Nomad, 30, who has traveled the world for NINE YEARS, lifts the lid on her very unconventional life – from living WITHOUT a smartphone and carrying all her belongings in ONE backpack to living on just $10 a day

Smartphones are an integral part of everyday life for most people, but a 30-year-old globetrotter has revealed she has never owned one, despite constantly being on the move to new places.

Leslie McNair, from Ohio, reveals in an interview with YouTube creator Jennifer, who is known online as @Jenncysworldthat she has been a nomad for nine years, but that she has not found the lack of a telephone an obstacle.

Instead, the globetrotter, who met Jennifer while traveling in Korea, can have more organic interactions.

“I’ve never had a smartphone in my life, so I’m really used to writing down directions to get somewhere,” she explained.

“I have this laptop, so when I’m at someone’s house or a hostel I can still contact people and make plans or book a flight or whatever, but when I’m away from home I want to be completely in the moment and with the people around me, I don’t like texting someone I miss at home.’

Leslie started her globetrotting journey after graduating from college and has never looked back.

She said her journey of discovery happened ‘accidentally’ and that it started with a trip through Europe with a friend.

While her friend returned home to the US after feeling homesick, Leslie decided to keep traveling and has now been to every continent and about 80 countries.

Reflecting on her time on the road, she says, “I just sold everything and I knew I didn’t know when I was coming back… I didn’t imagine at all how long I would travel, but I wouldn’t expect nine years.

“I think some people might really enjoy this life, while other people might hate it.”

Although Leslie says many people assume she is “super rich” because of her traveling lifestyle, she makes it clear that this is not the case and that she has merely mastered the art of living on the cheap.

Her travel budget is less than $10 per day, which she says is much less than if she were living at home in the US.

Typically, Leslie says she doesn’t pay for accommodation and uses the CouchSurfing website to find locals where she can stay for free.

While some people find it uncomfortable or scary to stay with strangers, Leslie says she has no fear and is good at connecting with new people.

As for the couch-surfing concept, she said, “That’s really been a lifesaver.

“I think if that website didn’t exist, it would be tiring asking random people all the time. It feels a bit like begging, so I don’t like asking random questions all the time.

“Of course in some countries, like Vietnam or Colombia, they were sometimes very cheap hostels… but my limit is about $5 a night.

‘I love [it]especially when I’m sitting on the couch surfing with someone who becomes a good friend.

“I like to stay home with them for maybe a week and maybe two of those days will just be lazy days like everyone else… like watching a movie with a friend, like going for a walk, not doing much.

‘Then sometimes I feel like hitchhiking and sleeping in a new place every night, but lately I like to maintain the close friendships I make and spend at least a week or two in one place which I really love.

To replenish her bank balance, Leslie tries to find work as she travels through “rich countries,” where she will stop for “at least a month or two.”

If she finds work, Leslie says she will buy a cheap “text and call” phone to “make things easier” and so she can communicate with her employer.

Thanks to her constant travels, the American has mastered the art of traveling light, fitting all her belongings in one backpack.

When it comes to one of her favorite travel destinations, Leslie says it has to be Africa.

She explains why: ‘My advice would be: just go to Africa.

“You know this is the best continent to travel in my opinion. I think it breaks the comfort zone quickly and you meet great people right away.

‘As a continent, Africans have the right combination of hospitality and nice people… but also a lot of fun. [They are] always in a cheerful mood.’

Another place Leslie remembers fondly is French Polynesia, where she arrived after crossing the Pacific with “an Australian man who was much older.”

She says of the far-flung destination: “I’ve just seen the most incredible natural places with people who are truly disconnected from the world.

“You know, there are only a few who have a simple telephone and even though they only spoke French, I really wanted to get in touch with them.”

Looking ahead, Leslie reveals in the YouTube interview that she is currently in the Philippines, where she plans to stay over Christmas, and her next port of call is still undecided.

She concludes, “I know I have to start thinking about it because it requires an escape.

‘Right now I’m a bit tired of meeting new people every day, so wherever I go I might want to chill in one city for a month.

“Every time I feel a mood like that, I just find a place I love and stay there for two or three months and work.”