Heather Markel is a Full-Time Travel Lifestyle Coach. She helps mid-career professionals with a YOLO dream to travel full time, and those frustrated in their careers seeking to transition to the travel lifestyle understand how to start, afford, and sustain the full-time travel lifestyle.
On her channel, you'll find a blend of full-time travel transition tips, and first-hand travel videos from around the world.
Got a question? Reach out at heather@heathermarkel.com
Get a free Globetrotter's Guide at heatherbegins.com/globetrotterguide, or, a free guide to finding remote work to afford full-time travel at heatherbegins.com/remote-work-guide/
Hope you're feeling better soon. I've been travelling full time for over a year and a year ago when I was walking the Camino de Santiago my knees were in a lot of pain and after a few days I went to a medical center. No one spoke English. I can get around in Spanish but when someone talks to me in rapid fire Spanish I don't have a clue. I also had my Google Translate helping when I saw the doctor. I got a prescription for Ibuprofen 600 and it cost $2. I didn't bother claiming it back through my insurance. And the doctor said I could keep walking.
I loved this. I'm an Argentinian living in the LA area, and every time I go back to Buenos Aires I'm absolutely blown away by its beauty and the fact that it's soooo green even though it's such a big metropolis. I visited New York a couple of years ago and I was feeling on edge the whole time until we got to walk through Central Park and I realized that the level of NOISE was upsetting me without even noticing. I think NY is beautiful, but desperately needs more green spaces where people can hide from the craziness of such a big city.
@@DebM88 hello! I’m from NY and I completely understand what you mean! You can admire Central Park because it’s beautiful, but you’re always aware you’re in a big city. In Buenos Aires I felt like I was in a different place. You can escape from the city and feel so relaxed. So wonderful!!!
This video was fantastic! 🌟 I loved seeing all the beautiful parks and gardens in Buenos Aires. The Japanese Garden and the Botanical Garden look especially amazing. Thanks for sharing your journey and all these great spots! Can’t wait to see more of your adventures. 😊
Hi great video, thank you for making this! Please where would you suggest as a base when visiting Reunion if you’d like to go coast to coast by public transport? Also what would be the base if I want to go around by car?
@@ngoziokereke3561 I’d suggest looking at the line T bus stops and basing yourself in one of the cities like Saint Paul or St Pierre en.reunion.fr/organize/holiday-tips/questions-answers/transport-on-the-island/
@@ngoziokereke3561 it also depends what you want to do, how long you’re there, and season. When it’s hot on Reunion, people stay in higher altitudes as it’s cooler. When it’s cooler, the lower altitudes are warmer. If you plan to hike or get to the cirques out can be a long trip.
When I travel abroad, I always pay with credit cards. I don't carry paper bills in my pockets. Neither do I use them here, in Buenos Aires. Going to an ATM is a waste of time.
Argentina is probably the most expensive country in whole Latin America by May 2024. Things are there now more expensive than in the Netherlands which is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. Everything tourists and nomads use: temporary rents, internet (which is slow by the way), rental cars. Even to grab a cup of coffee on the go is more expensive. A place not to go back now.
I spend a decent amount of time in Europe and, though I agree with you about the price for many things - transportation is still a HUGE bargain, comparatively. Most Ubers I took were under $3 and that was for a fairly long ride. Also, I easily found decent AirBnB apartments for $30/night - no way to do that in most European capital cities. And, a lot of lodging has definitely skyrocketed in price. But food and coffee, I agree, much more expensive.
The spanish is Rioplantense. I’m learning spanish with a teacher from Argentina and I insist to learn the rioplantense so now I cringe when i hear plaza de mayo it’s playa de macho or pollo (poyo) is pocho. Always use vos, tu doesn’t exist. Sometimes there is a shortage of Sube card, i bought mine at the 25 hours kiosko at the airport just in front starbucks , 800 pesos and i charge it for 1200 pesos, i had a 8 days travelling Subte and collectivos for two people ($2) at night we took Uber from the airport to downtown Uber was roughly $15 but from centro to Palermo $3. For the money we use three forms. I went to the banco to exchange $100 so we can have money for the first day (be careful western union and cambio are closed on sunday. Then we used western Union on Montevideo (yes sometimes there is a line the line we wait is 20 minutes and there is always money there. Go esrly as they open. Wear your backpack in the front, no flashy jewels, don’t use your phone in public, if you really need to use put yourself very close to a building not close the street as a moto my snatch your phone, or worst street corner. Don’t leave your phone on the table when you eat in a restaurant. Buenos aires is no different than any large city in the world for pickpocket and phone snatching. I felt safe with simple measure. Coming back in january for a two months stay and now bringing my dog so she can enjoy Buenos Aires as much as I do .
Also - I find it intriguing that they can change something like that in 5 minutes, whereas in US it takes months or years of approval. So, interesting piece of culture to delve into...
Thank you! I’ve been told that a lot and appreciate your comment. I still need the wine to chill out my nerves. 🤣 An off duty pilot sat next to me when I was much younger and explained each and every noise and change in feeling of the flight. His help was invaluable in my travels. You guys are wonderful. Thank you for helping us see the world!
Pobre, hizo un viaje tan largo, solo para hablar de la economía, es comprensible, la pobre, no es agradable, y por falta de alegrías, algo tiene qué hacer. Y hace este tipo de videos.
@@greenbelly2008 no, te equivocas blatodeo, no critico a los que nos visitan, critico a los que nos critican o denigran. espero que tengas la capacidad de comprender,.
I wish I had known! The gate didn't beep for me, so I presumed it didn't work. :( But, I was so impressed - Argentina is the only country I've ever been to where I could use my subway card with a negative balance!! I understand you only get 2 rides like that, but that is amazing!
@@heathermarkel actually...in Chicago (visiting) I was able to use my "ventra" card when my 7-day pass had already expired. Now when I go back and do another 7-day pass i like that it doesn't charge me extra for the negative balance. I think if I just loaded cash vs. specific pass, it would probably deduct it then.
The ATM machine forces you to make many withdrawals because it has a limit in the amount of bills it can give you each time. I think it cannot handle more than 40 bills each time. So with the inflation and so small notes it is a problem. That's why we prefer paying with cards or through apps
Yes! I mention that in my next video. And as a foreigner, I’ve tried to get some of the payment apps and couldn’t. We don’t have a DNI, I think that’s what it’s called?
I was surprised that you used your card and paid such high withdrawal fees. Why don't you send money to Western Union? They give the best blue rate of the day - but I just noticed they also have fees that are a bit high unless you manage to use a promo code with them.
if it wasn’t clear, I started with a debit card that reimbursed me for all those high fees so I didn’t bring lots of dollars with me. I then lost that card. I almost used western Union but then a friend had extra USD so went to the cambio! So I got to try all the money methods out. 🤣
The honest answer is, it's complicated. Cash is preferred because they know they will get their money and don't have to wait. Dollars are acceptable as are pesos. The credit cards are not so great for them because of the fee they get charged, which is why they try to make some money off that - instead of charging 3-4% they will charge you at least 10% extra. They discount for payment in cash because it is preferred. When you use a card, they do make it a little tougher simply because they want cash. Does that help?
Great video Heather! ❤ hearing about the bank withdrawal issues makes me wonder if this keeps people from traveling there. 🫣. Is it better to use a credit card for purchases when in other countries like this?
Thank you! I can't speak for others, but, I think it's one of those places you just have to understand has some crazy situations. Argentina is so wonderful, despite having to deal with these things. Honestly, the best thing to do is calculate the exchange rate you're getting on your credit card, vs ATM, vs bank, vs exchanging cash. I'd do that. In my case, I lost my debit card so ended up having to pay credit for most things. In the end, I found out the WORST rate was with my debit card and getting cash out. That's in Argentina, not the same everywhere. Sorry for delayed response - didn't see your comment until just now!
Number 5. Sigh. We try to leave planning to Tuesdays so we can contain our conversations. We find that when we try to plan more, we don't enjoy our current places and we don't make good decisions.
Exactly! Did it take you some trial and error to figure that out? I used to spend every moment planning when I tried moving every 2-3 days. It was awful! I much prefer my current method.
Hi there. I travel full time also. I had hope that this would be answered here based on this topic, but it was not. While I do not wish to take any medications, but there is one I should be taking. I have not found a great way to coordinate getting the RXs as I travel. Suggestions?
Hi, thanks for your question! Here is what I would suggest - not knowing what the medication is, I will presume you need a prescription for it? If so, I have an expat insurance plan which, for emergencies, has been a method I could get a forgotten prescription filled within hours after speaking with a prescribing doctor on the phone. Failing that, you should be able to see a local doctor and request your prescription be filled one time. I've certainly seen local doctors in other countries and had prescriptions filled by local pharmacies. If you have a regular doctor wherever "home" is/was for you, consider giving them a call and asking advice as to whether maybe you can get the prescription filled back "home" and have someone mail it to you. Local doctors can be hard to get appointments with last minute, so you may have to go to an ER depending on the urgency of your prescription need. Hope that helps!
This is a great list, and I very much agree with "boredom" being a good thing! In a world that pushes fast-paced activity as the norm and we all have decreasing attention spans, I crave my month long stays in places where I can find a routine and settle in a bit. I still crave the adventure of seeing new places, but slowing down has really helped me to actually enjoy those places without getting burnt out, and I've come to enjoy the "boring" parts where I'm seeing what it is like to live in a place.
Yes! I’ve come to a point where I like a minimum of one month in a country and make sure I have plenty of days where I have no specific agenda. I found boredom really hard at the start of my travels and now I realize it’s just the beginning of me discovering “real life” in a new place.
Love this! Fantastic information. Ironically, when you mentioned the anti-theft bag, RU-vid popped an ad for one in the middle of the video. LOL Thank you, Heather, you're the best! 🌈
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@heathermarkel I drove by Dewars but it was closed. The Speyside Whisky festival was on, so I hit up Glenlivet and Glenmorangie. Gin is taking over Ireland, too.
