Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get weekly TRAVEL TIPS and stay up to date: mailchi.mp/b5946ff455b2/weekly-newsletter-sign-up. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻
@@carriemartz8952 When we come back to the USA, we either stay with friends or rent an airbnb in a location we would like to stay. We find that it’s reasonably affordable. I know B&C do homesitting to offset costs. Remember, you don’t have maintenance expenses (electricity, garbage, water, property taxes,etc) to deal with.
Really Great Traveling Information! I am a Single, Senior, Disabled Female Traveler so I am forced to do things a little differently from what abel people can do. For me, I have longer stays in one place….usually about 1 month. That way I have more time in between to rest and figure out my daily strategy….example: where am I grocery shopping and how much can I buy? I am not able to carry groceries so I have a small cart with wheels that I travel with. Every movement for me must be thought out in explicit detail or I could really get physically hurt and God Forbid…end up in a hospital. The more details and strategy one is able to figure out during their travel, the more beneficial and fun your travel will be. As far as traveling as “Americans”, it really has to do with the individual attitude. What we put out is what we get back. Just be Kind, Patient, Observant and Respectful and you really should not have any problems. Thank You Brian and Carrie. ❤
It is impressive, Anita that you are traveling the way you do. Very inspiring. We have mentioned in the past walkability and whether or not places are handicap friendly. We will be doing a lot more of that moving forward. Thank you for watching our channel!! ❤
Hi there! I am so happy to see that you are on your way to 50k subscribers! I remember watching you at 8k -12k and saying.. what? These folks are so helpful, down to earth, likable, funny, and interesting. They give us so much helpful and visually beautiful content re places we may visit or visit vicariously through them. Now, more people are listening and watching and learning. And it benefits everyone. Thank you, Brian and Carrie! -M
Thank you so much for following along since the beginning - we truly appreciate your support ♥ We feel incredibly blessed to be able to do what we are doing and having the work we put out there be appreciated means so much. Cheers!!
I'm from the UK and have been lucky enough to travel widely over the years. Wherever we go, my husband and I always comment that people's everyday lives are basically the same - work, family and just getting through each day. We're all more alike than different and we need to remember that 😊
Thank you for your time and posting. Again, great information. I think what works against Americans when they are abroad, isn't that they are Americans, it is the attitude they bring with them. I was a waiter at the Sheraton Mirage Resort in Port Douglas, Queensland Australia. And none of the Aussies wanted to wait on Americans. As for myself, 80% of Americans were not very nice, and 20% were great to wait on. On another note, 100% of the Japanese I waited on were fantastic. :) Great info on the VPN. When I started touring Europe in 1977, my backpack weighed 67 pounds (Kelty, steel frame :). I got to Amsterdam and met a couple with a baby traveling worldwide. They went through my pack and got rid of about 25 pounds of 'stuff' for me. They were super nice.
Interesting reflections.. as the child of immigrants who went back home every few years.. I realized watching this how “sheltered / ignorant” Americans who have never traveled are…travel really shapes your world view, your perspective , your values. I’m sure you guys have learned so many lessons including “we are all human and want the same basic things”. Love watching your videos .. it gives me a break from what’s happening to my Palestinian people 😓
Travel has been some of the best education we've ever had. Getting out and seeing the world through your own eyes and experiences is priceless. Happy we can give you a bit of a break from all the horrible things going on.
So much of what you say rings true for my husband and my experience also. We tell people all the time that you can actually have a more affordable life traveling than being in the states and doing the regular work life. We have been traveling off and on for increasing amounts of time since the 90s. Our first big trip was to Thailand for a month to rock climb. Then we did a more fast travel trip for about 6 months in 2007 (which helped us to discover slow travel is more our thing... 17 countries in 6 months will do that to you!). Then we did about 3 years in 2016. We were supposed to get back out there in 2020, but we all know how that went. So we shifted, bought a van and did some travel around the USA for a bit, landing in Montana for a year to do seasonal work. We are currently gathering ourselves to head out again. We want to do another El Camino again (part of the 2016 journey) and get back to Eastern Europe. Your videos on Turkey are inspiring to me, so who knows, maybe we'll include that into our Shengen shuffle. :) Thanks for your informative and inspiring content. We like to find folks to follow that are similar to us to keep us inspired and forward thinking to when we can be backpacking nomads again.
It can be much more affordable to travel full-time. The cost of living in our area of the US is high. Our rent in Bellingham WA. was almost $1800. With a car payment, car insurance, renters' insurance, gas, utilities, and on and on! It all adds up. Thank you for all the comments and for adding to the channel! Cheers!!🍻
Love your videos! As a retiree with serious progressive health issues, travel for me is hard and requires intensive planning around medical issues and off ramps. Over the last few years, I’ve been working through my bucket list in the order of hardest first, slamming as much as possible through my health window before it closes. Minimalist packing is critical. Getting the pace right also. I alternate between bursts of intense inn-to-inn walking and cycling followed by “Chillin’ poolside” in an attractive base camp. Curveballs happen. If you don’t want to deal with them stay at home. Whenever they occur I take a deep breath and remind myself that curveballs come in two categories: those that can be solved with a credit card and those that require a hospital stay. Don’t sweat the first category. My general approach is to follow my curiosity, check out potential options online, experiment, and then iterate by dialing up what works well and dialing down my mistakes. I definitely feel the health walls closing in. Many of the things I might once have wanted to do are no longer realistic. But I’m still out there. Your videos are helpful reminder of what’s still possible, and an inspiration to go out and get it. Thanks!
The fact that you are still out there is inspiring! It isn't always easy for us and we don't have any health issues. It is impressive that you are doing what you are. Thank you for your comments and for watching our channel. ❤
I'm always amazed how few people realize that healthcare, prescriptions, etc. are often better and so much more affordable in other countries! Plus, a lot of the rx we use in the US are OTC in much of Europe. Of course, the "higher maintenance" you or your spouse are, the more you think you'll need elsewhere. I think the biggest hurdle is STUFF; I like my creature comforts, too.
This video was spot on. We were lucky enough to be able to sample alot of Asia from a 28 day cruise. It truly excited us to go back again soon. We have had nothing but wonderful experiences from school kids on a bus outside of Pompeii, to a group of school kids in Hanoi, to a butcher in Venice, and a police officer in Barcelona. Anytime we needed help with directions, all were willing to help us. Be kind, bottom line, a smile and a genuine kindness goes a long way. Also learn patience and grace, if you already don't practice them.
My first OS stint in the 80s I lived in Canada for 2 years . I was a long way from home ( Australia) and got homesick a bit. One of the most comforting things was hearing people mow the lawns on a Sunday morning which my dad used to do. Hearing the mowers start up was very soothing and reassuring to know that the world has some similar elements wherever you are.
Hello you two. My journey starts in June, house is sold, been keeping Goodwill busy and just wrapping up my affairs. I have loved all of your videos but this one is off the charts. The info answered practically all of the unknowns I've had and squashed some stereotypes such as the language concern. You are both incredible for doing this and I am so appreciative to have found you. Every place I go to I will have a picture with my Two Thirsty shirt and find a way to send them to you.😊
Thanks for the tips.. one big thing we’ve learned on our travels is to be aware of air pollution levels of the location we are going to. We’ve encountered an unexpectedly large number of unhealthy air days in the various locations we’ve been, to the point that this is one of the first things we check for now.
The pregame nerves and intimidation are very real. Having never been overseas our first month was in Italy. My stomach was all tore up leading up to it. When we got there we did have a couple days of issues like figuring out the trains and using our phones. But a couple weeks into it, we were the ones helping other travelers. There really is a quick learning curve. If I had it to do over again though we would have started out in a country where we know the language (like Spain) just to make it a little easier at the beginning.
At the risk of TMI, my entire cancerous colon has been removed and I poop 14x/day. Between that and celiac disease, travel while staying out of hospitals has become very challenging. But I’m still out there with the help of memorized key phrases in each country I visit. Where the mind goes, the body will follow…
Thank you for your video & info. Although we have only started YouTubing just over a year ago, my partner & I have been travelling extensively for years (business & pleasure). Between us we have been to all the 7 continents (Antarctica in 2023 was incredible). There is no place like home but we really love travelling, learning about new cultures & customs & will continue to do so when possible. Big cheers from Melbourne 🍷!
Always great to see how you present honest and helpful information! We are starting our travels (tomorrow!) and love watching this (and others) to keep a proper perspective. Thanks so Much
Another terrific video! I thought it was so ironic when you spoke of your concern for anti-American sentiment. I had literally just put a post on my facebook account to encourage friends and family back in the states. Even though we have only been in Latin American countries, so far, all the people we have had interactions with have been very positive and pro-America. Yesterday, when we showed our passports to a bus driver before boarding the bus, he said, “America - the greatest country in the world”! It was a good feeling. 😁 We are about to start our 8th month of traveling and I agree with everything observation you made about what we thought it would be like and what it actually is. The one thing that I hadn’t counted on, foreseen, or heard anyone talk about before, is the friendships we have made. We try to stay at least a month in each location. We have made some great friends along the way. This makes life more enjoyable and more difficult. We are trying to decide where we want to retire, and sometimes it becomes difficult when our emotions get involved. 😉. We have just a little over a week left here in Paraguay and then we are heading to Albania! 😁👏🏻. I have been rewatching your videos from there and I’m getting excited about going there. We are hoping we will like it very much, because we might spend a year there. Thanks again for all the work you do making these videos. It’s become my Saturday ‘fix’. 😉 Safe travels.
We have had people say to us that they will make it to The United States someday. It is usually the younger generation, but the American dream is still alive. Your journey sounds amazing! Maybe someday we will cross paths. Safe travels! Cheers!!🍻
Love your videos. We are slow-traveling full time, too, and it's nice to see others who are doing the same. Last year we traveled for 6 months and returned to the states for 4 months. This year we will travel for 8 months. I'm impressed by how low your budget is, we're spending a lot more per month. Only traveling in Europe so far, though, which may explain that.
We make sure to travel to "budget-friendly" countries with an occasional mix of someplace more expensive. That is what really helps us keep our budget down. There is a reason we haven't spent time in the UK or Ireland. 😃 Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Loved this video. DH and I are 47 & 49 and we have been cleaning up our finances and doing some aggressive planning so that we can start some slow travel in 3-4 years. We will still own a home in PR but we plan on getting rid of all our “stuff” on the mainland. Safe travels! You all should visit the Caribbean for a few months. 😎
It feels really good to downsize and get everything in order. Having a home base is really nice as well. We couldn't have both, so we house sit when we are home. We will be doing the Caribbean soon! Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers!🍻
@@JayandSarahthank you. Your comment gives me hope. I love love my job, but we live in a state with high taxes and we do not have kids! I love island time and travel more. Enjoy your travels, your life, and each other. ❤
There's nothing like real life experience to learn what works for you! I recently realized my travel habits have changed a lot since I started in 1994. Certainly technology and the Internet have made a difference but so have my preferences as I've gotten older. What worked for me when I was 33 doesn't suit me now at age 63. It's been a real eye opener to discover how the way I travel has changed and how I need to adapt going forward.
This is spot on, we spent 20 years climbing volcanoes around the world…..we’re now 66 and can’t do that anymore as my back and hubby’s knees can’t cope. We love trains these days plus ships… 🚢
We're long-time fans and never miss an episode! You inspired us to spend 3 months in Albania and Montenegro (to which I'll say I hate the tourist tax in Kotor where I ended up at the police station.) But here's a question...I can't take life in NYC any longer. WHERE.... where... of all the countries you've visited, do you believe one could live a normal, contented and safe retirement the MOST AFFORDABLY? If you have the time, I'd love to know what 3 countries most come to mind. Your content has changed our lives!!!! (No pressure! :) 😀 Wishing you both ongoing good health and happiness.
Thank you so much for all the kind words!!! We have a video out this weekend of our top 10 budget places to visit or stay longer term. The Top Places to Travel in 2024 video will give you some of our favorites as well. As far as countries go Portugal, Poland, and Romania ( most of the Balkans) are affordable. And, anywhere in SE Asia. 😀 Thank you again for the support and for watching our channel. ❤
Haha! The luggage thing is spot on. Luckily, our "home" base in Romania is the family home so we bring whatever we want from the states and fly immediately to Brasov. Then from there we launch trips where we only take a carry on and a small backpack each. Lugging luggage on and off trains, buses, cabs/Ubers is a pain!
Hello Brian and Carrie… Thank you for coming up with so many nice and instructional videos… I have found really hard to try to book an Airbnb in His Him as the cost on Airbnb is more than double of what we see on you tube videos… Do you have anyone at La Casita Hua Hin that you can recommend to decrease the cost of renting a place for 1-2 months?
Don't forget the travellers cheques when heading over to California!! Yeah, i was one of them, Brian. Seems laughable now, having to make an appointment with the bank, then get dressed up for the occasion. Yet there was something exciting about travelling outside our neighbourhood. Now I pay with my smart watch. You both make this gig look easy. It is a pleasure to check in guy's.
Lesson's learned videos are great. This helps us all navigate with less assumptions, and let's us be more prepared for our own journeys. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the video! For niche medical topics, I would check in advance if possible--some vaccines and medicines that are exorbitantly expensive here are much more affordable elsewhere; but when we were in a neat university city in Mexico and my husband got Covid, we discovered that Paxlovid is not available there (the government has an extremely limited supply that its public hospitals ration out), tests are at only a few pharmacies (none within walking distance from us) or online, and only outdated vaccines are available (so we were extra-conscientious knowing the vulnerability around us). It wasn't a huge deal for us personally, and he's fine now; but if we were older & with more other risk factors, we'd want to be aware of these things. I don't know if that's an isolated type of situation, but it feels like global health inequities are bound to hit home sometimes. But we needed a different medication there and found it fine--it was imported so relatively expensive, but it was available.
On the island of Koh Mak watching this .One thing to know tourist are back traveling everywhere.Record numbers .Need to ride a motorcycle on the islands .Great channel.Keep making them .Like your honest opinions.
Great video. After three years of FT travel, I agree with all of this. The only thing I would add is in the transportation segment. We like smaller beach towns mixed in with our city visits. We have found having a car and driving is a necessity in those places, and that quickly increases expenses. But getting out of the big cities with the freedom to move around as you please is worth it!
Great info, my wife & I have been traveling since September 2023 and now it's Feb 3-24, We had all of the same expectations as you but we have more luggage and what a nightmare. My wife has 2 large suitcases,1 carry on and a big purse. I have 1 large suitcase,1 big duffel bag and a backpack. Along the way we have gotten rid of 2 small suitcases along with a lot of clothes.We also sold everything we own including our home, we have our truck to our son and we are for the most part homeless.I now dear when we have to change locations because of all the stuff we have. We are looking for a place we want to call home base but the reality is that I might want that to be in Oregon where we are from then spend time traveling to places we want to see with a much smaller luggage situation. Thanks for the great videos, keep them coming.
It seems like each time we return home we pack less the next time we head back out. It would be nice to have a homebase but for now we are enjoying the lifestyle. Thank you for watching and commenting! Safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
Good stuff; thank you! Something good to know is that American Express credit cards are rarely accepted outside the USA. I use mine just for online bookings and some overseasa airlines don't accept it either. Just an FYI 😊
You directly put a finger on it: the fear of the unknown and change. In some cases, as you did it, you sometimes have to take that leap of faith, and trust in yourselves and your abilities (which are considerable). I think that the additional good news is that if you set a proper real-life budget, and then have some hiccups, that you are able to reset and resteer the course direction. Money of course is top of mind and wondering if you will run out, but sticking to that budget and monitoring your spend addresses that. You are budget travels but you aren't backpackers, living in hostels. You make choice, splurge where necessary and still cover (generally) the places you want to be visiting. You both have an easy manner, and respect and smiles beget respect and smiles. Good for you to embrace the attitude of "I am the visitor here, and why can't I find a proper American hot dog?" The unexpected bonus for you two has been your success on TH-cam and starting a little cottage industry with gear and sweatshirts. Bonus cash!! Keep on travelling! I am anxious to see all your stops in 2024! Cheers!
I'm curious which insurance you switched to that allows you to be in the US for longer periods when you are home visiting family. I've seen the travel insurance that allows short term visits, but am trying to find options for longer stays. PS: I am a 52 year old woman who lives in a Seattle suburb and am getting priced out here. I am encouraged by your ( and other's) videos :) Thanks?
Wow I’ve been watching your videos for a while and didn’t realize you’re from the city of “subdued excitement!” I’m a former resident myself. Happy trails!
I love this. I completely get the purge when traveling. I always throw out stuff a couple weeks into traveling. I get sick of lugging it. Sometimes I’ve purged too much and realize I only have 1 shirt and 1 pair of pants left for the next 2 weeks. lol I’d love to hear more about what you do about your time with your family. And I’d love to know what your plans will be when you age and can’t get around as well. You won’t have a home, a consistent Dr, retirement community, and just the cost of living as your age.
The quality of time with our family has increased since we started. We are not home as often but spend days with parents/kids rather than just a couple of hours at a time. We are hoping that we will be healthy and fit well into our 60s so we have time to figure out our long-term plans. For now, we are loving what we are doing and have no plans to stop anytime soon. Thank you for watching!!
Enlightening! Can you share more info on a future video about your house sitting arrangements? I would love to hear your take on the best way to do this. Thanks so much and keep sharing your knowledge!
I suspect fear of the unknown is the biggest fear. After all our travels we go with the flow and trust the process. Any negatives have far been outweighed by the kindness of local people whenever we've had any issues. Currently in Melaka, Malaysia and getting a bus back to Kuala Lumpur lunchtime, today... looking forward to the hotel pool!!
@@BrianandCarrie During this trip we have decided to leave Portugal and apply for residency in Malaysia - strange it seems culturally close to British with English spoken and easier bureaucracy - than Portugal plus we love Chinese/Malay/Indian food. Added bonus so many SE Asian countries close by. Good fortune with your travels!
Hi, have rewatched your video and am sure will again in the future. Lots of good reality checks. Now because you have been to numerous countries and cities, I think a good add on to a video would be which ones have the strongest, most consistent internet services. This is one of the main reasons I'm visiting SE Asia. In general, it seems to be very adequate there, especially because I've heard some countries use fiber-optic lines. I've noticed internet speed taking a hit while using a VPN as well, and my concern is having internet fast enough to allow streaming for work purposes in spite of this. Other travelers have mentioned at times how slow the internet is. Thanks so much!
We have had very few issues with internet service anywhere we have gone. The slowest has been right here in the US! 😂 That is a good topic to mention in a video! Thank you for the idea and for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
I have been finding that as an American, I am accepted in tourist areas of a city but not always accepted in the more local areas. I'm not offended; I just keep my cool.
It will really depend on the country that you are in. I'm sure in Serbia it would be a mix of each. We had a great experience with the locals but had plenty of anti-American comments on the video of Belgrade. We have never had a bad experience in person. Knock on wood!! 😄
Greetings from Seattle! I am wondering what you guys pack to get away with carry on only. If you have covered this topic in one of your videos please point me out.
Hello Seattle!!! Here is a link to our free packing list! brianandcarrie.myflodesk.com/packinglist We do have packing videos as well. I'll leave a link to that as well. th-cam.com/video/Pqpncfr5FZ4/w-d-xo.html Thank you for watching!!! GO M's!!
Hi，where do you stay when you get home？ do you leave your place empty while you travel？ do you rent it out? What do you mean by house sitting? Thank you, love your vedioes❤
We sold everything so when we come back to our hometown we stayed with family or house-sit for friends that are on vacation. We also use Trusted House Sitters to find places in our area. The house sits usually includes dogs or cats to take care of. We have a link on our website if you are interested in more information. www.brianandcarrietravels.com/ Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻
Excellent video! Well done. In future maybe address.... what does it feel like to get outside of your comfort zone? A good thing or bad? Your experience.
Hi guys, perfect video. I am sure many people will find it very useful. I looked on your new website and saw that you use the DJI wireless mic . How do you like it? I am thinking about buying the DJI pocket 3 creator pack, which comes with the wireless mic because of the gimbal. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Learning the same rapidly... Tahiti for ten days..(planned honeymoon and stopping point due to long travel). New Zealand for 14 days... Great adventures just to fast. 28 days or more required if not 6 weeks. We are in Australia now staying 3 weeks with friends ( arbitraging cost ). I ended up in the ER with a kidney stone in Tahiti.... CT scan, four hours treatment, and the ER visit 360.00 USD total. 😮. Great care.. We have switched to Safety Wing thank you for that..❤. We'll be back in Spokane area this summer... "Two thirsty" in Leavenworth first rounds on us? Safe travels.. Larry and Minnie ❤😊
UHG!! Kidney stones! ER visit would be 4 times that here. Sounds like a great trip and to be able to see Australia without the cost! We will be back sometime this summer so keep in touch. Safe travels!
Bellingham WA we used to live in Olympia WA now we live west of Spokane WA totally off grid in the middle of nowhere. However, before moving we traveled world wide too. We traveled light 40 liter, 25 liter and 20 liter day pack. But then we only traveled thirty days at a time. Never had a cell phone just a tablet and used wifi.
We have gone months at a time only using Wi-Fi. Our only issue was getting an Uber from an airport to our Airbnb. Other than that, we didn't really have a problem. We have recently decided for safety reasons we should be connected at all times. Service is cheap in other parts of the world so why not have it? 😃 Thank you for watching fellow Washingtonian!! 😄 Cheers!!🍻
True, we've thought about cell plans. But most airports have free wifi depending where you are standing in the airport. Gate area great, ticket couter great, baggage claim bad. Outside the door of airport bad.
Another great video! My husband and I are preparing to move to Fethiye Türkiye soon from CA. He has dual citizenship. That will be our homebase to travel from. Do you have a video about what to do in the US before leaving? I thought I remembered you saying in another video that you were going to do a video about this? We need it 😂 Also, when you are in Fethiye I highly recommend you take a bus to Dalyan!! We fell in love with Dalyan. You can take a boat from Dalyan up to Köyceğiz. Its a designated Cittaslow city. If you don't know what that is, you can google :). Also in Dalyan there is Istuzu beach. They have a sea turtle rescue there called Kaptan June's Sea Turtle Conservation Foundation. It has a very interesting story. In Fethiye you have access to the Lycian trail! Cant wait to see your videos and we hope to meet you in Türkiye!
Just to think that the first trip i ever took to Europe back in 1993,i took traveler checks lol lol,so much has changed ever since...very informative video,good job guys!!
Great video! Thanks again to you both. One question - do you still desire seeing 'the whole world' or has your scope of travel when you started 2.5 years ago shrunk with time? Thinking about another 10-15 years of this life ahead of you both, (not life, just hard travel life!) is it full steam ahead or are you refining the overall plan from when you first started? Have a great Sunday 🙂
Great question! We still want to see so much and haven't changed that...yet😉. But we also know time may start to slow things down for us a bit. Until then.....
Hi Folks! So you spent a good amount of time in SE Asia, 5 or 6 months. My main question is how did you handle the mosquitos? Are there less during daylight hours? Do you have to be indoors when it gets dark? What time of the year did you visit SE Asia? Did you experience any part of burning season? The reason I'm asking these questions is because I'm heading there later this month. To Kuala Lumpur first, then Thailand or Vietnam. Answers sometimes vary on the internet and I'm looking for first hand experience. Thanks so much! By the way, this was a great video and I'm sure will put others more at ease who are thinking of traveling.
We were there from Jan. to June and didn't experience any mosquitos, but we did experience the burning season. It started in late February while we were in Chang Mai, but we left just in time for the coast of Vietnam. You shouldn't have any issues in KL or on the coast. It does vary from year to year from what we understand so that may be why answers may vary. Good luck and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
We were in Thailand last year as well, Feb-March, slightly out of step with Brian & Carrie. Chiang Mai: There were a very few mosquitoes in Chiang Mai (early-mid Feb) but an herbal spray we brought with us worked fine (but doesn't do the trick in Maryland). Burning season drove us out--we love to walk around, but our eyes and throat would sting and we just knew how unhealthy it must be. It rained a couple times, which cleared out the air for a day or two, but it looked like the pollution was just going to get worse and the rain less frequent. People living there full-time do have bad health effects. Then we went to Khao Sok National Park: Not really mosquitoes there (don't know how) and minimal haze. Finally: Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe: A few mosquitoes in the evening (but either a mosquito coil under our dinner table or that herbal spray was enough) and minimal haze. Enjoy!!!
Thanks so much for chiming in. I had several small bottles of mosquito repellent in my Amazon cart, which I'm now going to definitely modify. Wasn't sure how I was going to enjoy the steet food at night. But now....thanks!@@Laura-kb5sr
@@Paul-cg1bn We brought some of the herbal one (I think Murphy's lemon eucalyptus oil) and also brought one super-strong DEET one (Ben's). The doctor at the travel clinic where we got vaccinations in Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai Wellness Clinic--highly recommend!) advised using strong DEET if in buggy areas and said Boots Pharmacy stores sold it; but we weren't ever near a Boots and only saw regular-strength DEET sprays in local pharmacies. Pharmacies also had herbal ones but not lemon eucalyptus so I don't know how they'd compare. But if we'd gone the low-DEET route, we'd have just sprayed more often, I think. We brought two small bottles of each (carry-on!) and took most home. We also brought reef-safe sunscreen but mainly wore rash-guards (less skin exposure) and brought most of the sunscreen home. Next time we'd bring one small bottle of each bug spray, one tube of reef-safe sunscreen, and that's it--skip toothpaste, shaving supplies, shampoo, lotion, really anything else. Oh, and someone commented that many Thai facial products automatically come with lightener, which is the last thing this face needs haha, but I don't use facial products so it was a non-issue. So excited for you!!!
Another great video! Thanks! So, we're working on our 2024 plan and doing Europe and Asia and maybe Australia. Already have a couple of cruises booked an including a repositioning finishing up Lagos, Portugal, before we head to Spain, Albania and Turkey. Then we are heading to SE Asia - maybe Bangkok, Vietnam, Bali and Kuala Lumpur to start. We spent almost 3 years traveling the US doing a lot of pet sitting and timeshares with a massive of stuff in a minivan. Like you, we now travel with 2 Carry-ons and 2 personal item bags (plus a CPAP). We're about to fly TAP Air Portugal which has carry on limitations of 10kg/22 pounds Carry-on and 2kg/4.4 pounds personal item. It's also the only airline I've seen that treats medical equipment - e.g. CPAP (which I have) and even walking aids like canes (don't need one of those yet!) - as your personal item! I know that size and weight of Carry-ons is not always checked but when people are over and caught just before they board, it can be incredibly expensive (like $125 on TAP) plus you've just checked something you really didn't want to check. Bag size is relatively easy to deal with - I know you use the Away Bigger Carry-ons - but what about weight? At this time, we're considering it may be cheaper and less hassle to buy a cheap checked bag and pay a bit more to assure we don't end up with forced checked bags at a very expensive price of things we don't want to check.. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences dealing with this, have you had to check your bags at the gate and pay high fees, etc. Thanks!
WOW!! Sounds like a great trip! We are always overweight and have only been forced to check twice. We check in online, so we don't have to go to the counter for a boarding pass. That's where they get, ya!! One airline didn't have an online check and the other used a hand scale at the gate. The amount saved with carry-on you really only need to get away with it a few times before the luggage pays for itself and there are always people with larger luggage than ours. Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for the info and the amazingly quick reply! Did you fly any of the airlines which only have a 7kg carry on limit? And were the penalties you had to pay insane like TAP's $125? Last, guys' haircuts are easy (like we really care). My wife is curious about how Carrie handles her hair.@@BrianandCarrie
Hey...my husband and I are in Bangkok now and having a great time. One aspect that surprised us was the heavy pollution though. I wonder if you've experiences that as well? That combined with the heat is difficult to deal with as Canadians who are uses to a colder climate! Cheers🍻 and thanks for the great content!
We didn't experience too much pollution while we were there in early Jan. 2023. The heat really started to get to us in April and May. Being from the Seattle region the humidity is unbearable. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Thank you for this fantastic video! So much great information that I'm going to have to watch this again and take notes. Honestly. Being that I'm very old school, the google app info you gave on translating languages is good to know. Also, you mentioned that Americans are welcomed in countries. What about now with the conflict going on in Israel? I've been afraid to travel abroad because I've heard that Americans are frowned upon. Have you encountered any problems with this recently?
We were in Turkey when the war broke out and didn't have any problems at all. People were very kind the entire time we were there, and we plan to go back in March. Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻
You always have such great information in your videos. I will be retiring in a few years and plan to slow travel similar to what you are doing. I’m curious, do you have a set monthly, yearly, or daily budget? And how flexible are you with it? Thanks for any advice! Cheers 🍻
We have more of a yearly budget as some places are less/more expensive. We just put out our 2023 yearly costs video... You may find that helpful. Cheers
Great info as always! One thing I’ve been meaning to ask (if you’re willing to share), esp now realizing you like to be in US for a little longer than some of the insurance plans allowed.. did you consider an ACA or Marketplace plan with subsidy? If in your state your income is below a certain level, you may be able to get a plan for no monthly premium. Granted, high deductible but it seems like a contingency plan for emergencies in US (as long as it happens in your state and covered area, tho I understand life threatening emergency covered in all of US). Just interested in your thoughts on that. US citizens and our insurance woes!! 😢😂
Maybe you said this in another video, but I don’t recall. Do you own property still in the states or do you use airbnb when you are stateside as well? Thanks.
Great question. This is always an issue for us. We had two house sits this time that allowed us to use their car. Other than that, we borrow from our parents. They don't mind but there are logistics involved. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Great video. Do you guys find it more difficult to travel now due to cost inflation? Airbnb became just way too expensive. I remember some cities like Budva off season or Antalya in May or June - you could rent a nice flat for $450-500 a month… now the prices are just way up around everywhere… what is your experience ? Do you find it harder to book decent place in order to stay within budget ?
We are seeing prices move up, yes. We started traveling in 2021 when costs were low because no one was traveling. We believe that with the post covid travel bug, costs have gone up. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Yes but are you still able to book places at your budget of around $1,000 per month, or did you have to adjust your budget upwards? I am planning the same but find difficulties booking some places because of the cost , I.E now $2,000 per month vs $1,000 two years ago
We have had to adjust our budget. For the upward tick in cost and we feel that we need nicer accommodations moving forward. We haven't seen double the price but have noticed places costing a few hundred more than they used to.
Cigna Global has a plan where you add on US coverage. It's costs a bit more, but is reasonable. Even with US added on, you still get a set amount of days in the states for emergency coverage, but the days are limited.
We will have a video out later this month on how we travel, banking, taxes, plans, trains, accommodations, etc. We do file our taxes just like we would back home. Thank you for watching and asking the question. Cheers!!🍻
Thank you for the great video. Since you do stay longer than 3 weeks when you come back to the US what health insurance company are you using to cover you in the US? Thank you.
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get weekly TRAVEL TIPS and stay up to date: mailchi.mp/b5946ff455b2/weekly-newsletter-sign-up. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻
This is a must for anyone having interest in international full time travel.
Done
This link looks to be broke?
Did you Keep your home here in U.S., where do you stay affordably when back state side????
@@carriemartz8952
When we come back to the USA, we either stay with friends or rent an airbnb in a location we would like to stay. We find that it’s reasonably affordable. I know B&C do homesitting to offset costs. Remember, you don’t have maintenance expenses (electricity, garbage, water, property taxes,etc) to deal with.
Really Great Traveling Information! I am a Single, Senior, Disabled Female Traveler so I am forced to do things a little differently from what abel people can do. For me, I have longer stays in one place….usually about 1 month. That way I have more time in between to rest and figure out my daily strategy….example: where am I grocery shopping and how much can I buy? I am not able to carry groceries so I have a small cart with wheels that I travel with. Every movement for me must be thought out in explicit detail or I could really get physically hurt and God Forbid…end up in a hospital. The more details and strategy one is able to figure out during their travel, the more beneficial and fun your travel will be. As far as traveling as “Americans”, it really has to do with the individual attitude. What we put out is what we get back. Just be Kind, Patient, Observant and Respectful and you really should not have any problems. Thank You Brian and Carrie. ❤
It is impressive, Anita that you are traveling the way you do. Very inspiring. We have mentioned in the past walkability and whether or not places are handicap friendly. We will be doing a lot more of that moving forward. Thank you for watching our channel!! ❤
@@BrianandCarrie
You guys are great. Love your channel!
❤
Oh how true.
Way to go!!!! You are also inspiring!!! Thank you, Anita, for sharing your experience.
Hi there! I am so happy to see that you are on your way to 50k subscribers! I remember watching you at 8k -12k and saying.. what? These folks are so helpful, down to earth, likable, funny, and interesting. They give us so much helpful and visually beautiful content re places we may visit or visit vicariously through them. Now, more people are listening and watching and learning. And it benefits everyone. Thank you, Brian and Carrie! -M
Thank you so much for following along since the beginning - we truly appreciate your support ♥ We feel incredibly blessed to be able to do what we are doing and having the work we put out there be appreciated means so much. Cheers!!
I'm from the UK and have been lucky enough to travel widely over the years. Wherever we go, my husband and I always comment that people's everyday lives are basically the same - work, family and just getting through each day. We're all more alike than different and we need to remember that 😊
Yes, that was something that was so cool to see and honestly made the world seem much smaller in a sense. Cheers!!
yes, absolutely
Thank you for your time and posting. Again, great information. I think what works against Americans when they are abroad, isn't that they are Americans, it is the attitude they bring with them. I was a waiter at the Sheraton Mirage Resort in Port Douglas, Queensland Australia. And none of the Aussies wanted to wait on Americans. As for myself, 80% of Americans were not very nice, and 20% were great to wait on. On another note, 100% of the Japanese I waited on were fantastic. :) Great info on the VPN.
When I started touring Europe in 1977, my backpack weighed 67 pounds (Kelty, steel frame :). I got to Amsterdam and met a couple with a baby traveling worldwide. They went through my pack and got rid of about 25 pounds of 'stuff' for me. They were super nice.
Hoping that we are part of the 20%!! 😀
Interesting reflections.. as the child of immigrants who went back home every few years.. I realized watching this how “sheltered / ignorant” Americans who have never traveled are…travel really shapes your world view, your perspective , your values. I’m sure you guys have learned so many lessons including “we are all human and want the same basic things”. Love watching your videos .. it gives me a break from what’s happening to my Palestinian people 😓
Travel has been some of the best education we've ever had. Getting out and seeing the world through your own eyes and experiences is priceless. Happy we can give you a bit of a break from all the horrible things going on.
So much of what you say rings true for my husband and my experience also. We tell people all the time that you can actually have a more affordable life traveling than being in the states and doing the regular work life. We have been traveling off and on for increasing amounts of time since the 90s. Our first big trip was to Thailand for a month to rock climb. Then we did a more fast travel trip for about 6 months in 2007 (which helped us to discover slow travel is more our thing... 17 countries in 6 months will do that to you!). Then we did about 3 years in 2016. We were supposed to get back out there in 2020, but we all know how that went. So we shifted, bought a van and did some travel around the USA for a bit, landing in Montana for a year to do seasonal work. We are currently gathering ourselves to head out again. We want to do another El Camino again (part of the 2016 journey) and get back to Eastern Europe. Your videos on Turkey are inspiring to me, so who knows, maybe we'll include that into our Shengen shuffle. :) Thanks for your informative and inspiring content. We like to find folks to follow that are similar to us to keep us inspired and forward thinking to when we can be backpacking nomads again.
It can be much more affordable to travel full-time. The cost of living in our area of the US is high. Our rent in Bellingham WA. was almost $1800. With a car payment, car insurance, renters' insurance, gas, utilities, and on and on! It all adds up. Thank you for all the comments and for adding to the channel!
Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for another informative video, Brian & Carrie.
As always, thank you for watching!! 😁
Love your videos! As a retiree with serious progressive health issues, travel for me is hard and requires intensive planning around medical issues and off ramps. Over the last few years, I’ve been working through my bucket list in the order of hardest first, slamming as much as possible through my health window before it closes. Minimalist packing is critical. Getting the pace right also. I alternate between bursts of intense inn-to-inn walking and cycling followed by “Chillin’ poolside” in an attractive base camp. Curveballs happen. If you don’t want to deal with them stay at home. Whenever they occur I take a deep breath and remind myself that curveballs come in two categories: those that can be solved with a credit card and those that require a hospital stay. Don’t sweat the first category. My general approach is to follow my curiosity, check out potential options online, experiment, and then iterate by dialing up what works well and dialing down my mistakes. I definitely feel the health walls closing in. Many of the things I might once have wanted to do are no longer realistic. But I’m still out there. Your videos are helpful reminder of what’s still possible, and an inspiration to go out and get it. Thanks!
The fact that you are still out there is inspiring! It isn't always easy for us and we don't have any health issues. It is impressive that you are doing what you are. Thank you for your comments and for watching our channel. ❤
I'm always amazed how few people realize that healthcare, prescriptions, etc. are often better and so much more affordable in other countries! Plus, a lot of the rx we use in the US are OTC in much of Europe. Of course, the "higher maintenance" you or your spouse are, the more you think you'll need elsewhere. I think the biggest hurdle is STUFF; I like my creature comforts, too.
Yes, creature comforts are hard to do without. Eventually we know we will settle somewhere again and have some of those things. Cheers!!
This video was spot on. We were lucky enough to be able to sample alot of Asia from a 28 day cruise. It truly excited us to go back again soon. We have had nothing but wonderful experiences from school kids on a bus outside of Pompeii, to a group of school kids in Hanoi, to a butcher in Venice, and a police officer in Barcelona. Anytime we needed help with directions, all were willing to help us. Be kind, bottom line, a smile and a genuine kindness goes a long way. Also learn patience and grace, if you already don't practice them.
Love this!! Thank you, Elizabeth. ❤
Thx for this video. It was very interesting to see an honest summary about what travelling is really like.
Thank you for watching and commenting, Mike! 🍻
My first OS stint in the 80s I lived in Canada for 2 years . I was a long way from home ( Australia) and got homesick a bit. One of the most comforting things was hearing people mow the lawns on a Sunday morning which my dad used to do. Hearing the mowers start up was very soothing and reassuring to know that the world has some similar elements wherever you are.
It just wouldn't be Saturday without a great video from you guys. I'm super stoked for your 2024 plans, and won't miss an episode.
Thanks, Mike!
As a Brit we sometimes get some banter and ribbing about the Royal family and Empire etc but it’s jovial mostly.
Bellingham is a cute town with a flavor all its own 😊The Baglery Bakery downtown has amazing made on site Bialys! Yum!!
We are always looking forward to our return! Home will always be Bellingham!
Hello you two. My journey starts in June, house is sold, been keeping Goodwill busy and just wrapping up my affairs. I have loved all of your videos but this one is off the charts. The info answered practically all of the unknowns I've had and squashed some stereotypes such as the language concern. You are both incredible for doing this and I am so appreciative to have found you. Every place I go to I will have a picture with my Two Thirsty shirt and find a way to send them to you.😊
We would love to see the Two Thirsty pictures!! 😃 So exciting that you are so close to starting your travels, June will be here in no time at all! 🍻
I travel long term and I agree that 4 months is my trigger point. Even for a few weeks at home makes a world of difference and able to recharge. 😊
100% agree... It's great to have that reset.
Thanks for the tips.. one big thing we’ve learned on our travels is to be aware of air pollution levels of the location we are going to. We’ve encountered an unexpectedly large number of unhealthy air days in the various locations we’ve been, to the point that this is one of the first things we check for now.
That's also a great idea! We've really only seen this in SE Asia, but a good thing to be aware of. Cheers!!
Great video as always! Carrie, I have to say it again: your hair looks amazing.
Thank you! ❤
The pregame nerves and intimidation are very real. Having never been overseas our first month was in Italy. My stomach was all tore up leading up to it. When we got there we did have a couple days of issues like figuring out the trains and using our phones. But a couple weeks into it, we were the ones helping other travelers. There really is a quick learning curve. If I had it to do over again though we would have started out in a country where we know the language (like Spain) just to make it a little easier at the beginning.
Yes, great tip! Starting somewhere where language isn't an additional curveball would be a good idea 😊
The most important phrase to learn in any foreign language is, "Where is the toilet?"
Haha - very true!!
😂😂 thank you!!
At the risk of TMI, my entire cancerous colon has been removed and I poop 14x/day. Between that and celiac disease, travel while staying out of hospitals has become very challenging. But I’m still out there with the help of memorized key phrases in each country I visit. Where the mind goes, the body will follow…
Great advice guys - am enjoying all your vids.
Thank you for watching!! 😊
This is refreshing the same fears that you had are the fears that I have thank you for this video
So happy you found the info helpful 😊
I love this video!! It addresses a lot of negative issues I hear about travel. Thanks for doing what you do!
Thank you for your video & info. Although we have only started YouTubing just over a year ago, my partner & I have been travelling extensively for years (business & pleasure). Between us we have been to all the 7 continents (Antarctica in 2023 was incredible). There is no place like home but we really love travelling, learning about new cultures & customs & will continue to do so when possible. Big cheers from Melbourne 🍷!
Happy travels!!
Always great to see how you present honest and helpful information!
We are starting our travels (tomorrow!) and love watching this (and others) to keep a proper perspective.
Thanks so
Much
So exciting!!! Thank you for watching our channel and commenting! Safe travels!!
Cheers!🍻
Another terrific video! I thought it was so ironic when you spoke of your concern for anti-American sentiment. I had literally just put a post on my facebook account to encourage friends and family back in the states. Even though we have only been in Latin American countries, so far, all the people we have had interactions with have been very positive and pro-America. Yesterday, when we showed our passports to a bus driver before boarding the bus, he said, “America - the greatest country in the world”! It was a good feeling. 😁
We are about to start our 8th month of traveling and I agree with everything observation you made about what we thought it would be like and what it actually is.
The one thing that I hadn’t counted on, foreseen, or heard anyone talk about before, is the friendships we have made. We try to stay at least a month in each location. We have made some great friends along the way. This makes life more enjoyable and more difficult. We are trying to decide where we want to retire, and sometimes it becomes difficult when our emotions get involved. 😉.
We have just a little over a week left here in Paraguay and then we are heading to Albania! 😁👏🏻. I have been rewatching your videos from there and I’m getting excited about going there. We are hoping we will like it very much, because we might spend a year there.
Thanks again for all the work you do making these videos. It’s become my Saturday ‘fix’. 😉
Safe travels.
We have had people say to us that they will make it to The United States someday. It is usually the younger generation, but the American dream is still alive. Your journey sounds amazing! Maybe someday we will cross paths. Safe travels!
Cheers!!🍻
Absolutely yes to "more modern" dental care outside of the U.S. And the good news is that it's SO MUCH CHEAPER!
So so much cheaper!! Something more need to learn about... The cost in the states is ridiculous.
Great informative video!
Thank you for watching!! 😊
Love your videos. We are slow-traveling full time, too, and it's nice to see others who are doing the same. Last year we traveled for 6 months and returned to the states for 4 months. This year we will travel for 8 months. I'm impressed by how low your budget is, we're spending a lot more per month. Only traveling in Europe so far, though, which may explain that.
We make sure to travel to "budget-friendly" countries with an occasional mix of someplace more expensive. That is what really helps us keep our budget down. There is a reason we haven't spent time in the UK or Ireland. 😃 Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Loved this video. DH and I are 47 & 49 and we have been cleaning up our finances and doing some aggressive planning so that we can start some slow travel in 3-4 years. We will still own a home in PR but we plan on getting rid of all our “stuff” on the mainland. Safe travels! You all should visit the Caribbean for a few months. 😎
It feels really good to downsize and get everything in order. Having a home base is really nice as well. We couldn't have both, so we house sit when we are home. We will be doing the Caribbean soon! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Cheers!🍻
@@JayandSarahthank you. Your comment gives me hope. I love love my job, but we live in a state with high taxes and we do not have kids! I love island time and travel more. Enjoy your travels, your life, and each other. ❤
There's nothing like real life experience to learn what works for you! I recently realized my travel habits have changed a lot since I started in 1994. Certainly technology and the Internet have made a difference but so have my preferences as I've gotten older. What worked for me when I was 33 doesn't suit me now at age 63. It's been a real eye opener to discover how the way I travel has changed and how I need to adapt going forward.
Love this comment, Linda! Thank you for adding to the channel! ❤
This is spot on, we spent 20 years climbing volcanoes around the world…..we’re now 66 and can’t do that anymore as my back and hubby’s knees can’t cope. We love trains these days plus ships… 🚢
We're long-time fans and never miss an episode! You inspired us to spend 3 months in Albania and Montenegro (to which I'll say I hate the tourist tax in Kotor where I ended up at the police station.) But here's a question...I can't take life in NYC any longer. WHERE.... where... of all the countries you've visited, do you believe one could live a normal, contented and safe retirement the MOST AFFORDABLY? If you have the time, I'd love to know what 3 countries most come to mind. Your content has changed our lives!!!! (No pressure! :) 😀 Wishing you both ongoing good health and happiness.
Thank you so much for all the kind words!!! We have a video out this weekend of our top 10 budget places to visit or stay longer term. The Top Places to Travel in 2024 video will give you some of our favorites as well. As far as countries go Portugal, Poland, and Romania ( most of the Balkans) are affordable. And, anywhere in SE Asia. 😀 Thank you again for the support and for watching our channel. ❤
Haha! The luggage thing is spot on. Luckily, our "home" base in Romania is the family home so we bring whatever we want from the states and fly immediately to Brasov. Then from there we launch trips where we only take a carry on and a small backpack each. Lugging luggage on and off trains, buses, cabs/Ubers is a pain!
We love Brasov, one of our favorite places in an amazing country! Thank you for watching and commenting! 😃
Love your videos and am making tons of notes and pounding on my spread sheet.
Hello Brian and Carrie… Thank you for coming up with so many nice and instructional videos… I have found really hard to try to book an Airbnb in His Him as the cost on Airbnb is more than double of what we see on you tube videos… Do you have anyone at La Casita Hua Hin that you can recommend to decrease the cost of renting a place for 1-2 months?
We do not. Prices seem to be going up all the time. A place that we may have stayed at a year is now double the price.
Don't forget the travellers cheques when heading over to California!! Yeah, i was one of them, Brian. Seems laughable now, having to make an appointment with the bank, then get dressed up for the occasion. Yet there was something exciting about travelling outside our neighbourhood. Now I pay with my smart watch. You both make this gig look easy. It is a pleasure to check in guy's.
Times have changed without question!! It seems to be easier now but there are still challenges. Thank you for checking in!! 😀
oh yes....travel in the '60s. Must wear a suit and tie on an airplane, choose smoking or non-smoking seats!
@@johnbennett6269 Seemed like 1st class flying compared with today's nightmarish economy class seats.
Thanks awesome people!❤
Thanks so much for watching 😊
Another great and valuable video. Thank you for answering so many questions.
Thank you for watching!!!! 😃
Lesson's learned videos are great. This helps us all navigate with less assumptions, and let's us be more prepared for our own journeys. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for watching and we appreciate all of your recent comments!! 🍻
Thanks for the video! For niche medical topics, I would check in advance if possible--some vaccines and medicines that are exorbitantly expensive here are much more affordable elsewhere; but when we were in a neat university city in Mexico and my husband got Covid, we discovered that Paxlovid is not available there (the government has an extremely limited supply that its public hospitals ration out), tests are at only a few pharmacies (none within walking distance from us) or online, and only outdated vaccines are available (so we were extra-conscientious knowing the vulnerability around us). It wasn't a huge deal for us personally, and he's fine now; but if we were older & with more other risk factors, we'd want to be aware of these things. I don't know if that's an isolated type of situation, but it feels like global health inequities are bound to hit home sometimes. But we needed a different medication there and found it fine--it was imported so relatively expensive, but it was available.
Excellent video and content! Perfect as always! Since we have done some traveling in last few years, l would agree with all your comments.
Thank you for the support!! We very much appreciate your comments! 😀
On the island of Koh Mak watching this .One thing to know tourist are back traveling everywhere.Record numbers .Need to ride a motorcycle on the islands .Great channel.Keep making them .Like your honest opinions.
Thanks so much, we appreciate your kind words. Enjoy your travels. Cheers!!
Great video. After three years of FT travel, I agree with all of this. The only thing I would add is in the transportation segment. We like smaller beach towns mixed in with our city visits. We have found having a car and driving is a necessity in those places, and that quickly increases expenses. But getting out of the big cities with the freedom to move around as you please is worth it!
Yes, having a car to see more areas not accessible by public transportation would be wonderful. Cheers!!
Absolute best Travel channel on YT !!
Thank you so much ❤️
Great info, my wife & I have been traveling since September 2023 and now it's Feb 3-24, We had all of the same expectations as you but we have more luggage and what a nightmare. My wife has 2 large suitcases,1 carry on and a big purse. I have 1 large suitcase,1 big duffel bag and a backpack. Along the way we have gotten rid of 2 small suitcases along with a lot of clothes.We also sold everything we own including our home, we have our truck to our son and we are for the most part homeless.I now dear when we have to change locations because of all the stuff we have. We are looking for a place we want to call home base but the reality is that I might want that to be in Oregon where we are from then spend time traveling to places we want to see with a much smaller luggage situation. Thanks for the great videos, keep them coming.
It seems like each time we return home we pack less the next time we head back out. It would be nice to have a homebase but for now we are enjoying the lifestyle. Thank you for watching and commenting! Safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
Good stuff; thank you! Something good to know is that American Express credit cards are rarely accepted outside the USA. I use mine just for online bookings and some overseasa airlines don't accept it either. Just an FYI 😊
Yes, that's also very true. Thanks for sharing 😊
Very interesting and informative as you touched on several subjects. Thanks. Kathleen
Thank you, Kathleen!! ❤
You directly put a finger on it: the fear of the unknown and change. In some cases, as you did it, you sometimes have to take that leap of faith, and trust in yourselves and your abilities (which are considerable). I think that the additional good news is that if you set a proper real-life budget, and then have some hiccups, that you are able to reset and resteer the course direction. Money of course is top of mind and wondering if you will run out, but sticking to that budget and monitoring your spend addresses that. You are budget travels but you aren't backpackers, living in hostels. You make choice, splurge where necessary and still cover (generally) the places you want to be visiting. You both have an easy manner, and respect and smiles beget respect and smiles. Good for you to embrace the attitude of "I am the visitor here, and why can't I find a proper American hot dog?" The unexpected bonus for you two has been your success on TH-cam and starting a little cottage industry with gear and sweatshirts. Bonus cash!! Keep on travelling! I am anxious to see all your stops in 2024! Cheers!
It is always nice to read your comments, Robert. Thank you so much for supporting the channel the way you do. It is appreciated.
Cheers!!🍻
I'm curious which insurance you switched to that allows you to be in the US for longer periods when you are home visiting family. I've seen the travel insurance that allows short term visits, but am trying to find options for longer stays.
PS: I am a 52 year old woman who lives in a Seattle suburb and am getting priced out here. I am encouraged by your ( and other's) videos :)
Thanks?
Hi! Cigna Global offers to add on US coverage. It can't be used to live in the states but can be used for much longer stretches. Hope that helps 😊
Great video and lots of food for thought - just added VPN to shopping list for our upcoming stay in England.
Thank you, Brenda and safe travels!! ❤
Wow I’ve been watching your videos for a while and didn’t realize you’re from the city of “subdued excitement!” I’m a former resident myself. Happy trails!
HA!! Thank you for watching!! 😀
I love this. I completely get the purge when traveling. I always throw out stuff a couple weeks into traveling. I get sick of lugging it. Sometimes I’ve purged too much and realize I only have 1 shirt and 1 pair of pants left for the next 2 weeks. lol
I’d love to hear more about what you do about your time with your family. And I’d love to know what your plans will be when you age and can’t get around as well. You won’t have a home, a consistent Dr, retirement community, and just the cost of living as your age.
The quality of time with our family has increased since we started. We are
not home as often but spend days with parents/kids rather than just a couple of hours at a time. We are hoping that we will be healthy and fit well into our 60s so we have time to figure out our long-term plans. For now, we are loving what we are doing and have no plans to stop anytime soon. Thank you for watching!!
Everything on point in my opinion 👌
Enlightening! Can you share more info on a future video about your house sitting arrangements? I would love to hear your take on the best way to do this. Thanks so much and keep sharing your knowledge!
Yes, we are planning one now so should be out in the next month
Thanks! Appreciate your content.
We appreciate you watching!! 😀
Great and so informative!! So enjoy your travels and all the videos! Thanks! Ruth
Thank you, Ruth. We are excited to get back on the road soon and bring more destination videos of Turkey and Greece. Thank you for following along! ❤
I suspect fear of the unknown is the biggest fear. After all our travels we go with the flow and trust the process. Any negatives have far been outweighed by the kindness of local people whenever we've had any issues. Currently in Melaka, Malaysia and getting a bus back to Kuala Lumpur lunchtime, today... looking forward to the hotel pool!!
Yes, going with the flow makes it all run so much smoother. Enjoy your pool time... Im sure it's hot there.
@@BrianandCarrie During this trip we have decided to leave Portugal and apply for residency in Malaysia - strange it seems culturally close to British with English spoken and easier bureaucracy - than Portugal plus we love Chinese/Malay/Indian food. Added bonus so many SE Asian countries close by. Good fortune with your travels!
Another Great Video! Cap One = $10 fee for cash withdraws. B of A = $30+ for same. Message = be aware of different bank offerings!
We use Charles Shwab that have free internation ATMs fees. We get re-imbursed for any fees at the end of the month.
Interesting! I have a Schwab brokerage account. I can get a credit card or ? connected to this account for use at ATM's?@@BrianandCarrie
Yes, you can get a debit card with your brokerage account. 😄
Hi, have rewatched your video and am sure will again in the future. Lots of good reality checks. Now because you have been to numerous countries and cities, I think a good add on to a video would be which ones have the strongest, most consistent internet services. This is one of the main reasons I'm visiting SE Asia. In general, it seems to be very adequate there, especially because I've heard some countries use fiber-optic lines. I've noticed internet speed taking a hit while using a VPN as well, and my concern is having internet fast enough to allow streaming for work purposes in spite of this. Other travelers have mentioned at times how slow the internet is. Thanks so much!
We have had very few issues with internet service anywhere we have gone. The slowest has been right here in the US! 😂 That is a good topic to mention in a video! Thank you for the idea and for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
I have been finding that as an American, I am accepted in tourist areas of a city but not always accepted in the more local areas. I'm not offended; I just keep my cool.
It will really depend on the country that you are in. I'm sure in Serbia it would be a mix of each. We had a great experience with the locals but had plenty of anti-American comments on the video of Belgrade. We have never had a bad experience in person. Knock on wood!! 😄
Love watching your videos! What travel insurance did you get ?
I use safetywing.com/?referenceID=brianandcarrie&Ambassador
Greetings from Seattle! I am wondering what you guys pack to get away with carry on only. If you have covered this topic in one of your videos please point me out.
Hello Seattle!!! Here is a link to our free packing list!
brianandcarrie.myflodesk.com/packinglist
We do have packing videos as well. I'll leave a link to that as well.
th-cam.com/video/Pqpncfr5FZ4/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for watching!!! GO M's!!
Hi，where do you stay when you get home？ do you leave your place empty while you travel？ do you rent it out? What do you mean by house sitting? Thank you, love your vedioes❤
We sold everything so when we come back to our hometown we stayed with family or house-sit for friends that are on vacation. We also use Trusted House Sitters to find places in our area. The house sits usually includes dogs or cats to take care of. We have a link on our website if you are interested in more information. www.brianandcarrietravels.com/
Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
I see. Thank you for replying🎉
Excellent video! Well done. In future maybe address.... what does it feel like to get outside of your comfort zone? A good thing or bad? Your experience.
Great idea, John. Thank you!!
Thank you for sharing valuable wisdom from your travels. How much advance do you plan your travel? I’ve noticed you have your plans for 2024.
We have plans but have only booked our first destination. We will be doing a video later this month about how we do everything.
Hi guys, perfect video. I am sure many people will find it very useful. I looked on your new website and saw that you use the DJI wireless mic . How do you like it? I am thinking about buying the DJI pocket 3 creator pack, which comes with the wireless mic because of the gimbal. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.
It's our latest addition and we are loving it! 😊
Learning the same rapidly... Tahiti for ten days..(planned honeymoon and stopping point due to long travel). New Zealand for 14 days... Great adventures just to fast. 28 days or more required if not 6 weeks. We are in Australia now staying 3 weeks with friends ( arbitraging cost ). I ended up in the ER with a kidney stone in Tahiti.... CT scan, four hours treatment, and the ER visit 360.00 USD total. 😮. Great care..
We have switched to Safety Wing thank you for that..❤. We'll be back in Spokane area this summer... "Two thirsty" in Leavenworth first rounds on us? Safe travels..
Larry and Minnie ❤😊
UHG!! Kidney stones! ER visit would be 4 times that here. Sounds like a great trip and to be able to see Australia without the cost! We will be back sometime this summer so keep in touch. Safe travels!
Bellingham WA we used to live in Olympia WA now we live west of Spokane WA totally off grid in the middle of nowhere. However, before moving we traveled world wide too. We traveled light 40 liter, 25 liter and 20 liter day pack. But then we only traveled thirty days at a time. Never had a cell phone just a tablet and used wifi.
We have gone months at a time only using Wi-Fi. Our only issue was getting an Uber from an airport to our Airbnb. Other than that, we didn't really have a problem. We have recently decided for safety reasons we should be connected at all times. Service is cheap in other parts of the world so why not have it? 😃 Thank you for watching fellow Washingtonian!! 😄
Cheers!!🍻
True, we've thought about cell plans. But most airports have free wifi depending where you are standing in the airport. Gate area great, ticket couter great, baggage claim bad. Outside the door of airport bad.
Another great video! My husband and I are preparing to move to Fethiye Türkiye soon from CA. He has dual citizenship. That will be our homebase to travel from. Do you have a video about what to do in the US before leaving? I thought I remembered you saying in another video that you were going to do a video about this? We need it 😂
Also, when you are in Fethiye I highly recommend you take a bus to Dalyan!! We fell in love with Dalyan. You can take a boat from Dalyan up to Köyceğiz. Its a designated Cittaslow city. If you don't know what that is, you can google :). Also in Dalyan there is Istuzu beach. They have a sea turtle rescue there called Kaptan June's Sea Turtle Conservation Foundation. It has a very interesting story. In Fethiye you have access to the Lycian trail! Cant wait to see your videos and we hope to meet you in Türkiye!
Just to think that the first trip i ever took to Europe back in 1993,i took traveler checks lol lol,so much has changed ever since...very informative video,good job guys!!
Thank you, Daniel! ❤
Wow it’s a lot work what you guys do it’s not just traveling for fun!
That is very true, we do put a lot of work in. But we also quickly realized, we wanted something to focus some time on for now. Cheers!!
We are having the time of our lives but yes, we do put time into what we are doing. Thank you for noticing!! 😃
great content guys, nicely structured. I am looking forward to seeing more videos with useful tips in 2024. Na zdraví
So happy you found it helpful 😊. We are excited for our 2024 content. Cheers!!
Great video! Thanks again to you both. One question - do you still desire seeing 'the whole world' or has your scope of travel when you started 2.5 years ago shrunk with time? Thinking about another 10-15 years of this life ahead of you both, (not life, just hard travel life!) is it full steam ahead or are you refining the overall plan from when you first started? Have a great Sunday 🙂
Great question! We still want to see so much and haven't changed that...yet😉. But we also know time may start to slow things down for us a bit. Until then.....
Great content, as always. ❤️ realist information. Love following your adventures.
Thanks so much for watching 😊
lol they look really good. i was starting to think sweaty and tired was their natural state xD
Great tips!
Thanks so much for watching ☺
Hi Folks! So you spent a good amount of time in SE Asia, 5 or 6 months. My main question is how did you handle the mosquitos? Are there less during daylight hours? Do you have to be indoors when it gets dark? What time of the year did you visit SE Asia? Did you experience any part of burning season? The reason I'm asking these questions is because I'm heading there later this month. To Kuala Lumpur first, then Thailand or Vietnam. Answers sometimes vary on the internet and I'm looking for first hand experience. Thanks so much! By the way, this was a great video and I'm sure will put others more at ease who are thinking of traveling.
We were there from Jan. to June and didn't experience any mosquitos, but we did experience the burning season. It started in late February while we were in Chang Mai, but we left just in time for the coast of Vietnam. You shouldn't have any issues in KL or on the coast. It does vary from year to year from what we understand so that may be why answers may vary. Good luck and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
We were in Thailand last year as well, Feb-March, slightly out of step with Brian & Carrie.
Chiang Mai: There were a very few mosquitoes in Chiang Mai (early-mid Feb) but an herbal spray we brought with us worked fine (but doesn't do the trick in Maryland). Burning season drove us out--we love to walk around, but our eyes and throat would sting and we just knew how unhealthy it must be. It rained a couple times, which cleared out the air for a day or two, but it looked like the pollution was just going to get worse and the rain less frequent. People living there full-time do have bad health effects.
Then we went to Khao Sok National Park: Not really mosquitoes there (don't know how) and minimal haze.
Finally: Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe: A few mosquitoes in the evening (but either a mosquito coil under our dinner table or that herbal spray was enough) and minimal haze.
Enjoy!!!
Thank you so much for your reply. I was about to load up on mosquito repellent through Amazon. Now I'll just order one bottle.
Thanks so much for chiming in. I had several small bottles of mosquito repellent in my Amazon cart, which I'm now going to definitely modify. Wasn't sure how I was going to enjoy the steet food at night. But now....thanks!@@Laura-kb5sr
@@Paul-cg1bn We brought some of the herbal one (I think Murphy's lemon eucalyptus oil) and also brought one super-strong DEET one (Ben's). The doctor at the travel clinic where we got vaccinations in Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai Wellness Clinic--highly recommend!) advised using strong DEET if in buggy areas and said Boots Pharmacy stores sold it; but we weren't ever near a Boots and only saw regular-strength DEET sprays in local pharmacies. Pharmacies also had herbal ones but not lemon eucalyptus so I don't know how they'd compare. But if we'd gone the low-DEET route, we'd have just sprayed more often, I think. We brought two small bottles of each (carry-on!) and took most home. We also brought reef-safe sunscreen but mainly wore rash-guards (less skin exposure) and brought most of the sunscreen home. Next time we'd bring one small bottle of each bug spray, one tube of reef-safe sunscreen, and that's it--skip toothpaste, shaving supplies, shampoo, lotion, really anything else. Oh, and someone commented that many Thai facial products automatically come with lightener, which is the last thing this face needs haha, but I don't use facial products so it was a non-issue. So excited for you!!!
Another great video! Thanks!
So, we're working on our 2024 plan and doing Europe and Asia and maybe Australia. Already have a couple of cruises booked an including a repositioning finishing up Lagos, Portugal, before we head to Spain, Albania and Turkey. Then we are heading to SE Asia - maybe Bangkok, Vietnam, Bali and Kuala Lumpur to start. We spent almost 3 years traveling the US doing a lot of pet sitting and timeshares with a massive of stuff in a minivan.
Like you, we now travel with 2 Carry-ons and 2 personal item bags (plus a CPAP).
We're about to fly TAP Air Portugal which has carry on limitations of 10kg/22 pounds Carry-on and 2kg/4.4 pounds personal item. It's also the only airline I've seen that treats medical equipment - e.g. CPAP (which I have) and even walking aids like canes (don't need one of those yet!) - as your personal item!
I know that size and weight of Carry-ons is not always checked but when people are over and caught just before they board, it can be incredibly expensive (like $125 on TAP) plus you've just checked something you really didn't want to check.
Bag size is relatively easy to deal with - I know you use the Away Bigger Carry-ons - but what about weight? At this time, we're considering it may be cheaper and less hassle to buy a cheap checked bag and pay a bit more to assure we don't end up with forced checked bags at a very expensive price of things we don't want to check..
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences dealing with this, have you had to check your bags at the gate and pay high fees, etc.
Thanks!
WOW!! Sounds like a great trip! We are always overweight and have only been forced to check twice. We check in online, so we don't have to go to the counter for a boarding pass. That's where they get, ya!! One airline didn't have an online check and the other used a hand scale at the gate. The amount saved with carry-on you really only need to get away with it a few times before the luggage pays for itself and there are always people with larger luggage than ours. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for the info and the amazingly quick reply!
Did you fly any of the airlines which only have a 7kg carry on limit? And were the penalties you had to pay insane like TAP's $125?
Last, guys' haircuts are easy (like we really care). My wife is curious about how Carrie handles her hair.@@BrianandCarrie
Hey...my husband and I are in Bangkok now and having a great time. One aspect that surprised us was the heavy pollution though. I wonder if you've experiences that as well? That combined with the heat is difficult to deal with as Canadians who are uses to a colder climate! Cheers🍻 and thanks for the great content!
We didn't experience too much pollution while we were there in early Jan. 2023. The heat really started to get to us in April and May. Being from the Seattle region the humidity is unbearable. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Thank you for this fantastic video! So much great information that I'm going to have to watch this again and take notes. Honestly. Being that I'm very old school, the google app info you gave on translating languages is good to know. Also, you mentioned that Americans are welcomed in countries. What about now with the conflict going on in Israel? I've been afraid to travel abroad because I've heard that Americans are frowned upon. Have you encountered any problems with this recently?
We were in Turkey when the war broke out and didn't have any problems at all. People were very kind the entire time we were there, and we plan to go back in March. Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
You always have such great information in your videos. I will be retiring in a few years and plan to slow travel similar to what you are doing. I’m curious, do you have a set monthly, yearly, or daily budget? And how flexible are you with it? Thanks for any advice! Cheers 🍻
We have more of a yearly budget as some places are less/more expensive. We just put out our 2023 yearly costs video... You may find that helpful. Cheers
What do you mean being home? Do you have your own place in States or you rent for those months when you’re home ?
Being back in our hometown with family and friends. We stay with family or house sit while we are "home."
Great info as always! One thing I’ve been meaning to ask (if you’re willing to share), esp now realizing you like to be in US for a little longer than some of the insurance plans allowed.. did you consider an ACA or Marketplace plan with subsidy? If in your state your income is below a certain level, you may be able to get a plan for no monthly premium. Granted, high deductible but it seems like a contingency plan for emergencies in US (as long as it happens in your state and covered area, tho I understand life threatening emergency covered in all of US). Just interested in your thoughts on that.
US citizens and our insurance woes!! 😢😂
That would be an option, especially for those spending plenty of time in the states 😊
Maybe you said this in another video, but I don’t recall. Do you own property still in the states or do you use airbnb when you are stateside as well? Thanks.
We both sold our homes. When we are home we stay with family or we house sit.
How do you manage transportation when you're back "home"?
Great question. This is always an issue for us. We had two house sits this time that allowed us to use their car. Other than that, we borrow from our parents. They don't mind but there are logistics involved. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Great video. Do you guys find it more difficult to travel now due to cost inflation? Airbnb became just way too expensive. I remember some cities like Budva off season or Antalya in May or June - you could rent a nice flat for $450-500 a month… now the prices are just way up around everywhere… what is your experience ? Do you find it harder to book decent place in order to stay within budget ?
We are seeing prices move up, yes. We started traveling in 2021 when costs were low because no one was traveling. We believe that with the post covid travel bug, costs have gone up. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Yes but are you still able to book places at your budget of around $1,000 per month, or did you have to adjust your budget upwards? I am planning the same but find difficulties booking some places because of the cost , I.E now $2,000 per month vs $1,000 two years ago
We have had to adjust our budget. For the upward tick in cost and we feel that we need nicer accommodations moving forward. We haven't seen double the price but have noticed places costing a few hundred more than they used to.
Love your new logo! Great video! We are leaving for Spain soon and we cannot wait! Would you still recommend a larger carry on?
Thank you! Yes, we would still recommend the larger carry-on. We seem to pack less each time we leave the States. 😀
Thanks!😊
Great video. One of your best I think. Summarized everything you need to know. Thanks Brian & Carie :)
Thank you so much. So happy you found it helpful 😊
Hi. What do you do for insurance when you are back visiting the states?
Cigna Global has a plan where you add on US coverage. It's costs a bit more, but is reasonable. Even with US added on, you still get a set amount of days in the states for emergency coverage, but the days are limited.
Great informative video, as always! What platform do you use for house sitting and how do you like it?
Thanks!! We go through this site... We've been very happy with them. trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/c/3563316/1555723/18144
@@BrianandCarrie Thank you, good to know!!!
Really enjoy your videos Brian and Carrie. This one is especially good. I still would like to know how do you handle your travel and taxes?
We will have a video out later this month on how we travel, banking, taxes, plans, trains, accommodations, etc.
We do file our taxes just like we would back home. Thank you for watching and asking the question.
Cheers!!🍻
Theres some reassurance i needed😊
Thank you for watching, Dan!!
Is Discover card accepted much yet, especially in Europe?
We didn't really see it listed as an option. But, being neither of us carry one we may not have been looking for that specifically.
Thanks guys great video was packed with some great info and ideas btw where is your first stop
First stop is Dublin 😊
nice cheers I know its beer thirty over there LOL @@BrianandCarrie
You two are awesome, really enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much!! ❤
I would like to see a video of how to pick the best place to stay, for example, airbnb.
Here you go!! th-cam.com/video/zhPAaqEXXXc/w-d-xo.html 😀
Thank you for the great video. Since you do stay longer than 3 weeks when you come back to the US what health insurance company are you using to cover you in the US? Thank you.
Cigna Global with the extended US coverage plan. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Thank you guys!
Thanks so much for watching!
I’m not new to your channel and if it’s not too personal how do you funds these trips
30-plus years of hard work. And, the hard work we put into TH-cam to supplement. We are also debt free so that is a big factor.