Hi there! We’re Sam 👻 & Teri-Anne 🦇 (TA for short) 🙃
We are full-time Travel Experts, Vanlifers and Adventure Sports Enthusiasts.
We prefer life on the go, spending our days embracing unpredictable weather conditions to surf, ski, hike or climb. Or maybe even take in some sightseeing. With our passion for exploration, we combined forces to create An Aimless Walk – a platform that helps intrepid outdoor enthusiasts plan their own epic escapades. 🌍
Having travelled extensively & worked snow seasons more times than we can count, let us help make your journey one you’ll never forget!
We met in Zermatt, Switzerland, where we were both living, TA lived here for over 6 years and Sam for 4.
We both have a chronic case of itchy feet, so in 2019, we decided to embrace our wanderlust and work towards our shared dream of full-time vanlife. Our van ‘Eleven‘, was completed in October 2022. Our full-time van adventures have taken us to many European countries so far, with plans to visit other parts of the world soon! 🚐
Join us as we explore each country and all that nature has to offer from our cosy home on wheels.
From helping you conquer the slopes to discovering awesome mountain getaways; to planning a road trip or living vanlife – our guides cover it all! Get essential tips for your next adventure plus insider advice for working abroad or embarking on your first snow season. ❄️
Who’s Teri-Anne?
I’ve been on the move permanently for all of my adult life. As well as planning our day around the weather, time of year and adventure sports, all things spooky are a big yes for me – so no matter where we go, there’s typically a little something eerie thrown into our itinerary! 🕸
I’ve self-funded 18 years of travel around the world in a variety of capacities. These include round-the-world backpacking trips, 10 Ski seasons in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, workaway stints, volunteering gigs and jobs in over 20 locations in 7 different countries across Europe, North America and Australasia.
I am qualified in and have worked in many industries, including sports coaching, childcare, hospitality, tourism and marketing. ✨
Who’s Sam?
Hi! I’m Sam, a ski instructor by day and a wine merchant by night. A bit like Bruce Wayne, except not at all like Bruce Wayne. I’m a total movie nerd and love to hit things with sticks (usually drums). 🎬
I am a highly qualified Ski Instructor with both the British and Swiss Snowsports Systems. I have been teaching skiing for 11 years and have done ski seasons in various resorts throughout France, Switzerland, Italy and New Zealand, as well as having skied in many other regions. ⛷
I also have the WSET level 3 Qualification and have worked in the wine industry for 10 years for my family business, Gauntley’s of Nottingham. 🍷
/rəʊm/
verb
1. move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide area.
noun
an aimless walk.
Where We’ve Lived & Travelled
Our travelling has differed greatly over the years, with Sam spending most of his travels in Europe for long periods of time and Teri-Anne working winter seasons in Europe and travelling to America, Asia and Oceania the rest of the year.
In recent years, we spend anywhere from 1-6 months in each destination depending on the seasons and visa restrictions.
Asia
📍 Thailand – Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Phuket
📍 Singapore
📍 Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba, Hanoi, Ha Giang
📍 Indonesia – Bali – Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Uluwatu, Nusa Penida, Tembuku, Gitgit, Lovina, Tembok. Lombok – Gili Islands, Mt Sangkareang. Java – Banyuwangi, Mt Ijen.
Sam and Teri-Anne have spent 3 months extensively exploring Bali.
📍 Sri Lanka – Colombo, Negombo, Weligama, Merissa
📍 United Arab Emirates – Dubai
📍 India – Delhi, Agra.
Oceania
📍 Australia – Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Sydney, Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Fraser Island, Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Cape Tribulation, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller, Mt Stirling
Teri-Anne spent a year working and travelling around Australia and then returned for a further ski season where she was based in Mount Buller, Victoria.
📍 New Zealand – Auckland, Hot Water Beach, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Abel Tasman, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch, Invercargill, Cardrona, The Remarkables
Sam was based in Queenstown for 6 months over the winter season.
📍 Fiji
North America
📍Canada – Vancouver, Grouse Mountain, Whistler
📍 USA – Chicago, Boston, Philidelphia, Providence, New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Breckenridge, Vail, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Yosemite, San Francisco, Pacific Coast Highway, Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Nashville, Maui, Hawaii Big Island
Teri-Anne has lived, worked and volunteered in four States of America over an eighteen month period.
📍 Mexico – Cancun, Merida, Chichen Itza, Valladolid, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Akumal, Dos Ojos, Tulum, Chetumal, Cuzumá
Teri-Anne worked on the Yucatan Peninsula for 4 months.
📍 Belize – Belize City, Caye Caulker, The Blue Hole
📍 Cuba – Havana, Cienfuegos, Cayo Largo, Cayo Rosario, Cayo Estopa, Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes, Trinidad
📍 Cayman Islands
📍 Costa Rica – San José, Heredia, Monteverde, Santa Elena, Quepos, Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita
Teri-Anne spent two months volunteering and travelling Costa Rica.
📍 Panama – Panama City
Europe
📍 Iceland – Reykjavík, Golden Circle
📍 England – London, Bath, Oxford, Devon, Cornwall, Ipswich, Norfolk, Brighton, Bristol, Blackpool, Nottingham – Where Sam was born and raised, Birmingham, Derbyshire Dales, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Leeds, York, Alnwick, Holy Island
📍 Wales – Mold, Loggerheads Country Park, Colwyn Bay, Carmarthen Bay, Llanbrynmair, Aberdyfi
📍Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, Aberdeen, Fettercairn, Aviemore, The Cairngorms, Inverness, NC500, Isle of Skye, Mallaig, Glen Finnan, Fort William, Ben Hope, Stac Pollaidh, Glencoe, The Nevis Range
We spent 6 months exploring Scotland during the Autumn and Winter months in a campervan.
📍 Ireland – Belfast, Dublin, Athboy, Trim, Galway, Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, Doolin, Lahinch, Ennis
📍 Isle of Man – Where Teri-Anne was born and raised
📍Norway – Bergen, Voss, Myrkdalen, Hardangervidda National Park, Hallingskarvet, Geilo, Hemsedal, Lillehammer, Rondane National Park, Helgeland Coast, Bodø, Lofoten, Narvik, Tromsø, Lyngen Alps
📍 Denmark – Copenhagen, Hjørring, Hirtshals
📍 France – Paris, Chamonix, Nice, Les 3 Vallées, Les Deux Alpes, Provence, Rhône Valley, Champagne, Burgundy, Montpellier, Nîmes, Morzine, La Grave, Alsace, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Corsica, Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets, Flaine, Megève, Grenoble, Alpes D’ Huez, Tignes, Val D’Isère, Dunkirk
Sam has worked and travelled France extensively over many years, between the wine and ski industry.
📍 Andorra
📍 Spain – Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza, Valencia, Alicante, Xàbia, Dénia, Gandia, Altea, Serra de Bèrnia, Guadalest, Tenerife
📍 Portugal – The Algarve
📍 Netherlands – Amsterdam, Groningen
📍 Sweden – Stockholm, Gothenburg, Östersund, Malmö
📍 Switzerland – Geneva, Zürich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Montreux, Sion, Zermatt, Verbier, Nendaz, Martigny, Täsch, Randa, Visp, Brig, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Saas Fee, Simplon, Châtel, Lavaux, Sierre
Teri-Anne lived in Switzerland for nine winter seasons and year-round for three years. Sam spent four ski seasons in Zermatt.
📍 Italy – Courmayeur, Cervinia, Valtournenche, Milan, Domodossola, Lake d’Orta, Lake Garda, Verona, Pila, Champoluc, Gavi
📍 Austria – Mayrhofen, Hintertux, Priorat, Weinviertel
📍 Czechia – Prague
📍 Bulgaria – Pamporovo, Rhodope Mountains
Africa
📍 Morocco – Marrakesh, Agadir, Taghazout
📍 South Africa – Durban, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Hermanus, Gansbaai, Swellendam, Garden Route District, Storms River, Jefferys Bay
Sam and Teri-Anne travelled South Africa by car for two months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Travel Full-Time?
Over the years Teri-Anne has done various jobs to keep her on the road, mainly within the hospitality and tourism sector, while simultaneously taking opportunities abroad to volunteer or couchsurf. Now she continues her nomadic lifestyle remotely as a marketing professional.
Sam worked 10 winter seasons as a ski instructor and during the summer months as a wine merchant. His role within the wine business is now full-time and has become entirely remote. 💻
We have always lived a relatively simple life and tried not to have too many big expenditures. We previously fueled our wanderlust with funds saved up from jobs that were in some of the world’s most picturesque places. 🌄
Currently, living in a van and having remote work allows us to be in any location for as long as we like or as long as we have visas/permits. We aim to travel one country or area at a time as slowly as possible. 🐢
Why An Aimless Walk?
Teri-Anne liked the idea of something that covered the verb, Roam. As the beginning of TA’s travels were very unplanned and slapdash ‘travel aimlessly’ seemed very appropriate. ☠️
Why Create A Travel Website?
Teri-Anne didn’t travel much as a child and only saw a ski resort for the first time at 21. Her first round-the-world trip was a baptism of fire, with no clue about the ‘real world’, not very good at budgeting and only lonely planet guides for reference. 👽
She wanted to create something to show people that travel can be for anyone, no matter their financial background. 🖤
Life isn’t meant to be lived in one place – it’s an ever-changing, exciting journey! An Aimless Walk serves as your personal navigator along the way. From carving down snowcapped slopes to exploring life on the open road, escaping routine for short adventures or international work, let us help point you towards and navigate you through, unknown horizons! 💫