Thu 1 Oct 2026 • Sara Balaban
From SYB to BFF: How Travel Sparked Kathy & Remi’s Friendship
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Discover how Kathy and Remi met on a SurfYogaBeer group trip to Belize and turned a shared travel experience into a lasting friendship.
“Let’s go on a group trip with a bunch of strangers” can be a pretty great friendship strategy. We know this because we’re kind of (no, we def are) in the business of bringing people together for epic group adventures, where making friends and finding your people are very much part of the plan.
And that’s exactly what happened for Kathy and Remi, who met on SurfYogaBeer’s Belize trip in December 2025. We caught up with Kathy and Remi to hear how a week of group workouts, beach time, and exploring turned into a friendship that stuck, and what adventure they’re already plotting next. 👀
Why travel to Belize with SurfYogaBeer?
Six days of barefoot beach time, reef adventures, boat days, and plenty of time to hang with your crew. In Belize, mornings start with beach workouts or yoga, afternoons are for snorkeling, scuba, sandbars, and island-hopping, and there’s always time to kick back at the beachfront home base. Add a golf cart convoy to Secret Beach, a day exploring Caye Caulker, and a few dock jumps along the way, and you’ve got a solid week in paradise.
Need some Belize inspo?
What inspired you to join a SurfYogaBeer trip?
We say it all the time, but Kathy says it better: “When are you ever going to go if you don’t take the leap and go now?” For Kathy, her first SYB trip started with a friend’s post about traveling solo with SurfYogaBeer. When she saw SYB was heading to Kenya, she decided it was time to stop waiting for the “right” moment.
She booked the trip and has been coming back year after year ever since. “Booking trips continues to be an act of love to myself to take the leap, explore the world, make new memories, and not wait until I find ‘the one.’ ”
Remi came to SYB for a similar reason: the community. She’d traveled with other group travel companies and had great experiences, but something was always missing. “With SurfYogaBeer, the vibes are on point with like-minded people, resulting in a carefree experience. Exactly how a trip should be.”
Poolside workouts
What’s different about the SYB experience?
“As an introvert, I didn’t think I would connect with people that easily.”
That was one of Kathy's biggest surprises: how quickly a group of strangers could feel like friends. She was nervous before her first trip, even worrying she wouldn’t be fast enough to keep up on a run. “Even at a sexy pace!” 😂
But the nerves didn’t last long. “A lot of people are nervous on their first trip and don’t know what to expect. That’s okay.” And even as a self-described type-A, Kathy was surprised by how much she enjoyed SYB’s go-with-the-flow approach: “I thought it would drive me nuts not having a set itinerary super far in advance, and it was actually shocking how much it didn’t.”
That same easygoing energy stood out to Remi since her first SYB trip to Nicaragua. “Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The activities were great, and I loved that it was such a pressure-free environment.”
And then there’s the friendships. “It is hard to pick just one favorite thing about SYB, but I have to say it is the memories and the friendships. As I get older, it's sometimes hard to meet new people, but I've made incredible friendships that I have taken with me from the trips. I love traveling and exploring new places and having like-minded people to do it with.”
So, the SYB vibe? “Friendly, down-to-earth, independent, badass, supportive.”
Kathy & Remi, center, with the crew on the final night
How did #SYBBelize inspire your friendship back home?
Kathy & Remi clicked so quickly that they were already making plans for when they got back to New York before Belize was even over.
“It was a pretty perfect roommate assignment,” Kathy said. “We’re both from New York, single, wanted to embrace every moment of the trip, and we were comfortable with one another within minutes.”
Less than a year later, their friendship has become a regular part of their lives, from dinners and drinks to Broadway shows, SYB gatherings, workouts, and all the everyday life updates in between.
“It is INSANE to me that we met less than a year ago,” Kathy says. “It seems like we’ve known each other for years.”
For Remi, Kathy has become one of her closest friends and her go-to for advice. When Remi had major surgery, Kathy showed up at the hospital with a care package and continued to be there throughout her recovery. “I truly appreciate her. It is the friendships that we create later on in life that truly have the greatest impact.”
And perhaps the best proof that this friendship is here to stay? They’re already planning their next SYB adventure together: New Year’s Eve in Bali. 👀
Kathy, left with Remi, right: Out for a night in NYC
What's a memory from Belize you still talk about?
For Remi, one of the funniest was “doing a trampoline obstacle course. We all kept falling off and laughing hard the entire time.”
For Kathy, one of her biggest Belize highlights was scuba diving, despite being a beginner. “There was an option to scuba dive with a guide, even if you weren’t certified. We swam alongside nurse sharks and manta rays!”
Boat day in Belize
What would you tell someone who's nervous about going on an SYB trip?
Their advice? A unanimous, “Don’t think, just do.”
Remi puts it simply: “It will be one of the best experiences of your life. You’ll feel empowered by going outside of your comfort zone and trying something new.”
Kathy adds, “While each trip is different, SYB helps you grow as an individual and understand your worth. If you enjoy staying active, like traveling, and meeting new people, you should check out a trip with SYB!”
From Belize to NYC: Kathy, Remi, & Marisa out in NYC
Why social group travel?
Traveling with a group gives you built-in plans, activities, and people to explore with without having to organize the trip yourself. It’s a way to see somewhere new, try things you might not do on your own, and meet people along the way. And more than just “meeting people,” there’s a good chance you’ll meet your people.
Related SurfYogaBeer stories worth reading
- From Strangers to Besties: Dara, Courtney, & Croatia
- They Met on a SurfYogaBeer Trip in Nicaragua. Now They’re Married!
- The Best Trips to Meet People
- You’re Never Too Old to Make Friends
SurfYogaBeer is an active and social travel company focused on global, local, and private adventures, offering group trips for people of all ages and fitness levels. We're all looking for adventure. Travel with us–change your life.
