Meet the Two 80-something Best Friends Redefining Travel and Aging on Their Terms: Travelling Around the World in 80 Days
These two best friends, whose motto is “we are eighty-two and not through”, left their jobs to go on an adventure of a lifetime, hoping to travel to all seven natural wonders of the world in eighty days. Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hamby met 23 years ago on a medical mission trip in Zambia. Widowers, they’ve gone through many ups and downs together and have been front and center during some of their most pivotal, life-changing experiences.
With both ladies working full-time, Hazelip as a hospice medical director and Hamby as a medical mission director, they were due a vacation. Sandy, who says she hadn’t taken real time off in forty-five years, was inpired by Phileas Fogg’s book Around the World in 80 Days. Ellie, suggested to Sandy: “Wouldn’t it be fun to go around the world in 80 days at age 80?” Having traveled well together before, Sandy immediately agreed.
They have become social media sweethearts, inspiring women to define aging and life well lived on their terms, void of societal expectations and stereotypes associated with women and aging. Their story touch on so many “impossibilities”. From finding the courage to go on such adventures, to meeting one’s BFF at a much later stage of life, as they met and became friends at fifty-eight years-old. Proof that late in life friendships are possible and can last a lifetime. ”We’re both strong-willed ladies but we respect each other’s stance on things,” Sandy shares.
Planning began in 2019, but was prosponed due to Covid restrictions. But that did not stop the ladies, who tweaked their plans, promising each other to reconvene once restrictions were lifted. “COVID shut it down,” Hazelip says.“ But COVID did not shut us down.” Their journey began in January, on a $20,000 budget, with the motto: “81, and still on the run.”
They have shared everything about their journey, from how they choose their destination, following the itinerary of Phileas Fogg’s 80 countries in 80 days; to costs, stating thus far, average hotel costs is between twenty-nine to fifty-nine USD. Placing great emphasis on experiences intead of luxury and lounging by the beach, most of their $20,000 budget went towards international flights, they say. “We did about the cheapest you could do,” said the ladies.
One of their favorite places to stay was a $13.50 per night hotel in Cairo, Egypt, which had a modest breakfast and no lobby or elevator. But it came with a “million dollar view,” —with unobstructed views of the pyramids, where they can watch the light show most people pay to watch.
Having grown a following of over 100,000 supporters on social media, they understand the importance and impact of their story. Moving into 2024, Sandy and Ellie plan to continue with their travels, exploring one continent at a time. With a 30-day South America trip as their first stop in the new year—Machu Picchu will be their first stop. Along with the debut of their first book sharing tips for nurturing friendships that can last a lifetime and tips on traveling on a budget, available in bookstores, spring 2024.
You can follow along on:
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundtheworldat80
https://www.instagram.com/aroundtheworldat80/
This story was first published by Fortune magazine.
Meet the Two 80-something Best Friends Redefining Travel and Aging on Their Terms: Travelling Around the World in 80 Days
