REASONS that hold YOU back from doing a WORLD TOUR - answers to your questions.

[@rmclark339]

You two are doing this at a perfect time of your life. All of the things you had before the tour, jobs "security" etc...will be there when your adventure is completed (at least this one). I'm 67 and when I look back I regret not doing something similar when I was young. Of course that was before internet, solar power stations, good roads etc etc......But still we could have traveled by train through Europe and the US. Now that we are retired we are traveling more and doing more adventures but being a senior adds other "complications', like after a 5 mile hike the next morning I feel like I've been in an American football game :) Anyway, I love your channel, your energy and the bond you two have. Good luck to you both and I look forward to following your travels.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thank you for your message Clark, it helps us keep focus but confirms the idea that now was right. Also had a little laugh at the end of your paragraph when you talked about being tired like playing a football game, thank you 😊

[@francoisehollender_franeuro]

Congratulations, Nick and Mathilde, very well done!

[@christopheranderson8619]

Thank you for sharing and providing this insight. I was fortunate enough to retire early however was diagnosed with cancer at the point of retirement. I'm one of the fortunate ones as it was treatable and my health is good today. However a dear friend and others have not been so lucky. Waiting until the social norm retirement age is the biggest mistake any young person could make. Pay down or eliminate your debt and travel, adventure and explore when you have your health and mobility. If nothing else then going back to work beyond the standard retirement age provides social and mental benefits vs sitting at home. I've only travelled in the US and Canada but will be setting out on the road again as soon as the New Hampshire weather breaks and my responsibility for assisting my parents with snow removal, firewood, etc are no longer a concern. Safe travels and keep Living Life! 🍻

[@moprea19]

Smart! That was my first of impression of you two. Inteligent people, well educated and all around wholesome couple!

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

❤️ ❤️ 😁 awhh thanks!!

[@ivanstevens]

You two have definitely done it at the right time, like others have said your future job, if that is still the same by the end of your travels will still be there when you finish. Wish I could have done it earlier but my wife and I will just do it later in life I guess. Enjoy the experience and love your channel.

[@SP-os9pf]

"You are increasing your value and learning new skills" - such god points - thank you ! X

[@Tristan_de_Kermadec]

You are so right about the mindset. That is the most important part. When there is a will, there is a way. I did it differently than you because my goal was not only to travel but to live abroad, which can be even more challenging (international moving, children education in different school systems, necessity to learn the local language and culture). I managed to live and work on 5 continents and spent my life traveling. Of course I chose a job that allowed me to do that (I was a diplomat). Like Mathilde, I was born in the beautiful region of Annecy, and I am now happily semi retired near San Diego. After 3 years of traveling, when it will be time to look for new jobs, you two may also be tempted to look for an international career. Mathilde was working in Brussel for the UN, an international organization that offers multiple opportunities of expatriation. As you already know, international travel is addictive and the best learning experience. You cannot come back unchanged from an adventure like the one you are living and you can be sure that it will open a lot of new horizons and opportunities. I cannot wait to follow the rest of your adventures. One recommendation: spend as much time as you can in New Zealand, the most beautiful country in the world in my opinion. And I have seen it all! Bon voyage.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thank you for sharing! And agreed, there are amazing options out there and we would love after the trip to have an international career with an option to change country every 4-5 years, Hopefully with the same job like the UN fingers crossed 🤞

[@chrismyers46]

Love your attitude. Even with some setbacks, it hasn't dampened your enthusiasm. Looking forward to the next leg of your journey once Nic is back on both feet.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Wohooo! Thanks and yes we can’t wait to get back on the road 😀

[@MrDonJBerg]

I love all the animal noises...Dogs, birds..and switching to French and back...You two are just fun.. Keep going...Love to see the rest of your travels

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

😁 thanks

[@WGrantDavidson]

Nick and Matilde, I'm really enjoying following along your journey through your videos. I had the opportunity to travel for a year (40 years ago) when I graduated from university, and I'm really glad that I did! It really changed my view of the world and gave me a lot of confidence.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hey Grant, thanks for sharing and happy to hear that! We have no regrets either and very happy to be out there!

[@mary333j]

🙏 for safe travels and lots of awesome adventures! Good answers!

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thank you Jewels!

[@ksaria111]

Thanks

[@ksaria111]

Thanks for sharing the videos. Very inspiring ❤

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

thank you it is so generous of you!!! your support is really important to us

[@russmartin4189]

You are doing it at the right time. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. As life goes on, things can get more complicated and those things can prevent a trip like this..

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

😁 🙏 thanks Russ

[@russmartin4189]

Just one concern I thought about. I hope you have health insuranc that will cover you in any country you plan to travel through. Anything can happen at any time and it would be tragic if you couldn't be treated because of lack of insurance. Also, you should think of what it might cost to medically evacuate a person back to France. I hope this never happens to you, but it is a remote possiblility and should be considered. Did you both have complete physicals before you left. About 10 years ago, there was a woman in Antarctica who had breast cancer. It was winter, so no plane could rescue her. One of the people there had to perform surgery. I believe. That is an extreme case.

[@alexandral6273]

Merci pour cette FAQ. Très intéressant 😊

[@doroteamunoz978]

Nick and Matilde, Hello!! You know watching you and listening to youre😢question & answer today you’re really amazed me, I loved whats happening to you both you have the courage the talent, the brain to make it to what you want in life anyway be safe always and take care. Focus guys. See you next week.stay healthy.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thank you Dorotea! We try and happy to please as well with our videos and sharing our experience to anyone who may just need that extra push. It’s truly a dream coke through for us 😃

[@kirstyangus4155]

Interestingly, I am on the brink of a different type of decision- whether to take a career break to stay home and homeschool my daughter. My 15yr old has recently had a major health crisis and cannot attend school full time. You talked about priorities and that has been very helpful.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Yes it is interesting and often we tend to generalize that quitting is going to be detrimental for one’s career ( we imagine it might vary form field to field) but we feel it might not necessarily be the case. And if that supporting you child is a priority maybe you ll also have time to come back into your career with new skills and peace of mind that ll make you stronger ? All the best to you and your daughter!

[@rogerevans1117]

I admire you both for taking on this amazing expedition! I really enjoy your enthusiasm & willingness to learn in your videos. I am not sure I could accomplish what you are, but you have certainly given me a list of places to visit. I hope Nick is healing quickly and can't wait for your next video!

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hi Roger, thanks 🙏 happy to share our story and thank you for the wishes! Recovery is going very well 😊

[@ronfinch5532]

Awesome! To your twos courage. In my years I’ve learned that in most cases if you leave a job in good standing there is a good chance they will hire you again. I’ve always called the time between jobs an unpaid vacation.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

😁 thanks Ron! We do hope that’ll happen, and we’re confident it may 😊

[@calicheoverland6398]

Exelente video llebo 7 años planeando mi viaje y mi sueño salgo en ruta en 1151 dias mas y estoy muy contento por eso un abraso 👀🇸🇪

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Felicidades !!!! Gracias para mirar la vidéo!

[@heatherandrews2057]

My mindset is to travel along with Nick and Mathilde-biggest challenge is to catch the posting as soon as it’s available. 😉

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hahahaha good answer 😎😍

[@imherenow9072]

Love you guys! You two so amazing! Take care ❤

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thanks ❤️

[@dalensajero6805]

A very informative and interesting episode. You’ve articulated the various situations and strategies on embarking on an ambitious, amazing journey. “Keep on travelling” and keep safe and well.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your feedback and taking the time to leave a comment!

[@EvaAliceD]

Merci beaucoup pour des bonnes vidéos ❤Merci Eva pour la connaissance de vous deux, bons voyages ❤❤

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

🙏 merci!!

[@PompullaMaailmalle]

Thank you for your tips and thoughts! We are planning our tour as a family and we are going through all these issues. We hope to solve all the challenges and start our adventure during summer.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

We believe in you and you got this 💪 and if you have questions, just send us a message on Instagram or Facebook.

[@PompullaMaailmalle]

@@NextMeridianExpedition Thank you! You are an inspiration.

[@lupitaolson7837]

In my opinion, you made the best choice, while you're in great health and it's affordable. Our health has held us back somewhat because we waited too long to retire. We did travel quite often while we were young. But now that we have all the time in the world, we don't do it as often. We still enjoy life every day. Keep traveling and enjoy it 🥰.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

That’s what we reckoned as well, and thank you for being so honest about it as it helps us also re-confirm the idea that now was the time 😊 and that we’ll work 3 extra years before retirement but it would have been worth it.

[@jamesmazurstudios]

Great info, thank you. I am planning a 5 year world tour (Land Cruiser VDJ78). I am Canadian living in Costa Rica, you are welcome to stay on my mountain, use my German mechanic if needed and rest up here before heading further south.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hey, thank you for writing and that’s a very kind and generous offer, how can we get in touch with you? We’ll be in Costa Rica around mid April 😊 could you send us an email via our website or message on Instagram or Facebook?

[@tm8747]

i traveled thru mexico all the way down the tip of argentina . thru mexico was the toughest of the bunch, which i will ever do again, your right to plan your trip, and yes there are countries are not the best to be in? i have traveled to alaska to barrow, in the dead of winter, bad move but you take the good with the bad,! enjoy your trip and be save.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

You got adventurous to go to Alaska in the winter, must have been super beautiful!!

[@tm8747]

and super colder@@NextMeridianExpedition

[@lucioinacio4816]

Very good information well done 👏👏👏don't forget ONE LIFE LIVE IT 💪👍

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Very true!! 🤘

[@Flutterbyby]

honestly the best time to travel is when you are young and healthy, & if lucky enough to have people to travel with to share costs. From my experience with age comes health conditions or more likelihood of health conditions impacting the scope of travel. It's a catch 22 - when young, have no money but full of energy & no fear, when older have money but fear impact on career & also not the same energy or health. It's been liberating to realise I want a career break to travel, so now focused on saving as much as possible, and reviewing simple DIY campervan conversions to have a sabbatical (or early retirement) sooner rather than later. Time is ticking :)

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hi, thanks for sharing and agreed that is the unfortunate cycle, luckily we could leave while young. Good on you, that must be a fun project and we wish you all the best with the van purchase and conversion 😊

[@jazziergf927]

Thanks you two.. helpful interesting and always inspiring 🤔Mindset !! 💪🙏❤🕊

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

🙌 mindset ! Hahahahah thank you!

[@andrewhepburn5271]

Great program, awesome channel, really inspiring couple 👍🏼🇿🇦

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thank you Andrew from SA!

[@stevestott1514]

Super inspirational and informative video again you two . Love your out look on life . Thanks for sharing your wonderful journey with us your over landing friends . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A. :) :) 🌎😁🍻👍🏼

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

😁

[@axelmazigh6796]

I always wanted to travel the world on a motorcycle, but unfortunately it seems that it's not going to happen anytime soon because of my passport (I have an Algerian passport)... but yeah it is what it is but luckily now there is internet, and we can travel the world with you, through your camera, so thank you for showing us, for sharing with us, I wish you all the best of luck for rest of your journey.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Ooooh, we feel you, and really a bummer, but maybe a smaller trip would be possible? That’s a very nice message thank you and we’ll keep sharing!

[@NK-iv1ik]

Very good answers on very important questions! Thank you for taking time! I have though another question: what do you recommend to do about health care/insurance? Do you have any kind of a specific traveler insurance plan? And how about car insurance? Thank you again and wish you great travels. So jealous and happy for you!

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hello! Thank you for watching! Ok so health insurance: we used an insurance linked to AXA called Chapka and specifically created for travellers going in many different countries. Now I am not sure if that is only limited to French people… or Europeans it should be checked. Otherwise before this trip we were booking an additional health and rapatriation insurance for the length of our stay in a country. Car insurance depends on countries. Our s was covering us in all of Europe but we had to purchase new insurances for Canada the USA, Mexico etc … those three country we found companies doing it online but going south often you can purchase them at the border.

[@NK-iv1ik]

@@NextMeridianExpedition great! Thank you! Make sense. With love from Wisconsin USA ❤️

[@WalkingStones]

@@NextMeridianExpedition Could you share with us the average monthly cost of overlanding you had in Europe/USA/Mexico? That would help with planning the sufficient savings level. Thanks 🙏

[@terrahmama]

Nick and Matilde...you are the best! I had a chance to travel around the world at 26...I had one more year of college and decided against going around the world. The college degree was obviously more important. Sometimes I regret my decision. I went to college later than most. I did it backwards I had a career first🤪. Now as much as I like traveling it is harder...you are doing it right! I have enjoyed living vicariously through you both. BTW...how you doing Nick? Hope that knee is doing better!

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hi Theresa, thanks for sharing your stories and wishing us well 🙏 also massive thank you for the donation on PayPal, we’ll have a Tacos on you when we leave Cancun ❤️ I am feeling pretty good with the knee, it’s healing pretty fast and I’ll be walking next week Wednesday 😊

[@terrahmama]

@@NextMeridianExpedition yeah!!!

[@goku.lc80]

Great content guys. Nic, how is the recovery going?

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Thanks, we really wondered how that video would be received 😊 only fast progression on the knee and in a week I can walk!

[@DefenderCanada]

Loving the editing mishaps ;-)

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Haha you mean all the cutting we had to do? 😆

[@DefenderCanada]

@@NextMeridianExpedition I mean the one you may have forgotten at 7:45 ;-)

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

@@DefenderCanada hahah oh man that is embarrassing!! haha, oh well it'll stay i guess :D

[@JB-zh8pu]

Great explanation! I’m curious about you’re monthly expenses?

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hey, we didn’t want to publish online numbers as we don’t know who’s watching, but if you send us a private message we don’t mind sharing the data. (Insta, email, Facebook)

[@matts8582]

I’ve noticed both of you speak Spanish fluently. Was the learned at an early age in France or did you both study knowing you would be going to South America?

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Nick is fluent in French and Italian so picking up Spanish was rather fast he also worked one summer in Spanish speaking islands. Mathilde studied Spanish at school but really improved because she worked for several months for an NGO in Buenos Aires Argentina. All of that was 8 years ago for both of us but it s coming back! And I think it would be a good idea to study some basic Spanish before entering Central / South America cause in many places people don’t speak English.

[@RigiLiquid945]

Do it while you're young, kids.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

🥳

[@laurentthuillier8056]

Merci. Ca aide de voir le parcours de decision. La solution de voyager seul et d’avoir la “Visite” de ma femme sur certain tronçons m’a deja traversé la tete. Il va falloir finaliser😂

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Lance toi ça va être fou!! Et super chouette 🥳 le jour où tu ferme la porte de la voiture et tu démarre direction l’horizon tu va rien regretter!

[@laurentthuillier8056]

@@NextMeridianExpedition 👍

[@RicardoOliveira-nw3nm]

🤘🏻

[@megangreen4606]

How much money would you recommend having set aside for something like this?

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Hi, if you want that answer please send us a private message or email. Thank you.

[@issieanderson2083]

If UK citizens travel to countries the Foreign Office advises are unsafe and to be avoided, your travel insurance is rendered void so you do so at your own risk.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Interesting, didn’t know. Maybe other insurances still cover you? Maybe Chapka insurance the one we use may work for you?

[@selrahc2061]

A suggestion put a video on for the partner to watch while the other is talking, something funny.

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Sorry, what do you mean?

[@cynan1019]

Talking about information that is decades old, has anyone told you "don't drink the water" while visiting Mexico? Ha ha that was a long running joke back in the 70's and 80's. But obviously water filtration and bottled water is now a thing and bad water is less of an issue. Having said that, I visited Taiwan about 23 years ago and ended up in the hospital for 3 days after eating the night market food in Taipei.

[@tomrider4774]

I use youtube to travel around till i meet my next partner. 😁

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Love that! But even better would be to meet your next partner while travelling Tom!

[@michaelkomann9139]

Are there Guineapigs around...

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

If you find one, grab it!

[@yunjana]

Interessant! Et la santé? Comment planifier , assurances, precautions mais aussi inquietudes et anxiété. La convalescence de Nick vous oblige a faire une pause, comment le vivez-vous?

[@NextMeridianExpedition]

Bonjour François! Oui c est un point qui n était pas ressorti quand on avait fait notre petit sondage mais c est sur que c est un facteur limitant selon les problèmes. Après il y a d incroyables voyageurs qui vivent avec des handicapes importants ! Je pensais peut être faire une vidéo au propos de la santé … ou alors intégrer ça dans la videos sur les événements qui sont arrivés à Nick. Je vais mettre quelque chose ensemble! Mais la réponse courte. Pour les français l assurance chapka marche super bien pour les voyages et on a eu l’occasion de tester ces dernières semaines : ça marche! Hahaha on est pas hyper contents d avoir du s arrêter mais on essaie d en tirer le meilleur, avancer sur les projets en suspend ou préparer la suite. De toutes façons on a pas le choix. Mais on a hâte de repartir! On est plutôt positifs en générale donc on invite d autres voyageurs à prendre des douches et se reposer chez nous! Leurs histoires nous font voyager hahaha.

[@yunjana]

@@NextMeridianExpedition Une video sur votre vie de sédentaire forcée, shopping au marche, installation provisoire, atmosphere locale, la bonne humeur (ou pas ) du patient. Bilan de l'experience médicale au Mexique pour contrer certains préjugés. J"ai moi meme eut une chirurgie au Yucatan il y a quelques années. Ce fut une excellente experience (toute proportion gardées).