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Drew Binsky: A Traveller Who Skipped the Corporate Job to Leave Footprints all over the World

Last Updated: January 6, 2022

Drumroll please, as we introduce you to the travel admirer and blogger who has explored every country on this planet. There are 197 nations from the United States to Russia, and Drew Binsky has ticked off each one of them — on a less-than-a-decade of travel spree.

Who is Drew Binsky?

Drew Binsky is a globetrotter, content creator and YouTuber whose extraordinary journey invokes the dreamer in you. Born in Dallas, Texas and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, this 30-year old fellow is a full-time traveller. One can spot him by his bronze-coloured hair, small beard, smiling face, amicable warmth and a camera on his shoulder.

Drew ‘Binsky’ Goldberg

Drew was born as Drew Goldberg but later took the name ‘Binsky’ from his Jewish family. He is graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a double-major in economics and entrepreneurship.

He is famous for…

There’s no such thing as too much travel — ask Drew Binsky. His followers appreciate his art of narrating unbelievable travel stories from every corner of the world. Through his videos, he shares unfiltered and raw experiences; while meeting locals, taking on challenges and creating a new perspective of the destination. He even runs his blogs where he contributes a bouquet of ideas and advice on how to travel without breaking the bank, which countries to visit and what a travelling career looks like. Associated with reputable brands like Huffington Post, CNBC, TedX and USA Today, Drew is an inspirational blogger.

Launched his website and Youtube channel

His website, DrewBinsky.com, is a one-stop destination for budding travellers. From exposing the unique and fascinating details about the unknown place to encouraging its readers to get out of the comfort zone, his blogs and vlogs are worth time invested. He brings exceptional, untold stories from his travelogues — and throws a never-heard-before content for its audience. No wonder, his Youtube channel enjoys a staggering 2.89M subscribers.

He has the most exclusive content

One of his major goals to publish videos is to showcase the rare gems and talents from across the world. The next is he brings budget tips under one umbrella. He recommends the low-budget countries, does “how to spend a day with $10” kind-of videos, and assorts numerous information for the curious bees. He wants to let people know travelling is no longer limited to someone with money to burn.

A journey of thousand miles must begin from a step

Drew Binsky’s first step was when he went to Israel through Birthright in 2012. He went to study abroad in Prague. Drew wasn’t setting out on a big goal, all he wanted was to travel and explore. The wanderlust bug bit him when he discovered over 20 countries in Europe during his college days.

Well, to travel so much might cost a bomb. Is it?

After graduating, Drew Binsky taught English in South Korea and made a couple of thousands of dollars a month. It was a fantastic opportunity to travel overseas and earn as well. When he jetted off to Korea, he documented the vibrant neighbourhoods and nightlife. It was here he started his first travel blog, The Hungry Partier, and worked 50+hours a week to make it reach globally. After 3 years of perseverance and R&D, thousands of readers popped up on his site. Later, he branded the blog with his name, Drew Binsky.

It was 2017, when Deanna Sallao, his then-girlfriend and now fiancée, gifted him a camera. It was a push towards his Youtube channel. His documentary of a 3-day guide in North Korea became viral and earned a million views. Gradually, people started recognising and appreciating his content like the one with the last Jew of Afghanistan, the tallest humans on earth, a 99-year old traveller, disappearing country and more.

Behind the scene of his vlogs

All of this sounds like such fun and undemanding career. But what goes behind the scene is a lot of sweat and grind. Drew Binsky has even worked for 18 hours a day in the past years. Back in 2013, when he had set up his blogs, almost 6 hours were spent daily, working out how to create an audience base. Whether it was expanding his social media presence or uploading daily blogs, Binsky was jumping through hoops. The man who didn’t earn a penny till his 300 videos, today makes annual revenue in seven figures through advertising and promotions. He features consistent determination, patient behaviour and convivial approach and the fact that no problems shake his will, give him a couple of brownie points.

For him, abnormal is the normal

He has spent days with people who have nothing in common, played cricket with kids who didn’t know his language, got lost in Tokyo without a map and phone, slept through bombings in front of his window in Libya, survived India’s sandstorm and got his passport seized in Yemen.

He easily visited 160 countries without a visa, but…

Drew Binsky was fortunate that he could have made it to 160 nations without a visa. But for some other nations like North Korea, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq, Venezuela and Syria, getting a visa was a tussle.

He reaps between $1,000 and $30,000 in a month, depending on views

As of 2021, Drew Binsky boasts a community of whopping 9 million followers on social media. Keep the jaws hanging, while we tell you, his videos have garnered more than 4 billion views worldwide. He earns through advertisements on Youtube and Facebook. He even runs an online merchandise store, sells travel hacking courses, links with hotels and airlines through blogs and utilises several other revenue streams.

Drew Binsky is flexible, people-person and adaptable

Although his income through advertising revenues is huge and he can stay in extravagant hotels, there are occasions when he is stuck in nowhere. A traveller has to be easy-going and accommodating — Drew Binsky has to sometimes stay in villages and mingle with the remote tribes. One of such intriguing incidents was meeting the world’s shortest tribe. It’s perhaps one of the most remarkable travel stories he has had.

His partner, Deanna Sallao

Deanna and Drew met at a travel event in Bangkok in 2015 and despite being from the two ends of the world, they had an amazing time together. While he travels relentlessly, Deanna works as a digital marketer online. From eating pho in Vietnam and bungee jumping in New Zealand to attending Olympics in Rio, the duo has crossed the 7 continents hand in hand. It all gets convenient as they both work remotely; it helps them to stick by and support each other in all walks of life.

Massive fan of golf

In his several videos, Drew has exclaimed his love for the golf sport. He is even putting a golf course out of his home.

His Guinness World Record

Binsky has numerous feathers added to his cap, including the Guinness World Records for visiting the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 24 hours. He won the other one for the fastest time to pack a suitcase.

Spontaneity, no-plan and challenging travel

He doesn’t shy away from accepting the fact that he is a no-plan man. He is unprepared (most of the time) when it comes to the arrangement of his accommodation in the new destination. He is thankful to have a lot of friends, along with a huge social media fan base as well as locals who have got his back during such unpredictable times.

He thrives on his Snapchat followers

Touted as the mastermind of Snapchat, Binsky took social media by storm when he began documenting his travel shows. It was in Olympics in Rio where he just uploaded the stories and made big bucks, enough for a budget backpacker. He got a grip of Snapchat and soon the stats went through the roof.

Even the pandemic couldn’t stop him

Last year, when the entire world stopped and people were forced to lock down in their places, Drew Binsky was on the move, with maximum precautions. Internet is on the rise and the world is seizing to a 6-inch screen. Travel bloggers like Drew Binsky brought the great outdoors and beautiful landscapes from around the globe to our pockets during the pandemic. He announced his last country’s visit on October 29, 2021. The vlog is awe-inspiring, where he shares the beauty of humanity, regardless of background, religion and nationalities. It was a milestone that turned everyone’s heads in amazement.

At last, it’s all worth it

The sound of shores in Indonesia, sight of temples in Myanmar, solo backpacking in India, hot air ballooning in Turkey, beer chugging Czech Republic, island hopping in Philippines, and much much more — Drew Binsky has made a lifetime of memories.

What’s next?

Having visited the entire world is the most rewarding experience of Binsky’s life, but he is looking for more in future. Travel has changed his outlook towards life. Soon, he is going to launch a wholesome documentary of several countries, called Border 197.

Bollywood’s Post Lockdown Travel Destinations

Women and Tourism: Challenges, Benefits & Future

Shambhavi Sisodia

Intrigued by the breathtaking beauty and unbelievable diversity around the world, Shambhavi has taken the agenda of inspiring travellers to embark on their new journeys with passion and information. She has a pen in one hand and a camera in the other. She is a food-enamoured introvert who is fond of plants, reads fiction and taps feet to Bollywood music.

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Travel Collections From 133 Countries

Written by Drew Binsky

Do you have any travel collections?!

I have more than 100 pounds worth of them from 133 countries that I keep inside a huge cardboard box in my closet at home in Scottsdale, Arizona… Today, for the first time since I started traveling 6 years ago, I opened up that box and dissected everything inside!

While on the road, I’ve been hoarding everything from city maps to flags, currencies, beer mugs, chess boards, plane/train/museum tickets, shirts and tons more — and to be honest, I haven’t really missed a single opportunity to keep any of these items. In this video, I explain further all of my travel collections.

Do you have any travel collections? What are they?!

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Advertiser disclosure.

Drew Binsky has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Drew Binsky and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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This youtuber shares how he made traveling the world his full-time career, drew binsky has made a career out of traveling the world. select spoke to him about his best tips for travelers, making money on social media and his favorite credit cards..

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There are 197 countries in the world, and Drew Binsky , YouTube travel vlogger , has just two left to visit: Jamaica and Saudi Arabia.

His passion for travel started as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, when he had the opportunity to study abroad in Prague in 2012. He decided then to make seeing the world a priority.

He didn't want to go the corporate job route after college even though he had a degree in economics. When a friend told him about a program where he could teach English to children in a town outside of Seoul, he jumped at the chance. His experience in South Korea cemented his love of traveling: After teaching for two years, Binsky set out to visit every country in the world.

While teaching in South Korea, he started sharing his travel experiences on a blog called the Hungry Partier, where he would document his travel and nightlife experiences. The success of the blog led him to launch a YouTube channel and Facebook page in 2015. 

A stroke of luck would help Binsky's Facebook page and YouTube Channel to spike in popularity. In 2017, he made a video about a three-day guided tour he took in North Korea , which went viral and garnered nearly 10 million views. After seeing the success on his video, he turned his energy into creating more content for YouTube and Facebook.

Using YouTube to bring people together

For Binsky, the appeal of traveling and sharing his story and the stories of others lays in a desire to emphasize the common humanity between his viewers and those considered strangers in far flung countries.

"I have my heart in countries like Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Turkmenistan, Iran, Lebanon — those countries that everybody is scared to go to," Binsky says. "And [my viewers] think that it's only a war zone, and they think it's so unsafe. But when you go there and you meet people and connect with the humanity aspects of these countries, it's really beautiful."

Travel vlogging has hardly been an easy job for Binsky, and he emphasizes that it's important to recognize that traveling to a new country may bring a unique set of challenges. He struggled to shoot videos in Libya and in countries in Central and West Africa, for example, because people were more skeptical of being filmed.

"I love the challenge," Binksy says. "And I love trying to overcome these struggles. At the end of the day, I'm just trying to share the best stories that I can share."

Binsky's best budget travel tips

Binsky initially started out traveling on a budget, but in recent years travel vlogging has become quite lucrative for him.

He now has 2.7 million subscribers on YouTube and more than 4 million followers on Facebook, and he makes money from ad revenue from social platforms, brand deals and selling his own merchandise and an online course on travel hacking. And he's no longer a one-man show — Binsky has a team of 26 helping him produce content. His business is on track to make seven figures in revenue this year.

Still, he believes that traveling can easily be done quite cheaply if people are strategic. He recommends travelers stick to low-cost countries in regions like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Latin America and skip regions like Western Europe and Scandinavia and countries like Australia, Singapore and Dubai where the cost of travel can be more expensive. 

Binsky suggests that budget travelers looking to keep accommodation costs low opt to stay in a hostel or use a service known as CouchSurfing , which connects travelers with locals offering free rooms.

For American travelers, Binsky recommends using credit cards to finance their trips . (For international travelers, it can be much more difficult to get approved for these cards.)

Picking a credit card that matches your lifestyle

Binsky doesn't describe himself as a travel hacker or a credit card enthusiast who carries a bunch of cards and tries to maximize the awards he earns. Instead, he primarily uses three cards for his travel and business expenses : the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, the American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express . 

While he recognizes that the Sapphire Reserve comes with a steep annual fee of $550, he thinks it's worth it. He's able to easily offset the fee by using perks like the $300 annual travel credit, and the Priority Pass Select lounge access, which gives cardholders access to airport lounges internationally. 

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Binsky is especially enthusiastic about the Priority Pass Select lounge pass because it gives him access to lounges in international airports, some of which include amenities like free massages, showers and sleeping quarters.

He also recently signed up for the Amex Business Gold Card because of the flexibility of its rewards categories . New cardholders can also take advantage of the welcome bonus: earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership (terms apply). For him, Facebook ad spending is a big priority so he's able to get 4X points back on that category.

American Express® Business Gold Card

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap. 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.

Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership

Not applicable

19.49% - 27.49% variable

See rates and fees , terms apply.

While the pandemic slowed down Binsky's travel habits for a few months between March 2020 and June 2020, he's been back on the road since June 2020, frequently taking Covid-19 tests in the process and itching to complete his final two countries, which he plans to do in October.

For rates and fees for the he American Express® Business Gold Card, click here

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Drew binsky - just go (corte madera store & online).

Drew Binsky Just Go A Globe-Trotting Guide to Travel Like an Expert, Connect Like a Local, and Live the Adventure of a Lifetime Corte Madera Store & Live Online $25 Ticket Includes Book Sat., June 1st, 2024 • 4:00pm PT

Please join us in welcoming content creator, adventurer, and now author, Drew Binsky for a live conversation on his latest work Just Go. Travel Like an Expert, Connect Like a Local, and Live the Adventure of a Lifetime . Following the talk, there will be an opportunity to get your book signed and personalized, as well as get a photo with Drew!

Popular travel YouTuber and content creator Drew Binsky, who has visited every single country, walks readers through the most amazing places in the world and shares everything  you need to know to go anywhere you want. In 2021, Drew Binsky completed his 10-year journey to travel to every country in the world—all 197 of them. Now, for the first time, Drew reveals his craziest stories and best moments, even from places the UN deems the most “dangerous” like Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.  As you’ll discover with Drew as your guide, the world is more accessible than you think—and no matter where we’re from, people around the globe have more in common with us than differences.  Just Go  offers readers the adventure of a lifetime, presenting not only the tricks Drew himself used in his trips, but also the best-kept secrets from every corner of the world.  Just Go  is equally a practical handbook for globetrotters and aspiring travelers as it is an intimate and heartwarming celebration of people and cultures all over. In this fun and friendly guide, Drew will show you how to:

• Obtain visas for obscure destinations
• Make fast friends with trustworthy locals
• Find and enjoy street food like a pro
• Navigate language barriers
• Have the greatest adventure of your life

As one of the few people who traveled the globe in 2020, Drew witnessed and recorded the pandemic response in countries everywhere—and realized how crucial it is for the world to reconnect. In  Just Go , filled with photos, stories, and tips Drew has never before shared, you’ll find the toolkit and the inspiration to do just that: get out there and go wherever you want!

Drew Binsky , a Phoenix, Arizona native, is one of the youngest people in history to visit all 197 countries in the world. He completed this goal at age 30, and is one of 225 people to do so. He works as a full-time content creator (YouTuber) with an online community of over 10 million, and his videos have garnered more than 5 billion overall views. Drew first got the travel bug after studying abroad in Prague, during his junior year of college. Then, shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he took a job as an English teacher in South Korea, where he lived for two years. During that time, he started a travel blog which evolved into making travel videos on social media. His main goal is to inspire others to travel, because the world is a beautiful place and traveling is the best education that you can have!

Drew Binsky photo courtesy of the publicist.

Location: 

Just Go: A Globe-Trotting Guide to Travel Like an Expert, Connect Like a Local, and Live the Adventure of a Lifetime (Paperback)

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