For Americans thinking about living abroad
Can you really retire abroad on a budget? We’re finding out.
We’re Sandra and Jeff. Since 2023, we’ve been living slowly across countries — tracking exactly what we spend so you can plan with real numbers, not estimates. No guesswork.
From Chile to Guanajuato: Why Mexico City Was the Perfect Stop for Nomads Like Us
From Chile to Guanajuato: Why Mexico City Was the Perfect Stop for Nomads Like Us As American expat nomads, we often find ourselves transiting through vibrant cities like Mexico City. Initially, our plan was just a quick layover on our way from Chile to Guanajuato, but we’ve learned that transit stops can be opportunities in disguise. So, we decided to extend our stay to explore…
Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England)
Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England) We were staying nearby in Ludgershall and decided to spend a day Andover, England to check out the Age of Iron Museum. (Andover could easily be an affordable day trip from London!) After our museum tour, we stumbled upon a flyer for the Andover Heritage Trail. It looked like a great way to explore the town, so we…
Westport Winery Garden Resort: A Multi-Faceted Destination on Washington’s Coast
Westport Winery Garden Resort: A Multi-Faceted Destination on Washington’s Coast On our drive through Washington state, we discovered this hidden gem while traveling from Bellingham to Portland. Located about halfway between Aberdeen and Westport, the Westport Winery Garden Resort initially caught our attention because of the International Mermaid Museum located on the grounds – and there was no way we were going to skip THAT.…
International Mermaid Museum Review: A Hidden Gem on Washington’s Coast
We ended up at the International Mermaid Museum completely by chance. While visiting the North America over the summer we spent a few days in Bellingham, Washington and were set up with a cat sit in Portland, Oregon as our next stop. We had a week to cover what is usually around a 5 hour drive so we decided to be a bit touristy on…
Local Exploration: National Maritime Museum and Cultural Quarter in Valparaiso Chile
A Day of History, Street Art, and Local Dining in Chile’s Port City The Local Experience in Valparaiso As expats making ourselves at home around the world, our first sightseeing activity after arriving in Vina del Mar for our five week stay was to visit the National Maritime Museum (Museu Maritimo Nacional) and the Cultural Quarter in Valparaiso. Valparaiso is the sister city of Viña…
Buenos Aires Santiago Bus: Why You Should Take the Bus
This is a quick recap of our experience with the Buenos Aires Santiago Bus. or as Jeff said “let’s talk about ways to save money while traveling, and lived to regret it” LOL…. Buenos Aires – Santiago Bus Timeline We headed out of Buenos Aires at about 14:00 and made our first stop in Liniers before even leaving the city where we picked up a…
A day out in Viña del Mar, Chile
Last week we spent a day out in Vina del Mar; two museums which required two cafe stops. We started our trip with a second breakfast of coffee and medialunes at Cafe Libertad. This streetside cafe is in a bustling neighborhood on a main street so it’s not super quiet. It was good for people watching, though. The group of old dudes is a common…
Our Central American Travel Guides
Central American Travel Guides American Expats in Central America; Our Trip Reports, Travel Tips & Expat Life Insights Our life as American Expats in Central American began in Panama and Costa Rica, where we spent three months as budget-conscious slow travelers. Our two year plan was to spend months in each destination to really get a feel for what it’s like to live there, beyond…
Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England: Budget Friendly Things to Do in Derby
Our 29-Day Detour to DerbyBudget Friendly Things to Do in Derby Nestled in the heart of the English countryside, Derby is a charming city that often flies under the radar for travelers. During the four years we lived in England we never got around to visiting Derby. We only discovered it when we hit a glitch in our travel plans and needed to find a…
![Fort Lauderdale Cruise Hotels: Budget-Friendly Stays [2025]](https://themobileretiree.com/wp-content/uploads/Fort-Lauderdale-Cruise-port-1.jpg "Fort Lauderdale Cruise Hotels: Budget-Friendly Stays [2025] 9")
Fort Lauderdale Cruise Hotels: Budget-Friendly Stays [2025]
These 7 budget-friendly hotels near Fort Lauderdale cruise port offer the perfect combination of convenience, value, and comfort for your pre- or post-cruise stay—all verified and under $200 per night. Our Experience searching for an budget friendly place to stay in Ft Lauderdale After we booked our first-ever cruise we then realized we needed to find a budget-friendly hotel near the cruise port in Fort…
About Us
We’re Jeff and Sandra, two retired Americans, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment.
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