I travel the world full time, and these are the things I did before I started. You may find this checklist helpful too. 1. Test This Lifestyle Before Committing Before you make the decision to travel full time, I strongly recommend testing this lifestyle first. One of the best ways to do that is by …
How I Book Award Flights Using Points and Miles
Because I travel full-time, I am very flexible with my dates and the cities I fly from or to. I do not always need to fly on a specific day, so I am able to play around with the dates and routes until I find a good deal. One tool I use almost every time …
How to Save Money on Accommodations While Traveling the World Full-Time
I’ve been traveling full-time for years, and these are the things I personally do to keep my accommodation costs down. Start With a Short Stay, Then Look for Short-Term Apartments in Person One thing I often do is book a hotel for the first few days when I arrive in a new city. This gives …
How to Manage Mail While Traveling Outside the U.S. for Long Trips
Under the USA PATRIOT Act, all U.S. financial institutions are required to collect a valid physical residential address when you open or maintain a bank account in the USA. This requirement still applies even if you are living or traveling full-time outside the U.S. As an American full-time traveler, both inside and outside the US, …
International Health Insurance for U.S. Full-Time Travelers
I’ve personally tried these insurance options during my full-time travel, and I review them every year to make sure I’m using the one that fits my needs best. I also added a section at the end of this post for U.S. travelers who are 65 and older, since their insurance rules and options are a …
A Good Phone Setup for American Full-Time Travelers Abroad
If you are a full-time traveler from the United States heading abroad or living abroad, this setup is perfect for staying connected. All US banks and financial institutions require a phone number from a recognized US carrier that can receive multi factor authentication codes for identity verification and account security. This setup lets you keep …
How to Withdraw Cash in Other Countries with No ATM Fees
ATM fees can add up fast when you travel full-time internationally. After trying a few different banks, the two ATM debit cards that have worked best for me are the Charles Schwab debit card and the Fidelity Cash Management debit card. This post isn’t sponsored. It is just my honest advice from my experience. I’m …
My 3-Week Ring Road Trip in Iceland
Season: Summer 2021 (Late July to Mid August). Trip Duration: 19 days. Car Model/Year: Kia Stonic 2020. Road Trip Direction: Counter-clockwise ring road trip that included the Westfjords. Kilometers Driven: 3488 kilometers. Road Type: Paved roads and gravel roads. No F-roads. Maps: Google maps for the most part. Food: Good breakfast and dinner at the …
My Yellow Pad Weekend
Over the last five years, I have embraced the concept of “The Yellow Pad Weekend” in my life. If you’re not familiar with it, let me explain what it means to me. My Yellow Pad Weekend is a monthly retreat where I escape to a remote area out of town for a weekend. I book …
Credit Cards with International Chip and PIN Capability
If you travel abroad or you plan to travel abroad in the future, then it is time for you to shop for a good Visa or Mastercard credit card that works at the self-service machines/unattended terminals such as train ticket kiosks at some airports and train stations in some countries. You might ask, “Hey wait …