Travel Smarter, Not Harder - Pro Travel Planning Tips

Unlock the secrets to stress-free travel with our Pro Travel Planning tips in Travel Smarter, Not Harder! Discover how to score the best flight deals, find budget-friendly accommodations, and streamline your journey. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or new to the game, our guide will transform how you explore the world. Say goodbye to travel headaches and hello to hassle-free adventures with our comprehensive tips for traveling smarter, not harder. Don't miss out - like, share, and subscribe for more pro travel advice! 🌟✈️🌴
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[@Andy-hg8dv]

Watching your videos is like chatting across the dinner table with friends. Thanks for the entertainment, and of course, your incites.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! We appreciate that so much!! ❤

[@user-ds7nl2gq7n]

We closed on our house sale yesterday and now we start planning our world travels. Thank you so much for being a great resource for newbies like us.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is so exciting!!! We would love to hear about where you are choosing to start your travels! 😃

[@karengreen9332]

I think you guys will love Budapest! My hubby and I were there summer of 2019 (we did VERY fast travel in that trip and hit 10 countries in 11 weeks) and LOVED the architecture, the people, the food and the costs were great compared to Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, UK. Have a fabulous time - thanks for all of the videos!! Karen from Marysville, WA

[@BrianandCarrie]

Marysville, WA! We are neighbors! We are very excited about Budapest. We have always wanted to go and when we found the flight from Crete so inexpensive we knew that is where we are heading! Thank you for watching and commenting!! ❤

[@slowmads]

Four years of this life now. We are planned with varying levels of detail through early 2026. We always start with our dreams: “What does your perfect year look like?” We choose an area of the world-e.g. 2024 started with broad plan for Australia and New Zealand anchored by a World Cruise that has been delayed/deferred since 2021! 2025 is South America in the first part of the year, Portugal and southern England in the late spring and mid-summer. Again anchored by repositioning cruises and QM2 crossings. When transportation is planned, we start looking for accommodations (preferably for 3 to 8 weeks). We mix pet-sitting with temporary rentals with hotels for the “gap” nights. What we want to experience in a place is a mix of planned events vs. spontaneous ones. We also will build in 3-4 day getaways (e.g. while in Auckland, we hopped down to Queenstown for 5 days). We are never “doing” a city-we want as local/neighborhoody as we can get. I’ve just started planning for 2026-the year of Japan and Korea! We just booked the Queen Anne to take us from Southampton to Hong Kong where we’ll stay for a bit before heading on to Yokohama/Tokyo, also by cruise. Still researching other locations in Japan to stay at least a month or so. I’m making the bold plan for the fall of 2026 in the PNW as it is increasingly apparent that I need new knee(s). I hope my knees (and Kaiser Permanente) agree with this plan. Our regular temporary rentals in the PNW in Gig Harbor have increased their prices to the point that we’ll be doing more pet-sitting in the area when we are there. We both have medical needs that require time there every year. And, we DO like to see our kids at least annually-Thanksgiving seems to be the sweet spot for that. I put time into planning nearly every morning. I know some folks only do it on certain days so it doesn’t consume their time. Research has shown that the planning and anticipation of planning is just as satisfying as the travel itself. I agree completely!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for this write-up and for adding to the conversation! Japan and Korea sound amazing! We are looking at a cruise from Tokyo to Seattle when we decide to head back to SE Asia. Good luck with the knee issue and stay safe!! 😀

[@tabithavisser]

Thank you for your Comment....it is Wonderful to hear that there are People living my Dream.God Bless you and your wife with Good Health to do it for a Long time to come❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Tabitha! ❤

[@doreenfrenier1174]

I relate to so much of what you are saying… Although we are not full-time travelers like you guys, we have been traveling more and more the last few years and include several stops. So yes, it is like a puzzle or I always say like Rubik’s cube to put everything together. And, yes, I have found it can make all the difference in the world to determine what the order of cities is and how to get from one to the other. We are currently in Parma Italy and enjoying a smaller beautiful city without hardly any tourists after coming over on a great deal we got on a transatlantic cruise. Always enjoy your videos, keep up the great work and enjoy every moment❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, a Rubik's cube very much defines the process. A small Italian town with no tourists sounds perfect after a transatlantic cruise. Enjoy 🍷

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

More quality content. I had mentioned Carrie for a Masterclass on her booking process, this is a really good start. Your process by finding the flight, lodging and associated costs (like beer) for pivoting to Budapest from Crete in June. This is terrific, and shows the work and effort required to find these places that you both enjoy for the budget that you have. Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are very excited about Budapest. It was a bit of a surprise for us when we decided to go. It has been on our list since the beginning. It will be a nice change after spending 2 months in Greece.

[@topgun4499]

My favorite couple happy travels from Las Vegas nv Thank you for all the good info!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!! 😁

[@irieyez4757]

I love your dynamics! #coupleGOALS Probably because it really reminds me of my hubby and myself. Carrie doing all the brain work as Brian's "app" is the real secret to all their globe trotting. LOL! Great job once again and keep up the wonderful work, guys!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching and commenting! We appreciate the support!! :)

[@d.y.e3803]

I'm glad that you're eventually going to go to South America.I remember mentioning Buenos Aires a while back and you commented about wanting to go there. While it's on my mind and my tiny travel journal is in front of me, I can list where I stayed. I keep a thick, but small 6-inch by 5-inch spiral journal and write down everything. In front of me is the one with all of my overseas trips from Dec 2006-April 2011 although I have other ones from as far back as 1973. It's fun to read them years later. Plus, it helps me plan future trips to some of the same places. I write down all expenses with details as to where I was, and where I stayed, ate, grocery shopped, regular shopped and what I did as in if I took a city tour, took taxis, buses, subway, etc. I'm one for writing things down in journals and was able to pull this one up in less than 30 seconds. My latest journal is from 2019-2020 while in Europe (summer 2019), Japan (summer 2019) and S.E. Asia ( Dec 2019 to Feb 2020) up until about 2 weeks before the lockdown. I hope to fill up that one in the future. I have stacks of those travel journals. As for my (apartment) accommodation in Buenos Aires (Palermo Hollywood) as I also had a few days in a hotel (Recoleta), I found my apartment through the website of Buenos Aires Habitat. It was easy and my 1 bedroom loft apartment was in a new building with a high security gate and a 24-hour guard. One needs to be cautious in B.A. I was at the Hollywood Suites and Loft in Palermo Hollywood at 5490 Nicaragua between Humberto and J.B. Justo. Loved the neighborhood and would go back to it even again as a female traveling solo. I just read some reviews and overall the building seems to still be quite decent as I googled it. I don't know what the prices are now as I was there in Dec 2008. But, although that particular building isn't listed at present on BuenosAiresHabitat, I just clicked on different locations and there is a wide range of prices and one can get a 30-day rental for as low as $1,200. As for Palermo, there are different ones; Palermo, Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Soho (more expensive), and Palermo Chico. I wandered around all over Buenos Aires. When I was in my Palermo Hollywood building, there were units being sold and others being rented out on a daily to monthly basis. Out of curiosity, I just pulled up apartments on the Buenos Aires Habitat website to see which buildings are listed in different areas and to check out the wide range of prices. There are a lot of apartments in Buenos Aires in general. One thing that was great in my neighborhood was that Morelia Restaurant at Humbolt 2005, was located caddy corner to my building and the food was delicious and inexpensive. I would go in and order food to go and could get two big fish filets and a heap of vegetables for around the equivalent of $8.00-$9.00. Then, I'd walk back across the street to the apartment and eat while watching TV. The staff at the restaurant was great at preparing my different meals to go. I also remember buying a few items at a grocery store, but don't remember, off the top of my head, where it was. I'll need to read further into my journal. LOL! Greetings from Los Angeles

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, very excited for our travels through South America next year. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@jerrygarcia4390]

Wow, you should have a website where your notes could be posted 👍🏾❤

[@brucesnyder690]

Retired expat living in Thailand six years. We travel each month. Long toad trips, internstionally every 3-4 months. Always within SE Asia. Air flights, hotels, food not inexpensive. Visit the US twice a year. Lookjng to rent an apt jn Phuket for a month in October. Off season and great. All good. Thanks for the great information. Safe travels.

[@nomadjim]

Nice to hear how you plan your trips. A lot like the process I use. When you are in San Miguel de Allende, I HIGHLY recommend making a visit to Guanajuato. It is such an interesting and beautiful city. One of those places that just totally captivated me. Enjoy your travels!

[@Laura-kb5sr]

Absolutely agree--I studied at a Spanish school (Escuela Mexicana) in Guanajuato City and loved, loved, loved it. The city is popular with Mexican tourists, lively, and really safe.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is sounding more and more like we need to visit Guanajuato!! Thanks, you two for the recommendation!

[@sunnyla2835]

Love how you figure your budget by what things are important musthaves❤🍻

[@championhomestead6273]

Best video ever! So many layers to the plan and resources. Maybe we can afford more countries than we expected.

[@BrianandCarrie]

There are so many options out there!! 😊Thank you for the kind words and for watching our channel!

[@davidj7516]

Thank you for your time and posting.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, David!

[@JR-eq6jz]

You should just fly cdmx to oaxaca. Cheap and fast vs a near 10hr bus ride.

[@janellr6321]

We're also doing inland Mexico this fall. Very excited to watch your mexico adventures.

[@rickt7425]

Great slow travel overview, systematic planning processes with flexibility It deserves a 1m views!

[@BrianandCarrie]

I million would be amazing!!! 😃

[@lormmc1398]

Brian and Carrie you do deserve it!🇨🇦

[@BrianandCarrie]

😊 thank you

[@jackiemanderson2080]

Very helpful video.Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Jackie!!

[@karend7487]

Thanks for the great suggestions and encouragement that the planning process will get easier! 💜

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Karen. We appreciate the support!! ❤

[@Ichsukatanuka]

Really good breakdown, esp on budgeting and managing multiple places a year, thats definitely something i need to rein in, going to 4 or 5 places a year can add up 😅

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching and commenting!! 😁

[@jeffreypauch4731]

Hey Brian and Carrie, You mentioned you looked into the safety of an area as well as the locations of grocery stores, sites to see, and the walkability of an area when selecting your accommodations in a new location. What internet sites or indicators do you look at to gauge the safety of any area? Thank you and we love you guys! Keep them coming!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi, Jeffrey. We use the website Numbeo. Google Search and Map Quest are always a help as well. We will leave the link to Numbeo below. Cheers!!🍻 www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

[@jerrygarcia4390]

@@BrianandCarriewow, this is brilliant! Thanks

[@holdthelight11]

one of the most informative and useful for me, so thank you so much!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!! 😃

[@julioc4978]

Great video as always, I cant wait for you guys to visit South America, specially Brazil, Argentina and Chile

[@autumncarolynnphotography]

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Happy you enjoyed it, thank you so much for watching 😊

[@andyg4546]

You two are amazing 👍👍

[@BrianandCarrie]

😀❤

[@kitthroneberry1577]

Excellent overview 👏🏼👏🏼

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, happy you enjoyed it 😊

[@Travelers4Good]

Hello Brian & Carrie, we are fellow TrustedHouseSitters located in California. You may know this already, but if not, Australia & NZ are easy locations to find one month plus house sits. In 2023 we sat with a dog for a month in Melbourne plus a week with a cat in Sydney. Later this year we are returning for a one month deluxe beach front sit an hour north of Sydney including use of the car. AU is also a good springboard to Southeast Asia. We were in San Miguel last summer for two months and it was brutally hot and dry, like 92°+ daily highs and no rain for 6 weeks. Hope to meet you two out on the road one of these days.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes!! We have looked into house-sitting in both NZ and Australia. We recently found that those countries require a work visa to house-sit. They are claiming that you are supplying a service for financial gain. Are you hearing the same thing?

[@Travelers4Good]

​@@BrianandCarrie We heard the same, but found it not to be the case when we sat for a month in Melbourne during 2023. At customs we stated we were visiting friends, and now they are our friends. We qre going back for a different 7 week sit in Sept-Nov, and they will also become friends. I do believe that THS can also provide you a legal document for Australia stating the house sit is not qualified as work.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Very interesting!! Thank you!!

[@oldaloneandfarfromhome]

There is lots of good information in this video! I enjoyed every minute! It makes me think about some of the things that I do and the order in which I do them. I just finished five weeks in Querétaro, Mexico and that included short overnight stays in SMA, Guanajuato and Bernal. I loved all that time in the Central Highlands! You will have a great time!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have each been to Mexico but never outside of the resort beach towns. We are very excited!!

[@matthewcartlidge3564]

Have a great day! You deserve it!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Mathew! ❤️

[@paulrumohr]

Fantastic video title clicked on it straight away! I want to be smarter!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks, hope it find some helpful tips 😊

[@Flightat50]

A little late with the comment here but have to say thank you for confirming that I’m not ‘doing it wrong’ .. and that even after two years you still sometimes get a lil stressed! Lol 4.5 months in and loving full time travel but darn the planning is sometimes like going back to a job, albeit a fun one 😉 Fyi.. in Australia now on a dog/housesit. New Zealand next month for another one. Two places we thought might not fit our budget but these sits helped tremendously! And we found both Australia and New Zealand have a lot of housesits available. Apparently a lot of wanderlust from living on these remote islands. And they love their pets! So your visit to these amazing countries may happen sooner than later! As always, thanks for the great info!! Travel on!

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is nice to know that it is possible to do house sits in Aus. and NZ. We have herd that there are visas required to do so.

[@stephanieh3328]

Another great video, thanks! It would be fantastic if you could add chapters to your videos 😀

[@joebrown9132]

I have immersed myself in your channel! Considering following your lead in Fall 2025! Have fun...

[@BrianandCarrie]

You should absolutely follow our lead and travel, Joe! Maybe we will run into you on the road for a beverage! Thank you for watching!! Cheers! 🍻

[@lindaolhava]

Hi B&C - Budapest in June, how fun. I am going to be there 1st 4 days of June. If you are there, would love to have a glass of wine or beer. Also, hubby and I were in SMA in Mexico in 2021. Beautiful area however not as inexpensive as a few years back. Friendly people. Have fun!

[@brucesnyder690]

The usual great video. We travel a lot. Yes, flexibility is key.

[@carolpool5583]

I watch ya'll weekly and am glad to hear of your plans. Just check in Mexico the safer areas. Some parts of Mexico may be very dangerous. I grew up on the border with Mexico in the Brownsville Texas area and I used to travel by my self all over Mexico but the troubles are real in some areas and I would hate to see you affected by this. I don't go to Mexico at all anymore unless I know it is a safe area like San Miguel and Mexico City. Not sure about Oaxaca and the surrounding area. Lots of expats in the Ajijic area on Lake Chapala. Be safe and enjoy.

[@lesliereynolds4492]

I don’t know if you’ve heard about the great rail deal in London. I’ve used it twice over a 15 year period. You buy a pass for a period of time and you can use it on the Tube, busses,and local trains but you also get 2 for 1 coupons for a bunch of sites and deals on restaurants. We used it on Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, riverboats, a ton of places. Cut all those in half, you do have to buy it in a major rail station like Victoria, Waterloo, Paddington, etc., we got a pamphlet with all the participants but mostly everything. When we went to Hampton Court we did have to pay a little more cuz it was a bit outside the boundary of the tube and switched to the train. You qualify cuz you’re not a citizen. The pass has to have the rail emblem on it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We look forward to exploring the UK soon! Thank you for the tip!! Cheers!!🍻

[@kariduensing6951]

I love you two. Always looking at the cost of beer and wine. My kind of people.😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!! You would be surprised at the negative comments we get on that! 😂 Cheers!!🍻

[@user-sh3cd2lo2y]

We love the Algarve and have been going there for the past seven winters. We also spend the month of January in San Miguel…so we are on the same wavelength.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Our video later today is all about our experience in Portugal!! 😁

[@MilanaPavlova-yf6xj]

Next time you might consider Alanya, Turkey. They still have beautiful apartments for month of June under 1000 US.

[@kennethpatrickkruchten8809]

You are both excellent. I would appreciate it if you have the tech skills to divide and title your subjects. We are experienced travelers that would like to easily skip from familiar topics to some if your unique insights. Keep traveling and keep up the good work. Pat k

[@ritalangenfelds7801]

Budapest is beautiful but costs are going to be comparable to rest of EU for food. Make sure to book a day ticket to the Szechenyi thermals and go in the morning with less crowds. It is a beautiful city that is easily walkable.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the advice, Rita. It seems like inflation is worldwide!! We are very excited to be going and the thermals are a must! 😀

[@ritalangenfelds7801]

@@BrianandCarrie yes, unfortunately inflation has hit everywhere! BUT Budapest is well worth the visit:)

[@raidermanjeff]

great info guys thanks jeff so cali beach guy

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Jeff!!

[@JR-eq6jz]

I lived in SMA. It’s cool. Check out Guanajuato city and the mountains around it for hikes. Valle de Bravo should be on your list too.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the recommendations!! We are excited to start the planning process for Mexico soon!

[@amymiller8199]

I must say that your channel has given us such great insight and inspiration and we are about to retire early and head out for a new chapter of full time travel! We have a question for you about your Away bigger carry on bag. We are on the fence between carrying Osprey Farview/Fairpoint backpacks or going with Away roller bags. We plan to use Ryanair, Wizz, and Easyjet airlines to hop between European destinations. Wondering if you or any other travelers can offer suggestions or personal experiences getting these bags on the smaller budget airlines as carry on baggage? Our clock is ticking to decide between the 2 options as we are heading out in June. So excited!! We truly appreciate all the knowledge you have shared with us over the past couple years. We are huge fans!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi, Amy! We are excited for you!!! We haven't had any problems with our Away carry-on. The size fits on all airlines but the weight may be an issue. We like the rollers because we don't like a backpack on while carrying another smaller bag. We can hook our under-seat bags to our rollers and off we go. You will find what works for you sometime after you leave. 😀

[@amymiller8199]

@@BrianandCarrie haha...we are realizing that we will be making some (many!) bad decisions along the way but have vowed to try to laugh all this off! Over a beer, of course. Do you generally pay for the priority ticket that allows a trolley bag on the budget airlines? This might explain why you have had no problems 😉. Thanks again for the speedy reply and for all the great content. You have helped us immensely!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We check in online, so we don't have to go to the ticket counter. We have only been checked one time at the gate and that was by Turkish Air.

[@kategreen9647]

Great video. I think you will be flying into QRO and not San Miguel though. It's about 1.30 drive:)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Correct, we will have to take a bus.

[@elizabethcoates3024]

Great video guys. I found out the hard way that Thailand airbnbs bill entire amount, and it is 8 months out. Ouch. This months budget is squeaky tight now. I actually booked places before the flights, because I saw half of my ❤ locations disappeared. And we are doing 30 days at 3 locations. Thanks for the tips about checking neighboring airports, because I had done 2 airports, but not 4+, I'm trying to get RT to Bangkok for close to $800, in December, til March. Wish me luck. It's dropped from $1300 to $1000 ,so far.😊

[@ceriosborne394]

I am curious if while going through your checklist of where to travel to next if you also consider the Political Climate for both the country and / or regions with the country (South America and maybe even Mexico)? Do you check your Government's travel advisories? Health advisories?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, we do. Argentina is currently level 1 and Mexico is level 2, the same as France and Germany. We check the US website that we will link below. Thank you for watching!! 😀 travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Mexico.html

[@virtual_travel_worldwide]

funny description below your video ... i like 😂❤👍🥰 i always struggle with planing. Hate it 🫣😜

[@roadtriprob8442]

San Miguel is wonderful, but don't sleep on Mexico City its one of the great cities of the world. Surprisingly green, and really no more expensive than San Miguel.

[@FotosLostnFound]

FYI Mexico City is VERY SMOGGY certain times of the year.. summer ! Otherwise a great place for travel !

[@lorrainehopkins3030]

Great tip about google flight costs to "anywhere". I didn't know.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!!! 😃

[@alexandraalbertz1442]

Anywhere?

[@manuvital9071]

Thanks for new info on expedia short term stays. I remember in previous video you mentioned using Amaz Firestick with long travel. Does your stick have a VPN programmed in it? Cuz their are streaming services that don't want to work outside US and several Airbnbs only offer a cable TV in the local language. Thanks in advance! Look forward to your next content.

[@BrianandCarrie]

You're very welcome ☺. Our VPN is added as an app to our Firestick. We use this one and have been happy with it: www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&merchant_id=d4bfb5df-f0c4-499b-bbb0-4734c69aa265&website_id=07ce4335-e112-4c0a-932c-33a2e51dc93e&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnordvpn.com

[@steveliedown]

Hi Brian and Carrie it might be worth you looking at Santander (northern Spain) I’ve just come back from a 4 day trip and was really impressed with the place it is lovely,and one of the most less expensive places I’ve been in a very long time, wine from as little as €1.50 lots of places to visit close by and transport very low cost as well, beautiful beaches as well, love your vlogs (Annette)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Annette! We are wanting to get back to Spain soon! Santander sounds like a perfect fit for us!! 😀

[@jerrygarcia4390]

Good to know. I have Portugal and northern Spain on my list ❤👍🏾

[@vgshwk]

I would say don’t have your heart set on one place where you might go over budget or scrimp so much that you don’t enjoy it. If you go someplace and find it too expensive don’t be afraid or let down to move to a different city.

[@sf3413]

Which websites do you use for living costs? Thank you so much for all the info you share!!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use Numbeo, it's a great resource. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@cperryisnow]

Yall are just fantastic. Videos and now the podcast are great and such a good listen while being informative. Mentioning air bnb for your stays. Do you rely on the reviews for your stays ? Do you find you have availability to negotiate price when you stay 28 days + ?!? Or is the monthly $$ online the rate you go with ?? Keep up the efforts. Travel safe

[@BrianandCarrie]

We really heavily on reviews. The 28-day price is what it is. People always say that it can be negotiated but we haven't found any success when we have tried. Thank you for watching!! 😀

[@NomadBroncoFan]

Greetings from Crete Brian and Carrie: I think you might be here now getting blown away and very dusty from the winds. After 4.5 years living here I have had enough of these winds and dust. Check the wind forecast before you head out to the south coast beach towns. In the tourist season you will get cheap direct flights out of Chania to many EU destination. Enjoy Budapest and Mexico. There is a big expat community in San Miguel Allende. Safe Travels.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are currently "enjoying" the wind here in Rhodes! 😂 We will be in Crete next month so hopefully the winds will calm down by then?

[@NomadBroncoFan]

Greetings Brian and Carrie: Wind events typically last for 3-5 days. The White Mountains really influence the direction of the wind as it hits you. Unfortunately you will experience more wind from the South and with it comes the dust from Africa. Knowing how you guys plan your travel I will not make a recommendation for lodging, but at this time of year the Greeks are out for the biggest bucks that can get. Us Americans who live and work here for the US Navy get ripped off, but we get a housing allowance to offset this. Had you been here this week you could have seen CVN69, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the one and only French air craft carrier, Charles de Gaulle in port. Let me know if you want to take a short day hike nearby Chania. I can recommend something. Do not know how long you plan to stay in Crete, but my daughter is arriving 14 May and we will be driving around the island and doing a day hike near Chania. The Katholiko Gorge that begins at Gouverneto Monestery. There is also a cool monastery Agia Triada Monestery near the Chania Airport. Visit the Charma Brewery (Pronounced Harma) if you want or order it at most tavernas. Don’t hesitate to call my Greek cell 697 395 5952 if you get in a pinch. Enjoy your stay and wear a hat. Safe travels, William Smith

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for all the information!! We will be there for a month, so we will surely hit up the Charma Brewery!! 😃 Thank you again for all this and for watching our channel!! 🍻

[@Retiring2Portugal]

Hey folks, loving all these informational videos. Did think of a question for ya, did y’all skip Cambodia while in SE Asia? If so, why? I’m currently back in the states planning my next bounce and am looking at staying a little closer this time, perhaps 3-6 months in Panama, Costa Rica, and Columbia. Hoping to do SE Asia next year with hops to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand and since I’ll be in that part of the world, investigate jumping to the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand for a few months. Anyhow, keep up the great videos!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We did skip Cambodia simply because of logistics. When we go back we'll be going to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan with China as a possibility. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!

[@tonymodrono5953]

Thank you for another great video! When you go back home and leave again do you buy a 1 way ticket?

[@BrianandCarrie]

You're very welcome 🤗. Yes, we buy a one way ticket. Unless, I can find a amazing deal where the return ticket is almost free.

[@catherine8332]

Re “deserving” nice accommodations…my very healthy marathon running cousin got shingles from his two week long vacation…which he attributed to too-cheap accommodations and not being able to sleep and feel comfortable. I think it’s better to wait til you have the right budget for decent accommodations. Not “fancy” but think about it: an uncomfortable bed is just not worth it. So…Brian and Carrie are right again 🤣

[@BrianandCarrie]

We deserve a nice place!!! 😂

[@jerrygarcia4390]

Did he get the COVID 💉? That’s one of the adverse side effects sadly to say 😔

[@laurapegues1638]

Hi, thank you so much for all the hard work you do and posting these videos! They are really helpful. we’re retiring next year and plan to travel from San Antonio, Texas to Greece, Turkey and Croatia on a limited budget for about five weeks starting mid April. I heard you say you use Google flights, you’re flexible on the dates and you track the flights. Could you tell me how far in advance you book your flights? Also, when you say you track the flights, do you manually go into Google flights every day for say a week or two to track them or how long do you track them and do you have an app you like that tracks them for you? Any tips you could give me saving money for this trip would be much appreciated! Thanks for all you do:)

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will book our flights no less than 3 months in advance and track the flights manually. You will love the three countries you are choosing to start with! Thank you so much for watching our channel!! Cheers!!🍻

[@laurapegues1638]

Thanks guys!

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Explorer Mode...🤔🌍 📌 Nice. Do you feel like explorers going to these Eastern European countries, and finding these hidden gems? 😮

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, many forget about places like Romania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania. All places that we have been to and found to be not only affordable but have great food and tons of interesting history.

[@monicarowe7915]

I edited as I see at the end of your video, you are going to Oaxaca city, I assume by ADO bus- The ADO Platino is even a nicer bus. Unfortunately, there is a water shortage in Oaxaca so you may wish to check if they are still rationing water or turning it off as the hotels receive first priority, before Airbnbs. You can also take the bus from Oaxaca city to the beautiful Pacific coast, which is a long journey, but with the new highway, it shortens the journey, slightly.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for this, Monica! We are looking forward to the planning of this trip here in a couple of weeks. It is nice to know about the buses and the potential water shortages.

[@jacmac9996]

Carrie you mentioned returning to Turkey for further dental care. Are you returning because it’s the same dentist or or doesn’t that matter? More to do with good level of care and cost effectiveness! Thinking of heading there this year for good dental care too! Thanks guys for ALL of your info! 👍

[@BrianandCarrie]

I'm returning to go back to the same dentist to have my crown placed. I had to wait four months after the implant was placed for the final step. I would highly recommend the dental office I went through, they were great. Their info is linked in our medical care video we did recently.

[@jacmac9996]

Thank you Carrie…I’ll check that one out again 👍 very much appreciated! 😀

[@freerange6739]

Mexico has a 17% hotel and AirBnB tax plus 3 percent sales tax. Add 20% to the price of a hotel

[@jerrygarcia4390]

Wow 🤯

[@shanhad1572]

I hope Peru is in your plans for South America. Such an amazing country.

[@jerrygarcia4390]

There is nothing like sitting in the hot springs in Aguas Calientes after hiking all over Machu Picchu! You raise your hand and someone will bring you a Pina Colada for a $1 ❤😊

[@the_real_ick]

@BrianandCarrie How do you guys get around or deal with exit ticket requirements for tourist visas when entering a country while remaining flexible with flights and travels to the next country?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We've never needed a exit ticket. We did buy one in Thailand as they can enforce it, but they never asked for it.

[@the_real_ick]

@@BrianandCarrie Thanks for the reply! I had kind of thought this might be the case, but I imagine it would depend on the country and how much their immigration officials stick to the requirements.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Very true. We have never had any problems.

[@user-jd2jk8uh2d]

You may have shared this before but Do you use any travel planning software or a spreadsheet for your trips? Like an Excel spreadsheet for planning or TripIt during trips? Any suggestions would be great

[@BrianandCarrie]

I keep many spreadsheets but they are mainly for tracking expenses. I'm sure there are some great apps out there too track it all though.

[@elainereynolds8910]

Hello, I just watched the video, but I still have a question. Do you book one-way or round trip flights? Apologies if this has already been answered. Thanks for your great videos. We are starting our travels this August. Dolomites and Slovenia for 6 weeks.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! About 95% of our tickets are one way. There is the rare occasion where its almost free to get the round trip and in that case we do it and try to make the return date work.

[@Chloe-dn2hn]

Thanks always for great videos. We are retiring this year and moving to Kitsap county. We will definitely stay home during the gorgeous summer time there! My question today is, when you had a house, how did you take care of the house while you were gone for a long time? I’d feel uncomfortable leaving the house unoccupied for weeks. Please share how you did it. Thank you 😊

[@JoseReyes-ov2tu]

I used to live in Kitsap :) Port Orchard to be exact. I believe that they started their long-term travels only AFTER they sold everything. They have a couple of videos where they talk about it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi, Chloe. Jose is correct in the answer. We sold everything before we started our adventure.

[@Chloe-dn2hn]

@@BrianandCarrie I just saw your house-sitting video which was very helpful 👍🏻 Thanks again!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!!!

[@Chloe-dn2hn]

@@JoseReyes-ov2tu Thanks Jose! We can’t wait to move there!

[@brianday1667]

Do you ever look at the flights Seaford area like Southeast Asia and then decide OK well there’s a cheap flight to Hanoi so that’s where we’re going to start and then work around the fifth or maybe it’s a cheap flight to Malaysia or whatever. Does that ever come in to play? Thanks Brian

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, that is what we are doing for Budapest this June. We found a cheap flight from Crete so that's where we are going!! We will plan some day trips from there and look forward to something new!

[@TaraBates-uk3vi]

A couple of questions about prescriptions. You said you could get them filled. Did you just take your empty bottle in? Did you have to see a local doctor to get a new rx written? More details would be super helpful. Thanks!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Here is a recent video. 🙂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX-nk2eJrbOYjdE

[@sf3413]

Have you checked out hotel prices w/ breakfast included? I've been surprised that those options can actually be less expensive, include laundry and have a couch in the room. That may not work for you, but wanted to throw it out there.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We can do hotels for our few day stays, but any longer and we need more space to have it feel more like home 😊. Great tip though, it would work for many!

[@andreablack4573]

I am always surprised about your finding that the food from supermarkets etc would be expensive in France. Outside Paris I have always found everything quite reasonable.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have heard this in the past. We would love to stay in Paris for a couple of nights and then head out to other parts that are more affordable. We appreciate you, Andrea!! ❤ 😀

[@katherron8789]

We have spent last 7 months as slow travelers in france and it has been very affordable through aibnb and rentaplaceinfrance. We buy bus pass for $40ish a month, food has been about $120 week.

[@nancyl7989]

How exactly do you check grocery prices and cost of living in general?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Here is the link that we use!! Cheers!!🍻 www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

[@margog9604]

Can you explain more about this "explorer mode" you mentioned to find and compare flight prices for multiple destinations? Is this a feature in Expedia?

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is on Google Flights. It has an explore button on the top row. 😃

[@margog9604]

@@BrianandCarrie Thanks! I've never used that function. I'll check it out!

[@katherron8789]

Have you said what you budget for transportation each month?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We give our yearly costs for airfare in our end-of-year videos and costs for trains and buses in our monthly cost of living videos. Here is a link to our end-of-year video. Thank you so much for watching! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHnXXph-dquqaKM

[@brucesnyder690]

I always look at the planning process as fun. KZbin, online apps make things easy.

[@BrianandCarrie]

As always, thank you, Bruce!!

[@susanjackson984]

How are you able to research those grocery costs of areas you are investigating?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use a website called Numbeo and have found it very accurate. We will leave the link below. Cheers!! 🍻 www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

[@RhondaCampbell-gh2jd]

How do you determine if an area is safe? Where do you check?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will Google the city that we are traveling to.

If you guys are going to Buenos Aires, look at doing an Antartica cruise. Maybe not one where you set foot on Antartica (very expensive) but one that cruises around Antartica (more affordable). Once you are there and you paid for the air ticket all the way to Buenos Aires, why not?!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have looked into this! It may still be out of our price range. We do try to budget a bigger expense each year so this maybe it!! Thank you for watching our channel!!!

[@jerrygarcia4390]

Another travel couple mentioned doing a reposition cruise 🚢 around Tierra de fuego 👍🏾

[@carolynknisely2383]

Do you find it is cheaper to fly during the week (Tues or wed).?

[@BrianandCarrie]

In some cases, yes. The best option is to be flexible!!

[@bronjackman3274]

Very informative podcast again 😊 could you explain how you research your grocery costs and neighbourhoods before you go, which websites do you use?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use Numbeo and have found it very accurate. Here is the link. www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

[@matthewcartlidge3564]

What’s the best resource for finding entry requirements for the countries you’re researching?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We go to the embassy website. You will find all the information that you need.

[@nealm8322]

What is your yearly budget? Asking so have a reference point.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We do monthly budget videos with all of our expenses each month so it will very be depending on what country we are in. Here is a link to our 2023 budget video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHnXXph-dquqaKM

[@guadaluperodriguez7898]

What is a reputable website to find housesitting USA and international?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We use this site and have been very happy with them. trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/c/3563316/1555723/18144

[@Ijpxango]

Where in Mexico are you going for monthly stays?

[@Ijpxango]

never mind i listened to the end where you said where you were going.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will be in central Mexico for the most part.

[@mixnmichael1]

Soo do you keep a your car in the states? Medical insurance? I'm leaving monday for the Philippines for 3 monthes. I put my stuff in storage. When I get back I'll spend a month with family and friends. I figure why pay rent for a place when I'm gone that long. Maybe I should try something like this.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We do not keep a car, but we do have Cigna Globel health insurance and would recommend Safety Wing if you have insurance from a US source. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻 safetywing.com/?referenceID=brianandcarrie&Ambassador&

[@mixnmichael1]

@@BrianandCarrie what is safety source?

[@BrianandCarrie]

The link is to the travel insurance that we recommend. Safety Wing travel insurance. B

[@mixnmichael1]

@@BrianandCarrie you have a lot of links. No credit card/hotels though.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Here is a link to our website. We have credit card information under the credit card tab. www.brianandcarrietravels.com/

[@curtiswhite3553]

I was just curious, why do you plan for 28 days rather than 30?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We can stay longer than 28 days if we want to. Airbnb gives a discount if you book for 28 days or longer.

[@vgshwk]

There are a few things I have encountered. I have visited two different countries when the pope has visited big travel headaches. I have flown into cities when the president was visiting big delays.

[@Mr.S65]

Of course Seattle is the most beautiful city in the world after Boston. 😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sounds like we need to get to Boston!! 😀

[@jimcooper1725]

What cities are you going to in Mexico?

[@nncadi1]

They mentioned the cities towards the end of the video.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!

[@overseaspassport]

Btw the new name is Turkiye and pronounced differently sounds like Turkey-a

[@BrianandCarrie]

Correct. Most of the locals that we encountered are pronouncing it the same way we are.

[@overseaspassport]

@@BrianandCarrie because they know you're tourists but okay

[@BrianandCarrie]

We watched Turkish politicians pronounce it the way we do during the recent election but okay. 🙄

[@johnmclean6380]

30 minutes for every video is just wayyyyyyyyy too long for my sked, so lately I just spend 3-4 minutes fast forwarding thru each vid + catching a few highlights here and there instead of watching the whole thing

[@BrianandCarrie]

Your a busy man, John! 😀 Thank you so much for taking the time that you do have on us!!! 😁 Cheers!!!

[@HGills]

No waaaaaaay I love this format and always look forward to videos around the 30-45 min mark. I watch them at night when nothing on TV appeals or i've hopped into bed early and don't want to read. I always feel like i'm on facetime with a friend listening to them.

[@lilg2300]

I like the length of the videos! I think this channel gives so much great inside and it is just nice to listen to them, why rush? There are other platforms where short content is more prevalent.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, friend!!! ❤😃

[@BrianandCarrie]

Why be in such a hurry right? Thank you for watching and supporting us!!!

[@oldfartsadventure]

Good advice. We hate hate hate layovers and are willing to pay a small premium for direct flights. I hate having a 10 hour travel day when we could get there in about 2-3 hours.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We would agree on a domestic flight. International flights you'll have a layover. How many and for how long is the key.

[@HGills]

You should try living in Australia as your home base - everywhere is a long travel day ;)

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have met a few Aussies!! 😀

[@HGills]

@@BrianandCarriewe are everywhere, some good, some not so 😂

[@BrianandCarrie]

😂

[@fernandomofreita79]

I hope that you are in good health and enjoying your life. Suggestions for video content, and very important concerns while abroad: In order to help people in general while traveling abroad, and since you are such a good communicator, I would like to suggest the following topics for you to address, if possible, please: The importance of having a will and power of attorney for both property and personal care. What if you get demented while living or traveling abroad without family or friends...who is going to decide for you during that critical moment? What to do if one has no family, wife or kids and start losing our memory while living abroad...should one see a lawyer regarding our assets, and other issues? How does one solve the issue of (yahoo, face book etc.) accounts passwords as well as credit cards PIN in case of sudden death abroad...should we contact a lawyer about the same? The importance of having a laminated card in your luggage with all the necessary, and very important contact information regarding the executor of your will, power of attorney, or any other major issue in case of sudden death abroad. The importance of having funeral arrangements made in case of sudden death while traveling abroad. Options for doing and paying the yearly income tax return while traveling abroad? How to get your mail from back home while living and traveling abroad? The importance of advising your banks about your travels plans abroad so that your credit / debit cards don't get cancelled while you are traveling. The importance of having good antitheft luggage while abroad to keep you safe. The importance of having a hobby while retired to keep mind and body busy. The importance of seeing a financial advisor in order to prepare for retirement. The suggested early retirement formula to reach (F.I.R.E.) or Financial Independence Retire Early. (Total annual expenses x 25) =F.I.R.E. money. Outliving your retirement savings, and the impact of inflation on the monthly budget. The importance of seeing your family doctor for a physical check-up, and getting vaccinated against hepatitis, malaria etc. before going abroad. The importance of having more than one way of getting to your money while abroad. The importance of having travel medical insurance while traveling abroad and your (insurance company suggestions). Stay healthy, safe and thank you.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the ideas. We have covered a few of these topics in other videos. Thank you for watching and taking the time to add this.

[@jeffhyde9097]

where in south america? Buenos Aires is the best! palermo neighborhood. the usd vs peso is good ut not quite as good as last year all the best

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will start in Buenos Aires and go from there!

[@jeffhyde9097]

@@BrianandCarrie we live in Argentina from november to march-ish We would absolutely love to sat quick hello and buy you a cerveza for two thirsty!!!! If you are there when we are. Happy travels😀 we would be happy to share any info on argentina and capital federal if interested.

[@roadtriprob8442]

I agree we did Buenos Aires Cordoba and Mendoza from November until April this year , very reasonably priced . For the most part the blue dollar exchange rate was pretty well keeping up with inflation until March we did loose some purchasing power at that point but things were still very affordable. The mountains and wineries of Mendoza were beautiful. But I agree the Palermo neigh hood in BA with all its colours and engird was a true gem.