We typically travel on tourist visas and handle it about a week or two ahead of time. That gives us a buffer in case anything needs to be fixed.

Some countries are super simple, others are more restrictive, so we always check ahead. We also look for places where visas are easier or not required because those costs can add up quickly over time.

[Check country entry requirements for U.S. Citizens]

No. We do not travel with rigid itineraries.

We slow travel, so instead of planning every second of a trip, we build a strong starting point before we go. We use our Destination Match tool to help us find locations that best suits our families needs.

[Access the Destination Match Tool]

We didn’t just wing this.

We saved intentionally, automated it, and built what we call a freedom runway before we left. At the same time, we stopped spending for convenience in the U.S. and started questioning what we actually needed.

A lot of this is mindset. Once we shifted that, this lifestyle became possible.

[We break it down in our practical guide]

We actually started by renting it out.

But after doing that, we realized it didn’t make sense for us long-term, so we sold it. That gave us more flexibility and less to manage from afar.

I know other families keep their home and rent it out, but for us, removing that responsibility felt better.

We take safety seriously, but I don’t rely on headlines or random opinions online.

I start with the U.S. travel advisory to get a general feel, then I go deeper and look specifically at what areas are like for families, not just solo travelers or couples.

Every country has safe and unsafe areas, including the U.S. We avoided certain areas at home too. Day-to-day life in a lot of places we’ve been has actually felt calmer and safer for our family.

[Check the U.S. Travel Advisory]

We carry travel medical insurance. For our family, it’s about $112 every 4 weeks, and it covers emergency medical situations.

Outside of that, we’ve paid out of pocket when needed, and it’s been very reasonable. Honestly, accessing care has been easier than most people expect.

[See the travel medical insurance we use]

We made the decision early on that we didn’t need to recreate a traditional classroom.

I looked at the U.S. system and realized we could give our kids a strong education in a different way. Right now, we do a mix of homeschooling and worldschooling. It’s more flexible, more hands-on, and tied to real life.

We’re not formally enrolled anywhere at the moment because we move often, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table in the future.

We don’t just pick places because they’re popular.

We actually use our Destination Match tool to help narrow down what fits our family based on budget, lifestyle, and needs.

From there, we look at cost, food, walkability, weather, healthcare, and accommodations. Just because a place is trending doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for your actual life.

[Try the Destination Match]

This comes down to letting go of FOMO.

A lot of people try to see everything, move constantly, and check off destinations. That gets expensive quickly.

We stay in places for at least a month, sometimes longer. We don’t bounce around. We don’t stay in hotels long-term. Slowing down is what makes this affordable.

[Learn more about how we keep travel costs low]

We rarely rent a car long-term.

Most of the places we stay are walkable or have easy public transportation or taxis. Honestly, once you’re outside the U.S., getting around without a car is usually way easier than people expect.

We choose locations where daily life is simple without needing to drive everywhere. That’s a big part of how we keep this lifestyle both affordable and less stressful.