Our Freedom Years

Financial independence, early retirement & slow travel

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  • Binge!
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  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Austria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Malta
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Serbia
      • Slovakia
      • Spain
      • Ukraine
      • United Kingdom
    • Middle East
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
    • South America
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
    • Asia
      • Thailand
  • About Us
  • Welcome
  • Binge!
  • Popular
    • What’s New
    • Plan for Travel
    • Airbnb Living
    • Real Costs
    • Travel with Dogs
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Austria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Malta
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Serbia
      • Slovakia
      • Spain
      • Ukraine
      • United Kingdom
    • Middle East
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
    • South America
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
    • Asia
      • Thailand
  • About Us
  • Toronto, Canada
    Romania,  What's New

    Travel is Suddenly a Lot More Expensive

    October 1, 2023 /

    As much as we were surprised by the inflation we saw in Europe - our expensive apartment in Budapest springs to mind - we’ve been floored by what we’re encountering here in Canada.

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    The Very Last Chapter in our Four-Year, Around-the-World Adventure 

    October 6, 2024
    Snowy Toronto in January

    We’re Saying Goodbye to a Very Adventurous 2023 – and Hello to a New Chapter

    January 7, 2024
    Brasov, Romania

    This is the Romania that Most Tourists Never See

    September 3, 2023
  • Real Costs,  Romania

    Why Brasov is the Ultimate Base for Exploring Transylvania

    September 17, 2023 /

    Let's be honest: the city of Brasov in Romania is a little on the small side. And yet we stayed for an entire month. 

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    How Much for a Month of Luxury on the Albanian Riviera?

    December 12, 2021

    How To Budget For Year Of Slow Travel

    June 11, 2020

    A Month of Spanish Food, History and Culture at a Surprising Price

    January 23, 2022
  • Brasov, Romania
    Romania,  What's New

    This is the Romania that Most Tourists Never See

    September 3, 2023 /

    Plus all the essentials for life on the road

    read more
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    Funchal Madeira

    Lisbon in 2023 was Even More Crowded Than We Expected

    December 3, 2023
    Brasov, Romania

    Is Beautiful, Gritty Budapest Still a Low-Cost Destination in 2023?

    August 6, 2023
    Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal

    5 Important Lessons that We’ve Learned About Full-Time Travel

    November 5, 2023
  • Plan for Travel,  Travel Logistics

    All the Practical Details that You Need to Know About Full-Time Travel

    August 27, 2023 /

    All those pesky administrative details that life demands can take a lot of research to figure out. 

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 4 Comments

    You May Also Like

    What Not to Pack for a Year of Travel

    May 23, 2021

    The Truth About Full-Time Travel (After Three Years on the Road)

    October 16, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Everything You Own To Travel

    March 20, 2020
  • Brasov, Romania
    Hungary,  Romania,  What's New

    Is Beautiful, Gritty Budapest Still a Low-Cost Destination in 2023?

    August 6, 2023 /

    We initially came to Budapest thinking it was a low-cost option. Well, that might have been true ten years ago but it’s not the case today.

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 9 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Boat cruise on the Danube in Budapest

    Most People Come to Bratislava for Just One Day; We Booked an Entire Month

    July 2, 2023

    The Very Last Chapter in our Four-Year, Around-the-World Adventure 

    October 6, 2024

    We Came to Budapest to See if it’s Still a Low-Cost Destination

    July 30, 2023
  • Hungary,  Real Costs

    We Came to Budapest to See if it’s Still a Low-Cost Destination

    July 30, 2023 /

    I honestly think that our impression of Budapest was maybe ten years out of date. We thought Budapest was supposed to be the less expensive alternative to Prague

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Boat cruise on the Danube in Budapest

    Most People Come to Bratislava for Just One Day; We Booked an Entire Month

    July 2, 2023
    Snowy Toronto in January

    We’re Saying Goodbye to a Very Adventurous 2023 – and Hello to a New Chapter

    January 7, 2024
    Brasov, Romania

    Is Beautiful, Gritty Budapest Still a Low-Cost Destination in 2023?

    August 6, 2023
  • Boat cruise on the Danube in Budapest
    Hungary,  Slovakia,  What's New

    Most People Come to Bratislava for Just One Day; We Booked an Entire Month

    July 2, 2023 /

    Bratislava is the type of city where tourists usually just stop by for a short visit. We were if we had made a huge mistake booking an entire month.

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 6 Comments

    You May Also Like

    We Came to Budapest to See if it’s Still a Low-Cost Destination

    July 30, 2023
    Snowy Toronto in January

    We’re Saying Goodbye to a Very Adventurous 2023 – and Hello to a New Chapter

    January 7, 2024
    Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal

    5 Important Lessons that We’ve Learned About Full-Time Travel

    November 5, 2023
  • Vienna, Austria
    Austria,  Czech Republic,  Slovakia,  What's New

    We Found a Wonderful Hidden Gem in the Czech Republic (Only Locals Know About It)

    June 4, 2023 /

    We discovered a region of the Czech Republic that we’ve never seen on any top ten list or even heard of before. 

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Snowy Toronto in January

    We’re Saying Goodbye to a Very Adventurous 2023 – and Hello to a New Chapter

    January 7, 2024

    The Very Last Chapter in our Four-Year, Around-the-World Adventure 

    October 6, 2024
  • Austria,  Czech Republic,  Hungary,  Romania,  Slovakia,  What's New

    We’re Kicking off our Adventure in one of the Most Expensive Parts of Europe (but it’s Worth it)

    May 7, 2023 /

    Our latest journey through Europe is well underway. This month’s newsletter comes to you from a charming little pension in the countryside of the Czech Republic. 

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 9 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Snowy Toronto in January

    We’re Saying Goodbye to a Very Adventurous 2023 – and Hello to a New Chapter

    January 7, 2024

    The Very Last Chapter in our Four-Year, Around-the-World Adventure 

    October 6, 2024
    Vienna, Austria

    We Found a Wonderful Hidden Gem in the Czech Republic (Only Locals Know About It)

    June 4, 2023
  • Travel with Dogs

    The Ultimate Guide to Traveling with a Dog

    May 7, 2023 /

    Wherever we travel with our two toy poodles, other tourists come up to us in amazement and ask if it’s really difficult to travel with our dogs. 

    read more
    Our Freedom Years 8 Comments

    You May Also Like

    How to Take an International Flight with a Dog in Cabin

    February 27, 2020

    How to Prepare Your Dog for Flying In Cabin

    March 1, 2020

    Traveling the World With A Dog

    November 22, 2020
 Older Posts
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ourfreedomyears

Stephanie & Gillian
🌎 Traveled the world with our dogs
❤️ Now making a home in Ontario
⬇️ Watch our latest video

We’re officially closing out our winter series fro We’re officially closing out our winter series from the Canary Islands with a final installment from Tenerife, the largest and most popular island.

We spent a month based in the very special neighbourhood of Punta Brava, enjoying what I can only describe as one of the best views that we’ve ever had in any Airbnb. Add to that historic towns, a few menu del dias, and some excellent coastal hiking, and it was a perfect ending to a winter of island hopping and slow exploration.  

Our latest video drops this Sunday and it’s got all the highlights from Tenerife. Let’s just say that the bar has officially been raised for future winter getaways.
Big views, quiet trails, and two very happy hiking Big views, quiet trails, and two very happy hiking dogs. 🐾

Our full-length La Gomera video is now live — tap the link in our bio to watch.
While we were hopping our way through the Canary I While we were hopping our way through the Canary Islands this winter, we couldn’t resist a side trip to La Gomera. This is one of the smallest islands of the archipelago and feels much like a hidden gem. There are just a handful of villages across the island; the volcanic mountains and misty forests are the real draw and the reason that hikers make the journey here. 

After five days of hiking, we’re officially adding La Gomera to our list of best winter hiking destinations. It offers an excellent trail system, decent lodgings, lots of sunshine, and enough challenging ascents to make it a proper workout. 

Of course, we had to capture our journey across La Gomera on video. If you’re ready for sweeping coastal views (plus the sight of two adorable dogs making their way along the trail), our La Gomera adventure goes live this Sunday.
After a month in Gran Canaria, a week hiking the w After a month in Gran Canaria, a week hiking the wild landscapes of La Gomera, and another sun-filled month in Tenerife, we’re soaking in our final days in the Canary Islands. 

In just a few days, we’ll be making the long journey back to snowy Ontario.  Which is why we’re savoring every last moment of the incredible ocean view from our Airbnb in Puerto de la Cruz, where we fall asleep to the sound of waves every night.

Curious about what the Canary Islands are like as a winter destination? Our latest YouTube video is live — just tap the link in our profile. And more island adventures are coming your way soon!
What makes a great winter base? For us: beautifu What makes a great winter base? 

For us: beautiful neighborhoods, easy hiking, warm days… and space to settle into a routine.

Did the Canary Islands just become our go-to winter destination?

Watch the full video — just click on the link in our profile.
For years, the Canary Islands sat on our “maybe so For years, the Canary Islands sat on our “maybe someday” list. They never quite beat out places like Mexico or Portugal when winter planning season rolled around. Now we’re wondering why we waited so long.

After a month in Gran Canaria, we’ve had some surprising takeaways about what really makes a place work as a winter base.

Our full YouTube video drops this Sunday. Stay tuned.
When we look back on 2025, it’s hard to believe ho When we look back on 2025, it’s hard to believe how much we packed into one year. 

🇲🇽 slow travel in Mexico

🥾 100+ miles on the Cotswold Way,

🐕 time inside a 400-dog shelter

🇬🇪 an unexpected detour through Georgia

…and a few big reflections on life after financial independence.

It was a year of travel, volunteering, and learning (again) that freedom looks different in every season.

We’ve wrapped it all up — plus a new podcast conversation with @OurFamilyInvests about what comes after the career ladder — in our January newsletter.

📬 Read the full story — just click on the link in our profile.
Living in Ontario’s snow belt means one thing: we Living in Ontario’s snow belt means one thing: we must escape winter. We’ve been hit with multiple snowstorms since the beginning of November and there are still months of snow and ice ahead of us. 

As much as we love seeing our little village blanketed in white, a few weeks of winter is enough to satisfy for the year. 

After a few misfires during our years of full-time travel (rainstorms in Florence, a chilly apartment in Malta, an unseasonable cold front in Izmir), we finally know exactly what we’re looking for in a winter base.

For the winter of 2026, our wishlist got very specific:

☀️ warm weather
🥗 great food
🏋🏽‍♀️ a decent gym
🐶 stylish Airbnbs that also happen to be pet-friendly
🌳 easy access to nature
✨ enough variety to keep us entertained for three full months

We compared many wildly different options—Taiwan, Argentina, and Cyprus to name just a few—and yes, there was a spreadsheet and a scoring system involved.

So where did we finally choose for winter 2026? We’re sharing the full story (and the big reveal) in this month’s newsletter.

👉 Read now by clicking on the link in our profile.
A final glimpse of our time in Georgia — medieval A final glimpse of our time in Georgia — medieval villages in Svaneti, misty mountain views, and a whirlwind wander through Kutaisi. 

Don’t miss the full adventure on YouTube, including our unforgettable stay at @baias_wine — complete with warm Georgian hospitality, a feast of traditional dishes, and more wine than we could drink in a month. 

Just click on the link in our profile to watch now.
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