DAILY POSTCARD | SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2026 |
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Dear International Living reader, Sipping world-class coffee in Hoi An, these seven-year nomads are proving a freedom lifestyle doesn't require riches—just a sense of adventure and a willing spirit. In Vietnam, $125 a day more than covers $1.42 meals, $32 nights, cheap rides, and even a $14 massage. This couple have made their life simple and portable, replacing "stuff" with escapades and experiences. The best part? They travel half the year—on about $45,000 annually. Want their blueprint? Read on… | |
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It's private, luxurious, swankier than a 5-star suite… And it costs you nothing to stay, when you know how to ask. Discover a little-known travel trick that can help you live like a local in Italy, France, Mexico, the Caribbean and more—without paying for hotels, or Airbnbs. |
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Travel is More Affordable than you Think |
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I'm writing this in a cafe in Hoi An, Vietnam, enjoying possibly the best coffee I've ever had...well...perhaps excluding the one I had here yesterday. At 75,000 dong, or around $2.99 it's not cheap by Vietnam standards but given we're struggling to spend all our daily budget of $125 here in a country where delicious meals are $1.42, a 15-minute Grab ride is $2.80-$3.55 and quality accommodation starts at around $32 per night, then the occasional indulgence or two is permitted. Speaking of, a one-hour full body massage comes in at about 350,000 dong or $14.22. Not bad considering this is one of the more expensive tourist areas in the country. This week marks our seven-year anniversary as nomads and we have no plans on stopping anytime soon. Our journey has morphed during this period from full-time travel (interrupted briefly by lockdowns) to our current pace that involves slow travel for six months combined with a six-month stint back home. There's not a lot to hate with this lifestyle. One of our earliest issues was loneliness, especially in foreign countries where the language barrier left you feeling isolated, but the heavy increase in perpetual travelers since the pandemic has sprouted a host of Facebook groups and online communities where fellow globetrotters are literally a click away. In fact we're currently traveling with two other couples we have met on the road who have quickly become our best friends. There is no shortage of meet ups with other like-minded travelers to scratch the itch of meaningful human contact. |
Thanks to this one "velvet-rope" trick, you could have the world's most luxurious spaces in Hoi An and beyond opening their doors to you... and the nightly rate? $0.
Discover more here. |
What truly surprises us is how many people want to enjoy a location-free lifestyle but how few people actually do it. We regularly encounter people back in Australia who feel trapped with their status quo but rarely express any curiosity as to how we do what we do. It's never said but the implied message is we're either rich or lucky. Many people can't do this for very good reasons, but there are far more who have a travel lifestyle of freedom and pleasure in closer reach than they realize. If you haven't done the math our daily budget works out at $45,000 per annum. That's less than what most couples can live on in an American or Australian city… and we aren't going without. In fact we get to enjoy many things we couldn't afford to do back home. In the last 12 months, we've spent six months of the year thoroughly exploring three countries and enjoying a trans Pacific cruise. Four of those months were in Canada, one of the most expensive countries on the planet. We're not rich, clever, or lucky. The mobility of work and the ability to travel with the click of a button has changed the landscape for anyone wanting to do what we do. One important ingredient we do possess is a willingness to make our lives portable. We've shed unnecessary possessions and made lifestyle choices that fit with what's important to us. We both travel with 15.5 pounds of carry-on luggage because there's always a laundry nearby, and we don't need the extra cost and hassle of $50 per flight check-in fees and another hour waiting at the carousel wondering if our bags will come off before we miss our connecting journey. It's not for everyone but it works for us. Although we meet hundreds of fellow travelers on the road, no two people do it the same way. Everyone has their own "non-negotiable," be it a favorite frying pan or the perfect pillow that they won't travel without. The beauty of this game is there are no rules. You can make it work at a pace, and in a style that fits with you. If you're serious about traveling long term, or are even interested in a 12-month sabbatical, then this could be your solution. If contentment is your regular, Thursday night bowls with your friends, and you don't want the routine interrupted that's fine, this probably isn't the answer. If, however, you have a sense of adventure and want to see more of the world in an affordable way then there's a big world of fellow travelers ready and willing to meet you. Why not come abroad! |
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Editor's Note: Imagine being handed the keys to a villa in Tuscany, complete with private pool…or an ocean-view home in the Caribbean, with a private chef on call…and discovering you won't pay a cent to stay there. That's exactly what members of one "secret travel society" are doing. They aren't rich. They aren't well connected. What they've discovered is a strange travel trick that works like nothing else I've ever seen... Fair warning: you may never want to stay in another hotel room in your life—no matter how swanky. Click here to see more details about how this trick works right away... |
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RSVP now to join us for our only 2026 Europe event. We'll cover the best retirement havens of Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Malta, and beyond. Limited Seats Remain |
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