December brought a slower travel pace in Hanoi and new spending patterns. This post breaks down our travel budget, daily costs, and how we’re tracking after two months on the road.
Slow travel
Travel at a relaxed pace, focusing on experiences and immersion in local culture.
November 2025 Travel Budget: Our First Month on the Road
November 2025 was our first full month on the road — and the first real test of our long-term travel budget. We’re not budget travelers chasing the cheapest option, but as early retirees we do have a travel budget. Here’s how much we spent, where it went, and what we learned.
Vancouver to Dauin: Compression Socks, Connecting Flights, and Yellow Umbrellas
After a day exploring Vancouver, we began our long journey to Dauin via Seoul and Manila. Between lounges, compression socks, and a typhoon warning, we learned that travel is equal parts chaos and kindness — especially when a sea of yellow umbrellas greets you in the Dumaguete rain.
From Work to Wonder: Our Unhurried Journey Begins
Our slow travel story began in 2021, when a remote work idea turned into a five-month stay in Mexico—and changed how we see the world. What started as a break from routine grew into a new lifestyle of early retirement, deeper travel, and living at an unhurried pace.