I had solo travelled to a few countries. Usually a week before I leave, I would have a panic attack. I used to ask myself: "why am I panicking? I am going to Austria and Hungary for the Christmas markets. Shouldn't I be excited? This doesn't make sense!" But once I arrive and check in to my hotel, I am all happy. Leaving behind one's security blanket is not easy!
If you see the sensation as ‘excitement swallowed’ it’s a better description than ‘panic’. Also it calls the mind and body. When we suppress excitement it behaves like you’ve swallowed a beehive!
Leaving the security of home can be difficult for many. One of our very good friends loves the destination but hates the travel. You are not alone! Thank you for watching and commenting! 😊❤️
Brian and Carrie, you are truly an inspiration. I learn something new from every one of your videos. I've been a nomad for 6 months and you both helped me launch this new and unique lifestyle.
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! We are happy to have been part of your planning process!! Thank you for supporting us and safe travels!! ❤️
This is our 3rd year doing nomad life. Currently in Croatia. I agree 100% on what you said. Glad, that you did not sugarcoat the truth. I actually enjoy most of the travel planning aspect.😊
We're glad you are enjoying the nomad lifestyle! We think it's great that you like the planning aspect, it's something we enjoy as well but it isn't something you think about before starting long-term travel. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Hi to both. I think that you do a very good job at providing a balanced view of the choices that you have made and this lifestyle choice. It isn't for everyone. You two make it look so effortless because you are clearly a well matched pair. A couple with less connection, who bicker and fight at the best of times would struggle (I think) with all that together time. The challenge is that we as viewers don't see all the hard work behind the scenes to make your travel appear so easy and fun. Everyone has choices, and if they choose a lifestyle in retirement based solely on some well put together UA-cam videos, then they can't say that you didn't warn them! Cheers to both!
Ha! Two years in and my Nautica carryon from Marshall’s is still going strong! Lima Peru is a must do. Loved the Barranco neighborhood over the more popular Miraflores neighborhood. I think ya’ll would love Cuenca Ecuador also, with the huge expat population there. Very active FB group there that has power walking just before happy hour and then beers afterwards. About a third of the walkers are local, so very educational. AND the scenery along the rivers is unbeatable.
That's awesome!!🤣Thank you for the neighborhood suggestions for Lima. We have heard about Miraflores but not Barranco. We are still in the planning stage of the South America trip so this is helpful! 😁 Thank you for watching! Cheers!! 🍻
I really ❤ your channel. Two winters ago I spent six months in MX, last winter six months in Ecuador and Peru. Slowly picking my way thru south america.
Spontaneity is one of those positives that I don't take advantage of enough. I'm such a planner that I find it difficult to just wing it. It's just much less stressful to already have locations selected and tickets/accommodations booked well in advance. But I am trying to be less rigid with it, and I do give myself enough time in any place I stay so that I can venture off for a few days to visit some new place I've just learned about that interests me. I've embraced the minimalism as well. It's very liberating. I find the process of learning a new place is a good challenge for the brain. It keeps things fresh and interesting. And once you feel comfortable with your surroundings, you have a feeling of accomplishment. When you can walk around the city without a map, ride public transportation anywhere without a second thought, etc., you feel you've conquered the place. Plus, the familiarity of everything makes it start feeling like home. I appreciate you wanting to be transparent and talk about the cons of being a nomad as well. A con for me is the difficulty with eating healthy in some parts of the world. Certain places have some great tasting food but it isn't necessarily healthy or maybe doesn't have as many vegetables as I would like. I'm not much of a cook so I tend to eat in restaurants most of the time. But I manage the best that I can. I agree that the pros totally outweigh the cons with this lifestyle. I've never been happier! Cheers!
We are planners too and have had to let go a little to be more spontaneous. We would also agree that eating healthy in some areas can be challenging, but it can also be back in the US. Lucky for me, I have Carrie to keep me on track!! 😁
Thank you Brian and Carrie! Because of your videos we decided to try Vietnam and Thailand. We loved them, especially Vietnam. The people were wonderful and the countries are beautiful. Thank you
That is great to hear, Bryan! We will be returning to Vietnam early 2026. We didn't get to explore it as much as we would have liked and look forward to going back. Thank you for watching! 😊
I'm peruvian and I'm happy to hear you are considering visiting Peru soon! Don't forget to stay at least a couple of days in Lima to enjoy the food, Miraflores, Barranco, and the historic center. Most tourists skip Lima and go straight to Cusco. But Lima is the culinary capital of Latin America that visitors should not miss! 😊
You guys are so smooth together! You never talk over one another, well spaced and just the right amount of pauses in between, very well synchronized 😂. Did you have practice/dryrun before the final version? Did you have Q cards? lol. You guys are made for each other!
After 17 months of our adventures we could not agree more with this video. We only go back once a year to Spokane area to see family and friends. We've been having meet ups with people on fb group Gowithless. We had coffee with couples in Malaysia and Thailand.... We start our migration to Chile in four weeks..... Hopefully hitting Peru, Argentina, Galapagos this year if finances and calendar allow... Safe travels, See you in Argentina maybe... Larry and Minnie...
You guys are looking so much happier and healthy. Compared to when you first started. This lifestyle suits you. This is our sixth year in Spain. Getting on with your partner is so important. Being together while working and now 24/7 is a big change. For us it has been the best thing. Great content.
We are about to leave for our first long term trip. We used to hop from city to city every few days. This time we are doing a week in several European cities. We are kind of shopping for places we think we could do a month in, later. As a wheelchair user, mobility issues are always top of our concerns. We enjoy your videos and have already used some of your advice. We'll be watching from the road.
Thank you, Deb for all the comments on the channel. We appreciate your support. It's great that you are getting ready to long-term travel as a wheelchair user. Very inspiring!! ❤️
"The human being is dissatisfied, at such a level, that we are not incapable of being happy with what we have, but very unhappy, with what we do not have." Thank you, Guys, for all these tips and everything you do.
I hate to be one of those people who preaches, barging into the comments talking about faith (ugh!) however, I do believe God actually created us this way - to have a gaping 'hole in our heart', which can only be filled with Jesus
@@BrianandCarrie you two seem happy & content, but most people aren't. I believe that's cuz God actually created us with a gaping 'hole in our heart', which can't be filled by wealth, love of a spouse, fame, or amazing travel experiences... the hole can only be filled with Jesus
One year into nomad travel, I agree that the pros overwhelmingly outweigh the cons. One con, though, that I would add is sometimes our rental apartment has a sofa or bed that is uncomfortable. My spouse also gets crossed eyed over less than ideal kitchens. We end up gritting our teeth and deal with it for the few weeks we are there. On the plus side, many of our places are bigger than our NYC apartment. We love the space. Plus I have fallen in love with many of the terraces and balconies that accompanied those apartments, including apartments with uncomfortable sofas! Our place in NYC only offers a fire escape. Oh…one more. We were just recently in Patagonia Chile, “the end of the world.” My spouse was huffing and puffing over the fact that there wasn’t any fresh spinach for our morning green juice. He was getting so irritable that I thought I would need to arrange a special emergency airlift delivery of fresh greens. But on the pro side, seeing the glaciers more than made up for missing out on our green juice. Nice video.
It is difficult to let go of those items that you have grown accustomed to. We sometimes have a hard time finding greens as well. And the short-term accommodations rarely have a comfortable couch!! 🤣 Thank you for watching and safe travels!! 😊
Totally agree with your thoughts on not pre booking accomodation. Our original idea was to spend 4 weeks in one place, then we changed to two. At the moment our sweet spot feels like 4 nights! It costs more to do this of course.
Finding what works best for you is the most important thing. We started with month-long stays but have learned over the years that they don't always work. We think we are in a groove now, but like you say, it does cost more.
Just back from an 11 day Croatia and Greece cruise. Thought I was prepared, but got hit with a change in ports due to weather and phone/data issues. Hats off to you for bringing able to navigate the minutia!😅
All of that IS a full time job. It isn't some job you still despise at some office, but make no mistake, what you have done is quiet quit a normal job, for one that you love, rather than retire. That is also my plan...SOON. I'm 56. My side gig is options trading, so I have a lot to figure out as well. Thank you for all of this.
There was a fire and I had to leave an apartment. Next part of my trip turned out to be much better so it was a successful pivot. Not sure I handled the next issue so well but it is a learning process. Being able to adapt and see the opportunity for better days is important.
Thanks for sharing and pointing on the Cons. we are about 1 year away from our early retirement and starting living our nomad lifestyle, me at 52 and wife at 46. Getting a little anxious about it. Wife says she would prefer to not rent out our current home just in case we need to come back but we do need that income to partially fund our early retirement... I agree with her for the most part however we need to have faith in our planning which we have been doing for several years now. We might leave our place empty for the first year and use more of our savings just to have that comfort of having a place to come back to if needed.... Decisions Decisions!!
Great video. We have been following you for about 6 months now. We are looking at our first slow travel trip being Portugal and Spain in 2026 with a repositioning cruise back to US. Thanks for sharing your learnings. Let the adventures begin!
Great place to start! We love Portugal and Spain. Both are easy to navigate and have a lot to offer and taking the cruise home is a good way to get to places that you wouldn't otherwise go. Thank you for watching our channel!! 😊
I used to lived in Peru. Great place, One week in Lima is enought, another week on Arequipa and two weeks in Cusco. Overated for me are the following (Nazca lines, Lake titicaca, amazon rainforest ) Peru do have great food.
Can you share your suitcase brands?! Great video I would say right on point of what we experience just traveling 2 months at a time. Excited to see more Mexico and what next year brings. ❤️
Thank you so much 😊. We have our suitcases linked on our website which gives you a discount at checkout... If you wanted to check them out. We love them ❤️. www.brianandcarrietravels.com/shop
Agree with your cons. If there is anywhere that I can't walk then I'm out of there asap unless there is a compelling reason I need to be there. I was staying in a hotel in Sangli,Maharashtra and went for a walk. Like much of India only certain areas had pavements (sorry,sidewalks...) and a guy told me I should not walk there as I will die-I told him it's my world as much as his and then went on to continue walking around as I did before. In truth,it was somewhat unpleasant and you needed to be careful but I was in a particularly beligerant mood that day. As I've grown older I've learnt that it never helps to be driving the wrong way down the motorway (metaphorically), but as I was there for a wedding with the whole family it definitely wouldn't have been a good idea to leave. I am pretty adaptable but somewhere that makes walking that difficult probably isn't worth staying for long.
Just want to again tell you both how much we appreciate what you do and all the work you put into this channel. Because of what you do, I found my way to your content and we were able to discover a way to make *our* dreams of early/earlier retirement and slow travel a reality; we are so grateful to have found your channel. And thanks to the algorithm goddesses, we’ve been referred to the YT channels of other slow travelers as well. We wish you both many years of adventure and discovery and hope to finally bump into y’all and share some face time and a grown up beverage. ❤
Thank you so much Anne! It's so wonderful to hear when others have found their way to the slow travel lifestyle and see that it is an affordable option. We are excited to hear about your travels hope we cross paths very soon ☺️. Cheers!!
Great suggestion using the safeguard of temporary hotel stays in order to assess whether the destination is worth staying longer at. However, I think that approach is more nuanced and even problematic, should one ultimately decide to stay, yet the availability of rentals takes you outside of your temporary hotel booking. If so, you could possibly be hotel hopping until that certain airbnb(s) become available.
Actually I find managing rising costs is much easier on the road as I can effectively use geo arbitrage, when I was renting back in the US I was at the mercy of my landlord, my rent went up 16% in 2021 and 10% in 2022 and there was not one thing I could do about it as moving is also ridiculously expensive. The beauty of nomadic travel is that there are so many choices and if one destination isn't a good value anymore I have the option of either skipping it entirely or reduce my time there. It's quite liberating!!
This is a great point! Our rent back home would increase yearly. On the road we can decide how much we want to spend. The accommodations may not be great, but we decide what we pay.
Absolutely true and not many people understand this! Not to mention many financial advisors seem to think you need to have all your $ in one currency even if you have $ in multiple currencies. The world is dumber unfortunately... Fly safely too, bud.
Excellent content, Thx! (I'm a sub, not a jealous hater LOL) how do you handle being around each other 24/7? You both seem very easy going or perhaps that's what it's like when you find your soulmate, wanting to spend every minute tgthr, or do you still need to do things to help keep the relationship fresh?
@@BrianandCarrie I'll definitely watch that vid, thx for taking the time to send the link! You guys rock! BTW, I just changed my comment a bit, right before I saw your reply, I wanted to make sure I don't sound too jealous haha!
When going into and leaving the Schengen area, how close do you cut the 90 days? I can’t seem to figure out how to give myself a bit of breathing room, and not end up with staying in Canada longer than 90 days. My goal is spending Spring and Fall in Calpe, Spain (thanks for visiting it), Summers in Vancouver, Canada and Wellington, New Zealand. Thanks, Elizabeth
We leave ourselves a couple days wingle room just in case. If you are in Spain for 90 days, you can return to Canada for 90 days and then return to Spain for another 90.
@@BrianandCarrie Thanks for all your expertise and help. Realized I can stay longer in Canada than 90days, so I have more flexibility than I thought. -Elizabeth
Hey Brian and Carrie - Thanks for the video. Quick question, how often and how much time do you spend back home? Cause isn't that like a sizeable expense, you have to buy health insurance, flight etc, no ?
We return home 3 times a year for a month at a time. We have a few recent videos about our costs when we return home. I'll leave a link below on our most recent video. And thank you so much for the Super Thanks!!! 😁❤️🍻 ua-cam.com/video/HjgaEFjRMGs/v-deo.html
Do you have a ballpark yearly amount you aim to spend each year for travel? We are looking to retire soon and was wondering what your assumptions were compared to what you actually end up spending? We love what you’re doing and would like to do something similar but are unaware of estimated yearly costs. Thanks and sorry if this was too personal of a question!
Hi, Hayley. We have monthly and yearly "cost of living" videos on our channel. I will leave a link for our 2023 cost breakdown. ua-cam.com/video/bHt-eHAFw2A/v-deo.html
How difficult do you think it would be to find someone who would like to share the rent of an apartment or condo in, say Portugal, and rotate every 90 days. That way I could experience the lifestyle and culture for more than what you'd get from a two week vacation. I would have more time to explore various areas of the country and it would give me a better idea if I'd want to pursue a visa and perhaps permanent residence in Portugal. So I was thinking of getting an apartment or whatever, staying for the visa-free 90 days, then go somewhere else for 90 days outside the Schengen zone, then return for 90 days. It would be 2 rounds of 90 days for myself and 2 for someone willing to do this 90 days on/off cycle for at least one year. Sounds great in theory, but don't know if I could find a reliable person or how to go about finding them. Any thoughts? Thanks
@BrianandCarrie I sort of looked into that but it didn't seem like there was much of a chance of finding something like that other than an Airbnb. Oh well, the search goes on
Great video. I rarely watch the news. I will form my own opinion based on research on the topic of interest. The news was and always will be negative in my opinion.
How do you two handle money when you change locations, meaning cash on hand? Do you just use a local ATM when you arrive, or do you convert some cash from one currency to another before you arrive?
@CompassRunner There's an App for that....oops, I mean a video for that. 🤭 Can't place a link (thx YT) but go to their Home page and search for "Don't Leave Until You Do This - Everything You Need to Know Before You Travel!" from 2 months ago (Aug 10, 2024).There's a currency topic @ 8:23. That video has more topics you may find helpful.
We use ATM on arrival. We've gotten very good at figuring how much we use in a set time and rarely ever are left with any cash in that currency when we leave.
Ha! The light switches... I still have a hard time getting used to the fact that the bathroom light switches are outside the bathroom in Romania. I still constantly walk into the bathroom and look for the light switch. 😂 Do you find that coming "home" to the US 3-4 times a year helps deal with the constant changes?
Coming back to the US doesn't always help. We are housesitting in different locations most of the time, but the familiarity of our hometown is a comfort.
Instability is certainly something most people dont like, but the benefits of constant learning could be a pro to keeping one's mind sharper for longer.
We absolutely love the excitement of discovering new places every few weeks, but we also look forward to going home to reconnect with friends and family. Staying excited about life is a constant for us. Before we began this adventure, we felt stuck repeating the same things day after day. Thank you for watching, Sandy, we appreciate your support. ❤️
@BrianandCarrie You guys are great, and I love that you have the ability to give your brain a break during those visits back home. Cheers and keep the excellent content coming.
@@BrianandCarrie we are heading to the US in november and december for my sons wedding in So. Cal. Then Argentina, Chile and Uruguay early in 2025. JP Porto
I enjoy watching your videos and they give me a lot of insight into possible travel destinations. And, I don’t mean to be negative but, your choice to retire in your early 50’s without appearing to have achieved true financial freedom and independence concerns me. You could easily have 40+ years of retirement to fund with diminished social security benefits (it’s based upon your 35 best years), you must fully fund your medical insurance expenses, you sold your home to fund your travel, and you could find yourselves priced out of the Washington state market when you reach the point where you no longer wish to be a nomad. Are you concerned about the long term consequences of full time travel without the financial resources to sustain a comfortable lifestyle for 4 to 5 decades?
We are not concerned at all. We did a lot of research and planning before making the decision to live this lifestyle and we are fully a where on how the system works. We could live another 4 or 5 decades but who knows. I have 3 friends that have passed away in the last 3 years in their early 50's. We also have friends that waited to retire at 67, had plans to travel and passed away 6 months later. You just never know. We each have worked for 30+ years to get to this point and decided not to work for 50 years to enjoy 10. 😁
Thank you for responding. I agree that the future is uncertain, that time is the most precious resource we have, and that meaningful experiences with family and friends is the best use of our time and financial resources. I took a bit more conservative route of working until 60 to address the concerns I previously noted and achieve financial security. Plus, I was funding 3 in college when I was 51. Perhaps I misinterpreted the focus on your budget as an indication that your nomadic lifestyle was a stretch goal, i.e., on the edge of what you can sustainably afford. I’m glad that my concerns were misplaced and wish you continued success with your adventures.
Why don't you get an RV and overland? Accommodation and travel are taken care of and more flexible. Book into Accommodation short term from time to time.
We would have to buy or rent an RV. Gas and insurance along with storage when not being used adds up to more than what we are spending now. Someday we will do a road trip but for now we enjoy traveling the world.
@BrianandCarrie I meant full time RV. The money you save on flights trains buses and accommodation goes towards the running costs. I love how you guys are living your life in your early 50s!
The pros of the nomadic lifestyle: constantly meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. The cons of the nomadic lifestyle: constantly meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.
Do you get bored wearing the same clothes all the time? I know I do on purpose 3 month trips- by the time I get home I hate my clothes, and they get sent off to the thrift shop!
The real cons are that you have to travel to 3rd world countries because you can not afford developed ones and lie to yourself how good these countries are 😢.
We've never been to a third-world country. You may need to either travel or look up the definition of a third world country. Thank you for watching and commenting on our channel. Every comment leads to growth. Cheers 🍻
I had solo travelled to a few countries. Usually a week before I leave, I would have a panic attack. I used to ask myself: "why am I panicking? I am going to Austria and Hungary for the Christmas markets. Shouldn't I be excited? This doesn't make sense!" But once I arrive and check in to my hotel, I am all happy. Leaving behind one's security blanket is not easy!
If you see the sensation as ‘excitement swallowed’ it’s a better description than ‘panic’. Also it calls the mind and body. When we suppress excitement it behaves like you’ve swallowed a beehive!
Leaving the security of home can be difficult for many. One of our very good friends loves the destination but hates the travel. You are not alone! Thank you for watching and commenting! 😊❤️
Brian and Carrie, you are truly an inspiration. I learn something new from every one of your videos. I've been a nomad for 6 months and you both helped me launch this new and unique lifestyle.
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! We are happy to have been part of your planning process!! Thank you for supporting us and safe travels!! ❤️
This is our 3rd year doing nomad life. Currently in Croatia. I agree 100% on what you said. Glad, that you did not sugarcoat the truth. I actually enjoy most of the travel planning aspect.😊
We're glad you are enjoying the nomad lifestyle! We think it's great that you like the planning aspect, it's something we enjoy as well but it isn't something you think about before starting long-term travel. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Hi to both. I think that you do a very good job at providing a balanced view of the choices that you have made and this lifestyle choice. It isn't for everyone. You two make it look so effortless because you are clearly a well matched pair. A couple with less connection, who bicker and fight at the best of times would struggle (I think) with all that together time. The challenge is that we as viewers don't see all the hard work behind the scenes to make your travel appear so easy and fun. Everyone has choices, and if they choose a lifestyle in retirement based solely on some well put together UA-cam videos, then they can't say that you didn't warn them! Cheers to both!
A lot goes on behind the scenes; fortunately, travel is getting easier the more we learn and adjust. Thanks, Robert.
Ha! Two years in and my Nautica carryon from Marshall’s is still going strong! Lima Peru is a must do. Loved the Barranco neighborhood over the more popular Miraflores neighborhood. I think ya’ll would love Cuenca Ecuador also, with the huge expat population there. Very active FB group there that has power walking just before happy hour and then beers afterwards. About a third of the walkers are local, so very educational. AND the scenery along the rivers is unbeatable.
That's awesome!!🤣Thank you for the neighborhood suggestions for Lima. We have heard about Miraflores but not Barranco. We are still in the planning stage of the South America trip so this is helpful! 😁 Thank you for watching!
Cheers!! 🍻
Love it ! Go Nautica!
Very objective info. Any route in life contains pros and cons. As long as pros outweights cons, keep doing it.
Good video, guys. We’ve been travelling full-time for just over a year now, and this video really struck a chord with us. Excellent analysis 👍🏻
Thank you, Richard! 😊
I really ❤ your channel. Two winters ago I spent six months in MX, last winter six months in Ecuador and Peru. Slowly picking my way thru south america.
Thank you! We will be heading to Argentina in mid-January and work our way up. We appreciate that you are watching!!
Cheers!! 🍻
You are living my dream 🥹
Spontaneity is one of those positives that I don't take advantage of enough. I'm such a planner that I find it difficult to just wing it. It's just much less stressful to already have locations selected and tickets/accommodations booked well in advance. But I am trying to be less rigid with it, and I do give myself enough time in any place I stay so that I can venture off for a few days to visit some new place I've just learned about that interests me. I've embraced the minimalism as well. It's very liberating. I find the process of learning a new place is a good challenge for the brain. It keeps things fresh and interesting. And once you feel comfortable with your surroundings, you have a feeling of accomplishment. When you can walk around the city without a map, ride public transportation anywhere without a second thought, etc., you feel you've conquered the place. Plus, the familiarity of everything makes it start feeling like home. I appreciate you wanting to be transparent and talk about the cons of being a nomad as well. A con for me is the difficulty with eating healthy in some parts of the world. Certain places have some great tasting food but it isn't necessarily healthy or maybe doesn't have as many vegetables as I would like. I'm not much of a cook so I tend to eat in restaurants most of the time. But I manage the best that I can. I agree that the pros totally outweigh the cons with this lifestyle. I've never been happier! Cheers!
We are planners too and have had to let go a little to be more spontaneous. We would also agree that eating healthy in some areas can be challenging, but it can also be back in the US. Lucky for me, I have Carrie to keep me on track!! 😁
Working out how the shower works,especially on multi stop trips is my major challenge.
True!😅😂🚿
Thank you Brian and Carrie! Because of your videos we decided to try Vietnam and Thailand. We loved them, especially Vietnam. The people were wonderful and the countries are beautiful. Thank you
That is great to hear, Bryan! We will be returning to Vietnam early 2026. We didn't get to explore it as much as we would have liked and look forward to going back. Thank you for watching! 😊
@@BrianandCarrie I’ll be in VN in 2025 and 2026. Would be cool to meet you guys there but probably unlikely. I love VN but of course I am biased!
You never know!! 😁
@@BryanSigrist Our grandson wants us to go to Thailand. We are checking out the accessibility before we decide.
I'm peruvian and I'm happy to hear you are considering visiting Peru soon! Don't forget to stay at least a couple of days in Lima to enjoy the food, Miraflores, Barranco, and the historic center. Most tourists skip Lima and go straight to Cusco. But Lima is the culinary capital of Latin America that visitors should not miss! 😊
Thank you for the tips, Nancy! We are excited to start planning this stretch of our journey!! 😊❤️
You guys are so smooth together! You never talk over one another, well spaced and just the right amount of pauses in between, very well synchronized 😂. Did you have practice/dryrun before the final version? Did you have Q cards? lol.
You guys are made for each other!
Thank you so much!! We do our best!! 😁❤️
After 17 months of our adventures we could not agree more with this video.
We only go back once a year to Spokane area to see family and friends.
We've been having meet ups with people on fb group Gowithless.
We had coffee with couples in Malaysia and Thailand....
We start our migration to Chile in four weeks..... Hopefully hitting Peru, Argentina, Galapagos this year if finances and calendar allow...
Safe travels,
See you in Argentina maybe...
Larry and Minnie...
We need to meet up soon guys! Hopefully we can figure a way in South America!! 😁
makes sense. what you all are doing is a lot of work and it's appreciated!
Thank you, John! 😊🍻
This is my dream, but have to wait a while to make it happen. You’re keeping me excited!
Thank you, Katie! 😁❤️
You guys are looking so much happier and healthy. Compared to when you first started. This lifestyle suits you. This is our sixth year in Spain. Getting on with your partner is so important. Being together while working and now 24/7 is a big change. For us it has been the best thing. Great content.
Thank you, Paul!! ❤️
We are about to leave for our first long term trip. We used to hop from city to city every few days. This time we are doing a week in several European cities. We are kind of shopping for places we think we could do a month in, later. As a wheelchair user, mobility issues are always top of our concerns. We enjoy your videos and have already used some of your advice. We'll be watching from the road.
Thank you, Deb for all the comments on the channel. We appreciate your support. It's great that you are getting ready to long-term travel as a wheelchair user. Very inspiring!! ❤️
Perhaps a traveling-with-a-wheelchair channel is in your future! ♿️
"The human being is dissatisfied, at such a level, that we are not incapable of being happy with what we have, but very unhappy, with what we do not have." Thank you, Guys, for all these tips and everything you do.
Thank you for watching and for the quote! 😁
I hate to be one of those people who preaches, barging into the comments talking about faith (ugh!) however, I do believe God actually created us this way - to have a gaping 'hole in our heart', which can only be filled with Jesus
@@BrianandCarrie you two seem happy & content, but most people aren't. I believe that's cuz God actually created us with a gaping 'hole in our heart', which can't be filled by wealth, love of a spouse, fame, or amazing travel experiences... the hole can only be filled with Jesus
South America is underrated as s travel destination in our opinion. Love Argentina and Uruguay, Peru and Bolivia are fascinating and easy to travel.
Good to know, Teri! We know that we will be in Argentina, Chile and Peru but not sure of the itinerary yet. Thank you for the tips!
More solid content from you both. I appreciate that you're not trying to turn this into some Instragram dream but treat everything realistically.
We will leave the Instagram fluff for the younger generation!! 😁 Thank you for all the support!! 😊 We appreciate you!!
One year into nomad travel, I agree that the pros overwhelmingly outweigh the cons. One con, though, that I would add is sometimes our rental apartment has a sofa or bed that is uncomfortable. My spouse also gets crossed eyed over less than ideal kitchens. We end up gritting our teeth and deal with it for the few weeks we are there. On the plus side, many of our places are bigger than our NYC apartment. We love the space. Plus I have fallen in love with many of the terraces and balconies that accompanied those apartments, including apartments with uncomfortable sofas! Our place in NYC only offers a fire escape. Oh…one more. We were just recently in Patagonia Chile, “the end of the world.” My spouse was huffing and puffing over the fact that there wasn’t any fresh spinach for our morning green juice. He was getting so irritable that I thought I would need to arrange a special emergency airlift delivery of fresh greens. But on the pro side, seeing the glaciers more than made up for missing out on our green juice. Nice video.
It is difficult to let go of those items that you have grown accustomed to. We sometimes have a hard time finding greens as well. And the short-term accommodations rarely have a comfortable couch!! 🤣 Thank you for watching and safe travels!! 😊
Totally agree with your thoughts on not pre booking accomodation. Our original idea was to spend 4 weeks in one place, then we changed to two. At the moment our sweet spot feels like 4 nights! It costs more to do this of course.
Finding what works best for you is the most important thing. We started with month-long stays but have learned over the years that they don't always work. We think we are in a groove now, but like you say, it does cost more.
Just back from an 11 day Croatia and Greece cruise. Thought I was prepared, but got hit with a change in ports due to weather and phone/data issues. Hats off to you for bringing able to navigate the minutia!😅
We call those speed bumps!! 😁 Hopefully, you still have amazing memories and stories to tell! Thank you for watching!!
This is a great video. You covered all the cons I agree with.. love the pros too!
Thank you!! 😊
All of that IS a full time job. It isn't some job you still despise at some office, but make no mistake, what you have done is quiet quit a normal job, for one that you love, rather than retire. That is also my plan...SOON. I'm 56. My side gig is options trading, so I have a lot to figure out as well. Thank you for all of this.
It is definitely a full-time job, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Good luck on your journey!
Brian and Carrie,
THANK YOU!!
As my former platoon sergeant would say:"You gotta be flexible!"👍👍
Yes, be flexible and pivot when necessary! Thank you for your service, Peter!!
There was a fire and I had to leave an apartment. Next part of my trip turned out to be much better so it was a successful pivot. Not sure I handled the next issue so well but it is a learning process. Being able to adapt and see the opportunity for better days is important.
We definitely make a concerted effort to meet up with other nomads and expats. It really helps!
Making new friends is fun!! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Thanks for sharing and pointing on the Cons. we are about 1 year away from our early retirement and starting living our nomad lifestyle, me at 52 and wife at 46. Getting a little anxious about it. Wife says she would prefer to not rent out our current home just in case we need to come back but we do need that income to partially fund our early retirement... I agree with her for the most part however we need to have faith in our planning which we have been doing for several years now. We might leave our place empty for the first year and use more of our savings just to have that comfort of having a place to come back to if needed.... Decisions Decisions!!
Having a place to come back to would be the way to go if you can. It is exciting that you are so close!! Have fun with the process!!😊
I just love you guys. Keep up the great work-this video is another solid gold piece of work.
Thank you, Sandi! ❤️
Great video. We have been following you for about 6 months now. We are looking at our first slow travel trip being Portugal and Spain in 2026 with a repositioning cruise back to US. Thanks for sharing your learnings. Let the adventures begin!
Great place to start! We love Portugal and Spain. Both are easy to navigate and have a lot to offer and taking the cruise home is a good way to get to places that you wouldn't otherwise go. Thank you for watching our channel!! 😊
I used to lived in Peru. Great place, One week in Lima is enought, another week on Arequipa and two weeks in Cusco. Overated for me are the following (Nazca lines, Lake titicaca, amazon rainforest ) Peru do have great food.
Great tips! Thank you so much! We are still planning so this is helpful.
Cheers!! 🍻
Can you share your suitcase brands?! Great video I would say right on point of what we experience just traveling 2 months at a time. Excited to see more Mexico and what next year brings. ❤️
Thank you so much 😊. We have our suitcases linked on our website which gives you a discount at checkout... If you wanted to check them out. We love them ❤️. www.brianandcarrietravels.com/shop
Agree with your cons. If there is anywhere that I can't walk then I'm out of there asap unless there is a compelling reason I need to be there. I was staying in a hotel in Sangli,Maharashtra and went for a walk. Like much of India only certain areas had pavements (sorry,sidewalks...) and a guy told me I should not walk there as I will die-I told him it's my world as much as his and then went on to continue walking around as I did before. In truth,it was somewhat unpleasant and you needed to be careful but I was in a particularly beligerant mood that day. As I've grown older I've learnt that it never helps to be driving the wrong way down the motorway (metaphorically), but as I was there for a wedding with the whole family it definitely wouldn't have been a good idea to leave. I am pretty adaptable but somewhere that makes walking that difficult probably isn't worth staying for long.
Agreed! It's always best to be aware of your surroundings and choose wisely on destinations to explore! Thank you for watching and safe travels!! 😊
Just want to again tell you both how much we appreciate what you do and all the work you put into this channel.
Because of what you do, I found my way to your content and we were able to discover a way to make *our* dreams of early/earlier retirement and slow travel a reality; we are so grateful to have found your channel.
And thanks to the algorithm goddesses, we’ve been referred to the YT channels of other slow travelers as well.
We wish you both many years of adventure and discovery and hope to finally bump into y’all and share some face time and a grown up beverage. ❤
Thank you so much Anne! It's so wonderful to hear when others have found their way to the slow travel lifestyle and see that it is an affordable option.
We are excited to hear about your travels hope we cross paths very soon ☺️. Cheers!!
Brian was like, “Well we don’t wanna stay home” 😂
Agreed, the pros outweigh the cons for digital nomads
😁
Great suggestion using the safeguard of temporary hotel stays in order to assess whether the destination is worth staying longer at. However, I think that approach is more nuanced and even problematic, should one ultimately decide to stay, yet the availability of rentals takes you outside of your temporary hotel booking. If so, you could possibly be hotel hopping until that certain
airbnb(s) become available.
This would be an option for us only in the off seasons.
Great insights. as always. And now I'm off to look again at your Albania vids, as I''m heading to Saranda next.
Thank you for watching!! Saranda is beautiful and a very affordable place! Have fun and safe travels! 😊🍻
Actually I find managing rising costs is much easier on the road as I can effectively use geo arbitrage, when I was renting back in the US I was at the mercy of my landlord, my rent went up 16% in 2021 and 10% in 2022 and there was not one thing I could do about it as moving is also ridiculously expensive.
The beauty of nomadic travel is that there are so many choices and if one destination isn't a good value anymore I have the option of either skipping it entirely or reduce my time there. It's quite liberating!!
This is a great point! Our rent back home would increase yearly. On the road we can decide how much we want to spend. The accommodations may not be great, but we decide what we pay.
Absolutely true and not many people understand this! Not to mention many financial advisors seem to think you need to have all your $ in one currency even if you have $ in multiple currencies. The world is dumber unfortunately...
Fly safely too, bud.
Love you guys ❤
Love you too!! 😊❤️
Excellent content, Thx! (I'm a sub, not a jealous hater LOL) how do you handle being around each other 24/7? You both seem very easy going or perhaps that's what it's like when you find your soulmate, wanting to spend every minute tgthr, or do you still need to do things to help keep the relationship fresh?
We released this video a couple of weeks ago!! It's all about keeping the peace!! Here is the link. 😊🍻
ua-cam.com/video/vyj1TdFetco/v-deo.html
@@BrianandCarrie I'll definitely watch that vid, thx for taking the time to send the link! You guys rock! BTW, I just changed my comment a bit, right before I saw your reply, I wanted to make sure I don't sound too jealous haha!
@@BrianandCarrie "A happy spouse is a happy house" I love that! Such a fun video! Thank you for sending me the link!!
When going into and leaving the Schengen area, how close do you cut the 90 days? I can’t seem to figure out how to give myself a bit of breathing room, and not end up with staying in Canada longer than 90 days. My goal is spending Spring and Fall in Calpe, Spain (thanks for visiting it), Summers in Vancouver, Canada and Wellington, New Zealand. Thanks, Elizabeth
We leave ourselves a couple days wingle room just in case. If you are in Spain for 90 days, you can return to Canada for 90 days and then return to Spain for another 90.
@@BrianandCarrie Thanks for all your expertise and help. Realized I can stay longer in Canada than 90days, so I have more flexibility than I thought. -Elizabeth
Hey Brian and Carrie - Thanks for the video. Quick question, how often and how much time do you spend back home? Cause isn't that like a sizeable expense, you have to buy health insurance, flight etc, no ?
We return home 3 times a year for a month at a time. We have a few recent videos about our costs when we return home. I'll leave a link below on our most recent video. And thank you so much for the Super Thanks!!! 😁❤️🍻
ua-cam.com/video/HjgaEFjRMGs/v-deo.html
@@BrianandCarrie Thanks.
Hi Brian and Carrie, have you visited Madrid already? Do you have any suggestions for accomodation there?
We have not spent any time in Madrid yet. Hopefully someday soon.
Can you share what carry on luggage you use? You may have in the past, but missed it. We are looking for a sturdy compact roller bag
Hi! This is brand of luggage we use...we went with bigger carry on and love it. referrals.awaytravel.com/away945738
Thanks!
We appreciate you watching! 😊❤️
Do you have a ballpark yearly amount you aim to spend each year for travel? We are looking to retire soon and was wondering what your assumptions were compared to what you actually end up spending? We love what you’re doing and would like to do something similar but are unaware of estimated yearly costs. Thanks and sorry if this was too personal of a question!
Hi, Hayley. We have monthly and yearly "cost of living" videos on our channel. I will leave a link for our 2023 cost breakdown.
ua-cam.com/video/bHt-eHAFw2A/v-deo.html
Do you use credit cards everywhere or local currency? Where do you get local money?
We use both. We get local currency from an ATM machine with our Charles Schwab cards that have no ATM fees worldwide.
How difficult do you think it would be to find someone who would like to share the rent of an apartment or condo in, say Portugal, and rotate every 90 days. That way I could experience the lifestyle and culture for more than what you'd get from a two week vacation. I would have more time to explore various areas of the country and it would give me a better idea if I'd want to pursue a visa and perhaps permanent residence in Portugal. So I was thinking of getting an apartment or whatever, staying for the visa-free 90 days, then go somewhere else for 90 days outside the Schengen zone, then return for 90 days. It would be 2 rounds of 90 days for myself and 2 for someone willing to do this 90 days on/off cycle for at least one year. Sounds great in theory, but don't know if I could find a reliable person or how to go about finding them. Any thoughts? Thanks
You would probably be better off finding a short-term 3 month rental.
@BrianandCarrie I sort of looked into that but it didn't seem like there was much of a chance of finding something like that other than an Airbnb. Oh well, the search goes on
Pros > cons
Great video. I rarely watch the news. I will form my own opinion based on research on the topic of interest. The news was and always will be negative in my opinion.
We absolutely agree with you!! Don't be told by others what to believe, do your own research! 😊
You should do a video showing “how” you do your planning.
Here is a video that we released last week! 😁
ua-cam.com/video/d5hswBbf-vA/v-deo.html
Good episode. 😊
Thank you!! 😊❤️
How do you two handle money when you change locations, meaning cash on hand? Do you just use a local ATM when you arrive, or do you convert some cash from one currency to another before you arrive?
@CompassRunner There's an App for that....oops, I mean a video for that. 🤭 Can't place a link (thx YT) but go to their Home page and search for "Don't Leave Until You Do This - Everything You Need to Know Before You Travel!" from 2 months ago (Aug 10, 2024).There's a currency topic @ 8:23. That video has more topics you may find helpful.
We use ATM on arrival. We've gotten very good at figuring how much we use in a set time and rarely ever are left with any cash in that currency when we leave.
Ha! The light switches... I still have a hard time getting used to the fact that the bathroom light switches are outside the bathroom in Romania. I still constantly walk into the bathroom and look for the light switch. 😂
Do you find that coming "home" to the US 3-4 times a year helps deal with the constant changes?
Coming back to the US doesn't always help. We are housesitting in different locations most of the time, but the familiarity of our hometown is a comfort.
Instability is certainly something most people dont like, but the benefits of constant learning could be a pro to keeping one's mind sharper for longer.
We absolutely love the excitement of discovering new places every few weeks, but we also look forward to going home to reconnect with friends and family. Staying excited about life is a constant for us. Before we began this adventure, we felt stuck repeating the same things day after day. Thank you for watching, Sandy, we appreciate your support. ❤️
@BrianandCarrie You guys are great, and I love that you have the ability to give your brain a break during those visits back home. Cheers and keep the excellent content coming.
Thank you, Sandy. ❤️
Hey Brian and Carrie, watching now. Think I may use something you said for a UA-cam channel name. JP Porto
You should, JP! There's room for everyone here on UA-cam!! 😊
Pump the Brakes!
@@BrianandCarrie we are heading to the US in november and december for my sons wedding in So. Cal. Then Argentina, Chile and Uruguay early in 2025. JP Porto
Very nice! We will be heading that direction as well!! 😊
I enjoy watching your videos and they give me a lot of insight into possible travel destinations. And, I don’t mean to be negative but, your choice to retire in your early 50’s without appearing to have achieved true financial freedom and independence concerns me. You could easily have 40+ years of retirement to fund with diminished social security benefits (it’s based upon your 35 best years), you must fully fund your medical insurance expenses, you sold your home to fund your travel, and you could find yourselves priced out of the Washington state market when you reach the point where you no longer wish to be a nomad. Are you concerned about the long term consequences of full time travel without the financial resources to sustain a comfortable lifestyle for 4 to 5 decades?
We are not concerned at all. We did a lot of research and planning before making the decision to live this lifestyle and we are fully a where on how the system works. We could live another 4 or 5 decades but who knows. I have 3 friends that have passed away in the last 3 years in their early 50's. We also have friends that waited to retire at 67, had plans to travel and passed away 6 months later. You just never know. We each have worked for 30+ years to get to this point and decided not to work for 50 years to enjoy 10. 😁
Thank you for responding. I agree that the future is uncertain, that time is the most precious resource we have, and that meaningful experiences with family and friends is the best use of our time and financial resources. I took a bit more conservative route of working until 60 to address the concerns I previously noted and achieve financial security. Plus, I was funding 3 in college when I was 51. Perhaps I misinterpreted the focus on your budget as an indication that your nomadic lifestyle was a stretch goal, i.e., on the edge of what you can sustainably afford. I’m glad that my concerns were misplaced and wish you continued success with your adventures.
Why don't you get an RV and overland? Accommodation and travel are taken care of and more flexible. Book into Accommodation short term from time to time.
We would have to buy or rent an RV. Gas and insurance along with storage when not being used adds up to more than what we are spending now. Someday we will do a road trip but for now we enjoy traveling the world.
@BrianandCarrie I meant full time RV. The money you save on flights trains buses and accommodation goes towards the running costs. I love how you guys are living your life in your early 50s!
Great point. I don't know if we will ever be in a position to buy something like an RV but can see how it could pay off over time.
The pros of the nomadic lifestyle: constantly meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.
The cons of the nomadic lifestyle: constantly meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.
Thats pretty funny!! 🤣🤣
Cheers!! 🍻
What ages did you start the nomad life?
We started three years ago at age 50!
I hope you guys have your voting plan in place or better...done.
We do!! 😁
Do you get bored wearing the same clothes all the time? I know I do on purpose 3 month trips- by the time I get home I hate my clothes, and they get sent off to the thrift shop!
We do and have just refreshed our wardrobes!! 😁
Another positive…time away from the U.S. reduces the need to engage with the MAGA cult.
Agreed!!
The real cons are that you have to travel to 3rd world countries because you can not afford developed ones and lie to yourself how good these countries are 😢.
We've never been to a third-world country. You may need to either travel or look up the definition of a third world country. Thank you for watching and commenting on our channel. Every comment leads to growth.
Cheers 🍻