As a Romanian , well , born in Romania . I always were embarrassed about the country I'm in , because our country was always underated and now most of people are scared to tell anybody that we are from Romania , but now that I saw your list , I'm not embarrassed anymore that I live in Romania . I realized how beautiful my country is. Im sincerely grateful for visiting Romania and make me feel proud of my country .
You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Sara, your country is amazing!! We loved it so much we plan to return in the coming years. Be very proud of Romania!!! Cheers!!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie , I promise I will . Your video kinda changed my opinion . Most kids and teenagers are taught that Romania is not good enough and that it does not profit. That's probably why most Romanians think this about their country. Words cannot describe how grateful I am. If I wouldn't find this videos I would still be embarrassed when someone was asking "What country are you from". Now I will proudly say "I'm from the beautiful country , Romania" Thanks a lot 🤗🥺
@@saradianabarbu5231 I wonder why people have this impression about Romania. I think here in London, we are used to many people from Romania living here and find Romanians to be really nice and kind people, but we don´t have a clue what Romania is like. I certainly had no idea and just imagined it to be mainly rural and countryside. I think Romanians abroad should start telling everyone how beautiful and amazing their country is. Only problem with this is that tourism will increase and in time, that could be a problem, but it could also be a good thing for the country :)
Glad, as a Romanian, that my country is in second place on your list !! I am sure that, in time, what you have noticed as less ok (public transport, trains, others) will be improved... Yes, we enjoy being visited and love those who do so with respect for our values and the beauty of nature. I look forward to your return, Brian and Carrie!
We have so much more of Romania to see and can't wait to return!! Thank you for the comments and kind words! We have found that the Romanian people are very hospitable! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Dear friends, a lot of ex-pats have found a country here to work or retire to. From the USA, the UK, Western countries in general, and beyond. It's easy to understand that life is much cheaper here for a westerner, at almost similar living conditions. Last but not least, the country itself is not boring at all. On the contrary, the diversity of the geography, the ethnographic and cultural differences between the different regions, the quality of the people, make it attractive to those who are looking for a nice and cheaper place. These months there are discussions about Romania's entry into Shengen. Let's hope that this point on the list of political demands will be checked soon...
As beautiful and diverse as Romania is, the people were what stood out to us the most. We have multiple reasons to want to return but the feeling that we are welcomed back is wonderful! Thank you for the comments.
My dears, I followed your journey through Romania. You did this maturely and in a different way. Even though I'm Romanian and I'm very proud of my country, I was impressed by how you saw this part of the world. We know that we are different people, that we have hidden our identity, that we are that island of Latinity in a sea of Slavs, that perhaps modesty characterizes us and we are waiting to be discovered. Romania is a story and you have only tasted it. I know Americans who came for a week and stayed for 3 months fascinated by what WE are, as a nation, as a people, as a history and we are very proud that we have not lost ourselves as authentic. I'm not pleading for Romania, I'm just encouraging people to come and discover what Pope John Paul II said, that Romania is the garden of the Lord's mother. How did we stay in the history of several thousand years of humanity and keep untouched this mysterious heritage and the unique soul of the Romanians. Today...we are insulted...as the worst country in Europe, because we don't have the "comfort" of the West. Does it matter? You are real witnesses of what Romania means, this hidden secret of Europe, that here is soul, there is tradition, there is history and there is humanity. It pains me to see how the Western Europeans discredit us when we have burned our country for hundreds of years like the Russians or the Turks and then the Germans, and the Austro-Hungarians from conquering us. Romania is a story, a shield of this Western Europe that attacks by insensitivity what it should recognize.. its prosperity is the sacrifice of Romania... FIX WHAT UKRAINE IS TODAY. Thank you for the introspection and the discovery of a story. We are waiting for you with great love to see the unique and speechless part of Romania... Bucovina, Maramures, Delta, Trans Fagarasanul, Cazanele Danube and many others that have references for humanity...not for Romania. Romanians have moved forward and have not forgotten where they come from and have been since the beginning of human civilization. We are proud of what we are and if anyone thinks that these words are just advertising... come here to drink a pint, eat SMALL, tell stories and believe that the world will be better. We and my country..THIS IS WE!
We LOVE this, Marian! So poetic and heartwarming. The people of Romania from the very beginning of our time here were very welcoming, friendly, and gracias. We have mentioned this to our family and friends back home in the US. Kindness has been lost in a lot of ways. Being in Romania for 2 months was refreshing and we are excited to return one day soon. Thank you for taking the time to add your thoughts to this channel. You are always welcome. ♥
I've been to many European countries but Romania is one of my favourite. I wish I could stay in Romania longer. Every time I go there I cant get enough and leave the country with the great sadness.
Such a beautiful comment. I have been to Romania 3 times and every time I leave I feel sad. I wish I could live there. (I am English and live in the UK) From the coast to the mountains, I love the whole country. The people are the kindest and friendliest I have ever come across.
Thank you for the appreciations ! We are waiting for you again in Romania ! I am glad that you liked our country. In the next trip you should include the Danube Delta (the best preserved delta in Europe and the second largest delta after the Volga Delta), Bucovina (northeast of the country, with dozens of painted Orthodox churches and monasteries built starting from the 15th century, many among them being included in the UNESCO heritage), Maramures (north-west of the country, with wooden churches, impressive landscapes and specific traditions, Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, Mocanita - the Romanian forestry narrow gauge steam train).
Fun fact about Albania and Romania. Back in 1912, when Albania became an independent state, they were thinking of a national anthem. They had the lyrics, but not the music. There was a Romanian patriotic song, which the people of Albania liked very much and the government decided to purchase the rights to use it as their national anthem. Even today, if you listen to the Albanian anthem and that Romanian song (Pe-al nostru steag e scris unire), you'll see they're practically identical musically. Just goes to show how Europe is one big family despite all our differences. Edit after watching the video to the end: Just a small correction on one of the city names in Romania. I think you've misread "Alba Iulia" as "Alba Lulia". There's no L at the beginning, it's actually a capital I. It's pronounced "Yulia", but if it's easier in English, you can also say "Julia", cause that's what it actually means. The town was originally built by the Roman Empire and that's where the name comes from.
This is a fun fact, and we should ALL be one big HAPPY family!!! 😀 And yes, we miss pronounced Alba Iulia and have been corrected many, many times! 😅😅However, thank you for being polite about it. And thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. We appreciate the support. Cheers!!!🍻
I'm Portuguese, so nice to see you picked Portugal as number one👍 Porto and the Algarve are great, but there's so much more to see. I use to say Portugal is the best condensed package in the world for tourists, as a small country you can do and see so much without losing time in exaustings trips. Make sure next time to visit Aveiro and it's canals, Óbidos and its medievil charm, the laid back unspoiled region of Alentejo, Cascais, Sintra, Setúbal and it's amazing beaches. I could go on but you get the idea 😎 All the best and felicidades!
Hi, Armando! We actually vacationed in Portugal 3 years ago before we started this channel and have been to all the locations that you mention. We even made it to the Douro Valley for wine tasting!! Thank you for watching!!! Cheers!!!🍻
I traveled to more than two dozen countries, I was born in Romania, and I live in US. Spain is my favorite country in Europe, and I have to say that you put a smile on my face when you ranked my native country ahead of Spain :) I'm glad you had a great time in Romania. When I travel to Spain, I usually visit Madrid or Barcelona because I like non-stop flights, but after watching your videos, I definitely wanna check out Alicante. France is also a great country with amazing food, but Spain is more affordable and has better weather. But with the current exchange rates, almost everywhere it's cheaper than in US. Let's hope the strong dollar lasts! Happy travels!
The one thing that we found Romania has over Spain is the people of Romania are much more welcoming. We really felt welcomed. Spain is amazing and the people are kind but we were blown away by the hospitality in Romania. Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!🍻
Agree completely on Romania which we visited last month. It feels like the most "authentic" place we've visited in Europe. People are wonderful, as you say. There aren't a lot of US chains. (I saw one Subway in the Bucharest train station, and a McDonalds somewhere else, but they are few and far between). The mix of influences and cultures over the years gives it a wonderful variety of architecture, food, customs, etc. My prayer is that they can retain everything that makes the Romanian experience wonderful, even as more tourists discover it.
Romania is such a proud country that we would like to believe that it will remain authentic. That is one reason we found it so wonderful. Thank you for watching and for the comments. We couldn't agree more! Cheers!!🍻
Such happy to see Romania in your Europe top 3 destination. I highly recommend you to rent a car for a next time. You will enjoy the country side of Romania, a retirement place. Best wishes on your new adventure!
Hi guys. I knew you would pick the Algarve. Portugal's got the whole package! Costs, wineries, food, people, scenery, and the ocean. It's my favorite too and Ive been to 100+ countries. Im in Romania now and have been rewatching your videos as a refresher. They have come in handy. Was wondering wny there are no videos of Croatia, B-H, and Serbia? You're gonna love SE Asia especially as a budget traveler. Keep up the good work.
Hi Eric!! Thank you for watching our channel!!! Our Belgrade video comes out tomorrow. B-H and Croatia will follow. with a few others mixed in. We will be back in the states for the months of November and Dec. for the holidays so we had to spread things out more than we like. We are usually only a week or two ahead of our videos. We can't wait for SE Asia!!! Any suggestions are welcome! Cheers!!🍻
PERFECT! This video is exactly what we needed. We visited Portugal last April and are going back to Europe in April and May 2023 with maybe a full move there in the Fall of 2023. Your videos are really helping us map out things and really think things through and maybe avoid some mistakes. I think a lot of the fun is in the planning. So THANK YOU so much and hope you enjoy getting home for the holidays.
My wife and I absolutely love what you guys are doing!!! We are planning to join you on the road in about 18-20 months... but so glad we found your channel now, because this is exactly what we have been planning... Thanks for all the great information, Keep it coming, and safe travels!
Hi B&C, love your videos! Maybe this question has been asked already but do you have to show a return flight ticket when entering a country or even Schengan countries? I'm from Canada 🇨🇦
Hello Brian and Carrie. We are Tim and Christina, and we have been traveling mostly in Europe for over 10 years. Recently we bought an apartment in the country, Georgia, where the cost of living is very reasonable. Also, like Albania, you can stay for one year, without a Visa. Now that we have our home, we spend several months here in Georgia, then we travel again, for several months. In November, we'll go to New York, to see our son, then it's on to Strasbourg, France, for 3 months. We'll spend a month in Sibiu, Romania, a week in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, before heading back to our home here in Chiatura, Georgia. We really enjoyed watching your video, and learning about all the places you've been.
Wow! Love this! We like the idea of getting a place as a home base, that was our original idea but decided to slow travel. If we do decide to stop it would only be for maybe three to six months. We do plan on coming back to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The week that we spent in Bosnia was nice and would like to see more. Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!🍻
I was always curious about Romania, but now, I will definitely go. And, the Algarve region of Portugal is now on my short-list of travel destination. Thank you.
As a European, well traveled , I think you re TOTALY right...Spain is No.1 Country to visit( I visited Valencia years back , and SUCH a great pleaser to see that its NOT ONLY me.)...Valencia and Spain is BEST to start visiting Europe !! As a Romanian , I am MORE than happy surprised that you put Romania on your Best Countries to Visit List! Unbelieveble ! Cheers
I am biased toward Mexico, having spent the last 12 winters down here and having visited all 32 states and way too many ruins, beaches, mercados and plazas, but it is sooooo easy!
We plan on going to Mexico this summer and fall. We still haven't decided on where to go but know that we are looking forward to being close to home for a few months. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for putting ROMANIA 🇷🇴 in top 3 😍😍😍😍. I am watching your videos and I enjoying. Keep doing what are you doing because is really good 👍 I appreciate you a lot!!! 🤗🤗🤗
Great summary of your first year. Just finished our Spain scouting trip, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga. We lived Valencia so much that we have booked 4 weeks in June 2023. We found the locals very friendly, the food was amazing, and the architecture incredible. Also, very clean and safe. Keep up the great work. Social!!
Very nice, it is such a beautiful city. We haven't made it to Malaga yet but have heard nice things about it as well. Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
I have been to 7 European countries: Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, France and Italy I've excluded Turkey as most of it is in Asia).. Spain: Been there 4 times now but haven't been to Valencia although I have recently been to Alicante and i liked it. Seville was amazing and probably my favourite city in Spain along with Barcelona. Greece: Been there 3 times, and been to Santorini twice (once on a Greek Island cruise and in late April for a few days which is the best time to visit) Portugal: Been there once mainly to Lisbon and Madeira but never been to Algarve.- a lot of Brits there. My top 3 for sure are: 1. Italy 2. Spain 3. Greece But I loved Portugal, Malta and Cyprus too. France is a no-no for me lol South East Asia is my favourite region: Been to Malaysia 5 times, Thailand 4 times, Singapore 3 times, Indonesia and Philippines twice each - and I have still not finished yet with 1 more trip to Thailand, 1 more trip to Malaysia, 1 more trip to Philippines, 1 more trip to Indonesia, and hoping to visit Brunei and Vietnam for the first time.
Love you, guys. ❤️ I’m so happy you guys loved Romania and keen to go back again. Yes, the north-east part of Romania (Moldova-Bucovina) is beautiful, i have no doubt you’ll love it. The Danube delta will be a unique and special experience for you, guarantied. But i STRONGLY recommend Maramures. Maramures is the very northern part of Romania, towards the border with Ukraine. From Cluj, just keep going north, soon you’ll find yourself in the magical Maramures. If i start telling you about the landscape, the traditions, the food, the people, even the music up there is unique and special. My opinion is that Maramures is the most magical region in Romania, winter or summer, it doesn’t matter, the magic goes all year round. Maramure, the northern part of Transilvania, YOU WILL LOVE IT. I was born and lived in Timisoara, my both parents are from around Oradea, but i recommend Maramures to anybody who wants to be touched by magic. You’re welcome. 🤗
Hi guys. We retire in a few years and Portugal is our top spot to start our travels. This video was so informative and we've definitely added Romania to our list. I suggest Chile and Argentina for future travels, fantastic places.
Hi, Shannon! Argentina and Chile were our original plans leaving Spain but covid wouldn't allow it. We may get there after SE Asia. Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers 🍻
Congrats on an excellent recap! What a year you've had! I hope while you're home the local paper does an article about you two. Such an amazing list of countries/cities you've seen. So glad Alicante ranked high on your list, I studied there way back in 1987 and have returned several times since. Enjoy your time at home and thanks again for sharing your adventures with all of us.
Thank you, Michael! Alicante is a place we will return to for a little break at some point. Stop for a week or two and enjoy the beaches. Thank you again for the kind words and for watching our channel. Very much appreciated. Cheers!!🍻
😢 we lose first place 😉 anyway is ok to be on second one till you guys will come back and I hope Romania will come on first place in your recommendation 😀. I ll recommend to visit Kazhaztan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan is safe and cheap a few Romanian vloggers do it and is very interesting.👍🍀🇺🇸🇷🇴 Good luck guys and wish you one Million subscribers
We will be excited to return and when we do maybe we can be convinced of first place!! Thank you for the recommendations and for watching our channel! A million subscribers would be amazing!!!😳 Cheers!!!🍻
Loved the year in review and your top three places. We visited Spain in February/March this year and definitely agree Alicante and Seville are great spots for fall-Spring visits. We are headed back to Portugal (Azores and Maderia) on Monday and spending the last three weeks of November in Seville and Malaga. As also being from the Pacific NW (Gig Harbor) the Azores sound very similar to the PNW and less crowded than Maderia. But Maderia has the better moderate (not too hot/not too cold) weather. Safe travels!
Great brewery in Gig Harbor, 7 Seas! We met a couple in Lagos last spring, they were heading to Maderia then on to Croatia. We were supposed to meet up for a pint here in Split but they loved Maderia so much that they decided to extend their visa and stay. We will be exploring that area someday for sure. Safe travels and GO M"s!! Cheers!!!🍻
Amazing! Actuallly, when you'll come back, you'll discover how diverse is Romania, because Bucharest is very different from Transylvania, and Moldova, Dobrogea and Oltenia are very different, too.
Nice informative video. I´m agree with you, the Algarve in Portugal is a stunning place. I go there almost every summer and the people, food, weather, places to visit, beaches, etc are fantastic. You have to go to an area near Algarve but crossing the border, to Cádiz and Huelva provinces in southern Spain ( my country), you will feel something very similar to the Algarve, friendly people, good weather, long sandy beaches, good seafood, parties, many natural spaces and biking paths, etc. Regards !!
We spent 18 days in Portugal three years ago and only made time for 3 in the Algarve. We knew that we would love it so that is why we went back to see more. We could spend several months down there for sure. Thank you for watching our channel!! Cheers!!!🍻
How fun to watch this. We are retiring at the end of this year from a 34 year career in Delivering babies and performing surgeries. Time to slow down. We have been cruise maniacs and spent 28 different weeks getting off and on Cruise ships for many a vacation over all those years. Almost all in the Caribbean. Not surprisingly however, our best 2 cruises were in Alaska. Anyhooooooooo........we are looking forward to a taste of what you fun folks are doing and have posted here. Thanks for the insights. Never know who you are going to bump into down the road one of these days. Thanks again for the content.
Congratulation!! We are from Bellingham WA, about 100 miles north of Seattle so understand why Alaska is so appealing! We may do the cruise thing one day as a vacation from slow travel! 😅 We are in Split, Croatia now and there are ships in almost every day. We are really interested in the small cruise "yachts" that cruise the Adriatic Sea and Dalmatian Islands. Someday... We are heading to SE Asia first of the year so if you are in the area...😆 Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻
We are so anxious to spend a month in Spain and Portugal…. Your video showed some wonderful places we want to see! Thanks for your recap of your amazing year of travel! Cheers! Dara
What a year, Brian and Carrie. I figured Algarve Portugal would be your #1 pick. Great videos! Learned so much! I am ready next year, I think, to follow in your footsteps. You fill my day doing my job. Sharing with friends Thanks a whole bunch for all your efforts!! And Enjoy your holidays back home. Cheers! Wow, Beer in Romania comment. Love it.
So much food for thought and information that will help us with our travels and our channel. Thank you for your suggestions, your generosity and inspiring us to realize we can do this. You guys are awesome and we will always follow along!
Excellent Summary of a successful 2022 travel coverage. You guys executed it flawlessly and brought your experiences to our living room and enlightened us on travel planning. Your coverage of Santorini was very helpful planning our trip in May of this year flawlessly with all the tips. Your travel videos are now our official guide for travel planning. Since you are in Croatia don't miss a visit to the Split National Park and the weather should still be manageable. Cheers!
This is the best video! I love your honest discussion on pros and cons. We are on our 7th month abroad and in Sarande. You assessments are spot on. Hope we can buy you guys dinner in Malaysia, Bali, or Japan before we home in March. Thanks for the tip on Valencia and Romania.
That's good to hear, John. We will be in Malaysia at some point next spring. We would love to hear your thoughts on Japan! A place we would like to travel to but not sure how budget-friendly it is. If you follow us on Instagram, our location is much more current than UA-cam. Safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie we will be in KL then Penang in January. We have 30 days that we are unsure about so that may be Bali or back to Vietnam which we loved. Japan is expensive and we will be there only for 5 days to visit some of my old coworkers. Pro-tip: ZIP airlines is a budget airline that flys from Singapore, Bangkok, to Japan and from Japan to Hawaii and LAX. They have lay down flat seats for a fraction of the price of other airlines. We booked our return trip to LAX with them just cause I’m old and need to stretch out. Google ZIP airlines for future reference.
We are Googling ZIP airlines as we type this message!! We are in Thailand in January and hopefully Feb. before heading to Vietnam for 30 days then Malaysia. We may stay in Malaysia until we come home in late May but haven't planned that far out yet.
We did many of those countries and done the slow travel and fast travel....we came to the same conclusion....the fast travel doesn't leave room for serendipitous actions that come from some wild encounter with new found friends, who just happen to be heading to a "Must see" place, or that wrong train that takes you to a street festival, or the ability to sneak in a few more festivals.....and in that note ...Spain!! I can never leave without missing out on a festival. Check out their festivals for the next trip, make sure you are there for San Juan, or Jordy as some of the young call it, and do at least a 2 day on the Camino , when you do Northern Spain theres a stretch through Lalin, Camino De Invierno, you can also pick it up in Ourence and walk to the end. Buen Camí, fellow travelers
It's definitely easy to fall in love with Portugal. I don't know if you're familiar with the Portuguese word "saudade" but I guarantee it will draw you back to this beautiful little country. Thank you for this video. I enjoy you channel 👍
Thank you, Martin. I looked up the meaning of "Saudade"! 😀 It is a beautiful country, we very much feel at home there. Thank you for watching! Cheers!!!🍻
We traveled for seven months in 2022 and 4 months in 2023. We love Portugal too and have stayed in Lagos several times for 1-2 months in the winter. Since you mentioned Mexico I would recommend San Miguel de Allende. It offers great artistic and cultural experiences. Plus amazing food and climate.
Hi, Mary. We have been traveling SE Asia now for the last 4 months and having a great time. We would still have the Algarve as our top choice for any long period of time. We will be heading back to Europe in late summer this year and then to Mexico in mid-October. We will research San Miguel de Allende, sounds like our kind of place. Thank you for the recommendation! Cheers!!🍻
I am not surprised that the Algarve was number one. I live close to Alicante and often go there for lunch. Besides Mediera the next time you come to Europe check out the Canary Islands they have springtime weather year round. I know you would probably like to take a break from the videos, but it would be interesting to see where you are from. Looking forward to Southeast Asia. 😊
We have done research on the Canary Islands and we are very interested! Our list of places to visit gets longer and longer by the week!!! Love the pint!! Cheers!!!🍻
Speaking from experience (8 years of traveling and moving around)- the more places you see, the less you end up wanting to settle. For me, it's been that long journey of finding the "perfect place" to settle. In reality, the more places you live and the more you actually have to compare- the more critical you become. I've realized at this point that the "perfect place" doesn't exist. I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys get up to in SE Asia. I lived there for 2 years. It's a completely different type of travel experience than what you guys have been doing so far. Just keep an open mind, and you'll have a great time!
Thank you for the insight, Brandon. We are only a year + in and finding that we will be traveling with short stops along the way to relax for a bit before continuing our travels. Finding that "perfect place" will be a challenge for the reasons you mention. We would love to hear any SE Asia tips or destinations that you would recommend. Thank you again for your insights and for taking the time to comment, we very much appreciate the support. Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I would highly recommend starting off with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It's a great place to begin- as you won't immediately be thrown into the absolutely insanity that you may find in other places (don't get me wrong, its still pretty nuts). English is one of the official languages- but there's still incredible culture and food. You have the Malay, Chinese and Indian populations, so the food and city reflects that. You will find a mosque on one street where you will hear the call to prayer, then a street over will come across a Buddhist or Hindu temple. It's a great place to start because it's almost like Singapore or Hong Kong in the sense that it feels "East meets West" (but still feels far more East). Once you leave KL, you've got incredible nature. Green, lush rainforest. I lived there for 8/9 months out of the two years I spent in Asia. The KL airport will also allow you to reach MANY other Asian destinations quite easily. 😃
Wow isn't that awesome Romania no 2! I mean right in between Portugal and Spain 😄 You guys gotta go back for the tripe soup 😀 gonna hold you to that promise 😋
Thanks so much for the year in review! This was one of my favorite video of yours. I value the details and candor in your review. Have you ever considered using an inexpensive cruise as a way to travel from one destination to another while also recharging?
Great summary of your year of travel. Your so good at this and your editing is superb. Can’t wait to see your next year of adventures. You will love South east Asia.Cheers from New Zealand, have fun 😘😘
NZ expensive but South Island best scenery and you would have free accommodation with ensuite in our home and living room to yourselves. Free wifi as well 😍
Looking forward to visiting Romania, and more of Spain. Glad you enjoyed the Algarve, but you should spend a couple months in Portugal exploring north to south, east to west. You may not want to leave, we don't. 😍
We spent 3 weeks in Portugal back in 2019. We spent time in Porto and made our way into the Douro Vally for some wine tasting, we did all the usual touristy day trips in and around Lisbon as well. We loved Portugal so much that we decided to head back to the Algarve, and we loved it as well. Porto is still our favorite city!! Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!!🍻
I agree that fast travel is too exhausting! I’m interested to see where you choose as a place to live! I’m also curious about your top 3 list… watching now! Cheers! Dara
Great information - Cant believe, no beer in hand to wrap up your first year - Next month, we are headed to Lisbon, then down to the Algarve for a month, then on to Southwest Spain for another month and on to Morocco for a couple of weeks before exiting thru Paris for a week. We have also looked at Portugal for retirement, but do love returning to our home in Houston after a long trip.
That sounds like a great trip, Robert. Morocco sounds amazing and we hope to get there within the next couple of years. We understand having a home base to return to. That is one downside of the style of living the way we do. Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!!🍻
Thanks, guys!! We are looking forward to some home time back in the states before our SE Asia trip! Not sure we will make it to Korea but know where we can do our research if we do! 😀
We left September 6 2021 for Paris and are still loving our nomadic life. We spent 7 weeks in Albufeira last November and December and we often miss our little neighbourhood. Thanks for the Alicante suggestion; I'm long range planning and may spend a while there. Cheers!
We would say between the two, Alicante would be our choice. The tram system and trains are really easy to use up and down the coast. Thank you for watching and safe travels!
We’re moving to the Algarve in November. That’s the plan but we have to live there to make a final decision to stay. Madeira is a strong possibility but we’ve never been. So, we’ll see. We live in Boston and Madeira is very close among other positive things. There are nonstop daily flights to Madeira. Yes, I know, it’s an island. But just like you, we’re keeping our minds open and see what happens. Nothing is set in stone!
Not having a plan is the best plan to have. We have heard firsthand about how great Madeira is and expect to visit someday soon. Unfortunately, being from Bellingham WA. 90 miles north of Seattle, getting home isn't as easy! Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!!🍻
We are trying to figure out our plans to include Cambodia and Loas but we may need to wait on those two. We want to see Anger Watt and travel down the Mekong as well. 5 months won't be long enough. We will have to go back to see everything! Thank you for the suggestions and watching our channel! Cheers 🍻
We visited many places you listed in this video, looking for the perfect spot to spend more time in, year after year, especially during winters, as we call Ontario home, now. We visted South-East Asia some 5 years ago and loved it. We went there just before the raining season. South Vietnam and Cambodia was excellent. Thailand is beautiful but full of tourists, so pick the off season time and/or stay away from very popular places unless you like crowds. Bangkok! What a city! Excellent public water transportation, nice people. Good luck in your travels! Jurek
Hi guys. I loved your video! I was so happy that you choosed the Algarve! The beaches are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing ❤️ Greetings from a Portuguese ❤️
We are happy that you found us and thank you for subscribing! When we return to Europe Italy will most likely be our first destination. Next year we have SE Asia and probably Mexico before we get back this way. Again, thank you for the support! Cheers!!!🍻
Great video guys! We love hearing your tips and opinions. We plan to do the same type of travel once we retire in a few years, so your videos are our classroom! Details like which months were spent there are very helpful, along with costs of dining vs groceries and travel accessibility, safety and climate. Great info! A fun edit addition might be showing a picture map of your travel path, as I am very visual trying to imagine your different stops. I love when you show the name of the place your discussing because sometimes I’ve never heard of it and have no idea how to spell it! Thanks for all your efforts. Travel safely!
This was a really a super helpful video. I was curious about Romania and I think maybe you tipped the scales for me. Thanks for the heads up about the grocery stores in Saranda because that's where I was (an probably still am) going to reset my Schengen visa after Portugal. I will be about an hour or so north of Lisbon (Sept - Dec) because my friends purchased a condo there and I don't know anyone else in Portugal :) Now, I am in Queretaro Mexico (great area, but you definitely miss the beach!) If miss you in MX, maybe I will see you in PT! 😀 My travel will be SUPER DUPER slow as I still work and have a cat in tow.
You'll love Romania and Saranda is a perfect place to reset your time. You can take the ferry over to Corfu and fly out to just about any place from there. Thank you for watching and safe travels! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I have waited too long to get over to Europe, but I had what I thought, were valid reasons. I am almost overwhelmed by how much there is to see and do. My sense of urgency is at 1000 on scale of 1 to 10. You guys are even making me rethink visiting SE Asia. It wasn't on my list at all, but I could see Chiang Mai or Malaysia making my list now.
My partner and I were so excited to watch your top 3! We've been watching all of your videos and planning our sabbatical starting next fall. Can you tell us more about the challenges with groceries/produce in Albania? Right now, we're deciding on a month in either Tirana, Belgrade, or Sarajevo. We're thrilled to be able to watch your videos on all 3 places!
You will find much better produce at small produce stands around town and better meat at the local butcher. The items you are used to buying you may not find in Albania. The variety of items just isn't available. We spent over 5 weeks in the country, so we survived, it's just something to be aware of is all.
Enjoyed the recap of your year of travel in Europe. Been to some of those places, but not all of them. Definitely adding Romania to my list. My 2023 plans also start out in SE Asia! On my rough itinerary are Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Maybe we'll cross paths. Happy travels!
Hi, Jim. That sounds like a great trip. Our itinerary includes Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia but it is also a rough itinerary. It would be great to cross paths and have a pint! Cheers!!!🍻
My husband and I have been researching ways that we could slow travel. We've been researching central and South America and recently started researching Europe. Your videos will be helpful!
The Balkans are very affordable and offer a lot of great food, history, and kind people. Montenegro and Albania are most likely the least expensive. Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!!🍻
Come up to Setubal near Lisbon... lovely beaches, nature, dolphins, great restaurants, vineyards, great people, great cafes, and easy transportation into Lisbon... a little hidden gem. Our home!
We were in Porto and Lisbon three years ago and fell in love with everything about it. We even made our way out to the Douro Vally for some wine tasting. We will be back in Portugal soon and make our way to Setubal!!!
Hey Brian and Carrie! Hope you are enjoying your travels! I've think I've watched everyone of your video's so far:) LOVE them! Thank you so much for all your time and effort! My Husband and I have just started slow travel and arrived in Albania a week ago. We then plan to make a loop similar to yours Montenegro, Romania etc.and hopefully end up in Portugal in September. I writing to beg for some desperately needed advice! This is the first time we have ever traveled without a car (also on a budget) and as the sole trip planner I'm finding myself so stressed about figuring out transportation that I'm not enjoying myself at all! Any advice you could give on this would be AMAZING! How you decide between car, bus, train etc. and how you figure it all out. A video on this topic would also hugely appreciated (hint, hint). Thanks again, keep up the great work and safe travels! Nina
Hi Nina! I (Carrie) 100% feel what you're talking about as I'm the sole travel planner for us as well. Planning transportation is something that can definitely be time-consuming, especially in the Balkans. Albania lacked any level of infrastructure and I found it the most difficult to navigate. I was lucky to just find a website that told a general timetable of buses and the street corner where we should stand to catch it 😅. The good news is, from the places you mentioned, transportation gets much better as you move along. Basically, my process is: Prior to traveling to a new country, I research transportation. Do they use Grab, Uber, Taxis, or another app? This way I can have it downloaded prior to arrival. Do they have a train or bus system and is there an app or website to book on? Having this info prior to arriving has helped alleviate my stress level a bit. In most areas you travel you can use the Get by Bus website (love this one) and Trainline for booking trains. For the areas these sites don't cover, the country typically will then have its own website (for instance Romania uses CFR Calatori). One tip for Romania (we absolutely loved it there) the trains move very slowly and they don't have AC. Book tickets in the early morning hours for the best comfort level. Also, buses are a good option, but also don't have AC - so let's just say early morning hours are your friend! Honestly, for our planning and learning about an area, UA-cam has been a huge help! That is probably what inspires us to create videos providing this kind of info as it's what we were searching for as well 😊. Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy your travels!
My wife and I were really looking forward to this video since we've been following along through your travels. We're also from Western WA so trust your beer assessments 😉 We are heading to Alicante/Valencia in June '23. I've backpacked SE Asia twice, and my wife is from Guadalajara, Mexico so we are excited to see your upcoming trips to those regions. SE Asia: Craft beer is lacking, but it's so hot in many parts a Chang (Thailand), Tiger (Singapore), Red Horse (Phillipines) or Beerlao (Laos) all hit the spot. Mexican beers you can find in the US fairly easily, but there are some varieties of popular brands you can only find in Mexico. Tequila/Mescal are the real gems, just remember to sip it. Safe travels amigos!
Thank you two for following along, Jared. You two will love that region of Spain! Western WA has the best craft beer anywhere but a nice cheap lager on a hot day is equally as nice!! As a former Alcohol sales rep, I am very familiar with GOOD Tequila and Mescal. We look forward to our next adventure and thank you so much for following along! Salud!! 🍻
Your videos are great and informative. I want to thank you for telling us what's next. So many UA-camrs try to build suspense by not giving details about the future and it drives me crazy. Looking forward to SE Asia.
We are like you. We watch travel videos and try to do a video and create a channel that we would enjoy ourselves. It is a work in progress, but the effort is there. One thing that we try to keep in mind is that people are interested in the destination first and foremost. Trying to keep viewers in suspense, to us, is counterproductive. Thank you for confirming our thoughts!! Cheers!!!🍻
We will be back in Portugal soon. We did vacation in Porto, Lisbon, and many of the smaller towns in those areas three years ago and loved it. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Southeast Asia is a good choice. I'd also suggest East Asia - Korea, Japan and Taiwan. I'm biased, but I find Korea to be amazing. For a country of only 55 million, it is truly setting worldwide trends in TV, Movies and Music.
Hi, Thomas. Thank you for the suggestions. We are realizing that 5 months won't be enough time in Asia and will have to return. Korea is a place that we have never considered but maybe we should! Thank you again! Cheers!!🍻
As a Romanian , well , born in Romania . I always were embarrassed about the country I'm in , because our country was always underated and now most of people are scared to tell anybody that we are from Romania , but now that I saw your list , I'm not embarrassed anymore that I live in Romania . I realized how beautiful my country is. Im sincerely grateful for visiting Romania and make me feel proud of my country .
You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Sara, your country is amazing!! We loved it so much we plan to return in the coming years. Be very proud of Romania!!!
Cheers!!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie , I promise I will . Your video kinda changed my opinion . Most kids and teenagers are taught that Romania is not good enough and that it does not profit. That's probably why most Romanians think this about their country. Words cannot describe how grateful I am. If I wouldn't find this videos I would still be embarrassed when someone was asking "What country are you from". Now I will proudly say "I'm from the beautiful country , Romania"
Thanks a lot 🤗🥺
@@saradianabarbu5231 I wonder why people have this impression about Romania. I think here in London, we are used to many people from Romania living here and find Romanians to be really nice and kind people, but we don´t have a clue what Romania is like. I certainly had no idea and just imagined it to be mainly rural and countryside. I think Romanians abroad should start telling everyone how beautiful and amazing their country is. Only problem with this is that tourism will increase and in time, that could be a problem, but it could also be a good thing for the country :)
Romania is beautiful and I have never felt so welcomed. I loved it and would love to return.
Never been to Romania (soon) but I respect and love your history ❤. You should be proud 🙂.
thanks for visit Romania!
Thank you! We will be back soon!!!
Cheers!!!🍻
Glad, as a Romanian, that my country is in second place on your list !! I am sure that, in time, what you have noticed as less ok (public transport, trains, others) will be improved... Yes, we enjoy being visited and love those who do so with respect for our values and the beauty of nature. I look forward to your return, Brian and Carrie!
We have so much more of Romania to see and can't wait to return!! Thank you for the comments and kind words! We have found that the Romanian people are very hospitable!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Dear friends, a lot of ex-pats have found a country here to work or retire to. From the USA, the UK, Western countries in general, and beyond. It's easy to understand that life is much cheaper here for a westerner, at almost similar living conditions. Last but not least, the country itself is not boring at all. On the contrary, the diversity of the geography, the ethnographic and cultural differences between the different regions, the quality of the people, make it attractive to those who are looking for a nice and cheaper place. These months there are discussions about Romania's entry into Shengen. Let's hope that this point on the list of political demands will be checked soon...
As beautiful and diverse as Romania is, the people were what stood out to us the most. We have multiple reasons to want to return but the feeling that we are welcomed back is wonderful! Thank you for the comments.
the best ambasadors for Romania, take care all the best
Thank you so much!!!
My dears, I followed your journey through Romania. You did this maturely and in a different way.
Even though I'm Romanian and I'm very proud of my country, I was impressed by how you saw this part of the world.
We know that we are different people, that we have hidden our identity, that we are that island of Latinity in a sea of Slavs, that perhaps modesty characterizes us and we are waiting to be discovered.
Romania is a story and you have only tasted it.
I know Americans who came for a week and stayed for 3 months fascinated by what WE are, as a nation, as a people, as a history and we are very proud that we have not lost ourselves as authentic.
I'm not pleading for Romania, I'm just encouraging people to come and discover what Pope John Paul II said, that Romania is the garden of the Lord's mother.
How did we stay in the history of several thousand years of humanity and keep untouched this mysterious heritage and the unique soul of the Romanians.
Today...we are insulted...as the worst country in Europe, because we don't have the "comfort" of the West.
Does it matter?
You are real witnesses of what Romania means, this hidden secret of Europe, that here is soul, there is tradition, there is history and there is humanity.
It pains me to see how the Western Europeans discredit us when we have burned our country for hundreds of years like the Russians or the Turks and then the Germans, and the Austro-Hungarians from conquering us.
Romania is a story, a shield of this Western Europe that attacks by insensitivity what it should recognize.. its prosperity is the sacrifice of Romania... FIX WHAT UKRAINE IS TODAY.
Thank you for the introspection and the discovery of a story.
We are waiting for you with great love to see the unique and speechless part of Romania... Bucovina, Maramures, Delta, Trans Fagarasanul, Cazanele Danube and many others that have references for humanity...not for Romania.
Romanians have moved forward and have not forgotten where they come from and have been since the beginning of human civilization.
We are proud of what we are and if anyone thinks that these words are just advertising... come here to drink a pint, eat SMALL, tell stories and believe that the world will be better.
We and my country..THIS IS WE!
We LOVE this, Marian! So poetic and heartwarming. The people of Romania from the very beginning of our time here were very welcoming, friendly, and gracias. We have mentioned this to our family and friends back home in the US. Kindness has been lost in a lot of ways. Being in Romania for 2 months was refreshing and we are excited to return one day soon. Thank you for taking the time to add your thoughts to this channel. You are always welcome.
♥
Bravo tati, imi place cum ai dat-o
I've been to many European countries but Romania is one of my favourite. I wish I could stay in Romania longer. Every time I go there I cant get enough and leave the country with the great sadness.
Such a beautiful comment. I have been to Romania 3 times and every time I leave I feel sad. I wish I could live there. (I am English and live in the UK) From the coast to the mountains, I love the whole country. The people are the kindest and friendliest I have ever come across.
haha atata polologhie iar ei au ales romania pentru ca sunt preturile rezonabile pentru un occidental....
Thank you for the appreciations ! We are waiting for you again in Romania ! I am glad that you liked our country. In the next trip you should include the Danube Delta (the best preserved delta in Europe and the second largest delta after the Volga Delta), Bucovina (northeast of the country, with dozens of painted Orthodox churches and monasteries built starting from the 15th century, many among them being included in the UNESCO heritage), Maramures (north-west of the country, with wooden churches, impressive landscapes and specific traditions, Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, Mocanita - the Romanian forestry narrow gauge steam train).
Thank you, John, for the recommendations! We look forward to coming back soon.
Cheers!!🍻
Send you love from România!! Sooo happy you like our country! 🥰🥰🥰 God bless you!🥰🥰🥰
Thank you, Clara! We will return!🙂♥
@@BrianandCarrie ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Fun fact about Albania and Romania. Back in 1912, when Albania became an independent state, they were thinking of a national anthem. They had the lyrics, but not the music. There was a Romanian patriotic song, which the people of Albania liked very much and the government decided to purchase the rights to use it as their national anthem. Even today, if you listen to the Albanian anthem and that Romanian song (Pe-al nostru steag e scris unire), you'll see they're practically identical musically. Just goes to show how Europe is one big family despite all our differences.
Edit after watching the video to the end: Just a small correction on one of the city names in Romania. I think you've misread "Alba Iulia" as "Alba Lulia". There's no L at the beginning, it's actually a capital I. It's pronounced "Yulia", but if it's easier in English, you can also say "Julia", cause that's what it actually means. The town was originally built by the Roman Empire and that's where the name comes from.
This is a fun fact, and we should ALL be one big HAPPY family!!! 😀 And yes, we miss pronounced Alba Iulia and have been corrected many, many times! 😅😅However, thank you for being polite about it. And thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. We appreciate the support.
Cheers!!!🍻
I'm Portuguese, so nice to see you picked Portugal as number one👍 Porto and the Algarve are great, but there's so much more to see. I use to say Portugal is the best condensed package in the world for tourists, as a small country you can do and see so much without losing time in exaustings trips. Make sure next time to visit Aveiro and it's canals, Óbidos and its medievil charm, the laid back unspoiled region of Alentejo, Cascais, Sintra, Setúbal and it's amazing beaches. I could go on but you get the idea 😎 All the best and felicidades!
Hi, Armando! We actually vacationed in Portugal 3 years ago before we started this channel and have been to all the locations that you mention. We even made it to the Douro Valley for wine tasting!! Thank you for watching!!!
Cheers!!!🍻
I traveled to more than two dozen countries, I was born in Romania, and I live in US. Spain is my favorite country in Europe, and I have to say that you put a smile on my face when you ranked my native country ahead of Spain :) I'm glad you had a great time in Romania. When I travel to Spain, I usually visit Madrid or Barcelona because I like non-stop flights, but after watching your videos, I definitely wanna check out Alicante. France is also a great country with amazing food, but Spain is more affordable and has better weather. But with the current exchange rates, almost everywhere it's cheaper than in US. Let's hope the strong dollar lasts! Happy travels!
The one thing that we found Romania has over Spain is the people of Romania are much more welcoming. We really felt welcomed. Spain is amazing and the people are kind but we were blown away by the hospitality in Romania. Thank you for watching and safe travels.
Cheers!!🍻
Agree completely on Romania which we visited last month. It feels like the most "authentic" place we've visited in Europe. People are wonderful, as you say. There aren't a lot of US chains. (I saw one Subway in the Bucharest train station, and a McDonalds somewhere else, but they are few and far between). The mix of influences and cultures over the years gives it a wonderful variety of architecture, food, customs, etc. My prayer is that they can retain everything that makes the Romanian experience wonderful, even as more tourists discover it.
Romania is such a proud country that we would like to believe that it will remain authentic. That is one reason we found it so wonderful. Thank you for watching and for the comments. We couldn't agree more!
Cheers!!🍻
Such happy to see Romania in your Europe top 3 destination. I highly recommend you to rent a car for a next time. You will enjoy the country side of Romania, a retirement place. Best wishes on your new adventure!
We will absolutely rent a car next time!! We will be excited to return. Thank you for having us!!
Cheers!!!🍻
Hi guys. I knew you would pick the Algarve. Portugal's got the whole package! Costs, wineries, food, people, scenery, and the ocean. It's my favorite too and Ive been to 100+ countries. Im in Romania now and have been rewatching your videos as a refresher. They have come in handy. Was wondering wny there are no videos of Croatia, B-H, and Serbia? You're gonna love SE Asia especially as a budget traveler. Keep up the good work.
Hi Eric!! Thank you for watching our channel!!! Our Belgrade video comes out tomorrow. B-H and Croatia will follow. with a few others mixed in. We will be back in the states for the months of November and Dec. for the holidays so we had to spread things out more than we like. We are usually only a week or two ahead of our videos. We can't wait for SE Asia!!! Any suggestions are welcome!
Cheers!!🍻
PERFECT! This video is exactly what we needed. We visited Portugal last April and are going back to Europe in April and May 2023 with maybe a full move there in the Fall of 2023. Your videos are really helping us map out things and really think things through and maybe avoid some mistakes. I think a lot of the fun is in the planning. So THANK YOU so much and hope you enjoy getting home for the holidays.
If we had only included a map for a nice visual!! 😆
My wife and I absolutely love what you guys are doing!!! We are planning to join you on the road in about 18-20 months... but so glad we found your channel now, because this is exactly what we have been planning... Thanks for all the great information, Keep it coming, and safe travels!
Travel and Vino, love it!! Thank you two for watching and maybe we will see you in 18-20 months!!
Cheers!!🍷🍷
Hi B&C, love your videos! Maybe this question has been asked already but do you have to show a return flight ticket when entering a country or even Schengan countries? I'm from Canada 🇨🇦
Hello Brian and Carrie. We are Tim and Christina, and we have been traveling mostly in Europe for over 10 years. Recently we bought an apartment in the country, Georgia, where the cost of living is very reasonable. Also, like Albania, you can stay for one year, without a Visa. Now that we have our home, we spend several months here in Georgia, then we travel again, for several months. In November, we'll go to New York, to see our son, then it's on to Strasbourg, France, for 3 months. We'll spend a month in Sibiu, Romania, a week in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, before heading back to our home here in Chiatura, Georgia. We really enjoyed watching your video, and learning about all the places you've been.
Wow! Love this! We like the idea of getting a place as a home base, that was our original idea but decided to slow travel. If we do decide to stop it would only be for maybe three to six months. We do plan on coming back to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The week that we spent in Bosnia was nice and would like to see more. Thank you for watching and safe travels.
Cheers!!🍻
I was always curious about Romania, but now, I will definitely go. And, the Algarve region of Portugal is now on my short-list of travel destination. Thank you.
The Algarve should be on your short list and please add Romania!!! Thank you for watching our channel!
Cheers!!!🍻
As a European, well traveled , I think you re TOTALY right...Spain is No.1 Country to visit( I visited Valencia years back , and SUCH a great pleaser to see that its NOT ONLY me.)...Valencia and Spain is BEST to start visiting Europe !! As a Romanian , I am MORE than happy surprised that you put Romania on your Best Countries to Visit List! Unbelieveble ! Cheers
Thanks for visitRomania!!
Our pleasure! Thank you for having us!!
Cheers!!!🍻
I am biased toward Mexico, having spent the last 12 winters down here and having visited all 32 states and way too many ruins, beaches, mercados and plazas, but it is sooooo easy!
We plan on going to Mexico this summer and fall. We still haven't decided on where to go but know that we are looking forward to being close to home for a few months. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Love your content guys, you have such a unique and nice energy. Big love from Romania ❤️
Thank you, Eva. ♥
Portugal is amazing!!! Great place to retire to!
We love Portugal ❤️
Thanks for putting ROMANIA 🇷🇴 in top 3 😍😍😍😍.
I am watching your videos and I enjoying. Keep doing what are you doing because is really good 👍
I appreciate you a lot!!!
🤗🤗🤗
Thank you, Michael! We appreciate you as well!! We couldn't do this without viewers like you!!
Cheers!!🍻
when you decide to go back to Romania, make sure you go back there in spring or summertime. Looking forward to your new adventures!
Thank you, Jorge!!
Cheers!!🍻
You both are amazing. Enjoy your family! Keep sharing your travels please.
Thank you, Noelle!
Great summary of your first year.
Just finished our Spain scouting trip, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga.
We lived Valencia so much that we have booked 4 weeks in June 2023.
We found the locals very friendly, the food was amazing, and the architecture incredible. Also, very clean and safe.
Keep up the great work.
Social!!
Very nice, it is such a beautiful city. We haven't made it to Malaga yet but have heard nice things about it as well. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie
Malaga was beautiful also.
Only issue was too crowded in city center.
Cruise ships!
I have been to 7 European countries: Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, France and Italy I've excluded Turkey as most of it is in Asia)..
Spain: Been there 4 times now but haven't been to Valencia although I have recently been to Alicante and i liked it. Seville was amazing and probably my favourite city in Spain along with Barcelona.
Greece: Been there 3 times, and been to Santorini twice (once on a Greek Island cruise and in late April for a few days which is the best time to visit)
Portugal: Been there once mainly to Lisbon and Madeira but never been to Algarve.- a lot of Brits there.
My top 3 for sure are:
1. Italy
2. Spain
3. Greece
But I loved Portugal, Malta and Cyprus too.
France is a no-no for me lol
South East Asia is my favourite region: Been to Malaysia 5 times, Thailand 4 times, Singapore 3 times, Indonesia and Philippines twice each - and I have still not finished yet with 1 more trip to Thailand, 1 more trip to Malaysia, 1 more trip to Philippines, 1 more trip to Indonesia, and hoping to visit Brunei and Vietnam for the first time.
WOW!! Well traveled, and we hope to catch up with you someday! Thank you for watching and be safe.
Cheers!!!🍻
God bless Romania 🇷🇴 Pace and Love around the world
Agreed!!! ♥
Love you, guys. ❤️
I’m so happy you guys loved Romania and keen to go back again. Yes, the north-east part of Romania (Moldova-Bucovina) is beautiful, i have no doubt you’ll love it. The Danube delta will be a unique and special experience for you, guarantied. But i STRONGLY recommend Maramures. Maramures is the very northern part of Romania, towards the border with Ukraine. From Cluj, just keep going north, soon you’ll find yourself in the magical Maramures. If i start telling you about the landscape, the traditions, the food, the people, even the music up there is unique and special. My opinion is that Maramures is the most magical region in Romania, winter or summer, it doesn’t matter, the magic goes all year round. Maramure, the northern part of Transilvania, YOU WILL LOVE IT.
I was born and lived in Timisoara, my both parents are from around Oradea, but i recommend Maramures to anybody who wants to be touched by magic. You’re welcome. 🤗
Thank you for watching and all the recommendations! We will return!!
Cheers 🍻
Best wishes from Romania!
You are anytime welcome here!
Thank you so much!!♥
Slow travel is a lot cheaper too. I didn't realise you visited so many places. I only started watching you in Portugal.
Now you can see how we have progressed from start to finish!! 😅 Thank you for your continued support.
Cheers!!!🍻
Hi guys. We retire in a few years and Portugal is our top spot to start our travels. This video was so informative and we've definitely added Romania to our list. I suggest Chile and Argentina for future travels, fantastic places.
Hi, Shannon! Argentina and Chile were our original plans leaving Spain but covid wouldn't allow it. We may get there after SE Asia. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Cheers 🍻
Congrats on an excellent recap! What a year you've had! I hope while you're home the local paper does an article about you two. Such an amazing list of countries/cities you've seen. So glad Alicante ranked high on your list, I studied there way back in 1987 and have returned several times since. Enjoy your time at home and thanks again for sharing your adventures with all of us.
Thank you, Michael! Alicante is a place we will return to for a little break at some point. Stop for a week or two and enjoy the beaches. Thank you again for the kind words and for watching our channel. Very much appreciated.
Cheers!!🍻
What is interesting about this choice of those top 3 countries is that they are all Romance-speaking countries.
That makes sense because I'm such a romantic! 😀
I loved your trip around Europe. I'm European from Finland and it's very rare people do videos from Eastern Europe. Interesting and useful info. Ty
Thank you, Sari, for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
😢 we lose first place 😉 anyway is ok to be on second one till you guys will come back and I hope Romania will come on first place in your recommendation 😀. I ll recommend to visit Kazhaztan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan is safe and cheap a few Romanian vloggers do it and is very interesting.👍🍀🇺🇸🇷🇴 Good luck guys and wish you one Million subscribers
We will be excited to return and when we do maybe we can be convinced of first place!! Thank you for the recommendations and for watching our channel! A million subscribers would be amazing!!!😳
Cheers!!!🍻
Yes, thanks for visit Romania !
Thank you for having us!!
Cheers!!🍻
Loved the year in review and your top three places. We visited Spain in February/March this year and definitely agree Alicante and Seville are great spots for fall-Spring visits. We are headed back to Portugal (Azores and Maderia) on Monday and spending the last three weeks of November in Seville and Malaga. As also being from the Pacific NW (Gig Harbor) the Azores sound very similar to the PNW and less crowded than Maderia. But Maderia has the better moderate (not too hot/not too cold) weather. Safe travels!
Great brewery in Gig Harbor, 7 Seas! We met a couple in Lagos last spring, they were heading to Maderia then on to Croatia. We were supposed to meet up for a pint here in Split but they loved Maderia so much that they decided to extend their visa and stay. We will be exploring that area someday for sure. Safe travels and GO M"s!!
Cheers!!!🍻
I actually worked in Valencia in 1988 and 1990. Beautiful city.
Great, informative video! Love this format!
Thank you!! We like to just sit down and talk with you sometimes!! 😀Thank you for always supporting us!!
Cheers!!!🍻
Amazing! Actuallly, when you'll come back, you'll discover how diverse is Romania, because Bucharest is very different from Transylvania, and Moldova, Dobrogea and Oltenia are very different, too.
We can't wait to come back and discover more! Thank you, Bogdan!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie do you have a "Buy me a coffee" account or Revolut, to send you money?
We do! You can find the Buy me a coffee link in the video description. We don't advertise it. 🙂
Thank you so much!!
Romania!🤗
:3
Nice informative video. I´m agree with you, the Algarve in Portugal is a stunning place. I go there almost every summer and the people, food, weather, places to visit, beaches, etc are fantastic. You have to go to an area near Algarve but crossing the border, to Cádiz and Huelva provinces in southern Spain ( my country), you will feel something very similar to the Algarve, friendly people, good weather, long sandy beaches, good seafood, parties, many natural spaces and biking paths, etc. Regards !!
Great video! My husband and I were in Portugal and Spain in March and loved Seville also and really regret not visiting the Algarve.
We spent 18 days in Portugal three years ago and only made time for 3 in the Algarve. We knew that we would love it so that is why we went back to see more. We could spend several months down there for sure. Thank you for watching our channel!!
Cheers!!!🍻
How fun to watch this. We are retiring at the end of this year from a 34 year career in Delivering babies and performing surgeries. Time to slow down. We have been cruise maniacs and spent 28 different weeks getting off and on Cruise ships for many a vacation over all those years. Almost all in the Caribbean. Not surprisingly however, our best 2 cruises were in Alaska. Anyhooooooooo........we are looking forward to a taste of what you fun folks are doing and have posted here. Thanks for the insights. Never know who you are going to bump into down the road one of these days. Thanks again for the content.
Congratulation!! We are from Bellingham WA, about 100 miles north of Seattle so understand why Alaska is so appealing! We may do the cruise thing one day as a vacation from slow travel! 😅 We are in Split, Croatia now and there are ships in almost every day. We are really interested in the small cruise "yachts" that cruise the Adriatic Sea and Dalmatian Islands. Someday... We are heading to SE Asia first of the year so if you are in the area...😆 Thank you for watching and commenting!!
Cheers!!🍻
We are so anxious to spend a month in Spain and Portugal…. Your video showed some wonderful places we want to see! Thanks for your recap of your amazing year of travel! Cheers! Dara
What a year, Brian and Carrie. I figured Algarve Portugal would be your #1 pick. Great videos! Learned so much! I am ready next year, I think, to follow in your footsteps. You fill my day doing my job. Sharing with friends Thanks a whole bunch for all your efforts!! And Enjoy your holidays back home. Cheers! Wow, Beer in Romania comment. Love it.
Thank you so much! We had a fantastic year and excited for SE Asia! Thank you again for watching our channel and sharing with your friends!
Cheers 🍻
So much food for thought and information that will help us with our travels and our channel. Thank you for your suggestions, your generosity and inspiring us to realize we can do this. You guys are awesome and we will always follow along!
Hi guys!! You can absolutely do this, if you can so can you!! We will meet up someday and compare notes! Enjoy Spain and safe travels.
Cheers!!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Driving to the Costa del Sol next week - we’ll give you a report on the towns we see. 😊
Excellent Summary of a successful 2022 travel coverage. You guys executed it flawlessly and brought your experiences to our living room and enlightened us on travel planning. Your coverage of Santorini was very helpful planning our trip in May of this year flawlessly with all the tips. Your travel videos are now our official guide for travel planning. Since you are in Croatia don't miss a visit to the Split National Park and the weather should still be manageable. Cheers!
Thank you, CM! We always enjoy reading your comments!😀
Cheers!!🍻
This is the best video! I love your honest discussion on pros and cons. We are on our 7th month abroad and in Sarande. You assessments are spot on. Hope we can buy you guys dinner in Malaysia, Bali, or Japan before we home in March. Thanks for the tip on Valencia and Romania.
That's good to hear, John. We will be in Malaysia at some point next spring. We would love to hear your thoughts on Japan! A place we would like to travel to but not sure how budget-friendly it is. If you follow us on Instagram, our location is much more current than UA-cam. Safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie we will be in KL then Penang in January. We have 30 days that we are unsure about so that may be Bali or back to Vietnam which we loved. Japan is expensive and we will be there only for 5 days to visit some of my old coworkers. Pro-tip: ZIP airlines is a budget airline that flys from Singapore, Bangkok, to Japan and from Japan to Hawaii and LAX. They have lay down flat seats for a fraction of the price of other airlines. We booked our return trip to LAX with them just cause I’m old and need to stretch out. Google ZIP airlines for future reference.
We are Googling ZIP airlines as we type this message!! We are in Thailand in January and hopefully Feb. before heading to Vietnam for 30 days then Malaysia. We may stay in Malaysia until we come home in late May but haven't planned that far out yet.
We did many of those countries and done the slow travel and fast travel....we came to the same conclusion....the fast travel
doesn't leave room for serendipitous actions that come from some wild encounter with new found friends, who just happen to be heading to a "Must see" place, or that wrong train that takes you to a street
festival, or the ability to sneak in a few more festivals.....and in that note ...Spain!! I can never leave without missing out on a festival.
Check out their festivals for the next trip, make sure you are there for San Juan, or Jordy as some of the young call it, and do at least a 2 day on the Camino , when you do Northern Spain theres a stretch through Lalin, Camino De Invierno, you can also pick it up in Ourence and walk to the end.
Buen Camí, fellow travelers
Thank you for watching and safe travels!! ❤
It's definitely easy to fall in love with Portugal. I don't know if you're familiar with the Portuguese word "saudade" but I guarantee it will draw you back to this beautiful little country. Thank you for this video. I enjoy you channel 👍
Thank you, Martin. I looked up the meaning of "Saudade"! 😀 It is a beautiful country, we very much feel at home there. Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!!🍻
We traveled for seven months in 2022 and 4 months in 2023. We love Portugal too and have stayed in Lagos several times for 1-2 months in the winter. Since you mentioned Mexico I would recommend San Miguel de Allende. It offers great artistic and cultural experiences. Plus amazing food and climate.
Hi, Mary. We have been traveling SE Asia now for the last 4 months and having a great time. We would still have the Algarve as our top choice for any long period of time. We will be heading back to Europe in late summer this year and then to Mexico in mid-October. We will research San Miguel de Allende, sounds like our kind of place. Thank you for the recommendation!
Cheers!!🍻
I am not surprised that the Algarve was number one. I live close to Alicante and often go there for lunch. Besides Mediera the next time you come to Europe check out the Canary Islands they have springtime weather year round. I know you would probably like to take a break from the videos, but it would be interesting to see where you are from. Looking forward to Southeast Asia. 😊
We have done research on the Canary Islands and we are very interested! Our list of places to visit gets longer and longer by the week!!! Love the pint!!
Cheers!!!🍻
Speaking from experience (8 years of traveling and moving around)- the more places you see, the less you end up wanting to settle. For me, it's been that long journey of finding the "perfect place" to settle. In reality, the more places you live and the more you actually have to compare- the more critical you become. I've realized at this point that the "perfect place" doesn't exist.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys get up to in SE Asia. I lived there for 2 years. It's a completely different type of travel experience than what you guys have been doing so far. Just keep an open mind, and you'll have a great time!
Thank you for the insight, Brandon. We are only a year + in and finding that we will be traveling with short stops along the way to relax for a bit before continuing our travels. Finding that "perfect place" will be a challenge for the reasons you mention. We would love to hear any SE Asia tips or destinations that you would recommend. Thank you again for your insights and for taking the time to comment, we very much appreciate the support.
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I would highly recommend starting off with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It's a great place to begin- as you won't immediately be thrown into the absolutely insanity that you may find in other places (don't get me wrong, its still pretty nuts). English is one of the official languages- but there's still incredible culture and food. You have the Malay, Chinese and Indian populations, so the food and city reflects that. You will find a mosque on one street where you will hear the call to prayer, then a street over will come across a Buddhist or Hindu temple.
It's a great place to start because it's almost like Singapore or Hong Kong in the sense that it feels "East meets West" (but still feels far more East). Once you leave KL, you've got incredible nature. Green, lush rainforest.
I lived there for 8/9 months out of the two years I spent in Asia. The KL airport will also allow you to reach MANY other Asian destinations quite easily. 😃
Wow isn't that awesome Romania no 2! I mean right in between Portugal and Spain 😄 You guys gotta go back for the tripe soup 😀 gonna hold you to that promise 😋
Please do, Monica! It will be our first meal upon return! 😆
Thanks so much for the year in review! This was one of my favorite video of yours. I value the details and candor in your review.
Have you ever considered using an inexpensive cruise as a way to travel from one destination to another while also recharging?
Hi, Tony. That is a great idea to travel by cruise. Something we should look into. Thank you for the idea and for supporting the channel!
Cheers!!!🍻
Great summary of your year of travel. Your so good at this and your editing is superb.
Can’t wait to see your next year of adventures. You will love South east Asia.Cheers from New Zealand, have fun 😘😘
Thank you, Louise. We will make it down your way eventually!!
Cheers!!🍻
NZ expensive but South Island best scenery and you would have free accommodation with ensuite in our home and living room to yourselves. Free wifi as well 😍
In Southeast Asia, be sure to go to Vietnam, especially the coastal city Danang. You will also love Hoi An, which is only 20 kilometers from Danang.
We plan on being in Danang for 2-3 weeks!
Cheers!!🍻
Looking forward to visiting Romania, and more of Spain. Glad you enjoyed the Algarve, but you should spend a couple months in Portugal exploring north to south, east to west. You may not want to leave, we don't. 😍
We spent 3 weeks in Portugal back in 2019. We spent time in Porto and made our way into the Douro Vally for some wine tasting, we did all the usual touristy day trips in and around Lisbon as well. We loved Portugal so much that we decided to head back to the Algarve, and we loved it as well. Porto is still our favorite city!! Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!!🍻
I am with you , I love Portugal, love Lisbon and hope to return in 2023, I've also travelled Algarve and loved it.
We really love Porto and the northern region as well!!
You should visit Moldova Monasteries in Romania next time :)
Thank you, Irina for the suggestion. ♥
Another great video, nice recap of everything. Now I need to go back and watch the ones I missed!
Thank you, Michael!
I agree that fast travel is too exhausting! I’m interested to see where you choose as a place to live! I’m also curious about your top 3 list… watching now! Cheers! Dara
As always, you guys are just slaying it! Love how your channel has taken off. You guys rock!
Thanks so much, guys!! How are you enjoying Vietnam? Looking forward to any suggestion...
@@BrianandCarrie Oh we have LOTS of suggestions 🤣🤣 When are you going and where are you starting?
We are not sure where we are starting, Bangkok, Singapore or Hanoi. We do know that we are leaving the US the first week of January.
Going to Portugal Algarve 2 weeks in March. Albufeira can't wait.
Great information - Cant believe, no beer in hand to wrap up your first year - Next month, we are headed to Lisbon, then down to the Algarve for a month, then on to Southwest Spain for another month and on to Morocco for a couple of weeks before exiting thru Paris for a week. We have also looked at Portugal for retirement, but do love returning to our home in Houston after a long trip.
That sounds like a great trip, Robert. Morocco sounds amazing and we hope to get there within the next couple of years. We understand having a home base to return to. That is one downside of the style of living the way we do. Thank you for watching and safe travels.
Cheers!!!🍻
I’m living vicariously through you. :)
Thank you!!🙂
Thanks! Excited for my own adventures. Your videos and comments are very helpful.
Thank you, Scott. We appreciate the support.
Cheers!!🍻
Glad you guys had such a wonderful year of travel! Cheers🍻
Thanks, guys!! We are looking forward to some home time back in the states before our SE Asia trip! Not sure we will make it to Korea but know where we can do our research if we do! 😀
Thank you, thank you, thank you !!! … I’m sure you know why I’m so grateful …
We left September 6 2021 for Paris and are still loving our nomadic life. We spent 7 weeks in Albufeira last November and December and we often miss our little neighbourhood. Thanks for the Alicante suggestion; I'm long range planning and may spend a while there. Cheers!
We would say between the two, Alicante would be our choice. The tram system and trains are really easy to use up and down the coast. Thank you for watching and safe travels!
We’re moving to the Algarve in November. That’s the plan but we have to live there to make a final decision to stay. Madeira is a strong possibility but we’ve never been. So, we’ll see. We live in Boston and Madeira is very close among other positive things. There are nonstop daily flights to Madeira. Yes, I know, it’s an island. But just like you, we’re keeping our minds open and see what happens. Nothing is set in stone!
Not having a plan is the best plan to have. We have heard firsthand about how great Madeira is and expect to visit someday soon. Unfortunately, being from Bellingham WA. 90 miles north of Seattle, getting home isn't as easy! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!!🍻
SEA is fantastic ! I’ve been travelling there for 40 years, make sure you head to Cambodia & Laos. Thanks for the video 👍
We are trying to figure out our plans to include Cambodia and Loas but we may need to wait on those two. We want to see Anger Watt and travel down the Mekong as well. 5 months won't be long enough. We will have to go back to see everything! Thank you for the suggestions and watching our channel!
Cheers 🍻
We visited many places you listed in this video, looking for the perfect spot to spend more time in, year after year, especially during winters, as we call Ontario home, now.
We visted South-East Asia some 5 years ago and loved it.
We went there just before the raining season. South Vietnam and Cambodia was excellent. Thailand is beautiful but full of tourists, so pick the off season time and/or stay away from very popular places unless you like crowds.
Bangkok! What a city! Excellent public water transportation, nice people.
Good luck in your travels!
Jurek
Thank you, Jurek, for the rundown! We are excited to start our SE Asia journey in January.
Cheers!!🍻
We do have the same choice.
Hi guys.
I loved your video!
I was so happy that you choosed the Algarve!
The beaches are gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing ❤️
Greetings from a Portuguese ❤️
Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie ❤️
Accidentally came upon you guys, new to the channel just subscribed. Thank you guys for your views and tips. Just returned from a month in Italy.
We are happy that you found us and thank you for subscribing! When we return to Europe Italy will most likely be our first destination. Next year we have SE Asia and probably Mexico before we get back this way. Again, thank you for the support!
Cheers!!!🍻
Targu mures is a lovely totally surprised how nice it was near claus
Great video guys! We love hearing your tips and opinions. We plan to do the same type of travel once we retire in a few years, so your videos are our classroom! Details like which months were spent there are very helpful, along with costs of dining vs groceries and travel accessibility, safety and climate. Great info! A fun edit addition might be showing a picture map of your travel path, as I am very visual trying to imagine your different stops. I love when you show the name of the place your discussing because sometimes I’ve never heard of it and have no idea how to spell it! Thanks for all your efforts. Travel safely!
Great idea on the editing!! We are always looking to do something new. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment!
Cheers!!!🍻
This was a really a super helpful video. I was curious about Romania and I think maybe you tipped the scales for me. Thanks for the heads up about the grocery stores in Saranda because that's where I was (an probably still am) going to reset my Schengen visa after Portugal. I will be about an hour or so north of Lisbon (Sept - Dec) because my friends purchased a condo there and I don't know anyone else in Portugal :) Now, I am in Queretaro Mexico (great area, but you definitely miss the beach!) If miss you in MX, maybe I will see you in PT! 😀 My travel will be SUPER DUPER slow as I still work and have a cat in tow.
You'll love Romania and Saranda is a perfect place to reset your time. You can take the ferry over to Corfu and fly out to just about any place from there. Thank you for watching and safe travels!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I have waited too long to get over to Europe, but I had what I thought, were valid reasons. I am almost overwhelmed by how much there is to see and do. My sense of urgency is at 1000 on scale of 1 to 10. You guys are even making me rethink visiting SE Asia. It wasn't on my list at all, but I could see Chiang Mai or Malaysia making my list now.
Vietnam should be on your list as well!!
@@BrianandCarrie Let's not get Carried away! LOL see what I did there? 😅
😂
My partner and I were so excited to watch your top 3! We've been watching all of your videos and planning our sabbatical starting next fall. Can you tell us more about the challenges with groceries/produce in Albania?
Right now, we're deciding on a month in either Tirana, Belgrade, or Sarajevo. We're thrilled to be able to watch your videos on all 3 places!
You will find much better produce at small produce stands around town and better meat at the local butcher. The items you are used to buying you may not find in Albania. The variety of items just isn't available. We spent over 5 weeks in the country, so we survived, it's just something to be aware of is all.
@@BrianandCarrie thank you!
Great video! More jokes from Brian - loved them all :)
Haha, okay he's got the green light - watch out!! Thanks so much for watching. Cheers 🍻
Enjoyed the recap of your year of travel in Europe. Been to some of those places, but not all of them. Definitely adding Romania to my list. My 2023 plans also start out in SE Asia! On my rough itinerary are Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Maybe we'll cross paths. Happy travels!
Hi, Jim. That sounds like a great trip. Our itinerary includes Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia but it is also a rough itinerary. It would be great to cross paths and have a pint!
Cheers!!!🍻
My husband and I have been researching ways that we could slow travel. We've been researching central and South America and recently started researching Europe. Your videos will be helpful!
The Balkans are very affordable and offer a lot of great food, history, and kind people. Montenegro and Albania are most likely the least expensive. Thank you for watching and safe travels.
Cheers!!!🍻
Yet another great video guys. Safe travels ❤
Thank you, Annette! ❤
You need to travel to Philippines. Visit Manila. Coron, El Nido, Boracay, Siargao, Baguio, Ilocos Norte, Vigan, Cebu
We may be in the Philippines later next year!! Thank you for the suggestions.
Cheers!!🍻
ABSOLUTELY LOVE your videos. We have been thinking more and more about traveling for a yr so your videos are really. helpful.
Thank you for watching, Tami. You should absolutely take a year and travel. Something that you will never regret!
Cheers 🍻
@@BrianandCarrie By any chance did you get to Elche in Alicante to the Jardin Huerto Del Cura Gardens? It looks beautiful.
We did not make it to the gardens. We hope to go back to Alicante someday but there are so many places we want to go to first!!
Ok one more question promise😆. Is your residency in Portugal?
No, our residency is in the US.
Come up to Setubal near Lisbon... lovely beaches, nature, dolphins, great restaurants, vineyards, great people, great cafes, and easy transportation into Lisbon... a little hidden gem. Our home!
We were in Porto and Lisbon three years ago and fell in love with everything about it. We even made our way out to the Douro Vally for some wine tasting. We will be back in Portugal soon and make our way to Setubal!!!
Hey Brian and Carrie! Hope you are enjoying your travels! I've think I've watched everyone of your video's so far:) LOVE them! Thank you so much for all your time and effort!
My Husband and I have just started slow travel and arrived in Albania a week ago. We then plan to make a loop similar to yours Montenegro, Romania etc.and hopefully end up in Portugal in September.
I writing to beg for some desperately needed advice! This is the first time we have ever traveled without a car (also on a budget) and as the sole trip planner I'm finding myself so stressed about figuring out transportation that I'm not enjoying myself at all! Any advice you could give on this would be AMAZING! How you decide between car, bus, train etc. and how you figure it all out. A video on this topic would also hugely appreciated (hint, hint). Thanks again, keep up the great work and safe travels! Nina
Hi Nina! I (Carrie) 100% feel what you're talking about as I'm the sole travel planner for us as well. Planning transportation is something that can definitely be time-consuming, especially in the Balkans. Albania lacked any level of infrastructure and I found it the most difficult to navigate. I was lucky to just find a website that told a general timetable of buses and the street corner where we should stand to catch it 😅. The good news is, from the places you mentioned, transportation gets much better as you move along. Basically, my process is: Prior to traveling to a new country, I research transportation. Do they use Grab, Uber, Taxis, or another app? This way I can have it downloaded prior to arrival. Do they have a train or bus system and is there an app or website to book on? Having this info prior to arriving has helped alleviate my stress level a bit. In most areas you travel you can use the Get by Bus website (love this one) and Trainline for booking trains. For the areas these sites don't cover, the country typically will then have its own website (for instance Romania uses CFR Calatori). One tip for Romania (we absolutely loved it there) the trains move very slowly and they don't have AC. Book tickets in the early morning hours for the best comfort level. Also, buses are a good option, but also don't have AC - so let's just say early morning hours are your friend! Honestly, for our planning and learning about an area, UA-cam has been a huge help! That is probably what inspires us to create videos providing this kind of info as it's what we were searching for as well 😊. Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy your travels!
Really really have enjoyed your channel. I will continue to follow and thanks for sharing such good advice.
Thank you, Caryn. We appreciate the support!
Cheers!!!🍻
My wife and I were really looking forward to this video since we've been following along through your travels. We're also from Western WA so trust your beer assessments 😉
We are heading to Alicante/Valencia in June '23. I've backpacked SE Asia twice, and my wife is from Guadalajara, Mexico so we are excited to see your upcoming trips to those regions.
SE Asia: Craft beer is lacking, but it's so hot in many parts a Chang (Thailand), Tiger (Singapore), Red Horse (Phillipines) or Beerlao (Laos) all hit the spot.
Mexican beers you can find in the US fairly easily, but there are some varieties of popular brands you can only find in Mexico. Tequila/Mescal are the real gems, just remember to sip it.
Safe travels amigos!
Thank you two for following along, Jared. You two will love that region of Spain! Western WA has the best craft beer anywhere but a nice cheap lager on a hot day is equally as nice!! As a former Alcohol sales rep, I am very familiar with GOOD Tequila and Mescal. We look forward to our next adventure and thank you so much for following along!
Salud!! 🍻
Good info thanks guys!!
Thank you for watching!!!
Cheers!!🍻
Great video I hope you continue enjoying yourselves!
Thank you, Javier!!
If you go to Mexico, check out Lake Chapala near Guadalajara.
Your videos are great and informative. I want to thank you for telling us what's next. So many UA-camrs try to build suspense by not giving details about the future and it drives me crazy. Looking forward to SE Asia.
We are like you. We watch travel videos and try to do a video and create a channel that we would enjoy ourselves. It is a work in progress, but the effort is there. One thing that we try to keep in mind is that people are interested in the destination first and foremost. Trying to keep viewers in suspense, to us, is counterproductive. Thank you for confirming our thoughts!!
Cheers!!!🍻
Go to Alentejo and Costa Vicentina (Aljezur, Zambujeira, Porto Covo...) . Less touristy more authentic compared to Algarve. I need to visit Romania 😍
We will be back in Portugal soon. We did vacation in Porto, Lisbon, and many of the smaller towns in those areas three years ago and loved it. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Southeast Asia is a good choice. I'd also suggest East Asia - Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
I'm biased, but I find Korea to be amazing. For a country of only 55 million, it is truly setting worldwide trends in TV, Movies and Music.
Hi, Thomas. Thank you for the suggestions. We are realizing that 5 months won't be enough time in Asia and will have to return. Korea is a place that we have never considered but maybe we should! Thank you again!
Cheers!!🍻
Greece: Crete, Corfu, Kefalonia, Paros/Naxos, Peloponnese
Turkiye: Bodrum, Mamaris, Fethiye
And for God sake, Italy!
All good options! We will be in Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and Italy starting in July. Thank you for commenting!
Cheers 🍻
love the review please keep the video's coming thanks😁
Thank you, Jeff!
Cheers!!🍻
Love the video!!! My dream is moving to Spain 🇪🇸
Live your dream, Liana!!