FTLO Alumni Spotlight: Miranda on Taking the Leap, Finding Community, and Joining the Inaugural Philippines Trip
- FTLO Travel
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
For many travelers, the hardest part of seeing the world is deciding to go. For Miranda, that moment came during the pandemic, when she realized she was done waiting for the “perfect time” to travel.
Originally from Pennsylvania and now based in Stamford, Connecticut, Miranda works in the medical field and has since traveled with FTLO across several destinations including Costa Rica, Mexico, Bali, and most recently the inaugural Philippines departure.
What started as a leap into solo travel quickly turned into something bigger. Along the way, Miranda has found adventure, meaningful cultural experiences, and a community of travelers she still sees long after the trips end.
FTLO Trips:
🇧🇿 Belize
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇮🇩 Bali
🇵🇭 Philippines
What inspired you to travel solo or try group travel for the first time?
Miranda: “I was repurposed during the pandemic, and it really made me think about what mattered in life and what I wanted to do and see. I realized I was tired of waiting around for other people to make a decision, have the PTO, or be able to afford the trip. At some point, I just thought, now or never.”
How did you first discover FTLO?
Miranda: “I actually found FTLO through other travelers. I had done two trips with a different company, and on the second trip a lot of the girls kept talking about FTLO. I kept hearing all these great things and honestly didn’t hear anything negative. So I decided to try it myself.”
You’ve now traveled with FTLO several times. What made you choose those destinations?
Miranda: “My first FTLO trip was Belize. I went with a friend I had met on a previous trip and we just wanted a quick getaway somewhere warm for New Year’s.
Then I did Mexico because I wanted to experience a different culture. That trip had such a strong food element, which was really fun.
Bali had always been on my bucket list. I wanted to see Southeast Asia and experience the culture there because it’s so different. And then a few months later I saw the Philippines itinerary and thought… let’s go again.”
What drew you to the Philippines trip?
Miranda: “I’m definitely an island and beach person. Anything with water activities, adventure, and being outside is going to catch my attention. The Philippines itinerary had all of that, so it was an easy decision.”
What was it like being on an inaugural FTLO trip?
Miranda: “It was really good overall... The team was constantly asking what we liked and what could be improved. They were paying attention and trying to make adjustments as they went. You just take it with a grain of salt and remember everyone is exploring a new place together.”
What’s one moment from the Philippines that really stands out?
Miranda: “The canyoneering experience. To this day, it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my travels. It was such an adventure during the day, and then in the evenings we’d relax and walk around the island. And the beaches there are unbelievable. The water is that crystal-clear turquoise color that almost doesn’t look real.”
Have you stayed connected with people you met on your trips?
Miranda: “Yes, actually! My Costa Rica trip was one of those groups where everyone just clicked. We went in February, and the following year a lot of us met up several times back in the U.S. Some people went to the Dominican Republic together and others met up in Arizona. It’s kind of wild because we only met on that trip, but now it feels like we’ve traveled together so many times.”
Was there a cultural experience that really stayed with you?
Miranda: “The purification ceremony in Bali was incredibly beautiful.
The temples and ceremonies are such an important part of the culture there, and it felt really special that we were welcomed into that experience. It didn’t feel like a tourist activity. It felt meaningful.”
What advice would you give someone considering their first FTLO trip?
Miranda: “Prepare what you can, but once you’re there just go with it. Stay open-minded and really take in the place you’re visiting. Use your eyes and ears and experience it.”
What keeps you coming back to FTLO?
Miranda: “I tell people about FTLO all the time because every trip has these little surprises built in. Sometimes it’s a special dinner or an activity you didn’t expect. Those moments make the trip feel really unique.”
Where are you hoping to travel next?
Miranda: “Vietnam is definitely higher on my list now after talking with someone on the Philippines trip. But I’m also really interested in doing more South America… that whole region looks amazing.”
For Miranda, the biggest takeaway from group travel has been how quickly strangers can turn into lifelong travel companions. From canyoneering through waterfalls in the Philippines to reconnecting with friends from past trips across the U.S., each experience has reinforced the same idea: Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop waiting and just book the trip.
