When we announced to our friends, family, and business contacts that we sold our stuff and are going to live overseas a lot of people pointed to full time RV families they knew (Specifically the Towers and the Boyinks). It was their best frame of reference. However, what we did in 2014 was something totally different.
And this next leg will again be something totally different.
Cause that's how we roll.
The last adventure saw us flying 24 times and sleeping in 30 beds (per person) over 6 months.
This time we aim to sleep in approx 10 beds (per person) for a duration of about 18 months.
We love slow travel. (spending 3+ months in one place - enough time to get to know the place and "settle")
We also love being free to change plans and be flexible. Booking flights is expensive and you need to plan ahead. Especially when your booking for 6!
Some of our goals are to find a cheap place to live with good internet access and a temperate climate. Based on these goals and our own research we've selected parts of Mexico and Ecuador for our next trip. While we were planning this next leg we were expecting to fly everywhere like we did last year.
One day I tossed out a crazy idea (remember, dreaming like this is how it all got started in the first place). I asked Becky "What if we drove to Ecuador?" We could visit Costa Rica along the way (a place we want to visit--OMG SLOTH, but not live--OMG SNAKES) and we would save a ton on car rentals.
The idea sprung up because our first destination would be La Paz, Mexico. There's no airport there. We'd have to fly to San Diego and rent a car.
Rent a car for three months!
We did this in South Africa. But that was a budget buster.
The plan started out quite innocent.
We own a cheap minivan.
I've been on trips where we drove 55 hours straight through to Ensenada, Mexico. I'm sure we could do it.
And when we're done in the Baja we drive up to San Diego, sell the van and fly to Cancun, Mexico where we'd rent a car and drive to Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and other places along the coast of the Yucatan.
But then the same logic applies.
Flight, expensive.
Car rental, expensive.
What if we drove the minivan to the Yucatan?
After that logic presented itself, driving to Ecuador became more obvious than how to speak Spanish.
But there's one snag in this logical travel choice.
Have you ever cooped up 4 young kids in a minivan for weeks at a time?
Yeah, that didn't seem logical.
Then the thought of an RV came to mind... What if we bought a motorhome?
We could travel slowly, save money on flights, car rentals, and airbnb rentals!
I ran the numbers and it would be much more efficient to use a professional towing service like Express Towing and Recovery in order to transport our minivan and place it behind our motorhome where we will need it to be.
So, we're taking steps toward buying a motorhome (yes, we did go to the RV show and no, they had nothing that was going to work for us). We're looking for a used motorhome with at least one slide out that we can remodel to our needs. If you know of one for sale less than $15k let us know!
So now we're researching and planning the drive.
Part of this was to reboot the itinerary page (see our plans for where we're going to drive) and some of the designs around the site here. Including our new logo!
Note how we didn't include an airplane or an RV in the logo. This was by design. We have no idea if we're going to make it halfway to Ecuador and change methods dramatically, what happens if we don't like the RV lifestyle?
Remember how we had to change our plans due to the heat issues in Southeast Asia? We're more than willing to change plans mid-stream and adjust where we need to. That's one of the freedoms afforded to us in this lifestyle. If it's not working for you, change it.
So we're planning to travel by RV, but that plan might change. And dates? well now that we don't have flights and itineraries the dates and times in which we leave are totally flexible.
And yes, if we do this plan via RV it will include
- Ferrying our (not yet owned) motorhome from Baja Mexico to the Mainland.
- Shipping the RV around the Darien Gap
- Driving the RV in 10+ countries. (Should we go to Canada before we leave the mitten state to say we've been in every North American country with a motorhome?)
- Loads of research on insurance and drivers licenses, and all kids of other things.
Yeah, Flying around is so old school! Taking an RV is not only possible it's been done before, just never by a family of 6.
Who's up for the challenge?
We are!
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Paul Kortman
Dad of 4, husband, blogger, digital marketer, follower of Jesus. I podcast at nomadtogether.com and own connexdigitalmarketing.com We're on this crazy journey to travel the world as a lifestyle. Looking for help in how to live as a digital nomad family? Join this Facebook Group!
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Cool logo!! Love it!
have you considered renovating a bus? a school bus? a defunct band’s bus? or a bus a band is replacing… just brainstorming on this end. No help at all. Just ideas.
Yeah, and we’ve looked around. Thing is they’re in high demand so they become out of price range for us. (Mostly because of the money we’d need to put into remodeling it) thanks for thinking out of the box! It helps!
Wow so exciting! Slower travel will let you see so much more! The type of country . Forests and small hills like around here, desert, mountains, etc. You will be able to stop and look at fun things like the largest ball of string. Or quaint museums and collections.
The only concerns I would have is in breaking down. A used RV is a great idea. A new one while luxurious, will be a magnet for attention from people you don’t want to know.. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, just realistic. Older parts will be easier to come by , when you break down.
Investing in a set of good basic tools, and a repair manual for both vehicles is a must. All the insurance in the world isn’t going to help replace a flux capacitor in the middle of the Baja .
Water purification is the next thing I would worry about. You won’t be able to buy water everywhere. I love the idea of a Life Straw. Worth every penny to be able to drink water safely and avoid Montazumas revenge times six! Shudder the thought!
Planning your trip is half the fun! Best of luck and Have great adventures!