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TheMobileRetiree.com contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLS Associate Program. If you make a purchase using one of the links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Click HERE to learn more

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Europe

See Europe through our eyes—no epic promises, just real travelers sharing real stories and travel tips learned from our first hand experiences as we explore Europe. From the sunlit streets of Lisbon to Faro’s coastal charm, Barcelona’s buzz, and Paris’s iconic boulevards, we’ve wandered, savored, and maybe gotten a little lost. We’ve embraced England’s mix of bustling London life and the quieter corners of Oxford, Derby, Plymouth and Southampton ( a few places in between). Every city and town tells its own story, and we’re here to share the good, the quirky, and the downright delightful moments that make Europe, well… Europe.

👋 New Here? We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expat and senior nomads, 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. Sometimes that means checking out local activities and visiting museums and historical sites; other times, it means finding out which local restaurant has the best pizza or empanadas and which grocery store sells peanut butter.

This life isn’t always glamorous; but it’s ours—and we’re here to share with you what we learn.

picture of us

Please Note: We’re real people, just like you, and we’re still out here living the full-time travel life. Sometimes that means it takes us a bit longer to share all our stories and insights from each place we visit. But don’t worry, we’re working on it! Stay tuned for more as we continue our journey and bring you the inside scoop from every corner of the world.

Portugal

Serra-da-Estrela-from-Getty-Images
Portugal | Destinations | Europe

Does it Snow in Portugal?

Portugal! The very name conjures visions of sun-kissed beaches, vibrant cultural experiences, and culinary delights that tantalize the taste buds. We’re wrapping up our month-ish long stay in…

Read More Does it Snow in Portugal?Continue

Best areas to stay in Lisbon for budget travelers
Portugal | Destinations | Europe | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides | Travel Resources

Where to stay in Lisbon for budget travelers like us – 6 Best!

Figuring out where to stay in Lisbon, especially for budget travelers, can be a daunting task. It’s a big city, with unfamiliar neighborhoods. We’ve been there! Our first…

Read More Where to stay in Lisbon for budget travelers like us – 6 Best!Continue

a tuk tuk on the streets of lisbon
Portugal | Destinations | Europe | Feb/Mar 2024 | Lisbon | Our Fulltime Travel Diary

Taking a Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon & Why The Splurge Was Worth It

Our month long visit to Portugal began in Lisbon; we scheduled a three day layover there just in case we had a bit of jet lag after our…

Read More Taking a Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon & Why The Splurge Was Worth ItContinue

picture we took of the beach at praia de faro
Portugal | Destinations | Europe | Faro | Feb/Mar 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

A Day Trip to Praia de Faro: Golden Sands and Local Charm

In this post, we’ll share our experience of a day trip to Praia de Faro (Faro Island Beach), including how to get there, what to expect on the…

Read More A Day Trip to Praia de Faro: Golden Sands and Local CharmContinue

a picture of the Portuguese sandwich that started it all
Lisbon | Destinations | Europe | Feb/Mar 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Portugal

My Portuguese Sandwich Recipe: Bringing Lisbon’s Flavors to Your Kitchen

My Portuguese Sandwich Recipe: Bringing Lisbon’s Flavors to Your Kitchen Lisbon – I’ll never forget the first time I tried a Bifana, the traditional Portuguese sandwich. It was…

Read More My Portuguese Sandwich Recipe: Bringing Lisbon’s Flavors to Your KitchenContinue

TMR icon with the lisboa cards
Lisbon | Destinations | Europe | Feb/Mar 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Portugal

Lisboa Card Review: A First-Timer’s Guide to Saving Money in Lisbon

we went all in with the 72-hour Lisboa Card, the official Lisbon tourist card. Here’s what we learned while using it

Read More Lisboa Card Review: A First-Timer’s Guide to Saving Money in LisbonContinue

Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers Like Us
Lisbon | Destinations | Europe | Feb/Mar 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Portugal

Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers Like Us

Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers Like Us Understanding the best times to visit Lisbon can make your trip more enjoyable. Sun-drenched and…

Read More Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers Like UsContinue

Things to do in Faro, Portugal – Catedral de Faro
Portugal | Destinations | Europe | Faro | Feb/Mar 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

Things to do in Faro, Portugal – Catedral de Faro

Located in the old town of Faro, Faro Cathedral – Igreja de Santa Maria or Se de Faro – is an amazing display of craftsmanship. We found Faro’s…

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Our Visit to Lisbon’s National Tile Museum & The Mistake We Made
Portugal | Destinations | Europe | Lisbon | Mar/April 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

Our Visit to Lisbon’s National Tile Museum & The Mistake We Made

Our Visit to Lisbon’s National Tile Museum & The Mistake We Made One of the highlights of our time in Lisbon was our visit to the National Tile…

Read More Our Visit to Lisbon’s National Tile Museum & The Mistake We MadeContinue

Belem Walking Tour Itinerary: Discover 15 of Lisbon's Historic Gems in One Day
Lisbon | Destinations | Europe | Feb/Mar 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Portugal | Travel Guides

Our DIY Walking Tour of Belem, or How We Explored 15 Historic Sites in One Day!

Our DIY Walking Tour of Belem, or…How We Explored 15 Historic Sites in One Day! To say that Belem is a historic district of Lisbon is sort of…

Read More Our DIY Walking Tour of Belem, or How We Explored 15 Historic Sites in One Day!Continue

Spain

Exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter Walking Tour: Our Experience with the GPSMyCity app
Barcelona | Europe | Mar/April 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary

Exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter Walking Tour: Our Experience with the GPSMyCity app

Our visit to Barcelona was very short, just three nights passing through on our way from Portugal to England. We arrived late Tuesday night, spent Wednesday marveling at…

Read More Exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter Walking Tour: Our Experience with the GPSMyCity appContinue

France

Coming Soon! – Stay Tunes

England

Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England)
Andover | Destinations | England | Europe | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

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…

Read More Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England)Continue

Things to do in Derby England
Derby | April/May 2024 | Destinations | England | Europe | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

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…

Read More Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England: Budget Friendly Things to Do in DerbyContinue

Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England Museums
Oxford | Destinations | England | Europe | May/June 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England Museums

Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England Museums or “how we explore Oxford’s Museums slowly….” When we landed in England as part of our international quest to find our…

Read More Our Local-Paced Guide to Oxford England MuseumsContinue

two pics of alleyways that are NOT inspirations for the movie Harry Potter
London | Destinations | England | Europe | May/June 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary

Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in London

Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in London Looking for the real-life magic of Harry Potter in London? We’ve got you covered! Except, maybe not in…

Read More Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in LondonContinue

picture we took of Parliament and Big Ben in London
London | Accommodation Reviews | Destinations | England | Europe | June/July 2024 | May/June 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides | Travel Resources

Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England (2024)

Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England We are often asked how we can afford to travel full time. Well, a lot…

Read More Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England (2024)Continue

a picture we took of the great hall doors at the Making of Harry Potter studio tour
London | Destinations | England | Europe | May/June 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides

Is Harry Potter Studio Tour Worth The Time And Money?

Is Harry Potter Studio Tour Worth The Time And Money? We are Jeff and Sandra, senior nomads, retired and traveling full-time as ‘citizens of the world’. Which is…

Read More Is Harry Potter Studio Tour Worth The Time And Money?Continue

view of Southampton Piers
England | Cruising | Destinations | Europe | Featured | May/June 2024 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary | Travel Guides | Travel Resources

40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”

40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring” When we started planning our travel itinerary for the four months we’d be in England, Southampton popped up on…

Read More 40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”Continue

nomadic lifestyle planning
Panama | Costa Rica | England | Nov/Dec 2023 | Our Fulltime Travel Diary

If it’s not one thing…..

As we wind down our time here in Panama we we find ourselves reflecting on the intricacies of a nomadic lifestyle planning because yet again we are making…

Read More If it’s not one thing…..Continue

Traveling Soon?

Checkout these helpful resources!

  • Looking for Budget-Friendly Accommodations? – We suggest Booking.com and Expedia
  • Need help finding the best deals on flights? – We suggest Skyscanner and DailyDropPro
  • Want to rent a car? – We suggest DiscoverCars.com
  • Traveling by bus? – We suggest Busbuds!
  • Need Travel Insurance? – We suggest Visitors Coverage
  • Need international data? – We suggest Airalo or Gigsky
  • Scan our resource page for recs we personally use and LOVE

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