Hi, I'm Rachel.
I've wanted to see the world
for as long as I can remember.
Filipina. IT professional. Mom of four. Started traveling at 20, still going in my 40s — not a full-time traveler, not a digital nomad, just someone who's always found a way to squeeze in one or two international trips a year between work deadlines and school runs. 12 countries so far.
I've always been this way
I was 20 when I took my first international trip. Fresh out of school, first real job — and instead of being responsible with my paycheck, I booked a flight to Hong Kong.
I'm in my 40s now. Four kids. A career in IT. Some people might say I'm a bit late to be starting a travel blog — and honestly, fair point. But I've been doing the travel part for over two decades already.
I'm not a backpacker. I've never had a huge budget. I pick destinations based on what I can realistically afford, and I travel in short windows because I have real responsibilities at home and at work.
I got rejected. Not because I didn't have the money — I did. But my ITR wasn't in the format the embassy expected, and my bank statements didn't tell the story they needed to tell.
I was embarrassed. And frustrated — because the information I needed was out there. It just wasn't written for someone like me.
In 2025, Jayson and I applied together. I sponsored his application — I had the stronger financial profile between the two of us. We both got approved.
Why this exists
Midway Traveler started as the visa guide I wish I'd had in 2019. It's grown into something bigger — a place where I write about trips, real costs in pesos, and tools I built as a developer.
I'm not a travel agency. I'm not an immigration consultant. I'm a Filipina who figured things out the hard way.
Where I've been
12 countries, mostly DIY
Come along for the ride
New travel stories, visa tips, and the occasional hard-earned lesson.