Weekly Newsletters — Archive

Weekly Newsletters

Real decisions. Real costs. What worked — and what didn't.

Updated weekly  ·  Newest first

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2026
No.30Aug 13
Could You Enjoy the Boring Days Too?→
The days with nothing on them are part of the deal.
Planning
No.29Jul 23
How Long Does It Take for a Place to Feel Normal?→
There is a point where the unfamiliar stops being exhausting.
PlanningWhere to stay
No.28Jul 16
What a "Normal Month" of Full-Time Travel Actually Costs→
Not the highlights. The actual number.
Money & costs
No.27Jul 10
Is Full-Time Travel Right for You→
It's not the budget that decides this. It's the person.
Planning
No.26Jul 2
Why We Don't Chase the Cheapest Place→
The number on the listing is only part of what a place actually costs.
Where to stayMoney & costs
No.25Jun 25
What Three Nights Won't Tell You→
The questions that decide a good weekend aren't the ones that decide a good month.
Where to stay
No.24Jun 18
The Retirement Budget Line Nobody Wants to Talk About→
Honest numbers include the costs that don't fit a category.
Money & costs
No.23Jun 11
How Often Should You Reevaluate Your Credit Cards?→
The right card today may not be the right card two years from now.
Money & costs
No.22May 28
What the Dollar Is Actually Worth in Europe Right Now→
And what it means for your monthly budget.
Money & costs
No.21May 21
What EES and ETIAS Mean for Americans Traveling to Europe→
Two new systems. Here is what actually changes and what doesn't.
Visas & rulesGetting around
No.20May 14
Documents to Get Before You Leave the U.S.→
This is what our applications actually required.
Visas & rulesMoney & costs
No.19May 7
What We Do With Loyalty Points Before They Expire→
One spreadsheet, one monthly check, one rule.
Money & costsGetting around
No.18Apr 30
Every Apartment Has Something — Here's How We Choose→
The photos are always slightly better than what you walk into. Here's how we choose anyway.
Where to stay
No.17Apr 16
Groceries Work Differently in Europe→
Same errand — different stores, different schedule.
Getting aroundWhere to stay
No.16Coming soon
How We Choose a Town Before We Commit to Staying in It→
The decision starts with the region — everything else follows from there.
Where to stay
No.19May 7
What We Do With Loyalty Points Before They Expire→
One spreadsheet, one monthly check, one rule.
No.15Mar 27
We Kept Our US Phone Plan Abroad — Here's How it Worked→
No new SIM, no new carrier, no new number. Here's what we did — and what to think through for your own setup.
Getting around
No.14Mar 20
What Happens When You Actually Need a Doctor in Europe→
Healthcare in Europe costs less than most Americans expect — even when you're paying entirely out of pocket.
HealthMoney & costs
No.13Mar 13
What the CPAM Process Actually Looks Like→
Applying for French national health coverage as Americans on a long-stay visa takes longer than you'd expect and runs entirely on physical mail.
HealthVisas & rules
No.12Mar 5
The Visa Rule That Affects Our Travel in Europe→
A long-stay visa lets you live in Europe. It doesn't mean you can travel freely across it. Here's what we actually have to track.
Visas & rules
No.19May 7
What We Do With Loyalty Points Before They Expire→
One spreadsheet, one monthly check, one rule.
No.11Feb 26
Why We Use the Same Credit Card Every Time→
The primary rental insurance built into travel cards saves €200+ per trip.
Money & costs
No.10Feb 5
How We Decide the Best Way to Move Between Cities→
Trains, cars, planes, and cruises — costs, time, and convenience for slow travel.
Getting around
No.9Jan 29
Using Public Transit Apps in France→
How we actually use them day to day.
Getting around
No.8Jan 22
Running Into Closed Stores→
What we learned just trying to pick up the basics.
Getting around
No.7Jan 15
Using a Rail Pass Between Cities→
How we moved between cities without booking every train in advance.
Getting aroundMoney & costs
No.6Jan 10
How We Choose Neighborhoods for Slow Travel→
What matters (and what doesn't) when we're only somewhere for a few nights.
Where to stay
2025
No.5Nov 21
Paying for Travel in Europe→
How we've been handling day-to-day purchases.
Money & costs
No.4Nov 15
Everyday Prices in Lyon→
Why the bakery math surprised us right away.
Money & costs
No.3Nov 6
Slow in Southampton→
Why we always build buffer days before a cruise.
Getting around
No.2Oct 23
Why We Chose France→
Why France won out over Portugal, Spain & Italy.
Where to stay
No.1
Welcome Letter→
What this is and how to use the Coffee Table.