Early retirement, nomadic life, and full-time travel
I retired early in my mid 40s, and I now travel the world full time as a U.S. citizen. I am a resident of Texas, USA, but I spend most of my time overseas, slow traveling and staying 1 to 3 months in each country before moving to the next.
This page is a simple starting point. It gives you a quick overview of what I write about and where to begin.
Why I created this blog
I got tired of seeing people charge money for simple information, so I decided that all the nomadic life and full-time travel tips I share here will be free, with no expectations in return. I started this blog to answer the questions people ask me the most when they think about trying this lifestyle.
Best places to start
If you are new here, these are the three pages I would open first.
Topics I cover
Click a topic for a quick summary, or jump straight to the full guide. I grouped them in roughly the order I set things up.
Plan and test the lifestyle
What I did before I left, how far U.S. dollars go in other countries, and what a full year on the road costs.
What should I do before I start nomadic life and full-time travel?
A 21-step checklist covering testing the lifestyle, domicile, mail, insurance, credit and debit cards, and more before you start nomadic life as a full-time traveler.
How has the U.S. dollar’s buying power changed in other countries? Free tool
A free tool that shows how inflation and exchange rates changed what the U.S. dollar buys in countries around the world since a past year, compared with what it buys in the U.S.
How much does a year of nomadic life in Asia cost? Free tool
A free tool that splits a full year of nomadic life across Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea, shows what each country costs, and tells you whether your yearly budget covers it.
Set up your U.S. home base
Domicile, mail, banking, and a U.S. phone number that keeps working overseas.
Which state should I pick for domicile?
Why Texas, Florida, and South Dakota come up most often, and why I picked Texas.
How do I get my mail and handle jury duty when I am overseas?
Setting up a physical residential address plus a mail forwarding service to stay compliant with U.S. banking rules, and knowing how to handle a jury duty summons if one shows up while you are overseas.
How do I keep my U.S. bank and brokerage accounts while traveling abroad full time?
The address and phone number setup that U.S. financial institutions require, plus a credit card and ATM strategy for a nomadic lifestyle.
How do I keep my U.S. phone number and use it abroad?
Using a dual-eSIM setup with Ultra Mobile or Tello for your number and Ubigi for data, so you can still receive bank 2FA codes overseas.
Housing and insurance for nomads
Where I stay, and how I stay insured without a U.S. home or a car.
How do I live full-time in Airbnbs and hotels without a U.S. home?
Staying 1 to 3 months per city plus booking platform status and points keeps accommodation costs lower than rent or mortgage in the U.S.
How can I get health insurance that works in other countries?
The strategy for having health insurance coverage in any country, plus a note for travelers age 65+.
How much will ACA health insurance cost me, and which plans cover me when I travel? Calculator
Estimates your ACA cost after the subsidy, shows which plans cover you outside your home area or outside the U.S., and compares up to three ZIP codes.
How do I stay insured when I rent a car without owning a car?
Why I kept a non-owner liability policy after selling my car, and what covers the rental car itself.
Handle money overseas
Getting cash and paying rent in local currency without big fees.
How do I withdraw cash in other countries without ATM fees?
Why Charles Schwab and Fidelity debit cards are the go-to for fee-free ATM withdrawals worldwide.
How do I pay a landlord overseas who only accepts local currency?
Using Wise to convert USD and send local currency directly to a landlord’s local bank account, without opening a foreign account.
Credit cards, points, and miles
How I pick my credit cards, earn points, and turn them into flights and hotel stays.
Which credit card should I get for a nomadic lifestyle and full-time travel?
The 9 questions to ask before getting a travel credit card, and the specific cards that check those boxes.
Which credit card should I use for each purchase? Free tool
A free tool that shows the card I use for each type of purchase, what it earns, and why I chose it over my other cards.
How do I earn points for flights and hotels?
Stacking points through Rakuten and the right credit card for each spending category to earn on autopilot.
How do I book award flights using points and miles?
Using PointsYeah to find award flights and transfer bonuses, then judging deals with my points and miles calculator.
Which airline miles program do I use most for award flights?
Why LifeMiles is my favorite program for booking business class on partner airlines like EVA Air and ANA, what I consider a good deal, and how I earn the miles.
Should I use points or pay cash for a flight? Calculator
A free calculator that shows how much each point is worth on a flight and tells you whether to use points or pay cash.
How do I get the most value from IHG points as a full-time traveler?
Turning the Chase IHG Premier card, 4th-night-free, and lounge milestones into ~$50/night upscale hotel stays.
Should I use IHG points or pay cash for a hotel stay? Calculator
A free calculator that compares the total cost of an IHG stay in cash and in points, including the 4th night free, and tells you which one is the better deal.
Should I use Hyatt points or pay cash for a hotel stay? Calculator
A free calculator that compares the cost of a Hyatt stay in cash and in points, including Chase and Bilt transfers, points sales, and elite status, and tells you which one is the better deal.
Looking for something I did not list here?