Welcome! We Are Mike & Laura.
Full-time travelers, digital nomads, part-time RVers, travel hackers, avid hikers, etc, etc.
But in short, we are Mike & Laura.
We met while living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and after spending several years working in a tourist town, we were ready for a change.
In April 2017, we saved $25,000 in five months, bought a fifth wheel, and transitioned to life on the road.
We spent a year living in Bend, Oregon, and documented most of our adventures there. From waterfalls to caves to hiking and everything in between, we wanted to give you a local’s perspective of the area.
After exploring the west coast of the US for a year, we honed our travel hacking skills and started traveling all over the world for nearly free.
Where We’ve Lived/Traveled
To date, we’ve spent months living and adventuring in various locations around the world. We typically spend at least one month in each destination. Our expertise lies within the following destinations:
📍 Thailand – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Koh Lanta, Koh Samui, Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Phu Chi Fa, Kanchanaburi, Trat, Lopburi, Krabi, Phuket (yuck 😜), Erawan, Pattaya, Hua Hin
*Laura also used to live in Thailand while teaching English in Bangkok in 2014-2015
📍Cambodia – Siem Reap (Angkor)
📍The Maldives – Male, Maafushi, resort islands
📍Indonesia – Bali (Canggu, Seminyak, Munduk, Ubud, Denpasar, Kuta, Uluwatu, Sanur, Mount Batur, Nusa Dua, Lovina), Nusa Penida, East Java (Ijen Crater), Flores Island (Komodo National Park, Kelimutu National Park, Rinca Island, Padar Island)
📍Australia – Perth, Albany, Esperance (Lucky Bay), Margaret River, Bremer Bay, Denmark, Cape Le Grand, Dunsborough
📍Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Perhentian Islands, Langkawi
📍Ireland – Dublin, Galway, Doolin
📍Norway – Bergen, Odda, Aurland, Svalbard, Haugesund, Stanghelle, Flam, Lysebotn, Stavanger,
📍New Zealand – Auckland, Tauranga, Taupo, Rotorua, Tongariro, Ohakune, Wellington, Nelson, Motueka, Christchurch, Franz Joseph Glacier, Fox Glacier, Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Cardrona, Arrowtown, Queenstown, Te Anau (Kepler Track)
📍Montenegro – Kotor, Perast, Budva, Tivat, Žabljak
📍Croatia – Dubrovnik, Makarska, Omiš
📍Italy – Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Milan
📍France – Chamonix, Paris, Normandy, Caen
📍Greece – Milos, Paros, Santorini (Oia, Fira), Crete (Chania, Heraklion), Athens, Rhodes
📍 Ecuador – Quito, Mindo, Otavalo, Banos, Cotopaxi
📍Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek, Osh, Karakol, Sary Mogol, Bokonbayevo
📍Iceland – Reykyavik, Reykjanesbær, Ólafsvellir, Hólmavík, Drangsnes, Akureyri, Dalvik, Reyðarfjörður, Höfn, Hof, Skaftafell, Vik
📍Mexico – Playa Del Carmen, Mazatlan
📍Honduras – Roatan
📍Switzerland – Interlaken, Geneva
📍Germany – Munich, Berlin, Augsburg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kochel, Walchensee, Grainau, Dachau
📍Denmark – Copenhagen, Faroe Islands
📍French Polynesia – Moorea, Tahiti
📍UK – Scotland (Edinburgh, Aberfeldy)
📍The Netherlands – Amsterdam
📍Portugal – Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, Nordeste
📍Georgia – Tbilisi
📍China – Shanghai, Beijing
📍Spain – Madrid, Barcelona
📍Austria – Vienna
📍USA – Hawaii, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Utah, Alabama, Nebraska
📍 Chile – Santiago, Pucón, Coyhaique, Easter Island
Travel Blogging
Along the way, we turned our travel blog into a full-time business that’s able to support our world adventures.
We use SEO and affiliate marketing strategies to earn $100,000+ per year from our website. If you’d like to learn more about blogging and how you could create a website that makes you money, sign up for one of our free live trainings:
>> 3 Secrets To Exponentially Grow Your Travel Blog <<
We also run another website where we talk about kid’s toys and this helps us sustain our lifestyle on the road.
Why We Blog
👉 We want to show others how location independence IS possible.
👉 We also hope to encourage others to quit the rat race and pursue goals that make you truly happy.
To date, we have helped thousands of bloggers start, grow, and monetize their websites using SEO and affiliate marketing.
Through travel hacking skills, remote work exploration, and budgeting tips, we share with you exactly how we made full-time travel a reality and how you can, too.
We’re Visiting The 10 Most Beautiful Islands On Every Continent
Back in 2018, Mike and I decided that we wanted to explore the 10 most beautiful islands on every continent.
Ultimately, this will take us to 70 different islands across 46 different countries and territories. These islands include tropical paradises, vast tundras, mountainous archipelagos, and lush peninsulas.
Here is a list of all of the islands we will be venturing to within the next five years:
Asia
1. Palawan, Philippines
2. The Maldives
3. Jeju Island, Korea
4. Bali, Indonesia
5. Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
6. Koh Rong, Cambodia
7. Cát Bà Island
8. Havelock Islands, India
9. Cebu, Philippines
10. Komodo Island, Indonesia
Africa
1. Mauritius
2. Zanzibar, Tanzania
3. The Seychelles
4. São Tomé and Príncipe
5. Sal, Cape Verde
6. Mohéli, Comoros
7. Nosy Be, Madagascar
8. Reunion Island, France (Indian Ocean)
9. Lamu Island, Kenya
10. Djerba, Tunisia
Europe
1. Rhodes, Greece
2. Santorini, Greece
3. Corsica, France4. Azores, Portugal
5. Sicily, Italy
6. Hvar, Croatia7. Iceland8. Faroe Islands, Denmark
9. Capri, Italy
10. Madeira, Portugal
North America
1. Puerto Rico, USA
2. Kauai, USA
3. Kodiak Island, USA
4. Montserrat, UK (Caribbean)
5. St. Lucia
6. Vancouver Island, Canada
7. Corn Islands, Nicaragua
8. St. Martin, France & Netherlands (Caribbean)
9. Cuba10. The Big Island, USA
South America
1. Easter Island, Chile
2. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
3. Chiloe, Chile
4. Ilha Grande, Brazil
5. Falkland Islands, UK (Argentina)
6. Ilha de Tinhare, Brazil
7. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
8. Isla Navarino, Chile
9. Magdalena, Chile
10. La Blanquilla, Venezuela
Australia/South Pacific
1. Palau
2. Fiji
3. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
4. Efate, Vanuatu
5. The Cook Islands
6. Whitsundays Island, Australia7. Mo’orea, French Polynesia8. Samoa
9. Niue
10. New Caledonia, France (Pacific Ocean)
Antarctica/Arctic
1. Svalbard, Norway
2. South Georgia, UK (Southern Atlantic Ocean)
3. Greenland, Denmark
4. King George Island, Argentina
5. Baffin Island, Canada
6. Andøya, Norway
7. Senja Island, Norway
8. Tromsøya, Norway
9. Lofoten Islands, Norway
10. Macquarie Island, Australia
How Did We Create This List?
It took months of research for us to come up with an accurate list of the most beautiful islands in the world.
We used sources like Lonely Planet, Planet Ware, Travel and Leisure, and CN Traveler to compile our list.
Overall, the islands we included were overwhelmingly labeled as the most beautiful islands in the world.
Follow Our Journey On Youtube
Mike creates all of our travel videos and releases new videos every Wednesday and Sunday.
Be sure to subscribe to our channel for up-to-date travel adventures. We post new videos every Wednesday and Sunday.
Where We’ve Been Featured
We take pride in our collaborations and features. Here are a few places you can find us:
Fodors – Here’s Something Else to Worry About When You Travel
Yahoo News – Here’s Why You Need To Visit Switzerland In the Summer
bloggingtips.com – 100 Blog Income Reports to Inspire Your Blogging Journey
Medium.com – 18 Marketing Experts Talk About the Best Backlinking Tactics
Databox – Ideal Blog Post Length: How Long Should a Blog Post Be in 2021? + Facebook vs. Instagram: What’s Better for Organic Brand Building?
The Wayward Home – Our Epic Guide To Health Insurance For Full-Time RVers (And Van Lifers)
Rick Mulready – Celebrating YOUR Wins & Breakthroughs: Episode 500 + Case Study: How Laura Peters Is Working WAY Less While Making More
YourParkingSpace – Unique Ways to Make Money with Your Car
The OffBeat Life Podcast with Debbie Arcangeles – Episode 136
Travel Awaits – 7 Places Where You Can Stay in an Overwater Bungalow
Port of Seattle – Hidden Hits of French Polynesia: Nature
Outwit Trade – Best Digital Nomad Destinations In 2020
CIEE.org – Teaching English in the Middle East
i-To-i – 3 Side Jobs To Supplement Your Teach Abroad Salary
Ajarn – Teaching English In Thai Schools vs. Teaching English Online
TravelNoire.com – Here’s Why You Need To Visit Switzerland In the Summer
Premier TEFL – Meet Jet-Setting Online English Teacher Laura
Fupping – All You Need To Know About Cambodia in 10 Books
Cheezburger – Secluded Beaches Around the World: Kleftiko Beach, Greece
UpCity – Is Guest Blogging Still A Viable SEO Strategy?
The Travel Brief – Best Things To Do In Koh Phi Phi Island
Love And Road – 16 Incredible Things To Do In Koh Chang: Best Beaches And Travel Guide
David’s Been Here – Top Things to See and Do in Tivat, Montenegro
Drifter Planet – The Perhentian Islands Travel Guide: Malaysia’s Secret Paradise
Power Bank Expert – Power Banks For Online English Teachers: Powering Your Classroom With Confidence
Wanderlog – How long is the drive from Noordhoek to Darling?
Nomad Is Beautiful – The Complete Travel Guide To Kanchanaburi, Thailand
InsideHook – The 36 Commandments of Holiday Travel, According to Industry Insiders
The Steamboat Group Real Estate – 6 Summer Camping Spots Around Steamboat
Post Today – Tourists comment on ‘Phuket’, a city that has been gone, is not worth talking about
Exploring Wild – 7 Unique Geological Wonders To Visit In Central Oregon
Yo Air – Thailand: Overview of History, Culture, and Social Etiquette
Airport Van Rental – Steamboat Springs A Fun Journey From Denver, CO!
Get Social Guide – Blog Income Reports
Go Far Grow Close – 22 Best National Parks To Visit In Europe In September (2022 Review)
Magnificent World – 10 Awesome Things To Do in Milos, Greece
GAFFL – This Couple Is Constantly On The Move Exploring Off-The-Beaten-Path Destinations While Also Demonstrating How To Travel More By Working Smarter
Airport Van Rental – Steamboat Springs A Fun Journey From Denver, CO
Lifney – 40 Best Places To Travel For Nature Lovers
Think, Save, Retire – How digital nomads are responding to a pandemic
Travel Hacking
Travel hacking has helped us travel around the world without breaking the bank… in fact, MOST of our flights are FREE.
Yes, seriously.
Check out our most popular travel hacking posts:
How to Get Free Flights Around the World
How to Get an Airbnb Discount: 7 Easy Tips & Tricks
Remote Income
The key to traveling the world full-time is to secure a job that allows you to work remotely.
When we first started traveling, we relied solely on online teaching to support us. This was fine for the cheap countries (Southeast Asia) but didn’t suffice when we wanted to visit more expensive countries.
We decided to focus primarily on understanding the strategies behind monetizing a travel blog. After 16 months, we successfully turned our blog into a 6-figure business.
Below I’ve listed our best blog posts on earning a remote income and funding your world travels.
25 Digital Nomad Jobs For Aspiring Travelers
Teaching English Online with VIPKID
How to Make Money as a Travel Blogger
Psst! Want To Be A Travel Blogger?
Recently, we created a guide where we share the 6 steps we took to transform our hobby blog into a 6-figure business. You can grab your free copy of this guide below.
Enter your name and email address and your guide will be on its way to your inbox!
Travel Resources
After five years of constant travel, lots of mistakes, and even more triumphs, I’ve pulled together a list of the BEST travel resources available.
The Very Best Travel Resources for Your Next Trip
Mike’s Music
Did you know Mike is a VERY talented musician?
The coolest part is that he can make friends with just about anyone around the world simply by carrying his guitar around.
It doesn’t matter if the person can’t speak English, Mike can bond with people over music. It’s amazing.
Check him out on Youtube!
Thanks for joining us on this journey!
Cheers,
Mike & Laura