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.
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.
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Albania
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Cost of Living in Sarandë, Albania: What We Actually Spent
What this cost of living breakdown covers In 2026 we spent just over two months living in Sarandë, Albania – to see if if could someday be our…
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Daily Life in Albania for American Expats and Senior Nomads
Most people imagine fulltime travel as one long string of adventures – castles, beaches, museums, and a never-ending parade of Instagram-worthy meals. But the truth is, daily life…
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Retiring to Albania & How to Apply for Residency in Albania
Part 1: Why We’re Even Considering Residency — and Why We May Be Doing This the Hard Way We didn’t arrive in Albania with a firm plan to…
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What was our Cost of Living in Pogradec Albania? (2025)
One of our longest stays so far was a little over four months—140 nights—in Pogradec, Albania. We’re sharing this cost of living in Pogradec Albania report as a…
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Corfu | Albania | American Expat Life | Greece | Sarandë
Three Days in Corfu Town: What You Can Do (and What You Can’t)
We’ve learned that when people ask whether you can “do” a place in three days, they’re usually asking two different questions at once. Corfu Town is one of…
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ATM Fees in Albania (2025): What Travelers Need to Know
Most ATMs in Albania charge a flat withdrawal fee for foreign cards, typically between 500–800 Lek in 2025. If you’re planning a trip to Albania, you’ll need cash…
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7 Amazing Day Trips from Tirana
Tirana is one of Albania’s most convenient travel hubs – vibrant, welcoming, and centrally located for exploring the rest of the country. From here, it’s easy to set…
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Albania | American Expat Life | Destinations | Durres | Europe | Pogradec | Sarandë | Start Here | Trip Planning
What Is It Like to Visit Albania? Understanding Modern Albania: History, Culture, and Everyday Life for Travelers and Expats
The goal of this blog post is to give you a deeper understanding of what modern-day Albania is like and what you can expect from its people, culture,…
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Albania | American Expat Life | Cost-of-Living Reports | Destinations | Durres | Europe | Real Life Abroad | Start Here | Trip Planning
Our Cost of Living in Durrës, Albania for 61 Days
Real Numbers from Senior Nomads and American Expats on a Moderate Budget Why We Chose Durrës, Albania After blowing through our budget in Mexico, we decided we needed…
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Albania – A Guide for Retirees, Slow Travelers & Senior Nomads
When we chose to visit Albania it was to check it out and see if it was the right place for us to retire too, it wasn’t on…
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Our Walking Tour of Korçë Albania: Coffee, Cobbles & Culture
We set out from our apartment in Pogradec for a simple day trip to Korçë. Since the bus station is less than a mile away, it’s an easy…
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Durres | Albania | Cost-of-Living Reports | Cruising | Europe | Italy | Real Life Abroad | rome | Travel Resources
Port to Port: Our Journey Getting from Italy to Albania – A Step-by-Step Guide for Budget Travelers
If you’ve been following along, you know we’re no strangers to border crossings-but this trip packed in a few firsts even for us. From our first transatlantic cruise…
Portugal
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Where to stay in Lisbon; 6 Best Neighborhood PLUS Hotel Recommendations
After living in Lisbon for over a month as budget nomads, we’ve tested which neighborhoods actually work for different types of travelers – from dealing with the famous…
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Lisbon | Budget Friendly Itineraries | Destinations | Europe | Portugal | Reader's Favorites | Travel Guides | Trip Planning
Belém Walking Tour: Self-Guided Lisbon Itinerary for 15 Historic Sites
If you’re searching for a Belém walking tour itinerary that covers all the historic highlights, this self-guided Lisbon tour is perfect. Belém district combines Portugal’s maritime heritage, UNESCO…
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Portugal Travel Guide
Explore Portugal through the eyes of seasoned travelers. We’re Jeff and Sandra, experienced travelers who spent over a month traveling in Portugal. From the rich history at the…
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Lisbon | Destinations | Europe | Portugal
Free Belem Walking Tour: 15 Must-See Sites (Tested by Nomads Living in Lisbon)
To say that Belem is a historic district of Lisbon is sort of misleading since most of Lisbon’s districts are ‘historic’. Belém, Lisbon’s stunning riverside district, stands as…
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Our Visit to the Azulejo Tile Museum Lisbon (& The Mistake We Made)
One of the highlights of our time in Lisbon was our visit to the National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo). Ranked as #8 out of 18 things…
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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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Lisbon | Destinations | Europe | Portugal | Travel Resources
Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers Like Us
TL;DR: The best time to visit Lisbon for budget travelers is during the winter months (December to February), when prices for flights and accommodations are lowest and crowds…
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Lisboa Card Review: A First-Timer’s Guide to Saving Money with the Lisbon Card
we went all in with the 72-hour Lisboa Card, the official Lisbon tourist card. Here’s what we learned while using it
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Lisbon | Algarve | Destinations | Europe | 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…
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Faro | Algarve | American Expat Life | Europe | Portugal
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…
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Taking a Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon & Why The Splurge Was Worth It
Quick Navigation 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…
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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…
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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…
Spain
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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…
France
Coming Soon! – Stay Tunes
England
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Best Things to Do in Southampton (Cruise Port & Day Trips)
When we were preparing for our four month stay in England, the city of Southampton kept surprising us. We went in thinking of it mainly as a ferry/cruise…
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An Itinerary for Oxford England
An Itinerary for Oxford England Itinerary Quick Guide Time Needed: Full day or split across two days (see details below)Total Walking Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles between all locationsCost:…
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England Travel Guide
England consistently ranks as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why. With its rich history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant…
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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…
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Derby | Destinations | England | Europe
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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40 Best Things to Do Southampton UK
When we started planning our travel itinerary for the four months we’d be in England, Southampton popped up on our radar. Not only is it a major cruise…
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