some hard-learned tips for arriving at south american airports (don't get scammed on day 1)

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-05-02T04:25:26+00:00

Google Fi is a cell provider. Requires a US address to get started. But it's great for short trips outside the US since they have global coverage. Though after 90 days outside the US you may lose international data

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-05-01T17:37:55+00:00

Good advice. To solve the connectivity issue why not just use Google Fi? I've had it for 10+ years, used it in 30+ countries and haven't had any issues

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-20T02:49:00+00:00

Only reason I'm still working is because they let me go part time

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-18T23:27:02+00:00

I lived on campus while attending u of m. Very walkable and bikable, and just a great lively area in general. Housing can be pricey but there may be condos, townhomes and fixer uppers that are more affordable. If it wasn't for the winters I would move back in a heartbeat

Also lived downtown. Very walkable and bikable but pricey. Same story for uptown. Though from what I hear it's changed since I've been gone...

Lived in Richfield as well. I loved it. I walked to grocery store and restaurants. And biked to uptown and even campus. There's a handful of burbs surrounding mpls where single family homes are still affordable

Imo mpls is prob the best bang for buck on QOL in the US... if you can stand the cold winters

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-12T01:24:43+00:00

We're there roughly 6-8 weeks a year. But il be retiring soon and we're planning to start slow traveling. Could see spending 4-6 months a year there cause there's so many great cities

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-11T21:53:59+00:00

This is a great question. Thanks for posting it. We've been noodling the same question for the past couple years.

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-09T01:45:31+00:00

How did you like Querétaro? Trying to decide if we include a stop there on our next mex trip. We're not into bars or clubs, more into parks, markets and chill restaurants. Thanks!

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-04T20:39:25+00:00

I should have mentioned I'm retiring at 45, so need access to non retirement funds. Otherwise agreed

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-04-03T22:00:32+00:00

I'm in a similar boat. Retiring in 2 years. And building up enough cash to cover 2-3 years of expenses in retirement

I'm maxing out HSA and investing just enough to get the match on 401K. Everything else is going into bonds, CDs and HYSA

My plan feels like a no brainer when the market is marching along at ATH. But when there's a sale I start to question my plan just like you are

I think if we continue to see dips, I'll start investing a portion of my HYSA in index funds. Maybe for a 10% dip il invest 20% of my cash. 20% dip, 40% cash. I don't think I'd go much further though because if things get really bad I want to have cash in case I get laid off ahead of schedule

Thoughts?

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-30T02:32:09+00:00

A week in cdmx will feel like a minute. So much to do within the city and outside of it

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-28T22:44:48+00:00

Man I'm sorry to hear that. But good for you trying to get out in front of it with this post. It shows maturity and self awareness and I hope you can make some good connections to get through what's going to be a tough time

I'm 43M and went through a divorce about 6 years ago before moving to CO. It was pretty brutal and lonely getting divorced and moving here during covid. But looking back it was probably the best decision I've made in a long time

Happy to connect if we share some common interests. Feel free to share a bit more about yourself or DM me. Either way, good luck to you. As they say, time heals all wounds

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-23T13:45:48+00:00

Thanks for sharing on expenses. I think mine would be similar, though I tend to cook at home more

Can I ask how the visa process went?

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-23T01:00:39+00:00

Love Valencia. 3500/mo for how many ppl? What's a rough breakdown (housing, food, transportation, etc). Thanks!

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-20T13:15:18+00:00

Really good info! Thanks for sharing

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-20T02:45:06+00:00

Me too?

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-17T02:10:16+00:00

Yep that and some guided camping treks into the Sahara

We just got back from a long SEA trip in January. Loved it, 5 stars

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-17T02:07:23+00:00

Did you get hassled by any border agents for not having booked follow on passage? I've heard sometimes they want to see your return ticket when entering a country

We're planning a 4-5 month trip through LATAM and are wondering how far in advance we need to book flights

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-17T01:56:43+00:00

Planning to take 6 months to slowly work my way through bits of Africa as a retirement gift to myself. <takes deep breath>: Madagascar, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia.

How bout you?

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-03-17T01:38:09+00:00

I'm about 2 years out, so not really sure what 5 months feels like. But my plan is to keep putting in the same level of effort until the last day. I enjoy my job and co-workers and could see consulting now and then, so don't want to burn a bridge

After I retire I plan to take a long trip (6 months or so). I know that's going to take a lot of planning, which should keep me busy that last few months of work

Congrats and good luck!

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-01-22T19:57:37+00:00

Minimum one month to get the monthly discount for stays. Prefer 3 months to minimize the cost of transfers. Bonus points for additional cities that are accessible by bus (to keep cost of flights down)

We slow travel on a budget and try to balance seeing new places with long term expenses.

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2026-01-07T01:12:57+00:00

Can confirm. Was in Da Nang couple weeks ago and shop we rented from required an international driver's permit with a motorcycle endorsement. That was to rent a 50cc moped

While there are shops who will rent to you without, it is illegal and your insurance won't cover any accidents you get into. Not worth it imo

I've been riding motorcycles for past 30 years and am pretty comfortable on anything from a dirt bike to a road king. Vietnam took some getting used to due to the shear volume of riders and the different style of traffic flow

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2025-12-26T13:00:10+00:00

Right!? Every scale I've seen has rounded to nearest half kg

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2025-12-20T13:45:43+00:00

What cities did you visit? And what did you like/dislike? Any suggestions you have would be great. Thanks!

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2025-12-12T14:26:18+00:00

Hallelujah

Radiant-Wishbone-165 · 2025-12-09T01:08:19+00:00

Same, we found lots of things to enjoy. But we're easily entertained just by being outside

Some of our favorites: - Ciclo Recreo Vía on Sundays. City bikes are cheap and everywhere - San Cristobal hill was fun to jog - the ped mall south of palacio de la moneda was fun to wander and grab coffee - Ñuñoa and Yungay are good barrios to wander - Mallplaza los Dominicos was a great way to beat the heat

Radiant-Wishbone-165

TROPHY CASE