The Surprising Truth About Full-Time Travel

Updated February 4, 2025

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Come on, admit it. I bet you’ve dreamt about chucking it all and traveling full-time. Your dreams were probably packed with jaw-dropping adventures, golden beaches, and smiles that stretch for miles. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

But here’s the thing: reality doesn’t always match the fantasy.

After nearly seven years of full-time travel, Steve and I have learned a thing or two, and we’re here to let you in on the surprising truth about living life on the road.

That’s right. We’ll tell you what happens in between those postcard-perfect moments and the sun-soaked days of relaxation.

A Little Background

We started traveling full-time in the spring of 2018. Since then, we’ve returned to the U.S. four times. The rest of our time has been spent in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Our “traveling” even included a two-year stay in Budapest during the pandemic.

We’ve enjoyed many iconic experiences, like climbing the Eiffel Tower, soaring in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, and exploring the ancient wonders of Machu Picchu.

But some of our most memorable moments have come from off-the-beaten-path adventures: visiting the charming German-inspired hamlet of La Cumbrecita in Argentina, exploring the monasteries of Meteora, Greece, which sit atop towering rock formations, and seeing howler monkeys and sloths in the wild in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

Both of us are happy with our decision to travel full-time and hope to continue for many more years. That said, “living the dream” isn’t always as dreamy as it sounds. Here’s why.

13 Truths

1. This is not a permanent vacation

We still have to handle the same mundane tasks we did when we lived a conventional life in the U.S. We clean, cook, shop, do laundry, manage finances, and take care of our medical needs—only now, we’re doing it all in unfamiliar places where English might not be widely spoken.

Check out our posts about the challenges of nomad life:
”Laundry on the Road”
”Medical Care on the Road”
”Too Many Languages”

This leads to the next item.

2. We take mini-vacations

Since realizing that full-time travel isn’t the same as full-time vacation, we’ve made a habit of taking short side trips. These little getaways let us embrace our inner tourists—we stay in hotels, eat every meal at restaurants, and spend our days exploring new destinations.

Some of our favorite side trips include ten busy days in Prague, multiple stays at Aquaworld Resort Budapest, where we relaxed in the thermal baths, and trips to luxurious hotels in Eger and Lillafüred, Hungary.

You can read more about these places in:
”12 of the Most Interesting Things to Do in Prague”
”Aquaworld Budapest: Tons of Fun in Hungary”
”Eger and Egerszalók: A Great Hungarian Getaway”

3. We spend a lot of time planning

All our moving around and side trips mean we spend a lot of time scouring Airbnb listings and hunting for affordable flights—not exactly our idea of fun.

The good news? We’ve figured out what works for us, so planning has gotten much easier. Airbnb has been a lifesaver, giving us access to apartments with kitchens, washing machines, and separate bedrooms. When a hotel makes more sense, Booking.com helps us snag great deals.

Looking for tips on your next Airbnb search? You can find them in “How to Find the Best Airbnb Rentals 2025.”

4. It can be hard to decide where to go

You’d think having the entire world at your fingertips would make choosing easy, but it doesn’t.

It’s not as simple as pulling out the bucket list and booking a flight to dream spot #7. Cost plays a big role. Like everyone, we have a budget, so we balance expensive destinations with more affordable ones. Weather is another key factor, especially when planning activities.

Then there’s safety and logistics. We’re not about to hop from Argentina to Asia and back to the U.S., and we steer clear of places experiencing unrest.

5. Visa restrictions are a pain in the b**t

Every country has rules about how long visitors can stay. In Latin America, every country we visited allowed us to stay for 90 days, making that part of planning a breeze.

Europe, however, is a different story. As U.S. citizens, we can only stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days out of every 180. That might not sound too limiting—until you realize the Schengen Area covers 29 European countries (as of January 2025). You can find an up-to-date, alphabetized list in this Wikipedia article.

In the spring of 2018, Steve and I spent three months in the Schengen Area and then had to leave for 90 days. We ended up spending those three months in Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria—a happy twist of fate, as we hadn’t planned on visiting these countries. Now, they’re among our favorites, but all three have recently joined the Schengen Area.

Learn more about the Schengen Area in our post “What You Need To Know About Traveling In The Schengen Area.”

6. We’ve become hard to impress

When you’ve been lucky enough to see countless marvels, it’s easy to grow numb to them. Churches blur together, and few places rival the architectural grandeur of Paris, Vienna, or Buenos Aires.

We call this the Versailles effect.

Early in our travels, we visited Paris, including two trips to Versailles. The first was a guided tour that left us in awe, so we went back on our own. Since then, whenever we tour a palace or grand building, Steve says, “It’s not Versailles.”

You can read all about the incomparable Estate of Versailles in this post.

7. Dream places will disappoint you

I know I’m not the only one who’s dreamed of visiting the Galapagos Islands. In 2019, I finally got my chance.

Steve and I spent a month there and we found ourselves counting the days until we could leave.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful we got to experience the natural wonders of the Galapagos. We made some great memories, but a month was way too long. The islands are hot and expensive, and nothing on social media or in glossy ads prepares you for what the towns are actually like. Spoiler: they’re not great.

Find out more about our Galapagos trip in “Is a Land-Based Galapagos Trip Right for You?”

8. The world is full of fantastic places you’ve never heard of

As you travel, you’ll uncover incredible places you never knew existed.

While visiting Lisbon, we stumbled upon Sintra, Portugal. It felt like stepping into a fairy tale.

Sintra is home to several palaces, each with stunning, attraction-filled grounds. You can also explore the ruins of a Moorish castle that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Read more about Sintra here.

Another unexpected gem was Huacachina, Peru, a tiny oasis village nestled in the middle of massive sand dunes. Huacachina is all about adventure and fun, offering just two main activities: partying and sand surfing. While our party days are behind us, we couldn’t resist giving sand surfing a try—it was an exhilarating experience!

We also spent several days in Lagos, Portugal, a laid-back coastal town that stole our hearts. This Atlantic gem is known for breathtaking rock formations that line the shore, creating some of the most picturesque coastal scenery we’ve ever seen.

Every destination has a story to tell, and these surprises remind us why exploring the world is so magical.

9. Friendships will change

Traveling has had two effects on our relationships back in the U.S.: it either brings us closer to those who are curious and supportive, or it creates distance with those who show little interest, causing some friendships to fade.

While we’ve lost a few friends along the way, we’ve also reconnected with old ones and made new connections through word of mouth. And we’ve met countless inspiring people during our travels who have enriched our journey.

10. You will miss out on things back home

Weddings and funerals are the big ones—each time one happens, you face the tough decision of whether to make the journey home.

When my sister’s ex-husband passed away in New York, Steve and I were about to board a plane to the Galapagos. It was a difficult call not to attend, but the logistics were against us. It would’ve required at least three flights to get there, with a stop in Florida to pick up appropriate clothing. We weighed the pros and cons and decided not to go.

11. No Airbnbs hit all the marks

We’ve stayed in some fantastic Airbnbs, but none are perfect.

A few quirks seem universal: vacuums usually need emptying before use, appliance filters are rarely clean, and knives almost always need sharpening. The cleanliness of cooking utensils is hit or miss—guests seem to put things away dirty, and neither hosts nor cleaners catch it.

On the bright side, we’ve never had a terrible bed. Sofas, however, are another story. Great ones are rare.

12. You must deal with cultural differences

Cultural differences can generally be split into two categories: those you embrace and those that drive you up the wall.

For Steve, the Muslim call to prayer, which we first heard in Turkey, fell squarely into the “embrace” category. He appreciated its rhythm and beauty.

We both admire the respect and deference woven into many Asian cultures.

Of course, not everything was charming. Some things took a lot of getting used to, like:

• Motorcycles driving on sidewalks as if they were alternate lanes.
• Widespread nose-picking, especially noticeable in South America.
• Public urination (and sometimes worse) in cities like Barcelona and Paris.
• In Asia, the inability to flush toilet paper.
• It is unsafe to drink tap water in many places.
• Frequent coughing without covering mouths, especially in Morocco and parts of Asia.
• Red lights are ignored by many drivers in Asian cities.

That said, we were struck by how much safer we felt abroad when it came to violent crime. In many countries outside the U.S., we found ourselves strolling comfortably through neighborhoods we’d never dare to drive through back home.

13. You will look at your country differently

Traveling abroad gives you a fresh perspective on your own country. For example, I was shocked, but not surprised, to learn about Argentina’s Dirty War (1974–1983), when right-wing forces overthrew the government with U.S. support. During this dark chapter, an estimated 30,000 people disappeared.

Our first trip to Vietnam was to Hanoi. Steve and I grew up during the Vietnam War, which we supposedly had to be involved in to stop the spread of Communism. Despite great cost and sacrifice, Vietnam became Communist and is still so to this day.

Even though the U.S. caused unspeakable grief for this country, we were greeted warmly, even by older people. Even the guards at government buildings were friendly.

For more on how traveling has shaped our view of the world and the gap between what many Americans believe and what we’ve experienced, read our post, “Why I Wish Every American Could Travel the World.”

Still the Best Decision Ever

As you can see, the reality doesn’t quite live up to the dream, but does it ever? Even so, deciding to travel the world remains one of the best choices Steve and I have ever made.

This journey has filled our eyes with breathtaking beauty and our hearts with love for people we never would’ve met otherwise. It has taught us lessons no book or class ever could, opened our minds, challenged our beliefs, and hopefully made us better humans.

We can deal with language barriers, uncomfortable sofas, and motorcycles on sidewalks because what we gain in return is worth so much more.

Until Next Time

As always, Steve and I would love to hear your thoughts on the truth about full-time travel. Is it for you, or would it require you to give up more than you are willing?

Happy traveling,
Linda

Featured photo by Melanie Silberberg on Unsplash.com.

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