Day trips as a nomad

Not like back home

Just a short post today on a significant difference between normal and nomad.

When we lived in the South, we could do day trips to many surrounding cities, to enjoy events like concert or festivals, and to just wander through a different place to stir things up.

My wife and I have always enjoyed a good day trip, but as full-time nomads, we discovered it can go to a whole new level.

First, some assumptions that are important for context.

1. We are slow traveler nomads, staying between 4 to 8 weeks in each location.

2. We are not retired, which means we work 40 hours per week.

With that out of the way, we started our nomad travels two years ago, unsure what “the best approach” really meant for us.

After a day trip to Chester, a 40 minute train ride from our current base in Liverpool, it solidifies a strategy that we enjoy.

Find a central city that is within 1 to 2 hours of other interesting places.

Stay longer than 4 weeks, more toward the 7 or 8 week level.

After enjoying the local sights for a few weekends, spend a few Saturdays on day trips to nearby cities to enjoy a broader pallet of the area.

Simple. Not revolutionary.

But I think for me it was found in experiences rather than logic.

When we were in Palermo, Italy, we enjoyed a wonderful day trip to Cefalu.

When in Bucharest, Hungary, we spent a long weekend in Brasov while still retaining our primary lodging.

When in Izmir/Guzelbache, we spent a weekend at Ephesus in Selcuk, seeing some amazing sights from Biblical history.

This life is not for everyone, but if you are considering slow-travel, consider that there is usually a monthly discount on AirBnB if you stay 4 weeks, and two monthly discounts for 8 weeks.

That can help pay for some good day trips.

Until next time, happy travels.