the trip, I was glued to my phone. I had to stay alert 24/7 in case a guest needed something, to make sure key exchanges went smoothly, or to handle any urgent questions.

It was honestly exhausting, and coming home was even worse. Instead of collapsing straight into bed, I had to restore everything to its original place, replace my own bedding and towels, and reset my home before I could rest or go straight back to lectures. At one point, I was travelling so much that I never even unpacked. I kept all my toiletries in a wash bag, and my home was almost empty, with all my things in storage, always ready to host the next group of guests.

I get asked all the time, “Why would you do something like that to yourself?”

The answer has always been the same, for the love of travelling.

I wanted to help people who love travelling but can’t always do so because of money, or for those who simply want a better-quality trip. I wanted people to enjoy travelling without the stress, the preparation, the constant worrying, or the aftercare, while still being able to fund their journeys. I wanted everybody to be able to experience the world and freedom I found, minus the exhaustion.

Travacant exists because I wish this service had been there for me.

Now, I’m building it for you