Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hamby, Texas-based 85-year-olds known as the Traveling Grannies on TikTok, have earned more than 110,000 followers by posting about their trips to more than 50 countries. Some of their most popular videos show the duo posing in front of the northern lights, riding camels in Egypt, and taking a selfie in Machu Picchu in matching travel t-shirts.
Lately, though, viewers have been asking for content on shorter trips closer to home.
“[Commenters say,] ’We love your content, we love your travel. Do you visit local places?’” Hamby said. “That’s another big comment we get. ‘Oh, I can’t afford to make the trip like you’re doing.’”
The requests started to roll in a few months ago, according to Hamby, around the time consumer sentiment started to slip amid rising prices and the Iran war.
While upscale brands have been resilient, budget sensitive travelers are trading down or pulling back thi