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Places We’ve Traveled To… | Our Itinerary & Travel Diary

Explore By Destinations

Our Travel Stories, Accommodation Reviews, Things to Do, Travel Itineraries and Resource

Welcome! On this page we share the wild and wonderful adventures from our multi-year, fulltime travels! If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling fulltime without spending a ton of money, you’re in the right place. Join us as we recount our journey—complete with the ups, downs, and everything in between.

  • Explore By Destinations
  • Italy & Albania
  • Transatlantic Cruising
  • Mexico
  • South America
  • North America
  • England
  • Spain & France
  • Portugal
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama
  • Our Itinerary

Italy & Albania

Stay Tuned! We landed in Rome, and then we traveled to Albania! Rome is always a whirlwind, but this year, it’s a full-blown tempest thanks to the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year. Millions of pilgrims are expected to descend on the Eternal City, turning the usual chaos into a symphony of long lines, sky-high accommodation prices, and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at every landmark. While it’s bound to be an unforgettable spectacle, it’s also making us rethink how much of that chaos we want to embrace. So, we mapped out an escape route to somewhere a little less… intense. Albania! Stay tuned.

Transatlantic Cruising

We sailed on a 15-day transatlantic cruise with Princess Cruises, departing from Fort Lauderdale and making our way to Italy. This journey marks our first-ever cruise, and we’re excited to dive into the world of onboard adventures, from navigating the ship’s amenities to exploring ports of call along the way. We’ll be sharing our experiences, tips, and the occasional misadventure, all from the perspective of first-time cruisers embracing this new mode of travel. Stay tuned for insights and stories from our oceanic voyage!

  • tmr icons on ferry in Bari Italy
    Port to Port: Our Journey Getting from Italy to Albania – A Step-by-Step Guide for Budget Travelers
  • Know someone cruising into or out of Fort Lauderdale? Share this post with them!
    Budget Friendly Stays Near the Cruise Port in Fort Lauderdale
  • cruise
    Pre-Cruise Planning Guide for Your Transatlantic Cruise
  • view of Southampton Piers
    40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”

Mexico

  • Mexico City 3 day itinerary
    3 Days in Mexico City: A Budget-Friendly Itinerary
  • mexico city travel guide
    Mexico City Travel Guide
  • mexico city 5 day itinerary
    Mexico City 5-Day Itinerary: Culture, Cuisine & Local Charm on a Budget
  • things to do in guanajuato
    An Itinerary for One Day in Guanajuato
  • Guanajuato
    Guanajuato Travel Guide
  • guanajuato at night
    Where to Stay in Guanajuato City
  • american expat senior nomads 1
    Why We Chose Guanajuato: 5 Compelling Reasons to Visit
  • Guanajuato travel tips
    How to Get to Guanajuato By Bus & What to Expect at the Bus Station
  • things to do in guanajuato
    Top 10+ Places to Visit & Things to Do in Guanajuato
  • what to eat in Guanajuato
    A Budget-Foodie’s Guide to Guanajuato: Local Dishes You Can’t Miss 
  • Our Visit to the Pyramids of Teotihuacán
    Exploring Teotihuacán: Our Day Trip to the Pyramids from Mexico City
  • Why Mexico City Was the Perfect 10
    Exploring Palacio de Bellas Artes – Mexico City, Mexico
  • things to do in Mexico city 3
    Budget-Friendly Adventures in Mexico City: 9 Free or Nearly Free Museums, Parks and Public Spaces
  • Why Mexico City Was the Perfect 10
    From Chile to Guanajuato: Why Mexico City Was the Perfect Stop for Nomads Like Us

South America

  • The Mobile Retiree icon in Buenos Aires
    Buenos Aires Travel Guide
  • photos we took while visit Palacio de Aguas Corrientes
    Is The Water Palace in Buenos Aires Worth a visit?
  • our visit the National Maritime Museum (Museu Maritimo Nacional) and the Cultural Quarter in Valparaiso
    Local Exploration: National Maritime Museum and Cultural Quarter in Valparaiso Chile
  • Buenos Aires to Santiago by Bus
    Buenos Aires Santiago Bus: Why You Should Take the Bus
  • in Buenos Aires
    How We Spent Two Months in Buenos Aires on a $5,200 Budget: Full Breakdown of Costs and Daily Life
  • a day out in Vina del Mar, Chile
    A day out in Viña del Mar, Chile
  • Is Buenos Aires worth visiting
    11 Reasons Why Buenos Aires Is Worth Visiting & Why It’s Not

North America

  • Westport Winery Garden Resort
    Westport Winery Garden Resort: A Multi-Faceted Destination on Washington’s Coast
  • international mermaid museum 1
    Discovering the International Mermaid Museum: A Hidden Gem on Washington’s Coast
  • Climb aboard aircraft at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
    Exploring WWII Aviation History at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Manitoba
  • View of Crater Lake from the rim
    Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide
  • Newport Oregon
    A day at the beach – Newport, OR

Coming Soon! We’re playing catch up on all the places we’ve been! Watch this space for our travel experiences, accommodation reviews, suggested things to do and itineraries

England

  • natural history ot oxford castle
    An Itinerary for Oxford England
  • England 1
    England Travel Guide
  • Andover Heritage Trail
    Exploring Andover: A Budget-Friendly Adventure (Hampshire, England)
  • Things to do in Derby England
    Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England: Budget Friendly Things to Do in Derby
  • two pics of alleyways that are NOT inspirations for the movie Harry Potter
    Accio disappointment! Our not-so-magical Harry Potter walking tour in London
  • picture we took of Parliament and Big Ben in London
    Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England (2024)
  • a picture we took of the great hall doors at the Making of Harry Potter studio tour
    Is Harry Potter Studio Tour Worth The Time And Money?
  • view of Southampton Piers
    40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”
  • nomadic lifestyle planning
    If it’s not one thing…..


Spain & France

We’ll admit that this time around we were only in Spain and France for a few weeks but there is so much we can still share! Watch this space for our travel experiences, accommodation reviews, suggested things to do and itineraries

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

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

Published OnNovember 27, 2024May 19, 2025

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…

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

Portugal

  • Belem Walking Tour Itinerary: Discover 15 of Lisbon's Historic Gems in One Day
    An Itinerary for Lisbon: The Perfect Self-Guided Day in Belém
  • Portugal
    Portugal Travel Guide
  • 07 Tile Museum
    Our Visit to Lisbon’s National Tile Museum & The Mistake We Made
  • Cat 06 sacrament altar 1
    Things to do in Faro, Portugal – Catedral de Faro
  • 20240214 120255
    Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers Like Us
  • TMR icon with the lisboa cards
    Lisboa Card Review: A First-Timer’s Guide to Saving Money in Lisbon
  • a picture of the Portuguese sandwich that started it all
    My Portuguese Sandwich Recipe: Bringing Lisbon’s Flavors to Your Kitchen
  • picture we took of the beach at praia de faro
    A Day Trip to Praia de Faro: Golden Sands and Local Charm
  • a tuk tuk on the streets of lisbon
    Taking a Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon & Why The Splurge Was Worth It
  • Best areas to stay in Lisbon for budget travelers
    Where to stay in Lisbon for budget travelers like us – 6 Best!
  • Serra-da-Estrela-from-Getty-Images
    Does it Snow in Portugal?

Portugal was our third country on our multi-year fulltime travel journey, we arrived in mid-February 2024 and lived there for just a over a month. We visited Lisbon (twice!), Faro and day-tripped it to Praia de Faro (Faro Beach) and Tavira. We’ll be adding more posts as soon! Watch this space for our travel experiences, accommodation reviews, suggested things to do and itineraries


Costa Rica

Costa Rica was our next country on our multi-year fulltime travel journey, we arrived in mid-January 2024 and stayed about a month. We visited Puerto Viejo and San Jose. We’ll be adding more posts as soon!

  • Costa Rica on a Budget
  • Affordable Places to Stay in San Jose, Costa Rica
  • a picture we took at the National Museum of Costa Rica
    The #1 Reason You Should visit San Jose, Costa Rica
  • San Jose Natural Science Museum
    Dinosaurs to Butterflies: What to Expect at Costa Rica’s Natural Science Museum la Salle
  • Brisas del Caribe
    Our Puerto Viejo Accommodation Review: Brisas del Caribe
  • picture of someone planning a san jose costa rica itinerary
    San José, Costa Rica: A 3-Day Itinerary
  • photo we took at the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica
    Our Visit to the National Theater of Costa Rica
  • View of garden through the railing at the museum
    11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica on foot!
  • nomadic lifestyle planning
    If it’s not one thing…..

Panama

Our first destination in our multi-year fulltime travel journey, we arrived in Panama in mid November 2023 and traveled the country (Panama City, Coronado, Elle Valle, Boquete, Boca de Toro) until mid January 2024. You can follow those stories here:

  • L Humidity check R800
    7 Things We Did, or at least tried to do, in Boquete Panama
  • Boquete coffee tour
    Our Visit to a Coffee Farm Tour in Boquete
  • nomadic lifestyle planning
    If it’s not one thing…..
  • Our review of Studio Coliving Hotel in Panama City Panama
    Our Review of the Studio Coliving Hotel in Panama City, Panama
  • aerial picture of the Biomuseo in Panama City, Panama
    Our Take on the Biomuseo in Panama City
  • Casco viejo blog pic
    We Wander around Panama City’s Old Town – Casco Viejo
  • Punta Culebra is a visitor center located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and is dedicated to exploration and discovery of the natural world through science.
    Our Visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center – Smithsonian Wildlife Experience in Panama City
  • picture we took from the balcony at the Panama Viejo Museo
    Our Tour of Panama Viejo
  • The Mobile Retiree in Panama City, Panama
    Rain, Tacos, and Humidity: Our First Weeks in Panama City

Our Itinerary

Italy & Albania | April 2025
Transatlantic Cruise | March 2025 – April 2025
Mexico | February 2025 – March 2025
South America | October 2024 – February 2025
North America | June 2024 – October 2024
England | March 2024 – June 2024
Spain & France | March 2024
Portugal | February 2024 – March 2024
Costa Rica | January 20204 – February 2024
Panama | November 2023 – January 2024

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About Us

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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.

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