A Full-Time Travel Lifestyle with Smart Planning
My family and I have been traveling the world full-time since 2022. While we are not wealthy, we have managed to maintain this lifestyle through a combination of smart planning and budgeting strategies. We focus on long-term stays in affordable accommodations and prepare meals at home to save money.
Travel has always been a passion of mine. During my younger years, I lived in Scotland and Ireland, and over time, my wife and I have enjoyed exploring new places together. As we started planning for our family, we knew we wanted to travel abroad with our children for at least a year. In 2022, we took that dream and made it a reality by embarking on a full-time travel journey.
Before we set off, we sold, donated, or otherwise got rid of about 90% of our belongings. Some of the money from these sales helped fund our travels, while the rest was invested for the future.
Now, my wife and I document our travels and work as full-time content creators. Although we are not rich, we have found ways to make this lifestyle sustainable with some simple travel tricks.
Prioritizing Affordable and Comfortable Accommodations
The term “budget travel” often brings images of uncomfortable and inexpensive accommodations. However, choosing expensive luxury travel, especially for daily stays and dining, would have quickly drained our resources. Instead, we look for places that offer a balance between affordability and comfort.
We’ve discovered that Airbnb rentals, such as apartments, condos, or houses, often provide discounts after 28 or 30 days. So, we usually stay at least a month in each destination to get the best value. This approach also helps reduce costs, as longer stays mean fewer flights and train tickets.
Additionally, staying in one place for an extended period allows us to explore more slowly and sustainably. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, we remain excited and engaged throughout our travels.
Choosing Walkable Locations
When selecting a new destination, walkability is a key factor for us. Instead of staying in typical tourist areas, which can be costly and crowded, we prefer neighborhoods or towns just outside the main tourist spots.
Most of the time, we find ourselves in areas where residents are tending to their gardens or children are coming home from school, rather than encountering large crowds of tourists. We choose locations where we can easily walk to grocery stores, bakeries, and cafes, saving on car rentals for day trips.
Using a Rewards Credit Card for Savings
Our rewards credit card has significantly helped us save money through points and miles. Unless we need to use cash, we primarily use the Capital One Venture X credit card. The points and miles we earn on purchases have covered most of our air travel costs for over two years.
For instance, the $300 annual travel credit we receive offsets most of the card’s $395 annual fee. We can redeem this credit for flights, hotels, or other travel expenses booked through Capital One’s travel portal.
Cooking at Home to Save Money
We typically book hotel suites or rental properties that include kitchens so we can prepare meals at our accommodations. Eating out every day can add up quickly, so cooking at home helps us save money. We especially enjoy making breakfast in our own space using fresh ingredients from local grocery stores.
This approach not only saves us money but also gives us a chance to experience the local cuisine in a more authentic way. By preparing meals at home, we can better manage our food expenses while still enjoying the flavors of each destination we visit.
