My daughter is planning a slow travel year in Spain and wants to start with 6-8 weeks of intensive Spanish classes before moving on to the next destination.

Her current shortlist is Madrid, Granada, and Barcelona. Budget matters but isn’t the only factor. She’s mainly looking for quality teaching and a city where she won’t be surrounded by other foreigners constantly speaking English to each other all day.

Has anyone here studied Spanish in all three cities or at least two of them? How would you compare them for language immersion, school quality, cost of living, and overall vibe for longer stays?

Any school recommendations or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

After almost 2 years of travelling, I'm finally looking to settle down somewhere in Europe. I'm lucky enough to work fully remote, so I have quite a bit of flexibility.

I'm looking for a place where life just feels... easy and enjoyable. Born in Paris, what I love about this city is the architecture, beautiful streets, cafés where you actually want to spend time, good food, museums, and the fact that you can walk almost everywhere. The only thing I really miss is the beach, more sunshine, and that relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Lately I've been looking a lot at San Sebastián Donostia . It seems to have so much of what I'm looking for: a human-sized city, beautiful architecture, the ocean, cafés, food, and a surf culture. My only concerns are the weather, and whether I'd end up feeling isolated since I only speak French and English for now (I'd love to learn Spanish and Basque, but I'm not there yet).

Has anyone moved there without speaking Spanish? How was it socially? Is it easy to build a life and meet people? And how is the weather the year around ?

I've also considered Valencia, but it somehow feels a bit bigger than what I'm looking for. I think I'd be happier somewhere a little more compact, walkable and where you can surf. I don’t want a mirror of my busy life in Paris.

Portugal was another option, but I couldn't really find the right fit either. Places like Lagos or Ericeira seem a bit too much like surf towns for me, while Lisbon looks amazing but getting to the beach feels less effortless than I'd like for everyday life.

I also looked into Las Palmas Gran Canaria because it checks a lot of boxes on paper, but I realized the architecture and overall café/city vibe aren't really what I'm looking for.

So I guess my question is: if you had to recommend somewhere in Europe that combines most of these, where would you send me?

I'm not looking for nightlife or the cheapest place possible. I'm mostly looking for somewhere that feels beautiful, easy to live in, and where daily life naturally happens outside.

My ideal place would be:
- walkable (I rarely drive)
- by the ocean (or with very easy beach access)
- plenty of cafés and nice places to work from
- beautiful architecture and streets
- sunshine (or at least enough to enjoy being outside)
- a relaxed, active lifestyle
- a surf scene or an outdoorsy community
- easy enough to make connections as an English/French speaker

I'd love to hear about your experiences, even if it's somewhere I haven't considered yet. Thanks!

Hi all, I have been in Florianópolis for a couple of weeks now, having chosen to visit during the winter to avoid the crowds and sweltering heat. I will be here for another 2-3 months and am keen to meet locals or fellow travellers around the island but, possibly due to the season, I am not seeing many socials on apps like Meet Up, etc.

I am still learning portuguese so was keen on finding language exchanges. Also any sports clubs or, frankly, any group that gets together for activities. I would appreciate any and all pointers; thank you!

I'm trying to pack lighter for an upcoming hot-weather trip, and bras are the one part of my capsule wardrobe I still can’t simplify.

On previous trips, anything with thicker padding stayed damp after a sink wash and sometimes still wasn’t fully dry the next morning. I’d rather not pack several bras just because one might be out of rotation for a full day.

Right now I’m thinking about bringing one lightweight bralette for everyday wear, nipple covers for looser tops, and possibly a reusable adhesive option for the few low-back outfits. I've seen puff mentioned as a lighter option for that last category, but I’m still not sure whether an adhesive bra is practical enough for repeated travel wear.

For anyone who travels with a small capsule wardrobe, what combination has actually worked for you? I’m mainly looking for something lightweight, quick to dry after hand washing, and versatile enough for both casual and dressier outfits.

I was in Lisbon for about three months for a family visit and ended up eating my way through the month. The actual good here food is cheap, family-run, and usually five minutes off the tourist track.

Put my go-to spots in a gamma deck so it's easy to scroll, with Google Maps links on each one so you can check hours, photos and reviews yourself before you go.

Two quick things that'll save you: a lot of these close Sundays or Mondays, so check before you walk over. And carry cash, the small tascas don't always love a card.

https://gamma.app/docs/I-lived-in-Lisbon-for-3-months-Heres-where-I-actually-ate-x5ugat5qumcl680

You're welcome!

I originally thought I'd spend about 10 days in morocco, but I ended up extending my stay after realizing I was moving way too fast.

Once I stopped trying to tick places off a list, I started enjoying the trip a lot more. I found myself spending extra time in smaller towns, talking to locals, and taking detours I never would have considered if I was rushing through the country.

It made me wonder if anyone else has had a country completely change their travel style.

Was there somewhere that taught you to slow down instead of trying to see everything?

Basically, the title I don't have any responsibilities here in the U.S. and really want to immerse myself in everything and not have to rush back home because I only have so much money to spend. I've only really gone to other places in the states, so I just want to know if this is something a lot of people do or if it's better to just keep saving until I have enough? Google says it's possible for countries inside the Schengen area but more easily accessible for Balkan countries has this been everyone else's experience?

I’m a 27m from Tunisia I decided to sell everything I own grab all my savings and start exploring the world imma start with the south eastern region of Asia ( Thailand/Laos/Vietnam/Malaisie/Philippines..)
And this will be my first time traveling solo
and I’m looking for any tips! Especially on how to make money while traveling so I don’t run out of money quick!
and I will take any good recommendations about good places I should visit! PLEASE HELP ME OUT>>

🌍 Are you a Digital Nomad? I need your help!

Hi everyone! My name is Hayley and I am a postgraduate psychology student at Massey University in New Zealand. My own travels while working remotely have inspired my current research project on digital nomadism, work performance, and wellbeing as part of my honours dissertation, and I would love to hear from you!

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes and is completely anonymous.

✅ To participate you must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Be proficient in English
• Currently work remotely while travelling
• Manage your work via a laptop or device

👉 Survey link: https://forms.gle/fxCrqjRhSw4R4Tte7

Your responses will contribute to a growing body of research on the digital nomad lifestyle and help build a better understanding of how working while travelling relates to wellbeing and productivity. There are no right or wrong answers, and all responses are completely anonymous and voluntary.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

I’m tired of feeling stuck. Has anyone actually changed their life to travel full-time?
Lately I’ve realized I’m really unhappy with the way my life feels. Every job I’ve had eventually leaves me feeling stuck. It feels like I’m working just to survive and maybe take one small vacation each year—if I’m lucky. I don’t want the rest of my life to look like that.
I don’t have a high school diploma, and I don’t have one specific career I’m passionate about. The one thing I do know is that I feel happiest when I’m traveling or planning a trip. It’s the only lifestyle that genuinely excites me.
My boyfriend and I have been talking about saving up for an RV and building a life where we can travel full-time instead of staying in one place. One idea we’ve discussed is having one of us work a traveling job with steady pay and benefits (maybe something that offers per diem, company-paid lodging, or a company vehicle), while the other does more flexible work like pet sitting, babysitting, gig work, seasonal jobs, or part-time work that lets us explore the places we’re visiting.
I know this probably sounds idealistic, and I’m still in the research phase. I’m not looking for people to tell me it’s impossible—I know it’ll take a lot of planning and hard work. I’m more interested in hearing from people who’ve actually made a big lifestyle change like this.
Have any of you left a traditional 9-to-5 life to travel? What jobs worked well? What do you wish you had known before you started? Is there anything you’d do differently if you could start over?
I just know I don’t want to keep living a life that makes me feel trapped. I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you’re willing to share

Traveling whenever I can because the world is too beautiful to stay in one place

I am 21 years old guy, will be 22 by time of trip… I have an ambitious idea of spending my summer of 2027 traveling to just about as many countries as I can, staying with people doing work exchanges whatever it might be that helps me experience the most people and culture possible. I know it’s a crazy trip but I know this is a crazy bunch, I know you guys are solo dolos but I’m looking for someone experienced who may want to help a younger/expirenced traveler do a RTW trip! I’m a year up in planning so please send me a dm :)

I currently live in Cyprus and work in forex sales. I’m going to India in two weeks, and I’m considering continuing to Southeast Asia afterward instead of returning to Cyprus.

My job pays well enough that I can save approximately $3,000 per month, but it is mentally exhausting and takes most of my time. I don’t enjoy the work, and I’m unable to make meaningful progress on anything else while doing it.

My longer term goal is to develop an online income using my sales experience while also properly testing and refining my trading strategy. I’ve been involved in trading for around eight years, during which I have traded different markets and experimented with several different strategies and approaches. However, I have not yet committed to one clearly defined system and validated it across a sufficiently large sample of trades. I therefore don’t consider myself ready to rely on trading for my living expenses and would need a separate source of income while continuing to work on it.

I currently have around $15,000 saved. Based on my research, I think I could live quite simply in parts of Southeast Asia for approximately $1,000 per month. I would not treat the full $15,000 as spendable, so I estimate that I would have about eight to ten months to establish myself somewhere affordable, build a basic online income using my sales skills and properly backtest my trading strategy.

I’m not looking for a permanent holiday, and I’m not planning to travel constantly. I would probably stay in one inexpensive location for several months, work most days and keep my expenses controlled.

My dilemma is whether this would be a reasonable calculated risk or simply an attractive form of escape.

If I return to Cyprus, I can continue saving a substantial amount every month, but I will probably remain too exhausted to build my way out of the job. If I don’t return, I gain the time and freedom to create something new, but there is a real possibility that I will spend a large part of my savings without establishing a reliable income.

Has anyone made a similar move with limited savings and no established remote income? Did leaving your demanding job help you build something, or did the financial pressure make it more difficult?

I would also appreciate suggestions for affordable places in Southeast Asia where someone could stay for several months, work online and keep their total monthly expenses near $1,000 without living in terrible conditions.

I'm 20M from Pakistan and I am planning to backpack and travel the world after my graduation (after 2 years). I'm planning to have a world tour and I really need to save money and work during my studies. I want an advice from an experienced person how can I plan and work to save money and go for what I'm really waiting for 😌😇.

Doing a mid-August road trip with 12 people (family and 2 kids), starting and ending in SF. We've got a 15 passenger van. The group is pretty lazy, so we'd much rather swim, kayak and hang out than run around ticking off a checklist. Here's what we have so far:

Day 1 (Fri): Leave SF in the evening and drive up to South Lake Tahoe. Settle in, grocery run, chill.

Day 2 (Sat): Emerald Bay day. Kayak in, walk down to Vikingsholm, do a bit of the Rubicon Trail toward D.L. Bliss, swim at Calawee Cove, sunset at Inspiration Point.

Day 3 (Sun): Either the east shore (Sand Harbor, or the Chimney Beach / Bonsai Rock coves) or a lazy day at Pope Beach. Depends on how wrecked everyone is by then.

Day 4 (Mon): Drive out over Tioga Pass, stop at the alpine lakes on the way, and overnight in a Yosemite gateway town.

Day 5 (Tue): Full day in Yosemite Valley, then drive down to LA that evening or next morning

Day 6 (Wed): LA. Beach day plus whatever the group is up for. We cut Universal Studios because of cost.

Day 7 (Thu): Drive down to San Diego.

Days 8 and 9 (Fri/Sat): San Diego. La Jolla kayaking (booking ahead for 12), beaches, Balboa Park, food.

Day 10 (Sun): Early drive back to SF on I-5.

Where I could use help:

1. Where should we stay in Tahoe? We're looking at a house on the southwest side, around the Tahoe Island Park area near South Lake, for 3 nights. Is that a good base for Emerald Bay and the east shore, or should we be somewhere else? Any areas we should avoid with a group this size?
2. Does the plan actually hold up? Anything you'd cut, add or reorder? Is the Yosemite day too rushed with an evening drive to LA on top of it? Is 2 nights enough for LA, and is 3 too many for San Diego (or the other way around)?
3. Any activities or spots worth adding in Tahoe, LA or San Diego? Especially stuff that works for a big, lazy group that mainly wants water, good food and nice views. Happy to hear about beaches, swimming holes, easy hikes, viewpoints, cheap eats, anything.

Thanks in advance, any advice helps.

I am currently a few weeks into an extended coastal roadtrip and things have been a bit repetitive. Usually, my go-to travel style is just hitting local trails for heavy hiking. Love finding quiet spots, but after miles of walking, a weird mental fatigue kicks in. I just need to break the pattern. Right now, I want to try something way more experimental and extreme on the water. Instead of another slow cruise, I started looking at high-speed options around the port. Spent some time checking out those red tourist boats run by Oz Jet online to see if the water spins are actually worth it. Then I started considering a ride with Thunder Jet Boating because their afternoon availability fits my schedule better and the speed stats look slightly wilder for a proper rush. It is a total shift from my usual quiet outdoor days, but I desperately need that shock to the system.

Does anyone else look for intense sports to break up a long hiking trip?