For decades, the standard formula for a luxury vacation was highly predictable: book a five-star beachfront resort, reserve a few crowded excursions, or secure a cabin on a massive commercial cruise ship. But as travel preferences have dramatically shifted in recent years, a new gold standard has emerged. In 2026, travelers are increasingly trading crowded hotel pools and rigid itineraries for the open ocean. 

Portugal has a way of getting under your skin. The light, the coastline, the historic towns where life still unfolds at a human pace. People linger over coffee. Neighbors stop to chat. You watch that and think: I could get used to this! And, then you have to get on a plane and go home. But, did you know retired Americans can move to Portugal?

Travel Hacks In Retirement

You certainly do not have to be retired, or even be thinking about retirement, to take advantage of good travel and life hacks. We’ve done a lot of “hacks” research over the years; some of which work for us, some not so much. As we transitioned into retirement we knew we’d need to find a way to make travel (and life) affordable. In this post we’re going to talk about some of our well-used travel and life hacks in retirement, and how we make it all work for us.

I published this post in 2020, five years after having traveled through Iran for three weeks. As I sat and read through it this morning, I was heartbroken to realize we are (as a world) right back where we were in 2020. It’s staggering, actually. With that being said I am republishing this post today.

Living abroad transforms the traditional understanding of insurance. Digital nomads and long-term expats face unique challenges that standard domestic policies simply cannot address. Expat insurance becomes a critical shield against unexpected risks in unfamiliar territories.

We just spent the better part of today (January 2026) shoveling snow. I love the snow, I find it magical and actually quite good exercise when one has to shovel for hours. Snow always reminds me of Paris. We spent three weeks in Paris, in another month of January many years ago, and once again I’m thinking of our winter visit to Sacre Coeur.  And, yes, Paris is fabulous under a blanket of snow. Enjoy this walk down memory lane.

Wilmington, Delaware. It may not be the biggest name in travel destinations, but it has a lot to offer. So much so that we recently made our fifth trip to the region. Just a hop skip and jump to the northwest of Wilmington is the Brandywine Valley. The valley is so beautiful, it just keeps pulling us back.

I’ve been dreaming of a White Christmas for 11 1/2 years, ever since we moved east. One would think living on the east coast of the US, it would be a given to see a blanket of white on Christmas morning, but alas… it has yet to happen. We’ve come close, maybe a few days before or after, but never on the actual holiday. Maybe this year?

Fenwick Island, Delaware is just a bit north of the more well-known and more populous Ocean City, Maryland. Think of it has a long strip of land with beautiful beaches on one side, and a whole lot of hotels, eateries and entertainment on the other. It was with that in mind, we hit the road for a 24-hour road trip.

Maryland -vs- Virginia. I don’t really know how often one can stand on either side of a river and be in a different state, but that’s the story of Great Falls National Park and the Potomac River. It’s really quite something.