Avoid These Common Tourist Mistakes - Budget Travel Tips You Need To Know

[@terry6990]

Hi guys. Great video as always. I'm also a retired full time slow traveler. One thing I might add regarding ATM's and money is to not wait until you are flat broke to hit the bank machine to get more money. Lots of times in many places the machines are out of money or out of service for a day or longer. I got caught by this in Langkawi, Malaysia and went hungry for most of the day because the system was down, including credit cards. I had waited until I was down to just a couple of dollars in my pocket. Make sure you have a couple of days of cash on hand just in case.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great point! We have only ever had one issue like this and it was also in Malaysia. Always best to be on the safe side and have a little extra on hand. Cheers!!

[@PaulVega-y9v]

I don’t keep track of my expenses. I book flights and rentals and I pay my CC completely every month. Once the money leaves my hands it’s gone. Why track it…so I can cry over it? I can see why you guys do it…it’s at least a part time business for you. I also don’t spend too much time with booking places or buying plane tix. Plane tix I try to do a few months ahead. Booking places I just find something in an old town area…..review ratings. Then when I repeat a visit, I contact the landlord directly, usually getting a better deal then doing so online.

[@lindadorman2869]

When I worked as a chef, I wore the same uniform every day for years which turned out to be great training for long-term travel. I wear the same black twill pants and slip-on flats so I only need to change up tops. I pack a few tops and, when those wear out, buy new ones on the road. All are multi-purpose (casual wear, workout wear, sleepwear) and washable. No one cares what you wear, and you will save so much space in your bag!

[@BrianandCarrie]

So true, we always veer back to our favorites. Makes packing much easier. Cheers!!

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

@@BrianandCarrie It does mean though more frequent washing. That can be by hand and hung, or can go to a laundry facility. My experience was European washers took WAY longer than typical North American cycles for washing clothes. Just something to note.

[@selin8274]

People in an RV group like this for hand washing. Scrubba hand wash bag. I have not tried it but will!

[@HGills]

I'm glad you did this video and especially recognising the value in taking tours/paying for experiences - we had never done a day tour/ experience until our 50's and can tell you that if you do your research they are worth every cent you spend. The ease with which a day or even a multi day tour is along with the value you gain from a good guide is worth every penny. We went to Cappadokya for my 50th and chose to stay in a cave hotel over a regular one and took a hot air balloon ride at sunrise - it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life and I have long forgotten what it even cost, I realise that not everything is within a budget but I will happily forgo a lot of other things to stretch the budget for those things now.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, we've for sure learned with research there are some priceless deals out there. And the ease at the end of the day, so worth the price as well. Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Cappaocia, we loved it there 😊

[@FincaBelleVue]

Your channel is growing nicely. Well done. I love watching people closer to my age doing this type of channel. I am not a backpacker or hostel traveler. Thank you!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are not backpacking or staying in a hostel anytime soon!! Mid-50 so deserve more. 😀 We are actually upping our budget a bit to get the accommodations that we need. Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@68glp]

How do you handle the language barrier

[@jfnovella]

You guys are so thorough and your information is so helpful. Another great video, simple, easy to understand, and right to the point. Also, appreciate the links. My husband and I are soon planning a couple of years of slow travel, before we eventually move either to Spain or Portugal. We will be living off of my teachers pension of about $4000 a month after taxes. I've taken sabbaticals of a year twice and lived off of less. Your videos continue to inspire many great ideas. Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! We are so happy to hear you find our videos helpful. Happy planning for your upcoming travels. Cheers!!

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

Always quality content from you two. I do think that Carrie can do a Master Class on her places to find airfare (websites included), accommodation (whether AirBnB or VRBO or other) and her planning and research hacks. You have scored so many amazing places at affordable prices with very few hiccups. That takes a lot of good planning and a little bit of luck. You continue to provide valuable tips, tricks and budgeting numbers. You could for sure film a Carrie online session where she looks to show her steps in planning out the next destination, after hearing Brian's different ideas (why you two also work so well together). Continued safe and good travels! Keep enjoying Turkey! Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Carrie could definitely be a consultant! 😀

[@quittotrip]

I love your videos. I am in Phuket right now and because of you guys - I decided to take the bus when I got off the plane! and you were right - easy peezy!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thats awesome!! Carrie is usually right! 😀

[@quittotrip]

😊​@@BrianandCarrie

[@waynemckathan1849]

I’m a very boring full time traveler. I very seldom do any excursions. I just like to walk everywhere I go and learn the city. I used to try to join a gym with a day, week or month pass, but now I have fitness bands and a flat foldable yoga mat that takes up very little of your valuable carryon space. I’m loving my fitness band routine. Also always planning and researching the next destinations is very entertaining to me. As always, love the channel. Cheers.

[@BrianandCarrie]

This is very much what we do as well. We each have to find that makes our travels feel fulfilling and it sounds like you've found your perfect balance. Cheers!!

[@leandrahill]

Yes, I was skeptical about the fitness bands for a long time....now I love them and get a great workout with around 10 different exercises hitting all muscle groups (mid-50s age if it matters)😁

[@d.y.e3803]

I'm also one for writing down every expense although I use a small, 6X4-inch spiral journal. I also write details about the expense. Recently, a friend was almost off to Thailand for her first time and I mentioned some restaurants in Bangkok for her to try. I got out my journal, looked them up, reviewed how much I had spent at the various ones. I also had written down which skytrain stop and/or river boat was best to take to get there and also the easiest walking route after getting off either the skytrain or river boat. I've been going there since the late 90s, but still write things down. For me, planning, documenting, budget journaling, and writing things down, is essential. Plus, I use the information to plan future trips to the same area of some places where I go annually or to help out friends who might be going to the same area. And since the journal is like a book, it's fun to read after the trips. I recently took out the my journal with my 2017 trip to Milan in it as I couldn't remember the name of a Japanese restaurant where I had eaten someone wanted to know. I had written down the price of my bill, the name and street, and a few directions of how to get there. Whenever I get back to Milan, I won't have trouble finding it. As for the ATM machine eating your card, it happened to me in a country in Europe.Not fun as I travel solo. The next morning, I was standing in front of my actual bank, in pouring rain, waiting for it to open in order to have the card fished out. And that was the bank that had issued the card. I was told that a new card had recently been mailed out to me and thus the card that I tried to use no longer worked although not even date expired. I was told that the bank had (finally) decided to grant me a Visa debit card instead of my regular ATM card. Uhhhh, but I'm not home in my country. And I wasn't e-mailed that a new card was in the mail system. I was also told that only one person had the authority to fish eaten cards out of the ATM machine and thank goodness that person was at work that morning. The card was fished out, but marked invalid and kept by the bank. That's why I personally carry extra cash. Cash works. And I also carry other cards, but didn't want to put another card into the ATM machine due to not knowing why the first one had been eaten. I was just trying to restock that evening on my way to dinner with a friend from that country. Plus, I was leaving the next day to head to a different country. Greetings from Los Angeles

[@PamelaAlston-x5j]

Thanks! Thanks for this great video!

[@BrianandCarrie]

WOW!!! Thank you so much, Pam!! We very much appreciate this!! ❤ 😀

[@amycampbell8827]

That's a lot of two-thirstys. 😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is and we incredibly grateful!!

[@mangostickyrice555]

Thumbs up 👍 Brian & Carrie

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks 😊

[@joannemberube]

We’ve been in Malaga for a few weeks. It’s our first extensive travel since 2019 and our first time to Spain. The weather wasn’t great last week so, because you seemed to really like Alicante, we decided to go for a few days… On Easter Weekend! Talk about poor planning and blowing the budget😂 in spite of that, we absolutely love Alicante!!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

So happy you enjoyed it 😊, although breaking the budget. Cheers!!

[@maximushung]

great information. if you don't want to keep a detailed spending list, a simple way is to just record your total credit card bills and add the atm withdrawals minus the unspent cash. while you can't get a detailed analysis of your spending, you'll know whether you're within your budget.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That’s a really useful tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@desertinutah]

Rick Steves has a great video on what to carry when traveling!

[@merrillmixer1190]

Good tips! I agree with everything you say and have made many of those mistakes. We haven't bought the expensive filtering water bottles yet and may never since we are terribly good at losing them!!! We lost 3 bottles on this past trip (one was left in the Airbnb fridge which is why I like to gather my personal things the night before.) Entering expenses at the time of purchase on a phone app is so easy. I've been doing it for 9 years while traveling as well as at home. You're almost convinced us to do a winter month stay in Turkey. You only hinted at the demonstrations due to the "war" but you've returned so it must not have been too scary.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Turkey has been wonderful And the tensions were very brief and no issue at all now. Yes, we can relate to leaving things behind. Anything I fear may be forgotten gets a reminder set on my phone for the morning we are leaving... Just in case 😊

[@roadtofreecollege6337]

Great video. Lots of helpful info. I really enjoyed seeing you face the camera. It’s much more pleasant than when you sit facing each other, and not looking at us. Thanks. -Elizabeth

[@BrianandCarrie]

Happy you enjoyed it Elizabeth! Thanks so much for watching and your continued support 😊

[@nicoleoshea-holohan2743]

Thanks for talking about bringing your own water bottle. One of the things that concerns me is the amount of water bottles and plastic containers tourists use.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, so much waste from everyone. It's tough for many that live in areas with water they can't drink at home. We are thankful we can afford to purchase a bottle to avoid contributing to the waste. Cheers!!

[@nursynikki]

My husband and I have been traveling slow and living for 3 months at a time wherever we go. We use to work hard for 3 months then leave, we started this years ago. Then we both decided to build out a school bus into a tiny house. We gave up our sticks and bricks. We both just turned 62 and applied to social security, we will be selling the rest of our possessions, except the school bus, that gets us from coast to coast for family Now we will be taking the next step, and you inspired me to check out Vietnam. We just did Baja California for almost 3 months and were able to cut 700.00 in expenses, many beautiful free parking at the beach. Now we are wanting to save some money and Vietnam looks beautiful and in our budget. Im also waiting on Spanish citizenship. Thank you for some great advise. Can you talk about friendships on the road, I really miss having the female bonds, my hubby also. I would love to travel with a few couples, even if temporary, I felt much happier during our trip to Baja when we had a tribe. 😢

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sounds like you've found a wonderful plan that works for you both and that's the goal 😊. We did a recent video podcast about relationships on the road, just in case you didn't see that one. It is a hard to maintain these relationships and find a new balance. As well as creating new friendships on the road. We've found Facebook groups can help quite a bit, locating others doing what your doing and in the same area.

[@nursynikki]

@@BrianandCarrie thank you for the wonderful idea.

[@telluwide5553]

Since I live full-time abroad, I'm a check-in baggage convert. Sure, I pay more when I fly, but not having to stress out, huddling up front at the boarding gate to make sure I can get overhead luggage space, makes it well worth it to me...

[@kategreen9647]

We are too. And we like some of our extras plus things like a nail file or scissors!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are the couple that huddle up to get on the plane!! 😄

[@telluwide5553]

​@@BrianandCarrieBeen there as well 😮

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

@@BrianandCarrie As you say, if you add up the extras (bag checking and paying for an assigned seat) it adds substantially to the air costs over time. Being ready as your Zone is called is a small inconvenience to avoid all those costs. I also do not pay for Assigned Seats and check in 24 hours in advance to get my Boarding Pass

[@narellepayne1455]

Yes. Also would add the cabin bag limits are not to inconvenience travellers. They are a safety thing. Have seen overhead lockers fly open occasionally and stuff fall out. You get hit by a falling overweight cabin bag, you are not going to have a good trip. Sure, people might think "ah it's only a kg or two", multiply that over 300 - 400 passengers it is significant. I was made to put my small cabin bag under the seat because the locker was full of oversized bags. Plane travel is a communal not an individual activity, especially in Economy. Be considerate.

[@sallyshares]

Really love your videos! I ordered the water bottle you recommended. I wish I'd had it when I was in Costa Rica this summer because I ended up sick. I aspire to become a slow traveler. If you haven't already done this, I'd love to see you drop a video on cities with best promenades. I love the idea of staying somewhere a month or more and having a promenade to walk daily. I've heard Brian mention promenades in some of your videos. Thanks for all the great content. Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much! We love to hear about our viewers taking our advice. Great idea on the video! Fethiye, Türkiye was the one we liked the best!

[@michellhuber3397]

Hi! We were using Safety Wing, but they don’t have cancer coverage, and my fear is that I get diagnosed while on the road. I’m trying Expatriate Group out of Uk. It’s about $100 a month more for both of us. Cigna was a bit more when I checked. Fingers crossed.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is a definite downside to SafetyWing, it's meant just as a travel insurance and not a medical plan. Hope the new plan you found works for you ☺️

[@glorgau]

Regarding tracking expenses: One of my favorite expressions is "cash evaporates". You had some in your wallet and it just seemed to go somewhere.

[@PaulVega-y9v]

It’s how I do it. Once it’s spent it’s gone. As long as I have money…. How much I no longer have doesn’t seem to matter. Not to say i don’t look for deals. Also why I pay off CC before I ever return from my usually 1 month long trips. Nothing to cry about when the statement comes in weeks later.

[@dominiquetheeasyminimalist]

It's so funny to hear your stories, I'm sure that many of us can totally relate 😂. I will add that it's important to get familiar with the local currency / exchange rate, as this can lead to costly mistakes that add up really fast.I agree with the paid tours, AirBNB experiences and Viator offer great references and you are often able to book directly since they put the name of the company in the listing.

[@alexandraalbertz1442]

Get your guide is my favorite

[@SmallCatsBigWorld]

Tip regarding excursions Find a local travel agency once you get into town rather than using Viator, etc. It’s usually hugely cheaper (like 30% or more) and we prefer to support local businesses. Tip regarding SIM cards Make site there aren’t any extra steps you need to do to sign up for a plan. We got burned by that in Mexico. We didn’t realize that we had to go to the website and click through, so instead the amount we paid was just used a la carte , and what should have been a 30 day/3 Gig plan only lasted us 10 days.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great tips! Thank you!!

[@jamies6534]

Totally agree with first three. Pay a little extra for an AirB with a decent couch too! Can make all the difference.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, paying more for a better Airbnb and hopefully couch makes for a much more enjoyable month 😊

[@RaduRadonys]

Nice tips guys, thanks :) About last tip, tracking expenses, that's a bit easier to say than to do. I tried 3 or 4 times in the last 10 years to track every expense and income in different apps, and I gave up eventually...it always ended up like a chore, to note down every cent. Longest run was about 1 year.. Maybe I should try at least to round up approximately the money, maybe that'll be easier :) Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, rounding may work! I think for me it's just a habit, so end of the day I quickly plug in anything we did that day. A phone app makes it much easier and accessible. Cheers!!

[@lupodlupi]

Logistics logistics logistics very overwhelming at least for me. Another great video, thanks for sharing

[@BrianandCarrie]

It gets easier all the more we travel! Thank you for watching! ❤

[@NataliePalmer-v5i]

You should make a list of accommodations that you’ve loved in the places you’ve been to! Great videos.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We add some links in the video descriptions for accommodations. Unfortunately, for Airbnbs we will no longer be doing it due to price changes, availability and requests by owners. But we will always continue to give the exact area we find to be the best to stay. Cheers!!

[@placesonthelist]

Since we don't travel over 90 days at a time, I just keep my T-Mobile plan. The 3G speeds in other countries works well for maps and email.

[@MindfulMidLifeTravel]

Great video! Wonderful tips! We are on our way to Portugal next week & agree with a mix of trying local foods & home cooking, plus a few reasonably priced, paid tours. (We bought Brita hard-sided plastic premium filtering water bottle, BPA-Free, replaces 300 plastic water bottles, filter lasts 2 months.)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks, you two for commenting on our videos. 😀 Great job with the water bottle!!! You will love Portugal, with plenty of small towns to get lost in, and still one of our favorite countries.

[@joethecomputerguy1]

Yeah, I do not understand people who don't track income and expenses. I have since I was in my 20's (early 20s!). It is one reason I was able to retire at 52. I use Quicken and I have all that data back to the 1980's.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Nice job.... It's not for everyone but I'm big numbers/budget fan and always have been so makes it easier. Cheers!!

[@peterg7302]

The Tmobile Magenta plans have free data raoming, free SMS, and usually $0.25/min for intermatl calls, all over the world. We've had it, or an older version for literally decades and have paid no roaming fees anywhere, visiting about 70 countries, without having to buy SIMs.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Good to know and that's a great option for those that dont mind the heavier price tag. We average $15 a month with a Sim so that works for us as this point.

[@madelineperello1046]

@brianandcarrie, T-Mobile has the age 50+ plans that you may also want to look at.

[@chrisoverbey5937]

I would be interested in hearing more detail about Debit/ATM cards, credit cards, what role points and miles play in your travels. Maybe you covered it in a video I haven’t seen yet

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! We haven't done a specific video on this, but have covered who we go through for banking/ATM. We use Charles Schwab and have been very happy with them.

[@chrisoverbey5937]

@@BrianandCarrie I don’t want invade your financial privacy or anything. I have watched probably 150 videos from 20-something hotshots about credit card travel, points, miles. You guys have something they don’t: extended, on-the-ground experience using these cards in multiple foreign countries. Thus my curiosity.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are currently using the Capital One Venture card. We may upgrade but we are very happy with Capital One overall. We don't spend a huge amount of money but what we do spend 90% goes on the card.

[@sailslikeagirl3154]

Great information, thank you. We are travelling south east Asia at present for 3 months and I have been keeping a spread sheet of everything we spend down to the last penny and it’s such an eye opener to see where your money goes.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, it really helps to know exactly where it's all going. Safe and happy continued travels 😊

[@irinic9546]

You will LOVE Crete! So much to do, see and taste! Go to the Samaria Gorge! Go for bouyatsa at the Lion Square in Iraklion…I could go on and on!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are very excited for Crete 😊and all there is too see!

[@arturslab7102]

Can you indicate which specific water bottle you bought? Link in description goes to main site with multitude of products. Since these products are not cheap, I'd like to know exactly which one to buy.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We got the PureVis and added the filter. They are expensive but after seeing all the waste in SE Asia we felt we needed to do our part and not contribute! Thank you for watching!! Cheers!! 🍻

[@jeffheyman8065]

In terms of accommodations,do you prefer Airbnb or others,we travel a fair bit (not as much as yourselves 😉) but are there any other sites you deal with or deal directly with the landlords ?….thx and great videos 👍!,

[@BrianandCarrie]

We always use Airbnb out of convenience and availability. We just did a video about the nightmare we just had with a host!! Not a great experience.

[@ElenaJanney]

The water bottle is very smart idea, you can save a lot of money just using your personal bottle

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, for sure. Just wish we had done it sooner.

[@LuchoSuerte]

We are retired full time travelers and couldn’t agree with you more about most everything you just said. We were in Fethiye last year at exactly this time and loved it. We had planned to stay a month or two but accommodations were extremely hard to find and were very expensive because there were so many Ukrainians and Russians staying there. You know, the war. Consequently, we only stayed three weeks and then spent a month island hopping the Dodecanese Islands to Athens. We are currently in Vietnam and will be heading to Turkey in a few weeks and we were wondering if the housing shortage was still a thing there??? Apparently, we don’t plan things out very far or do a lot of research.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It's a shortage for a different reason now. A new law went into effect at the beginning of the year on short term rentals. So I would suggest doing some research on that before coming. Happy travels 😊

[@LuchoSuerte]

​Thanks for the heads up. Best dental clinic ever in Fethiye@@BrianandCarrie

[@mitchandjan]

Great video guys!! We recognize some of our mistakes in your experiences! We are the most excited about these water bottles that you found, because we never even realized anything portable like this existed. These are game changer. We too, are spending so much on water in SE Asia and the plastic we throw out is just terrible, so this is really the best travel hack of 2024 for us!! lol Thank you. Keep up the great videos! Cheers!! 🍻

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use ours every day and love them. Thank you two for watching and safe travels!! ❤

[@TexasDoug393]

Agree totally on guided tours, especially broad scoped ones shortly after arriving at a place to get a sense of what is out there. My Larq arrived a couple of weeks ago; haven't had an opportunity to take it somewhere yet. I do think hiking videos would be more popular than you're thinking, especially if you end up at a spot with a great view.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are starting to do more tours all the time. We find the value worth the price, and it is easier than renting a car and trying to guide yourself. Thank you, Doug, for all the support! The next hicking video will be dedicated to you!! 😀

[@TexasDoug393]

I'd be honored. : )@@BrianandCarrie

[@sf3413]

How do you guys handle sunblock and contact solution? Those are the 2 things I'm concerned about with carry-on only.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great question! Those are two items that you can find every place you go. We have bought contact solution in each country that we have visited. It is usually carried at a pharmacy but those are on every block, so you won't have a problem. Thank you for the question and for watching our channel! 😀

[@Lawnbird]

Thanks!

[@Lawnbird]

@@BrianandCarrieYour content is very helpful as my wife and I prepare for a two week trip to Italy in May. I am feeling less worried about our first foreign trip. Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

You two will have an amazing time, nothing to worry about! 😀 Thank you again for the support.

[@anna_m59]

I am in costa rica right now and i can relate to this topic about accommodation misfit 🤬😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

Oh goodness, that's too bad. Hope it isn't to bad.

[@jtgrec3179]

If you are looking for a adventure, there's a ferry that goes from Crete to Athens,

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have heard that those ferries can be adventurous. 😀

[@xaviotesharris891]

I have really been enjoying my phone plan. It's only $5/month more than I was paying in the States, and 25 cents/minute for phone calls, BUT, if I'm using Wi-Fi calling, calls in country and to the U.S. are free. Is coverage always great? No. But I also have been getting a SIM card for my second phone for about what you mentioned.

[@TravelingDan20]

Always a great listen😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Dan!! 😀

[@PaulVega-y9v]

Efficient packing It the longest learning process in travel. I’m finally at the rule of 3s. No more than three pair of everything. It’s amazing how often you rewear the same clothes. Just sink wash a everything you’ve worn, every night. Ill be in Crete in late July to meet some friends, short trip.😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

That's absolutely true, we rewear the same favorites... Less is more! Cheers

[@Mr.DJones]

Thank you for your time and posting. After seeing many of your videos (thank you) and others, I'm hopefully going to Vietnam in November and staying for a while, to see how I like it. If it works out, I'd stay there, create a home base, and go back and forth to Thailand and other countries. Just thinking. Thank you again for your time. :) PS. I'd be by myself and my budget would be US$3,500 (SS and VA Bennies). And if I do this. I'll finally get rid of the shirts I've carried around for 25 years and never worn. Really. :) Hey, they still look great.

[@BrianandCarrie]

You'll love Vietnam, we are looking forward to getting back as soon as next year! It is impresive that you have shirts 25 years old that still fit!!! 😀

[@Mr.DJones]

@@BrianandCarrie I even bought them on sale. I've gone to the gym since '78 and now play pickleball four days a week. :) Thank you for replying. :)

[@WaypointofView]

Really helpful tips, thanks so much for sharing!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks you two for watching!! Cheers!!🍻

[@frugalvanner7488]

Many YTers mention international health insurance plans that can be had "economically" for younger people, but stay away from any mention of the exorbitant cost (if even attainable) of coverage for the 70+ crowd. Seniors better be VERY rich - or stay at home - seems to be the unspoken caveat. This is just a general observation - I do like and appreciate your content greatly!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, for those older it will vary in price a lot. Makes it harder to just keep traveling and not settle somewhere. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@DavidandMarcyTravel]

Good information, thanks

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching! Cheers

[@phoenixnmhesq]

What is a good size for carryon bag? 40L or 60L. I want to go with the smaller one

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great question! I think the 40L is plenty big. I have a 30L that I used to use and it was perfect. The laptop and camera gear (very little) has caused me to put away for now.

[@andyg4546]

So much good info! Thankyou for giving your time up to share with everyone 👍

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@PaulVega-y9v]

You are absolutely right on the insurance thing, in reference to ‘I’m a guy’ unfortunately, I’m 67. Fortunately, I have medicare for US, and I’m a dual citizen, Italian, so I’m covered in Europe. 😊

[@raidermanjeff]

great video guys with some great info i needed thanks jeff so cali guy

[@BrianandCarrie]

As always, thank you for watching, jeff!

[@joanfelt8069]

great video guys . My worst mistakes are tracking all expenses. What app. do you use …any suggestions .? As seniors we did not budget enough to cover unexpected pharmacy expenses . But as Alan said he has saved a lot on his medications without prescriptions in Turkey . .

[@BrianandCarrie]

I use the app called travel spend. I'm happy with the free version, but there is a paid version. Yes, unexpected expenses, especially medical are a pain... But thankfully they don't hit near as bad as they do back home. Cheers!!

[@joanfelt8069]

Appreciate your vlogs . Doing a great job . 💐🌷🌷

[@theresewheeler1498]

Awesome job. Love ❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!! ❤

[@DeborahFrameMcLennan-hf3jo]

Public transport - there are lots of KZbin’s that show how to buy tickets/ use public transport … we try to do this before we get there

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, it's a great way to save money and move about the area easily. Cheers!!

[@sarahloyd4876]

Hey! Just came across your channel and really love it. In this video what is the little square on Brian’s tshirt? I’ve seen this recently on other you tubers as well. Is it a microphone?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, that is a magnet that hold the mic in place under the shirt. 😀

[@flowertravel750]

We have loved your channel! We've added several of your stops to our travel bucket list. Can you tell us the types of ATM cards that you're using that don't charge an ATM fee at overseas ATM's? Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

So happy you've found our content helpful. We use Charles Schwab and Fidelity for our ATM cards. Cheers!!

[@Wado1776]

Also Capital One ATM and Capital One Quicksilver CC. Both no foreign transaction fees.

[@Jupe367]

This may be a silly question but do any of the countries you travel have senior citizens discounts like the US? Things like excursions or entry fees. This may help with your budget.

[@BrianandCarrie]

I have seen some areas with discounts, but for many things it's more directed as a cost savings for locals. But, for seeing tourist sites there is sometimes a discount.

[@palm715]

Aloha, I just found you guys a couple days ago and have been binge watching your videos. :) I’m sure you’ve mentioned it somewhere, but I can’t seem to find it, what carry-on suitcase to you recommend? Thanks for all the detailed and fun content on slow travel in your fifties. We hope to emulate a lot of your smart choices.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are happy that you found us, thank you for watching!! We use the Away larger carry-on and haven't had any problems. Thank you again for your support. Cheers!!🍻

[@k.k.9897]

Thank you and Happy Trails!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!! ❤🍻

[@warrent1490]

Have you tried Esim cards yet? I never heard of until a month ago. New to your channel good stuff, I enjoyed your 1 year travel cost. I got 5 years until 56 retirement hope I am able to follow your example.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, I have eSim for my phone and love it. Takes all the worry out of getting a Sim on arrival, I'm just connected and ready to go. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@johncloke567]

Thanks for this video. We travel full time (RV half year/abroad half year) and are curious which type of water bottle you use (Pre Vis or Nano Filter). Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have both. We first use the UV-C cap then replace with the filter cap. It works great for us

[@johncloke567]

Thank-you for the response. I have been looking at an insulated Brita but you system makes a lot of sense!

[@jimd2343]

So you decide to go from Europe to SE Asia because of budget do you use something like Expedia for flights?

[@BrianandCarrie]

I start my search on Google flights, this way I find the best airline to use and day to fly.

[@RobertBrennanGplus]

I am going to Kuala lumpur in a couple weeks. Very hot and humid. Any packing items you recommend?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! This is our website with some of the key clothing items we carry. Brian's shirts and are extremely lightweight and did well in the heat and humidity.www.brianandcarrietravels.com/shop-2-1

[@Ed-jg3ud]

Can u share which atm cards u use that don’t charge fees overseas?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use Charles Schwab and Fidelity. Thanks for watching 😊

[@Theoreticallytexting]

Hi Brian and Carrie. We are leaving April 26th on our "Ooohh...shiny thing!" tour of the world. We have been following you almost since you started your channel as you have pretty much been doing what we intend to do. (We even thought about doing a You Tube channel but it looks like WAY too much work...I just retired and don't need another job thank you very much!) We think we have everything we need EXCEPT maybe a water bottle. Does yours have the UV light AND a filter because that was my impression? Used your link and on the LARQ site it looks like it's an either or situation. Did I miss something or just misunderstand the type of bottle you have. Thanks...Mike and Ann.

[@Theoreticallytexting]

Sorry...found the info in the FAQ section of the site. Interchangeable caps to sterilize and then filter your water. Thanks again...Just Mike...Ann would know better.

[@BrianandCarrie]

So happy you found the info. This is exactly what we have, we use UV-C and then switch out the cap if in a area we feel we need to filter as well.

[@Kimberly__Klein]

Hi with the SIM cards, do you keep the sims for each country for future trips or trash it ??

[@BrianandCarrie]

Most SIMS weve purchased are a 30 day card. Some can be topped up but it's never worth the hassle to hold onto... They are so tiny.

[@whyjustwhy2168]

Do you have a video about phone service like in Asia or somewhere I wonder does GPS work the same. Like how do u navigate when you only speak English? Just always wondered this

[@BrianandCarrie]

It works the same in Asia as it does in Europe. We had zero issues and navigation worked great as well.

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Great video. I look forward to your videos each week. Great point about using those filtered/ UCV Light bottles. A bit on the pricey side but with enough research those types of bottles really can make a dent. Say 3- 6 plastic bottles of water a day is realistic per person. When traveling. Aprox 90- 180 plastic bottles per month!😮😢 1080- 2160 plastic water bottles in a year 😮🤔💡 Ok now if I apply Guy Math I could get just about all my water intake requirements by having a cup of coffee with boiled water in the morning then set my watch to Two Thirsty all day and drink beer out of a glass the rest of the day.😊😉🤔🍺 As my daughter would say...Big Brain....🧠😉

[@BrianandCarrie]

I like your math!! 😀 For us it was just as much about the clean water and money savings as the plastic bottles all over SE Asia!! Two Thirsty is always an option!!! 😀🍻

[@waynemckathan1849]

I’m about to go to Europe for 6 months and I’m planning on using my Att Daypass totally. I know it’s $10 a day, but there is a limit of 10 days in a billing cycle that they charge you. So $100 total for a month, on top of your regular cell phone plan. If you are country hopping a lot, it seems like it wouldn’t be too crazy to do this. Someone correct me if I’m wrong please.

[@tompaulathesenioritinerant367]

My wife I go to Europe three months a year and we have ATT, but don’t use. We buy a local simcard for $10 to $15 month. 20gb of data and unlimited text. We usually get Vodophone simcard. I also believe ATT slows down your data speed after a small number GB used ?

[@tompaulathesenioritinerant367]

Also the vodophone sim card is good in all EU countries with no roaming

[@waynemckathan1849]

@@tompaulathesenioritinerant367 thanks, I thought you had to buy a SIM card for each country. So this sounds like a better option even if you are country hopping frequently.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Another option that is much easier is using eSim, just see if your phone accepts them. Cheers!!

[@nanaontherun1968]

Did you have a code for Airalo?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Yes here is the link airalo.pxf.io/xk34X1 and if you use code MAR15 as a new customer you'll save 15 percent

[@lf1666]

I think you’re very brave and cool travels. Will join you in two years!! Gotta get my kids through college!

[@lf1666]

Agree with everything you say. Don’t go cheap on the accommodations and I love the tours

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! Happy travel planning, a few years will be here before you know it. Cheers!!

[@adventuresbyrust]

Which filter do you select on the water bottle? I see 2 types...

[@BrianandCarrie]

We bought the UV-C bottle and then bought the filter cap in addition. So we use the UV-C first then put the filter in. If you are picking one to start, I'd go with the UV-C cap and bottle.

[@chasentrail5775]

@@BrianandCarrie hi Carrie and Brian. Great vids! any specific brand tips for your filter/uvc set up? (Thank you)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! We us Larq bottles. Here is the link. www.livelarq.com/shop?irclickid=1eITsgX%3ANxyPT%3AyxQHVxGXPYUkHU5xSZEXEVSY0&irgwc=1&Impact&Online%20Tracking%20Link

[@chasentrail5775]

@@BrianandCarrie. Of course you also already had it in the video link! :). So sorry to make you “resend” it! I was ahead in the comments section before that piece of the video . LOL. Thank you!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Ha!!! No worries!!

[@iloilorick6840]

What expenses app do you use?

[@BrianandCarrie]

I use one called travel spend... There are tons of there to choose from.

[@iloilorick6840]

Thank you so much for making such inspiring videos. I’m hooked.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for watching!!! 😀

[@theresewheeler1498]

I always use SIM card instead my international plan

[@kcsnew]

Which eSim you use ?

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is called Airalo, here is the link. airalo.pxf.io/xk34X1 and if you use code MAR15 as a new customer you'll save 15 percent

[@kcsnew]

@@BrianandCarrie Thank you for the quick reply, appreciated. I just checked but it only has Data plan, I would like to have texts and calls with the regional eSim plan so that it covers Europe. Do you have calls and texts as well, which plan you have ? I will definitely use the code and your link when I sign up. Cheers 👍

[@deb2123]

I’m so glad I found your channel. Tell me which version of the water bottle do you use for your travels. The straw filter or uv? Thinking of investing specifically for travel. Thank you for the fun content.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are happy that you found us as well, Deb! 😀 We use the UV all the time and add the filter depending on where we are. We are currently in Turkey and don't need the filter. Thank you for watching!!! ❤

[@maryumbrewicz9366]

Can I still get $20 off AWAY luggage?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, here is the link. You should see $20 off in your cart at check out. referrals.awaytravel.com/away945738

[@maryumbrewicz9366]

Do you still offer a link to Away luggage? You mentioned a $20 off link in your packing video, but I didn't see it in the show notes

[@maryumbrewicz9366]

@@BrianandCarrie Big thanks! I enjoy the information you share. I am going to India; it's been 30 yrs since I backpacked there, a special trip "home" for me

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is amazing, Mary! Safe travels! ❤️

[@xaviotesharris891]

By the way ... how long will you be in Turkey? I'll be in Istanbul in a week for at least a month. I could buy you a beer in person!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We would love that but we are in Fethiye. Istanbul is amazing and look forward to going back one day soon. Safe travels!!!

[@xaviotesharris891]

@@BrianandCarrie Very cool! I had a port call (Navy) in Marmaris 25 years ago, and it's such a nice area you're in. And even though I recently spent two months in Crete, I'm insanely jealous you're going there soon. Can't wait to see those vids!

[@cherokesky]

Not sure if you have ever addressed this in a previous video.... Do you guys find that when you first arrive you're excited because of your research and by the end of the month have a sense of front loading? By the last week or more we've gone to all the sites we've researched and hit a wall.... It does give us time to do more research on the next location...but then we feel like we're not fully present where we are at the moment.... opportunity loss regret starts to creep in..... I hope this makes sense.... We do spend the first two to three days recovering from travel and getting familiar with our location.... Stores, restaurants, cafe's, pharmacy etc..... Thank you Larry and Minnie

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have found much better balance over the past years. Making sure to spread out any sites we want to see. We are totally okay not having our days filled and do look forward to spending time researching forward plans and that's all part of the fun as well. Thanks for watching and safe travels 😊

[@PaulVega-y9v]

No you don’t have everything figured out. You will continue to make ‘rookie’ mistakes. Murphy will always find a way to hitch a ride.😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is 100% true - we will always be in learning mode ☺. Cheers!!

[@auroramarie2463]

Which data plan do you typically select when you buy your e-sim? I assume you are using wifi when it's available at your accommodation.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, we use Wi-Fi when available. I will leave the link to the e-sim that we use below. www.airalo.com/?irclickid=131zCw0%3AQxyKTo3y1zWaWQBzUkHXmqwxBUEQSQ0&irgwc=1&Brian%20and%20Carrie%20LLC

[@auroramarie2463]

@@BrianandCarrie Is a 5 GB plan usually enough for 30 days when you do have wi-fi?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have found that it is enough, yes.

[@auroramarie2463]

@@BrianandCarrie Thank you so much! Your videos touch on some great topics. Very helpful.