get to know savvy (savannah)

From a young age, I knew I was going to make an impact by telling my story — I just didn’t know what story that would be.

At age 8, I launched my first “fashion business” out of my mom’s armoire, sketching Crayola-colored designs under the name Fashion Kamashion and “hiring” my mom to sew them. That business didn’t last, but my love for creativity — and the idea of connecting it with others — never faded.

In high school, I remember Googling the word passion after a career day. While my peers had majors and future jobs already lined up, I could imagine myself pursuing ten different things. That curiosity led me to study Communications and Social Justice at a liberal arts university. I thought my passion for people and justice might take me to law school — or maybe to L.A. to train in dance after graduation. But everything shifted after my first international trip at age 19.

Cape Town, South Africa: my first time out of the country. I volunteered at a youth camp, and one day someone said to me, “You have the energy of a traveler — like you’re meant to be one.” That moment stuck with me.

A woman with dark wavy hair wearing glasses and a black top, sitting on a patio under an arched brick structure, holding a glass of red wine, with a scenic landscape of rolling hills and clear blue sky in the background.

A woman with dark hair, wearing a gray tank top, denim shorts, and wearing a crossbody bag, is standing on a tropical outdoor terrace looking out at a lush jungle leading to the ocean, with a clear blue sky overhead.

A serene sunset over the ocean with a person standing on a rocky outcrop near the shore, calm waves, and a partly cloudy sky with orange and blue hues.

A woman with curly brown hair wearing a black crop top and black pants, standing on a dirt path near a coastal cliff. She has tattoos on her arms and is gazing to the side with the ocean and rocky shoreline in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Things got harder before they got better. I faced more loss and spiraled into medical debt. Then, during a work trip, I hit a breaking point. I got sick — really sick. After multiple doctor visits, I was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which explained why I kept returning from trips exhausted, inflamed, and flaring for weeks. My relationship with travel became complicated. I loved it deeply, but it was hurting me. And that hurt my heart.

Then, in April 2024, I booked my first official solo trip to Lisbon, Portugal and Reykjavík, Iceland. My first morning in Lisbon, rushing to breakfast and breaking a sweat, I suddenly thought: Why am I in a hurry? I’m on my own clock. From that moment forward, I walked slower. I rested more. I honored my pace. I returned from that trip pain-free, flare-free, and more aligned with myself than ever before.

That trip awakened something in me — something I had unknowingly been building for a decade. A dream to help others navigate the world while living with chronic illness. A dream to make travel feel possible again.

And so, Savvy’s Travel Bug was born. Circa 2025.

Welcome to your new home for honest travel tips, mindful itineraries, and supportive guidance for traveling with chronic illness. I’ve made a lot of mistakes — and learned even more. My deepest hope is to share what I’ve gathered, so that you don’t feel alone, overwhelmed, or discouraged by your body while trying to see the world.

Because I’ve seen what’s possible.
And I’m living proof that you can do it too.

Cheers to traveling slowly, intentionally, and seeing what you thought wouldn’t be possible.

—Savvy (Savannah)

A woman in a pink bikini standing in clear turquoise water near a rocky shoreline with lush green hills and a blue sky with white clouds in the background.

Beach scene with lounge chairs stacked under a palm tree, umbrellas, and people swimming and relaxing in the water, with hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A beach with white sand, turquoise water, a few people walking and standing, some seagulls on the sand, green hills in the background, and a partly cloudy sky.

A woman standing outdoors near a moss-covered rock and lush green plants, wearing a casual blue outfit, black jacket, and a bandana on her head, surrounded by a dense forest.

Six months later, I was in London and Amsterdam with my sister, exploring parks, coffee shops, and thrift stores. She documented every stop in her Notes app, and I’ve done the same ever since. That trip lit a spark — not just for travel, but for how deeply I wanted to live life. A year later, I planned a six-week solo adventure across Europe: visiting friends, taking Spanish classes in Spain, and completing a short-term internship. That’s when I first dreamed of working remotely — something that would allow me to help people and see the world at the same time.

Then, the pandemic hit. My plans to move to Europe and teach English were canceled. I didn’t travel internationally for two years, but I kept saving hostels and Airbnbs in my notes for “someday.”

In the meantime, I found myself in the world of social media. After working with nonprofits and life coaches, I landed a full-time role with an international company doing marketing and event planning. That job came at the exact moment I needed it — because just two weeks later, my dad passed away.

Grief hit me hard. So did chronic illness. My endometriosis worsened. My immune system weakened. In the mess of grief and pain, my health journey began.

A woman smiling by a waterfront with a bridge in the background, wearing a black jacket, white top, and dark pants.

A scenic pathway winding through a tropical garden with palm trees and lush greenery, leading to white houses with red roofs in the background, under a clear blue sky.

A young woman with wet dark hair smiling and holding a surfboard on the beach with ocean waves and other surfers in the background.

A woman standing on a bridge over a canal in a city with historic buildings, smiling and wearing a gray top, black jacket, and blue pants, with clear blue sky above.

get to know savvy (savannah)

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