Two vibrant Texas women in their 80s have proven that you’re truly never too old for a girls’ trip.
Best friends Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hamby, both 84, do not fit the mold of conventional travel influencers, but that didn’t stop them from circumnavigating the globe together.
Their friendship started after Sandy’s husband passed away. She joined a medical mission workshop, met Ellie, and accepted an invitation to go to Zambia. From there, their bond deepened.
‘We met when we were almost 60. You’re never too old to have a new friend – and never too young to be one,’ Ellie told the Daily Mail.
‘We were both workaholics who stayed up late and drank tons of coffee. We had the same outlook on life – there’s always a solution.’
It was over a late-night cup of their favorite beverage that they dreamt up their wild idea. One night, as they approached their eighties, Sandy half-joked, ‘Would it be fun to go around the world in 80 days at age 80?’
‘What makes us a little different is that while many people our age are thinking about retirement centers, we were thinking, “What kind of trip can we take to celebrate turning 80?”‘ Ellie explained.
Plans were booked, but then COVID hit. They deferred and relaunched their journey at 81, calling it ‘Around the World in 80 Days at 81 (and Still on the Run!)’
Texas best friends Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hamby, 84, have proven that you’re truly never too old for a girls’ trip
Ellie Hamby said that while her peers were looking up retirement homes, she and Sandy began to dream about travelling the world
They visited Bali, where Sandy was captivated by butterfly and orchid gardens and a ‘happy swing’ soaring over rice terraces.
Ellie saved Antarctica for last. Standing on the deck after a storm-tossed Drake Passage, she was struck by the icebergs, penguins, and a sense of profound wonder. ‘There’s nothing quite like it,’ she said.
Not every experience was positive. In Rome, they were scammed by a taxi driver who took photos of Sandy’s credit card, twice. It resulted in over $250 in unauthorized charges.
‘We fell for it, hook, line, and sinker,’ Ellie revealed. ‘But we’re savvy travelers now. We book ahead or use Uber.’
The grandmothers even found themselves in Syria as war erupted.
‘We left Damascus in the morning. A couple of hours later, violence broke out right where we’d just been on Straight Street. But we were already deep into the desert with no idea what was happening,’ Ellie explained.
‘By the next day, we realized things were escalating in Damascus. But we’re optimists, we thought, “Oh, it’s probably just a one-day thing.” It wasn’t. Eventually, we realized we needed to get out of the country.’
Neither of the ladies speaks any language other than English, but that wasn’t a problem.
Not every experience was positive. In Rome, they were scammed by a taxi driver who took photos of Sandy’s credit card… twice. It resulted in over $250 in unauthorized chargeson Sandy’s card
One of the most endearing elements of their story is their rock-solid friendship which began in their 60s
Ellie and Sandy skyrocketed to internet stardom when they began chronicling their travels online
‘The best way we communicate? A smile. It’s amazing what a smile can do – even from two old ladies!’ Ellie joked.
One of the most endearing elements of their story is their rock-solid friendship. ‘We’ve never had a fight. We respect each other as adults.’
‘We each have our quirks – Sandy always gets up first, and because we’re budget travelers, we usually share a room,’ Ellie said.
‘It takes her longer to get ready, so we’ve worked out a system where there’s no conflict over the bathroom. It’s all about having grace for each other.’
On the topic of budget travel, the ladies agreed that the best way to save money when on the road is to find cheap accommodation. They managed to complete their whole trip for $10,000 each, equivalent to $125 per day.
‘Our biggest savings come from our accommodations. We don’t skimp on seeing the sights – we always go see what we want to see. But we save big on where we sleep,’ Ellie explained.
‘On our Around the World trip, our average hotel cost was $29 a night – per person,’ Sandy added.
‘And we stayed in some of the coolest places you could imagine – most of them were small, family-run hotels, B&Bs, and inns. We met wonderful people that way.’
Neither of the ladies speaks any languages other than English, but that wasn’t a problem as they relied on their southern charm to communicate
‘On our Around the World trip, our average hotel cost was $29 a night – per person,’ Sandy said
The best bargain they banked was in Cairo, where they stayed at a little inn for just $13 each per night.
The ladies were dropped off in an inconspicuous alleyway and were told to rattle the gate to get in.
They then had to climb five flights of stairs to their room, but the unobstructed view of the pyramids from their rooftop made it all worth it.
There was another time in Malaysia when they got off a train in what turned out to be a platform in the middle of a field.
Having been warned about thieves, they were nervous. But a stranger ended up helping them safely reach Malacca.
Another wild memory from their travels was a three-hour camel ride in Syria. ‘I lasted 15 minutes on the camel before I told Ellie, “I’d rather walk three hours across the desert than sit on this camel.” So I did,’ Sandy said.
Ellie and Sandy skyrocketed to internet stardom when they began chronicling their travels online.
The pair initially used Facebook and Instagram to update friends and family, but it was TikTok that catapulted them into viral fame.
Their stay in Cairo at a $13-per-night hotel was the best bargain of their trip
They visited Bali, where Sandy (pictured) was captivated by butterfly and orchid gardens and a ‘happy swing’ soaring over rice terraces
Another wild memory from their travels was a three-hour camel ride in Syria. ‘I lasted 15 minutes on the camel before I told Ellie, “I’d rather walk three hours across the desert than sit on this camel.” So I did,’ Sandy said (Pictured: Ellie on a camel)
‘Within two weeks, we had a video with 6.4 million views. People started recognizing us – “You’re the TikTok Traveling Grannies”!’ Sandy said.
Their comment section was flooded with positivity: ‘People would say, “I want a friend like that,” or tag their own friends and say, “This could be us”,’ Ellie said.
Whether they’re laughing on a rickety swing in Bali or navigating icebergs in Antarctica, Ellie and Sandy prove that joy, friendship, and adventure don’t come with an expiration date.
Their book aims to inspire readers to seek joy, embrace connection, and say yes to new opportunities – no matter their age.
Their book is set to launch on September 16 through Penguin Random House. It will be available in hardcover, paperback, large print, eBook, and audiobook formats (which they narrated themselves).
‘It’s a great gift for any age, and we just hope it encourages people to get more out of life,’ Ellie said.