Zero To Travel Podcast

Remote Roundup: Solo Travel Hot Takes, Nomad Budgeting, Rookie Mistakes, Cape Town & Mexico City (March 2026)

Join Caitlin and Janessa in this Remote Roundup as they catch you up on where they’ve been lately, the travel mistakes they’re learning the hard way, and the systems that keep long-term travel from turning into financial and emotional whiplash.  Remote Roundup is a monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel’s associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, destinations, and insight into what it really means to live and work around the world.  In this episode, Caitlin and Janessa share what it’s like spending a season in a southern hemisphere coastal hub and time in a vibrant Latin American capital known for culture, markets, and museums. You’ll get Caitlin’s solo travel hot take and the #1 travel mistake she keeps repeating so you don’t have to, and hear from Janessa on her perfected expense tracking system with tips for self-employed travelers.  What’s one “comfort” you’re keeping in your travel life right now, even if it costs a little more or takes up a little more space? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Considerations for making Cape Town a long-stay base, what to expect in the cultural capital of Mexico City, and a magic town you may want to add to your Mexico itinerary  Why it’s so easy to keep falling for the budget airline trap and more hidden fees you need to be aware of   Why you should always check your entry stamp and never assume you’ve been granted the maximum tourist stay  Janessa’s system for remote work and travel budgeting, including expense tracking apps, annual reviews, tax set-asides, and building a DIY PTO fund  Why Caitlin says she hates solo travel (yet still thinks everyone should do it), and why we need to redefine what “solo” means  A common travel mistake and what it can reveal about the expectations we carry into travel  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Caitlin on Instagram  Janessa on Instagram  TravelSpend  Trabee Pocket   Want More?  Going Nomad with Jason Robinson  Joys of Solo Travel with Manjinder Kang  Remote Roundup: True Costs of Long-Term Travel, Taxes & Borderless Living, an Underrated Productivity Habit, + More (October 2025)  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten.  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Planning a Mini-Retirement, Why 2+ Years of Travel Lead to an (Amicable) Divorce, Hidden Gem Destinations for Adventure Seekers with Helen Lin

How would your life change if you decided to take a mini-retirement to travel the world, instead of waiting?  After saving for two years, Helen Lin and her former husband, Tim, put their life into storage, rented out their home, and quit their 9–5 jobs to take off on a mini-retirement traveling around the world. They documented their 25+ month adventure across 26 countries on their YouTube channel, Helen and Tim Travel. Along the way, their relationship was reshaped by the experience, and they ultimately returned home divorced, still grateful for the journey they shared.  In this episode, Helen shares what it actually looked like to plan and take an extended trip as a mini retirement, including the practical runway, the emotional realities, and the unexpected ways long-term travel can impact your relationships.  If you’ve ever dreamed of taking months off to travel, this conversation gives you a grounded look at what it takes to make it happen and what you might learn about yourself along the way. Helen talks about building a financial runway, using local guides to lower the friction of adventure travel, and why campervan trips can be their own logistical puzzle. We also get honest about the parts people rarely post, stress, mental health, and the way constant proximity can intensify relationship dynamics. Plus, Helen shares destination recommendations and the practical systems that helped them stay on the road, including earning 1.5 million credit card points over five years to offset major travel costs.  If you took a mini retirement, what would you want it to help you rethink about your life right now? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Why Helen thinks “mini retirement” beats waiting for traditional retirement  How increasing your savings rate can create a real travel runway  Advice for choosing destinations around seasonality and the adventures you want most  How guided trips can reduce risk and planning overwhelm for big hikes and outdoor goals  What Helen learned from campervanning in Norway and New Zealand, and what she’d plan differently  How long-term travel can amplify relationship patterns, for better or for worse  Why “wherever you go, there you are” applies to mental health on the road  How to think about boundaries and personal space when traveling with a partner  How Helen and Tim earned about 1.5M points and miles over time to support their travels  What it looks like to come home and build a new chapter after a life-shifting trip  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Instagram  Helen and Tim Travel  Waves of Color  Want More?  How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly  Travel Is Your Birthright: Breaking Free from “Too Broke to Travel”, Travel Hacking (Without Credit Cards), and Solo Travel in 90+ Countries with Shakeemah Smith  How to Plan Your Camino + Going Beyond the Camino Frances (Secret Routes, Donkey Highways, and Spain’s Hidden Village Network) with Shawn and Lainey  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel Is Your Birthright: Breaking Free from “Too Broke to Travel”, Travel Hacking (Without Credit Cards), and Solo Travel in 90+ Countries with Shakeemah Smith

Shakeemah Smith, aka The Passport Abuser, is a solo traveler who has visited 92 countries and helped more than 12,000 people ace their first solo trip. A former social worker from East Orange, New Jersey, she built her platform, Travel Like a Bawse, to teach practical strategies for traveling more affordably and flipping everyday bills into airline miles. She later relocated to Antigua and Barbuda, where she now lives as an expat.  In this episode, we talk about the personal shift that makes solo travel possible, how to travel for free without credit cards, and what it’s really like to move abroad and build a life in the Caribbean.  Shakeemah opens up about calling off her wedding three months before the big day, boarding her first solo flight to Paris in the middle of heartbreak, and realizing she didn’t know how to be alone. What follows is a conversation about self-trust, identity, and deciding to meet the “2.0 version” of yourself instead of waiting for permission.  We also get tactical. Shakeemah shares the exact systems she used to earn airline miles through everyday expenses like gas, groceries, utilities, and dining. And we talk honestly about leaving the U.S., adjusting to island life, and what it means to create safety and belonging on your own terms.  If you’ve been waiting for the right time, the right money, or the right person to travel with, this one might challenge that story.  Who would you become if you stopped waiting and just went? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  How growing up near New York City shaped her worldview and early curiosity about the world  Why ending her engagement forced her to confront her fear of being alone  The insights and exercises that helped Shakeemah move from emotional dependence to independence and from fear to self-trust  Why she believes solo travel is a fast track to trusting your instincts and enjoying your own company  The moment she decided to build a framework to help others take their first solo trip  How she turned 34 countries’ worth of lessons into a structured framework for new travelers  The overlooked airline shopping portals that generate miles without opening new credit cards  How to earn flights from gas, electricity, and everyday bills you’re already paying  The mindset behind “bills to boarding passes” and why it works long term  Why she moved to Antigua and Barbuda during 2020 and what that decision taught her about safety and lifestyle design  The cultural adjustments of living on island time and navigating life as an American expat  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Travel Like a Bawse  Bills to Boarding Passes FREE masterclass  Instagram  Want More?  How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly  Seizing Your Opportunity to Travel, Saving Money as a Solo Traveler, Lessons from a Career Break, and How to Figure Out What You Want (In 60 Seconds) with Leslie McKellar  7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright  Thanks To Our Sponsors   Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places with Atlas Obscura Podcast  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beyond the Mona Lisa: Exploring the Louvre Museum + How to Visit Without the Overwhelm with Elaine Sciolino

How do you experience the Louvre Museum in a way that actually feels enjoyable, not stressful? And what makes this museum so much more than the Mona Lisa?  Elaine Sciolino is a veteran journalist and author, former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, and the writer of several books about France, including The Seine, The Only Street in Paris, and Adventures in the Louvre. She has lived in Paris for over two decades and brings history, culture, and personal insight into every story.  Elaine joins co-host Paige McClanahan to explore Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum, diving into the history, hidden artworks, and practical strategies for making the most of your visit.  You’ll hear why the Louvre is more than just a building with the Mona Lisa and how its role in French history makes it extraordinary. Elaine demystifies visiting the museum, from understanding crowds and lines to discovering lesser-known works like Titian’s Man With a Glove and what she calls the “undiscovered Mona Lisa.” She shares crowd-beating strategies, best days and times to visit, and surprising places within and around the Louvre where peace and beauty await. You’ll get insider stories on heists, hidden collections, and how even children can be captivated by Egyptology and Islamic art sections that most tourists miss out on.  When you visit a major museum like the Louvre, do you tend to focus on the most famous works, or do you prefer to explore what’s less obvious? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of “The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel”, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Learn more about her work here.  Tune In To Learn:  How the Mona Lisa came to dominate the Louvre’s identity, and why that fame is both a blessing and a burden  How the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa helped turn her into a worldwide obsession  The surprising historical roots of the Louvre as a royal palace and revolutionary museum  Lesser-known treasures, “undiscovered” masterpieces, and quieter sections of the Louvre worth seeking out  The unexpected history of France’s crown jewels, including how many were sold off and ended up in the United States  The story behind the recent crown jewels heist and what it reveals about museum security  How the right membership, 1:1 consultation rooms, and alternative museums can transform your experience of Parisian culture  Future plans for the Louvre’s expansion and what that could mean  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Elaine’s website and books  Louvre Museum  Want More?  5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan  How To Explore Paris Like a Local, Working on Hospital Ships, and Becoming an Expat on a Mystery Visa With Jay Swanson  9 Best United States Museums and Advice for Fostering Your Creativity with Bob Eckstein  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places on the Atlas Obscura Podcast  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top 7 Hidden Gems of Ljubljana, Slovenia + Moving Abroad After a One-Week Trip with Sharon Kaufman

What are the best hidden gems and local experiences in Ljubljana, Slovenia, that some travelers completely miss?  Sharon Kaufman is a licensed local guide in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and founder of MyLjubljanaTour.com. Originally from Israel, she moved to Slovenia with her family on what was meant to be a one-week vacation and ended up building a new life there. Today, she leads free and paid tours focused on helping travelers experience Ljubljana through local stories, food, and everyday culture.  In this episode, Sharon shares about her spontaneous family move to Ljubljana, how she built a life and business there, and her top hidden gems and local tips for experiencing the city like a resident, not a tourist.  If you’re planning a trip to Slovenia or curious about what makes Ljubljana special, this episode is packed with practical recommendations. Sharon walks us through lesser-known places to explore, affordable ways to get around, unique food experiences, art districts, scenic viewpoints, and easy nature escapes right from the city. You’ll also hear how her perspective as a local guide shapes the way she helps travelers connect more deeply with the city.  Which of these Ljubljana, Slovenia, experiences would you want to explore first? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  How a one-week family vacation unexpectedly turned into a move to Slovenia  What Sharon quickly learned about daily life, culture, and work-life balance in Ljubljana  How intuition and local conversations shaped her decision to stay  How she transitioned from online coaching to becoming a licensed local guide  One of the most affordable and fun ways to explore the city  Where to get sweeping views of Ljubljana without crowds or ticket lines  A hidden market area with local food and unique vending machines that most visitors walk right past  A hidden alley filled with public art, symbolism, and a secret pub  An alternative art district shaped by activism, creativity, and nightlife  A cafe locals love for great coffee, healthy food, and a relaxed vibe  An easy forest hike just minutes from the city center, plus what to eat at the top  The best times of year to visit Ljubljana and where to go beyond the city  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  MyLjubljanaTour.com  Want More?  Top 10 Iceland Hidden Gems (Highlands, Hot Springs, and Hidden Canyons) + Building a New Life Abroad with Jewells Chambers from All Things Iceland  7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright  Top 10 Reasons to Love Living Abroad with Botik Quest  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places on the Atlas Obscura Podcast  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices