Places We’ve Traveled To… | Our Itinerary & Travel Diary
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.
Our Itinerary
Italy & ??? | April 2025 through (we don’t know yet)
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
Destination: Italy & ??? | April 2025 through ???
Stay Tuned! In April, we land in Rome, but our next destination is still up in the air because…. 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’re already mapping out an escape route to somewhere a little less… intense. Stay tuned.
Destination: Transatlantic Cruise | March 2025 – April 2025
In March 2025, we’re setting sail 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!
Our search for a Budget-Friendly Places to Stay In Fort Lauderdale Before Our First! Cruise
Affordable Hotels Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Planning a transatlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Italy is an exciting adventure filled with the promise of stunning ocean views and new European destinations. However, as full-time travelers accustomed to budget-friendly options,…
Comprehensive Transatlantic Cruise Guide: 15-Day Princess Cruise from Florida to Italy
Our First-time Cruise Planning Planning a transatlantic cruise can feel both exciting and overwhelming—there’s so much to consider, from what to pack to understanding onboard amenities and exploring ports of call. As we prepare for our first cruise, a transatlantic…
40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”
When we started planning our itinerary for four months in England, Southampton popped up on our radar. Not only is it a major cruise port, but you can also hop on a ferry to/from France or Spain (which is what…
Destination: Mexico | February 2025 – March 2025
When we leave Chile, we’ll be headed to Mexico – Watch this space for our travel experiences, accommodation reviews, suggested things to do and itineraries
Destination: South America | October 2024 – February 2025
Stayed Tuned! Our next adventure is taking us to Valparaiso & Vina Del Mar in Chile! Watch this space for our travel experiences, accommodation reviews, suggested things to do and itineraries
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…
Buenos Aires to Santiago by Bus: Why You Should Take the Bus (but only Once!)
Yeah, let’s talk about ways to save money while traveling, and live to regret it, LOL…. About Us and Why We Chose the Bus In case you’re new to our story, here’s quick catch up; At the end of 2022 we…
How We Spent Two Months in Buenos Aires on a $5,200 Budget: Full Breakdown of Costs and Daily Life
We started our second year of fulltime travel in late 2024. We headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina – part of our experiment to see if comfortable, full-time travel was possible on a modest retirement budget. What we discovered in this…
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…
Our Review of a budget-friendly studio apartment in Buenos Aires
Looking for an affordable, comfortable home base during your travels in Buenos Aires? We found this budget-friendly studio that checks all the boxes: clean, quiet, and perfectly located for exploring on a modest budget. Here’s our honest review—because finding the…
11 Reasons Why Buenos Aires Is Worth Visiting & Why It’s Not
As full-time travelers preparing for our first visit to Buenos Aires, we spent countless hours researching Argentina’s vibrant capital city to answer the question: “Is Buenos Aires worth visiting?”
First Timer’s Guide to Buenos Aires: Everything You Need to Know
Warning! There is a lot of info contained in this first timers guide to Buenos Aires, because whenever we get ready to travel to a new destination, we do a lot of research to ensure we make the most of…
Destination: North America | June 2024 – October 2024
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
Westport Winery Garden Resort: A Multi-Faceted Destination on Washington’s Coast
Finding Our Way There On our drive through Washington state last summer, 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…
Discovering the International Mermaid Museum: A Hidden Gem on Washington’s Coast
We ended up at the International Mermaid Museum completely by chance. While visiting the United States over the summer we spent a few days in Bellingham and were set up with a cat sit in Portland, Oregon as our next…
Our search for a Budget-Friendly Places to Stay In Fort Lauderdale Before Our First! Cruise
Affordable Hotels Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Planning a transatlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Italy is an exciting adventure filled with the promise of stunning ocean views and new European destinations. However, as full-time travelers accustomed to budget-friendly options,…
Exploring WWII Aviation History at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Manitoba
During our time in Manitoba, Sandra and I uncovered a true gem for history and aviation enthusiasts: the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial. This museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the British Commonwealth…
Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide
As we approach the launch date of our new nomadic life we have been discussing all the things we haven’t seen/done in and around our hometown of Redmond, Oregon. I have very vague recollections of visiting Crater Lake National Park…
A day at the beach – Newport, OR
We took a quick visit out to the Oregon coast recently, it’s been unpleasantly hot here in the high desert of Oregon plus it had been ages since we’d been out to the ocean. It wasn’t a hard sell –…
Prineville Oregon, a hidden gem of a small town
Prineville Oregon is a fairly small town with a lot going on. Founded in 1880 and presently home to just over 11,000 residents, it is the county seat for Crook County, Oregon. Prineville developed primarily as an agricultural community and…
Destination: England | March 2024 – June 2024
We were here for so many days that it’s taking a while to write about all our experiences – Watch this space for our travel experiences, accommodation reviews, suggested things to do and itineraries
Our 29-Day Detour to Derby, England
Our Budget Travelers’ Itinerary for Museums and More in Derby, England 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…
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 perfect retirement, Oxford wasn’t just another stop on our itinerary – it was a return to familiar ground with…
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 the way you think. Here’s our experience with a Harry Potter walking tour in London, what worked, what didn’t, and how to…
Our List of the Top 8 Affordable Places to Stay in London England (2024)
We are often asked how we can afford to travel full time. Well, a lot of it boils down to research. Finding a decent, affordable place to stay, without burning through our budget takes Time with a capital “T”. Of…
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 to say, we’re homeless but in a socially acceptable way. While visiting England (May 2024), we went and experienced London’s Warner Bros…
40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”
When we started planning our itinerary for four months in England, Southampton popped up on our radar. Not only is it a major cruise port, but you can also hop on a ferry to/from France or Spain (which is what…
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 changes to our future plans. Honestly, we are pretty much ALWAYS in…
Watch our Discover England: Video Highlights of Our Journey
Destination: Spain & France | March 2024
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
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…
Destination: Portugal | February 2024 – March 2024
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
Our DIY Walking Tour of Belem: How We Explored 15 Historic Sites in One Day
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…
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 Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo). Ranked as #8 out of 18 things…
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…
Best Times to Visit Lisbon: Weather & Prices for Budget Travelers
Understanding the best times to visit Lisbon can make your trip more enjoyable. Sun-drenched and wallet-friendly. Exactly why we landed in Portugal for a little over a month….
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
My Portuguese Sandwich Recipe: Bringing Lisbon’s Flavors to Your Kitchen
Lisbon 2024. I’ll never forget the first time I tried a Bifana, the traditional Portuguese sandwich. It was love at first bite—the tender, marinated pork, the slight crunch…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Destination: Costa Rica | January 20204 – February 2024
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!
The #1 Reason Why We Think You Should visit San Jose, Costa Rica = the National Museum of Costa Rica
Our initial plan was to spend a month relaxing at the beaches of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, but we soon realized that laying on a beach fulltime wasn’t…
Our Puerto Viejo Accommodation Review: Brisas del Caribe
If you are visiting Costa Rica, especially the Caribbean side, it’s probably for the beaches and you’re probably thinking Puerto Viejo. Peaceful, quiet villages, beautiful sunny weather, black…
Dinosaurs to Butterflies: What We Learned and What to Expect at Costa Rica’s Natural Science Museum
Since we had a few extra days in San Jose, Costa Rica, we decided to venture off the beaten path and check out a museum that doesn’t make…
San José, Costa Rica: A 3-Day Itinerary That Worked for Us (and Might for You)
We didn’t have huge expectations for San José. Let’s be honest—most people pass through on their way to beaches, volcanoes, or jungles. But we found plenty to keep…
Our Visit to the National Theater of Costa Rica
Insider Tips for Your San José Adventure (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) The National Theater of Costa Rica, located in the heart of San José, is a must-visit…
Is San Jose Walkable? – 11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica on foot!
Travel rarely goes exactly according to plan, and that’s certainly the case for us. Our Costa Rica itinerary got a little shuffled around, leaving us with some unplanned…
Leeeaaving on a….. short bus….
(My apologies to Peter, Paul and Mary….. Or if you’re slightly younger, John Denver….) Today’s grand narrative is about travel schedule changes and budget considerations. We originally booked…
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…
Destination: Panama | November 2023 – January 2024
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:
7 Things We Did, or at least tried to do, in Boquete Panama
Nestled amidst the majestic mountains of Panama, Boquete (pronounced boh-KEH-theh) beckons travelers with its refreshing climate*, breathtaking scenery, and a smorgasbord of outdoor activities. We, Jeff and Sandra,…
Our Visit to a Coffee Farm Tour in Boquete
Labeled as one of the top things to do in Boquete we knew we wanted to tour a small family owned and operated coffee farm when we were…
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…
Our Review of the Studio Coliving Hotel in Panama City, Panama
Welcome to our in-depth review of Studio Coliving Hotel in Panama City, Panama! In this blog post, we’ll take you through our decision-making process, the details of our…
Our Take on the Biomuseo in Panama City
The Biomuseo: A Guide to Panama’s Natural History On our trip to Panama City, we visited Panama City’s natural history museum, a Frank Gehry-designed marvel that’s become a…
We Wander around Panama City’s Old Town – Casco Viejo
Our first weekend in Panama we had a bit of a wander around Panama City’s Old Town, Casco Viejo, including drinks and a snack at a rooftop bar….
Our Visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center – Smithsonian Wildlife Experience in Panama City
We’ve always been avid travelers, but this year marks our first year as fulltime travels, living abroad and discovering new destinations. On a rainy Saturday Panama morning we…
Our Tour of Panama Viejo
As a couple exploring potential retirement destinations on a modest budget, Panama’s affordability factor was a major draw. We were also intrigued by Panama Viejo’s UNESCO World Heritage…
Rain, Tacos, and Humidity: Our First Weeks in Panama City
Follow our journey from Oregon to Panama City, Panama. This blog post shares insights into our experiences during the initial weeks of international nomadic living, covering everything from…