Slow Travel The Real Costs No One Talks About

Today we share about slow travel the real costs no one talks about. We will be breaking down some of the things that are not line items on our monthly budget. How to avoid some of these issues and how to address them.
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[@gettingslim186]

Did you guys listen to Brian and Carrie's nightmare Airbnb story? They booked with super host, 5 star place, and it was false.

[@debbiefisher8596]

I was thinking about them with the Airbnb discussion

[@aairsick]

it happens a lot

[@bethanypoppele9261]

Something to note with rental cars is that if you use certain credit cards to book the reservation, the card will cover the damages if the claim is filed in a given amount of time specified by the card. It's worth checking into the benefits provided by your credit cards!

[@lindadorman2869]

I sold my car in 2017 and have only used rental cars since then. I rent a car every two months to run errands and shop. Chase Reserve provides auto insurance coverage and they paid for my claim (cracked windshield) in 3 days.

[@DaveM-FFB]

The best way to put an unusually small deposit on a cruise is to make a deposit at the Future Cruise Desk while you're on a cruise. In some cases, you don't even need to specify the itinerary. You may be able to apply the deposit to a specific cruise later.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Great tip, we hadn't thought of that! We may do it on our upcoming cruise. Thanks!

[@koonmai7420]

I love your video because it's so realistic. Sometimes things just don't go with plan! I always travel with my husband. When we were younger, we never booked air ticket or hotel with refundable option. That's because we didn't know any better. Fortunately, we made it every time. Now we're getting older and retired, we book everything refundable! Ha ha ha!!

[@kasiawojcik11]

I like you guys because you think like me! 🤭 No one talks about this and sadly most people don’t think this way. I do, thanks to my upbringing, and you are spot one on all those little or hidden fees, or the fees that we don’t plan for!!! Enjoy your travels!! I just arrived in Brussels!!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@JanineRenee-mh5xr]

What a fantastic video!!!! Another possible hidden cost is daily tips for the incredibly hard working, frequently underpaid housekeeping and hotel staff. Since the cleaning crew rotates and has intimate access to my entire lifestyle- kind tips can considerably change the quality of long term stays.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Great tip!

[@trichelleconner2612]

What are the things you consider a need for packing as a slow traveler? Possible video...

[@denakelley4363]

I do the same thing about booking an extra night so I have a place to hang out, eat, shower etc during the day when I have a late night flight. It’s worth paying extra. I didn’t do it once and regretted it.

[@iancvisuals707]

You might want to consider the trade off value of just buying and discarding stuff along the way. A buddy of mine traveled for several months just buying clothing at thrift stores and discarding items as he went. If your are talking about relatively low cost stuff it might be easier to buy a 6 pack of plain cotton T shirts and underwear. If you had a clothes budget of say $100 per month vs a baggage fee of $150 or more for flights you could maybe do a core carry one and buy disposable for the remainder. You can always donate it away when you depart.

[@user-bg9em7ch6k]

I think they’ve mentioned that they do buy and donate clothing as they travel (in a different video). It definitely is a good idea!

[@maddhatter2073]

I book only hotel rooms I can cancel, then one week before check-in I check the pre-paid rate. It doesn’t always work, but I recently saved over $100 on a five night stay and got some extra amenities thrown in by pre-paying a week in advance and canceling my original reservation. Also, if you only have a deposit on a trip that you want to cancel, several companies will let you move the deposit to a different trip/date. I just find the trip with the farthest out date and switch my reservation to that, which gives me time to decide what I actually want to do. Love all your channels!

[@suzannecuerrier279]

I agree with trying not to book non-refundable stuff, and those with high deposits. I learned the hard way and now I feel stuck going on a cruise next August that I wish I hadn't booked.

[@manhattanrats]

Ali, today I digested your tutorial about which video editor to use and why. I had been struggling with trying to find disparate open-source photo and video editors. Ended up spending a mere $160 to buy the software you recommended AND demonstrated. Your tutorial taught me everything I need to know to use the tool you recommended. ONCE AGAIN, THIS ITEM ALONE makes your tutorial package worth the purchase price. Thank you. See you two in the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge in Moynihan some day, let's hope! Robert in NYC.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Glad that worked so well! Hopefully we will be in Moynihan later this year, we are mapping out a route there now!

[@manhattanrats]

@@GroundedLifeFinances I'm serious when I suggest that you look me up next time you've got a layover in NYC. Robert in NYC. :-)

[@WandererBell]

Geico offers a non-owner liability insurance policy. I pay around $27 per month.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@sirrebral]

Great topic; very insightful. I'm planning to transition to full-time travel soon, and while I'd predicted a few of these hidden "nomad taxes", you raised a couple I hadn't considered, particularly the car insurance (hopefully my preference for large urban areas with good public transportation makes this a non-issue, but I'm sure there will be compromises involved). Regarding baggage, my plan is to travel with two bags...a full-sized 46L carry-on pack plus a smaller 24-30 liter pack BUT with a total of only 45 to 55 liters of stuff. The rationale is that much of the time I'll be able to comply with a carry-on plus personal item policy, yet if I want to make a 4-5 day excursion while staying in a slow-travel home for 30, 60, or 90 days, I'll be able to leave the bigger bag and non-essentials behind, allowing me to take advantage of 7kg, 10-24L max. low cost carriers in Asia and Europe. From an experienced perspective, does that sound realistic, or Pollyanna-ishly naive? lol

[@dotted8-]

Sirrebral, I’m currently full time slow travel. Started with small (intl size) roller carryon bag and a medium sized convertible backpack/shoulder bag. I enjoy no checked bags but currently in SEA doing short flights which are on the airlines with strict baggage requirements/limits. On my flight a couple days ago I had to check the hardshell bag because over limit. My backpack that carries my laptop, cameras, drone, etc was likely under the weight limit but was not weighed. I’m currently trying to figure out if it may be better to get a medium sized checked bag that I won’t have to pack like a puzzle to fit everything and just have my computer bag to carry onboard. It seems like every stop, I end up trying to figure what I can get rid of to make packing smaller and easier so I’ve left good colder weather clothing in hotels since I’m exclusively in hot climates now. That was a long answer to just say, try it for a while and see what works for you and then you can adjust your decisions as you go.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It's a tough puzzle for sure, for us we find it hard to leave a bag and only bring the small one because we have no place to leave one that is cost effective. If you plan to excursions from a home base from time to time that could work.

[@gemmeg2]

I find that local transportation often costs more than I expected, especially in Western countries. The public transport can be difficult to figure out, and the private transport folks are always finding ways to take advantage of travelers. I also don’t book anything that I can’t get out of easily. I don’t buy travel insurance. I am not as adept with the hotel points as you guys but get most of my flights free with miles: most flights booked with miles can be cancelled for full refunds of miles even on short notice.

[@list-and-sell]

I had booked a European 7 week vacation of a lifetime scheduled to start mid-February 2020 - we know what happened there. I chased refunds for about a year. Marriott hotel, prepaid in Venice, Italy wouldn't refund but said we could use the room anytime within the year - uh, thanks but no. The government backed them up. Air TAP Portugal stiffed us on part of the airfare from England to New York - out of the blue they sent a payment of half the fare - not sure why and could never get the rest of it. Air France we lost out on our airfares from Miami to Guadeloupe - again a rigid certificate to be used before a certain time - very frustrating I really couldn't bring myself to book anything else until the end of 2022 when I started traveling again.

[@BPal75]

Great tips and thoughts about unexpected costs of travel. Thank you!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks

[@nomadjim]

It is possible to get car insurance from the typical insurance companies without owning a car. I have what's called Non-Owned Vehicle Coverage with Progressive. It costs me around $600 per year, around half of what I was paying when I had a car.

[@manhattanrats]

Great advice about not paying too much in advance. Robert in NYC.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@susangarrard2753]

Great tips!

[@kathyoliva6966]

Thank you again for such a valuable video! I always learn so much! 👍😁 lesson learned personally about getting to the airport way too early. Awful experience and now I know to get a hotel room even If I don’t stay the full night. Thank you for your wonderful advice!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

You are so welcome!

[@PinkyLegaspi]

Thanks for the great info! Kindly do a luggage video of what you bring along your travels. Thanks!

[@rhondabelser-davis1253]

Car insurance without owning a car--never thought about that.

[@laura_and_shanman]

Such good content!! Thank you! Love your channel SO MUCH! I always book 100% cancellable/refundable even if it's more.. things are just too volatile.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

You are so welcome! Agree, refundable the way to go now!

[@frenchiemomma201]

I can always depend on you to put out great content! Thanks!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@mississippiapple1078]

Such great info! 😊

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Glad it was helpful!

[@twbird18]

I only book things that are refundable or that will sell out (activities/special restaurants). I make a list of all the activities I'm interested in at a location and just play all my travel by how I'm feeling. I can always return again later for things I skip. I think that's the entire point of slow travel. Some days you just want to relax or go back to your room and take a nap. Maybe you catch a cold on the plane, etc.

[@kathyoliva6966]

Yes! True! Illness happened to me twice on trips where after a cruise I had one more night at a beautiful hotel near the cruise terminal. Was ill so it was heaven to be able to sleep before having to get to the airport and fly home, ❤️ you’re so right!

[@elizaC3024]

Royal Caribbean is now wanting $900 deposits.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yikes!

[@WandererBell]

Thank you for the great info. I'd like to mention something about travel insurance offered by credit cards. Many of these policies require a return flight home, which may not be suitable for slow or full-time travelers.

[@timshel011]

Thank you ! ❤❤❤ !

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

You're welcome 😊

[@walternyc]

You should hook the video on how to book on Airbnb. That is my experience too, only superhost. Also I think overall the Airbnb experience has been deteriorating.

[@strawberries1411]

Taking notes here.. thanks for all the tips.. Question: can you give examples of things that maybe are cheaper/convenient to buy on the road when needed and leave behind instead of dragging it all along for the just in case situations.. not talking about shampoos here or the things that are only available in your own country😅

[@halbuhr7220]

Booking with points works for both hotels and flights. I tested positive for Covid-19 in Japan last year and quickly booked a flight back to the U.S. before trying to use my home test kit to board a ship. I passed the nurse's checkpoint and immediately canceled my flight before hopping on.. You should try to book future cruises onboard and think of the reduced deposit as an option like you would with a stock.

[@candicecampbell7818]

Can you talk more about the type of travel insurance you have and on what cards

[@harveyh3696]

I thought you gave up on staying at AirBnb? Luv your presentations!

[@nataliajimenez1870]

They are focusing now on hotels but they said it's possible they may do some short term rentals for some special places. But they are going to be extremely careful with Airbnb

[@harveyh3696]

@@nataliajimenez1870 Thanks for your response! Aren't the best?!!

[@Shell2014]

Wouldn’t it be better to keep your house as home base, and slow travel like 4 to 6 months out of the year?

[@donaldwilliams8661]

We literally drug our bags from the train station to the tower of Pisa and back to the train station in one afternoon. lol !

[@sirrebral]

That's funny; I did something similar but with just an Osprey Porter 46, arriving at PSA from BUD in the early evening, taking a bus to Pisa Cathedral for a few obligatory pics, then heading to the train station to catch a late departure to Florence.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Lol, that is a long haul with the bags!

[@jeffreysmith5018]

Can you get a non-owner car insurance policy to cover rentals?

[@FIRED13]

We flew Calif to DC, two months later Calif to Boston. One month later, Calif to Tennessee. Reason? Work & last min opportunity. Inefficient use of money IMO but partner wants to keep working 🙄

[@LucyLue-k7t]

I am interested in your KZbin course. Because technology changes rapidly, will there be upgrades done occasionally? And will there be unlimited access if there are upgrades without an additional cost?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes, we update it, and those updates are free

[@jfelizondomd]

Do you use travel insurance?

[@mmmark]

Do you find you incur much currency exchange loss because you have to buy some local currency in countries that you then have to exchange back when you leave? We try to use cards as much as possible of course but still need cash for some things.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Not too much, we usually use it all up

[@TerpsterVape]

Hello! You mentioned that you "shipped your luggage to Japan" how does that work?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Around in Japan, from Tokyo to Osaka for instance. The front desk of your hotel will ship it for you for roughly $30.

[@1zcott]

Thanks, I bought 500K points, I hope you get an affiliate fee

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you!

[@gregoryfriston7091]

9:23 you meant to say there that you save $3000 a *year* by not having a car to insure, didn't you? It's still a huge amount of money!

[@dena1212]

Do I have to get the IHG credit card to buy the points or can I buy the points on my Sapphire card and get the IHG card later in order to utilize the 4th night free?

[@sirrebral]

I'm looking at something similar. You can buy the points with any card, so the question becomes which points ecosystem provides greater net value, both objectively per the math, as well as subjectively accordingly to your personal redemption preferences. For example, a $2,500 purchase of 500K IHG points using a Chase Reserve card earns 2,500 Ultimate Rewards points worth around $37.50 to $50 (assuming a 1.5 to 2.0 cents per point valuation). Meanwhile, the same $2,500 purchase using the IHG Premier card would earn 7,500 IHG One Rewards points worth a total of $37.50 to $52.50 (assuming a 0.5 to 0.7 cents per point valuation). As you can see, the average redemption values are nearly identical for each option, so after doing the math, the real question is which use-case you prefer: stays at IHG properties, or the variety of options available via Ultimate Rewards (e.g. transfers to airline programs, transfers to Hyatt, or spending "points in lieu of cash" via the Chase Travel portal...the last only advisable with the 1.5 cents-per-point Sapphire Reserve, not the 1.25 cpp Sapphire Preferred).

[@sirrebral]

I think my first response was erroneously interpreted as mktg due to citing several point valuation examples using dollar signs, so here's a shorter, less detailed response...you can use either card, but the net value earned is nearly identical--38 to 50 bucks when buying the max number of IHG points. That's due to the different earnings rates and point values for the two systems, so all things being equal math-wise, what really matters is what you prefer more: stays at IHG properties, or the variety of options available with Ultimate Rewards (points transfers to partner airlines and Hyatt, or getting a 50 percent bonus when redeeming through the card's travel portal).

[@shaziaijaz5863]

We always buy refundable hotels and flights on miles

[@joethecomputerguy1]

Dats a lot of negatives!

[@Beyloveseverybody]

What's a super host 🤔

[@erickarnell]

AirBnB has a category of hosts called Super Host. Based on time and reviews.

[@kristiG5259]

That month-long Airbnb didn't refund you ANYTHING? ugh!