On February 16, 2012 we hopped aboard a plane bound for South Korea with two carry on bags, two personal items, and four checked bags. Little did we know our short year in Korea would turn out to be three years abroad, but here we are. We've since downgraded all we own from those four checked bags to two due to international regulations and hard core fees (problems with living outside the US), but it's been for the better I think. Our expat anniversary also aligns with the blogiversary of LIAL. I started this blog back in February of 2012 as a way for my family to keep in touch with us. Look at it now?! I would have never dreamed I would be sitting here, writing for thousands of loving followers. From the bottom of my heart, thank you ... Read More
So You’re Going on Your First Cruise…
We just returned from our very first cruise (EVER) a couple weeks ago. Cruising Carnival Spirit was such a wonderful time of relaxing (not having to worry about visas, immigration, hotels, food, or things to do), it was just what we needed as we begin our 3rd year of living abroad. Before we left, I spent a couple weeks scrolling through online articles, trying to figure out exactly what I needed to know as a first time cruiser. Sadly all I found was a bunch of people that I'd like to label 'chronic cruisers' leaving comments for first timers that really didn't help at all. I think after 20 or so cruises you tend to forget the first time you hopped on a ship, and exactly what your fears and apprehensions were. If you're just about to ... Read More
10 Ways to Save Money for Travel
The number one question we get asked over, and over, and over again is: "How can you afford to travel and live abroad?" I'd like to delve into this topic over the next couple months, as it's not easily answered in one simple blog post. The ability to live and travel abroad isn't as unattainable as you might think; It takes practice, patience, and dedication. I have so many thoughts I'd like to share with you on the topic, but for now let's just keep it simple. One of the most important aspects of traveling (and living abroad) is the money-factor. Duh. Believe it or not, you don't have to have a ton of cash or a lavish lifestyle to afford a nomadic life. Most of us that travel have become self-proclaimed pros in the area of saving and ... Read More
Travel Insurance: Yay or Nay?
The age old question for any chronic traveler (especially those on a budget). Travel insurance tends to be a bit on the spendy side, and can be a real burden to those contemplating if it's something that's necessary or not. I used to be wishywashy about travel insurance. Not sure why, could have been the sticker shock associated with it I guess. Confession time: we spent our first two years traveling abroad without it. I am so thankful we stayed happy, healthy, and without injury. I just saw us as two average, physically fit, 20-something year olds, wandering the world with as much as we could fit in two checked bags. Why would we need insurance for that? As the years go by, I've slowly changed my mind. We purchased our first-ever ... Read More
Yonderbound: Make Travel Planning a Breeze
I'm a last minute accommodation booker. Why? I absolutely hate spending hours looking at hotels, reviews, and then finally digging around the interwebs for a good discount on the hotels that look the best to me. Derik and I typically use Agoda and Booking.com for reserving accommodation for our travels, but after the experience we had in Boracay, I've almost given up on them altogether. Enter Yonderbound. When I was first told of this spiffy new travel booking site, I was a bit skeptical. Oh no, here we go again, another confusing, time sucking, site to reference just so I can get the best prices. But, once I actually took the time to check out their site, I was blown away by how easy it was to search, book, and save something for ... Read More
12 Songs for Your Travel Playlist
Derik and I love music. My husband probably even more than myself, as he ALWAYS has something playing on his phone. I'm one of those people that really enjoys listening to music…but not so much as background noise. That's why I can't listen and write-I get distracted! Blame it on me being a music minor in school for three years (that was before I realized majoring in two different fields and minoring was complete suicide…especially when you're on a 4 year graduation track). While traveling, music is a great way to kill the in-flight time and soothe a stressed-out mind. Derik and I just booked a 12 day cruise through the South Pacific for Christmas (thankful to his boss for surprising us with some time off !!!), and then will be ... Read More
Why You Should Travel in 2015
The truth of the matter is, this year went by too fast as years normally do. Now that we're heading into the last month of 2014, we're left wondering where all the time went, what exactly we did with ourselves, and did we actually do anything about the past year's resolutions? I'll be writing a 'looking back on 2014' post at the end of December, but I'd have to say I loved this year. It's been on of my favorites! I also have high hopes for 2015, and look forward to seeing what kind of opportunities come our way. The older I get the more I realize how short life is, and that makes me want to make sure I'm living it the best that I can. “I beg young people to travel. If you don’t have a passport, get one. Take a summer, get a backpack ... Read More
Five things you should do before you start traveling
1. Get the larger passport book. There's probably a 50% chance that before you move abroad or start your international travels, you'll need to renew or apply for a passport. The standard issue passport book comes with 17 exit/entry visa pages, but believe it or not, there is an 'extended' passport book that can be given to you at no additional cost, with a whopping 43 exit/entry visa pages. I'm just kicking myself that I didn't get one of the larger books when I renewed my passport after getting married; only four years in and I have only three pages left to fill. We all know how much of a headache getting a new passport book is! 2. Consolidate your things. I used to be a chronic over-packer. I was the girl that literally packed ... Read More
How to Survive Long-Distance Flights
"You're like a five-year-old child." Says my sleep-deprived, frustrated husband who sits in the airplane seat next to me. Yes, it's true, I don't handle flights well. It's not that I have flight anxiety, it's the fact that I get bored so fast. Once the plane wheels leave the ground, I go a little bit stir crazy. I spend the first 30 minutes combing the in-fight magazines to check out the food and drink service, and see what sorts of tacky things the airline has for sale. Does anyone ever buy the airline souvenirs? After that, the fun begins. I'm not sure why, but airplane seats seem to be the least comfortable seats in the whole world. It would be great if you only had to fly an hour or two, but living overseas guarantees you at ... Read More
