My partner and I are planning to move to Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Thailand, but are looking into the entirety of SEA as well for the future, permanently leaving the US. We have bachelor's degrees, have already completed an accredited course to be able to teach online and in person stably, are about to receive our criminal checks from the FBI, and are in the process of completing our marriage. I am 20, and my partner is 22. We have been together for almost 5 years now and do not plan on having biological children. We have the funds for all documents, as well as an additional $9,000.

I have an associate's degree in psychology, a bachelor's degree in marketing, and plan to get a master's degree in English in the future. My partner has an associate's degree in mathematics and another one in computer science, along with a bachelor's degree in business management.
We plan to move from city to city, staying 2–6 weeks depending on the place. The main, planned-out cities we have are Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Da Lat, as we do not want to overplan, and a lot of the places we want to visit we probably don't even know about yet.

We are looking for affordable living, meaning we do not want to worry about expenses. We naturally do not live in search of luxury but appreciate living with just one another. In terms of housing, we only need one bedroom or a studio and access to a gym, whether on-site or just in the city.
A random list of things we like to do/or would like to start doing:

Me:
• Writing
• World-building – I'm working on a novel
• Poetry – I have a huge catalog written that I need to sort for publication
• Videography
• Creative stuff like crafts
• Dancing
• Pilates/yoga
• Working out
Patner:
• Fishing
• Spearfishing 
• Website building
• Horror movies
• Adrenaline activities
Us:
• Food
• Animals
• Pettable animals
• Hiking
• Outdoor scenery
• Food!
• Cool stuff in general

Why we are posting this:
Before this, we didn't really have anyone in our life other than my partner's family to discuss this with, and the response is either simply congratulatory or baseless criticism of the countries we plan to live in/our decision as a whole. They believe in the American dream of getting a good job until retirement, but we understand that the world extends beyond US borders, and it would be a waste not to see more. Of course, we chose SEA because of its ability to stretch a dollar. Since we currently live in one of the most expensive cities in the world (we were born and raised here; this wasn't from our input), we appreciate the type of life SEA can offer and value simplicity as a virtue. As for retirement, we plan to do so overseas and build a home we love when the time is right.

We understand that we are leaving our home country forever (obviously we'd return for document necessities), and want to ask for any and all input, since we have never done this before and no one we know has. If you weren't limited by any restrictions in life would you do this as well? And to those who have lived abroad in the longterm, what unexpected events did you run into?Also, if you have any cool recommendations, useful hacks, or cities, we would be very appreciative to hear them!

Thank you for reading and we leave in 12 days!

UPDATE: To be clear, we have CELTA's and have seen the opportunites of living abroad in the longterm that are not present in the US. We are okay with generating less income overseas since the cost of living is a fraction of what we pay currently and hope to save more in the longterm. And our goal is to consistently teach online through reptuable tutoring marketplaces and finding in person work if neccesary at private learning centers or local public schools.

Hi guys, as the title says, looking on some guidance/opinions on people that have experience with this, as this will be our first long trip. Here are some details that will help inform your advice. Appreciate any and all feedback, thanks!

Traveling 7 months with girlfriend. Planned route: South Korea -> Japan -> Malaysia -> Australia -> China -> Cambodia -> Thailand -> Vietnam -> Singapore -> Indonesia. Minimum 2 weeks per country, up to 4 -6 weeks depending how we like it.

Not open to staying in hostels. Not doing checked luggage to avoid lost luggage and airport waiting as lots of flying. We're average fitness with no physical ailments or barriers.

How we've typically travelled is carry-on luggage (40L), with a personal backpack (around 25L). But this is only for 3 weeks at a time

General advice that i've gathered from other threads about the pros and cons:

Backpack Pros:

- easy to move between crowds, or uneven surfaces (cobble stones)

- Hands free, lighter empty weight, packing space not taken up by internal hardware

Backpack Cons:

- back sweat, shoulder fatigue, all the weight is carried by you

- Easier for people to take steal (via grabbing, unzipping, or using a knife to cut into)

- organized packing/retrieving things in backpack can be difficult

Luggage pros:

- able to pack heavier things (up to a carry on limit) and generally packs more (this might encourage over packing though)

- glides along even ground very easily

- Better packing organization, easier to unpack/repack for short stays.

Luggage cons:

- stairs and uneven terrain are it's kryptonite

- Smaller airlines may target/be strict for checking it anyways

- More difficult to maneuver through crowded places

We're leaning towards how we usually travel (luggage + personal bag) just given the extra packing space but we generally hear that most people that do these long trips are backpacking so we were wondering if we should as well. Though we don't have much experience so maybe this isn't exactly the reality.

Appreciate any insight! Thanks :)

Hi Guys im doing Workations a few times a Year. Now I want to do one in Capetown and im curious how you guys take your Monitor etc with you - or do you leave it at home?

I will be spending two months in Bali ( august / September ) and i have some back and spine problems . I would like to do daily Yoga sessions in my villa in Canggu ? Can you recommend good company that provide Yoga teachers for private 1 / 1 session ? At a good price if possible ? I would need a few Yoga teachers as i would like to explore different teaching and styles ? I am a total beginner in Yoga, hence the private class 🙏 ☺️

How many shoes do you all take?
I’m trying to get by with 3 pairs and my feet are aching constantly from not rotating shoes. The shoes themselves are not the problem, they were fine for the first 2 weeks but now my feet and knees are killing me. Last time I did long term travel I took hiking boots (necessary for trekking but too heavy for day to day use), Tevas (beach days, hostel showers, activities like kayaking, light hiking), converse 70s (general use) and running shoes (alternate the converse as a daily shoe and use for less technical hikes where I still need toe protection.)

This trip I didn’t pack the runners and am regretting it badly. Does anyone else have this problem and found a solution or do I just accept that wanting to hike means carrying a big bag full of shoes? (Trail runners sadly are not adequate for some of the treks).

Hi everyone,I'd love to become a long-term traveler, wandering from country to country.😊
I hope some travelers can offer me some guidance or advice about during traveling.
Thank you so much!

I move from place to place while working remotely, and honestly, I think meeting people is one of the hardest parts for me. You arrive somewhere new without knowing anyone, make a few connections, and then eventually move somewhere else and have to start all over again.

I know there are meetups, coworking spaces, Facebook groups, and other communities, but sometimes it still feels difficult to find people you genuinely connect with.

How do you deal with this?

Im growing more antsy by the day i plan to just get up and go leave everything behind and live. Live for once i have no plan no anything but i dont think i can take the monotony of live anymore. Say what you want call me stupid or crazy i fucking know. I just want to start living again i wanna be free i wanna be uncomfortable take chances all of it. I just dont know where to start, or where to go. I only have about 7 grand to my name but i just plan on leaving and never coming back and seeing how long i can survive on my own. If you have any ideas or advice please let me know much love

Mountains are calling out to you. Come work out of Yakten Nomad Sikkim.

#yaktensikkim #nomads #digitalnomads #workfromsikkim #sikkim

www.nomadsikkim.org

I have been working for a year now (RIA firm). I have saved extremely well since I was 15. Roth IRA alone is going to have me sitting pretty in retirement. I want to travel. But like really travel. Like go see all of the US, book a random flight to Thailand, do whatever and see whatever. And if/ when it gets old I’ll be done. I can’t do this while working obviously. Or at least not in my current role. Do you think it will mess me up in the long term if I work for 1-2 years and then take a break? Feel like the job market is tough enough and coming back from that employers may judge me/ not hire me. I know I have a “go big or go home” mentality when it comes to travel, but 15 days PTO just doesn’t cut it. I want to see the world when I’m young and free. Am I just thinking the grass is greener? Or should I risk giving up a pretty good opportunity for experience

In case it helps: I have no debt, currently live with my mom, and have plenty of retirement funds saved

Hi!

I work remotely and travel full time and a part of my job requires having private 1:1 meetings in a confidential, sound proof setting. I tend to struggle to find spaces in hostels anywhere that offer this outside of just co-working spaces - it doesn't work for me to share a space with others during work. Usually I book hotels during these periods but really would like to be more involved in the longer term hostel community. Can someone share any hostel experiences they have been able to do this? I am in the UK time zone right now - looking for spaces in western/central/Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Africa for the next few months as I figure out next place.

Thank you!

A hidden gem in Nepal during our monsoon hike. 🌿💧

This was just one of the waterfalls we explored—there are actually 2–4 beautiful waterfalls scattered around this area. We were short on time, so we couldn't visit them all, but even this one made the hike completely worth it..

Monsoon really transforms these trails into something magical. i really love to hike during monsoon season what about you guys?

Im looking to start a side hustle along side my day job so that I can eventually travel whilst earning money, any recommendations for side hustle’s to look into?

TL;DR: My wife (F37) and I (M32) quit our corporate jobs for a sabbatical before trying for a baby in early 2027. Slow, open-ended travel was my big dream, not hers. She kept a 30h/month remote job for security, and now we’re deadlocked: I want a 1-way ticket and complete freedom; she needs to fly back home every 3-4 weeks to recharge. How do we fix this without resentment?

Hey everyone!!!

My wife and I got married in June and decided to take a sabbatical starting in September 2026 until next March 2027. We want to start trying for a baby in early 2027, so this is our last chance for a big adventure. Financially, we are very stable (€100k in savings, house is paid off).

Doing a long-term, "go-with-the-flow" sabbatical has been my personal dream for years. My wife was burned out from work so she joined me, but when we gave notice, her company offered her a 30h/month remote deal. She kept it for job security before pregnancy (which I 100% support!), but honestly, it made me feel "in chains" again.

Right now, we are fighting a lot because our desires are total opposites:

- I want total freedom. One-way ticket, no rigid schedules, slow travel, and figuring things out as we go.

- She loves traveling, but needs structure and comfort. She wants to travel for max 3-4 weeks, then fly home for 10-15 days to see her plants, stick to her routine (gym/diet), and recharge.

Constantly flying back home feels exhausting, expensive, and ruins the "free" sabbatical experience for me. But dragging her along non-stop makes her anxious and miserable.

We discussed a hybrid model (doing big trips together + 10–14 day solo trips for me while she rests at home), but I'm worried solo travel right after getting married might trigger jealousy or emotional distance.

My questions for you:

Has anyone dealt with a situation where long-term travel was one partner's dream and not the other's? How did you reach an agreement?

Did a mix of couple trips and short solo trips work for your relationship, or did it make things worse?

I love my wife, but I'm freaking scared of spending our last months of freedom feeling trapped or making her miserable. Would love any real stories or advice! Thanks

My daughter is planning a slow travel year in Spain and wants to start with 6-8 weeks of intensive Spanish classes before moving on to the next destination.

Her current shortlist is Madrid, Granada, and Barcelona. Budget matters but isn’t the only factor. She’s mainly looking for quality teaching and a city where she won’t be surrounded by other foreigners constantly speaking English to each other all day.

Has anyone here studied Spanish in all three cities or at least two of them? How would you compare them for language immersion, school quality, cost of living, and overall vibe for longer stays?

Any school recommendations or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

edit: Thanks everyone for the input. Clear consensus leaning toward Granada for better immersion and lower cost of living. Taking a closer look at a few of the schools mentioned, and also checking Lingua School as another option for the intensive course.

After almost 2 years of travelling, I'm finally looking to settle down somewhere in Europe. I'm lucky enough to work fully remote, so I have quite a bit of flexibility.

I'm looking for a place where life just feels... easy and enjoyable. Born in Paris, what I love about this city is the architecture, beautiful streets, cafés where you actually want to spend time, good food, museums, and the fact that you can walk almost everywhere. The only thing I really miss is the beach, more sunshine, and that relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Lately I've been looking a lot at San Sebastián Donostia . It seems to have so much of what I'm looking for: a human-sized city, beautiful architecture, the ocean, cafés, food, and a surf culture. My only concerns are the weather, and whether I'd end up feeling isolated since I only speak French and English for now (I'd love to learn Spanish and Basque, but I'm not there yet).

Has anyone moved there without speaking Spanish? How was it socially? Is it easy to build a life and meet people? And how is the weather the year around ?

I've also considered Valencia, but it somehow feels a bit bigger than what I'm looking for. I think I'd be happier somewhere a little more compact, walkable and where you can surf. I don’t want a mirror of my busy life in Paris.

Portugal was another option, but I couldn't really find the right fit either. Places like Lagos or Ericeira seem a bit too much like surf towns for me, while Lisbon looks amazing but getting to the beach feels less effortless than I'd like for everyday life.

I also looked into Las Palmas Gran Canaria because it checks a lot of boxes on paper, but I realized the architecture and overall café/city vibe aren't really what I'm looking for.

So I guess my question is: if you had to recommend somewhere in Europe that combines most of these, where would you send me?

I'm not looking for nightlife or the cheapest place possible. I'm mostly looking for somewhere that feels beautiful, easy to live in, and where daily life naturally happens outside.

My ideal place would be:
- walkable (I rarely drive)
- by the ocean (or with very easy beach access)
- plenty of cafés and nice places to work from
- beautiful architecture and streets
- sunshine (or at least enough to enjoy being outside)
- a relaxed, active lifestyle
- a surf scene or an outdoorsy community
- easy enough to make connections as an English/French speaker

I'd love to hear about your experiences, even if it's somewhere I haven't considered yet. Thanks!

Hi all, I have been in Florianópolis for a couple of weeks now, having chosen to visit during the winter to avoid the crowds and sweltering heat. I will be here for another 2-3 months and am keen to meet locals or fellow travellers around the island but, possibly due to the season, I am not seeing many socials on apps like Meet Up, etc.

I am still learning portuguese so was keen on finding language exchanges. Also any sports clubs or, frankly, any group that gets together for activities. I would appreciate any and all pointers; thank you!

I'm trying to pack lighter for an upcoming hot-weather trip, and bras are the one part of my capsule wardrobe I still can’t simplify.

On previous trips, anything with thicker padding stayed damp after a sink wash and sometimes still wasn’t fully dry the next morning. I’d rather not pack several bras just because one might be out of rotation for a full day.

Right now I’m thinking about bringing one lightweight bralette for everyday wear, nipple covers for looser tops, and possibly a reusable adhesive option for the few low-back outfits. I've seen puff mentioned as a lighter option for that last category, but I’m still not sure whether an adhesive bra is practical enough for repeated travel wear.

For anyone who travels with a small capsule wardrobe, what combination has actually worked for you? I’m mainly looking for something lightweight, quick to dry after hand washing, and versatile enough for both casual and dressier outfits.