Family Sabbatical: Exploring the World Through Intentional Travel

The Dream of a Family Sabbatical

Ever wondered what it would be like to explore all seven continents with your family? Imagine the stories you’d tell, the bonds you’d forge, and the memories you’d create.

Susie Chau did exactly that. She’s a travel expert who turned a yearlong family sabbatical into a life-changing odyssey. And she’s here to show you how you can do it too, without breaking the bank.

Meet Our Sponsor

But before we dive into Susie’s story, a quick word from our first-ever partner. This episode is brought to you by SafetyWing, offering nomad insurance tailored for adventurous families like yours and mine.

Because when you’re chasing your dreams across the globe, peace of mind is your most valuable travel companion.

The Philosophy of Intentional Travel

I kicked off our conversation with Susie by asking her to introduce herself and share her journey. Susie specializes in helping families take intentional trips that bring more meaning into their lives.

Her philosophy revolves around looking at travel more holistically than just a trip. By doing so, she helps families elevate their experiences and make meaningful connections.

Susie’s yearlong sabbatical with her husband across all seven continents was a life-changing experience that led her to share her knowledge with others.

She emphasizes the importance of being mindful and present during travel, as it strengthens family bonds and creates lasting memories.

Budgeting for Long-Term Travel

One of the biggest concerns for families considering a sabbatical is budgeting. Susie shared that her yearlong trip to all seven continents cost less than a year living in Chicago. By carefully planning and making intentional choices, families can enjoy extended travel without breaking the bank.

Susie emphasized the importance of re-evaluating expenses and reallocating resources. For example, instead of paying for rent and utilities, the money can be spent on travel expenses. This mindset shift can make a significant difference in achieving a budget-friendly sabbatical.

Lightning Round: Getting to Know Susie

To lighten the mood, I engaged Susie in a fun lightning round where we discussed her preferences and travel habits. From her love for coffee to her choice between the city and country, it was a delightful segment that revealed more about her personality and approach to travel.

The First Sabbatical: Turning Lemons into Lemonade

Susie’s first sabbatical was inspired by her husband’s job loss due to a company acquisition. With some time to prepare, they decided to turn this unexpected situation into an opportunity for adventure.

Susie shared her experience of convincing her husband to take the leap and how they prepared financially and logistically for the trip.

Their journey wasn’t meticulously planned, but rather evolved organically. From finding a cheap flight to Australia to making a last-minute decision to visit Antarctica, their adventure took unexpected twists and turns.

This flexibility allowed them to fully immerse themselves in each destination and create unforgettable memories.

Traveling with a Family: Challenges and Joys

Traveling with a child presents unique challenges and joys. Susie shared her experience of traveling with her three-year-old son and how it added a new dimension to their adventures.

By focusing on the joy and growth that comes with family travel, Susie found that the challenges were outweighed by the meaningful connections and unforgettable experiences.

Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

After returning from her sabbatical, Susie transitioned from her full-time management consulting job to starting her own travel business. She began with a side hustle and gradually moved to part-time consulting while growing her business. This gradual transition allowed her to experiment and learn without the pressure of immediate success.

Balancing Work and Travel

Balancing work and travel is a common challenge for those considering extended travel. Susie shared her experience of integrating work into her travel lifestyle. From sharing stories on social media to launching new programs inspired by her travels, she found ways to make her work complement her adventures.

Global Hiring: Benefits and Considerations

Susie also touched on the benefits of hiring virtual assistants from other countries. By working with talented individuals from different time zones and cultures, she managed to delegate tasks effectively and focus on her zone of genius. This approach not only supported her business but also provided meaningful opportunities for her team members.

Addressing Client Concerns About Extended Travel

Safety and destination selection are major concerns for families planning a sabbatical. Susie addressed these concerns by recommending travel insurance and carefully selecting destinations that match her clients’ interests and comfort levels. Her experience and extensive travel knowledge allow her to guide families to safe and enriching destinations.

Incorporating Education into Family Travel

Travel is an incredible educator, and Susie emphasized its natural ability to teach children valuable life skills. By aligning travel experiences with children’s interests and integrating educational activities into their journeys, families can create enriching learning opportunities. From visiting historical sites to exploring local cultures, travel offers endless possibilities for education.

Creating Customized Travel Itineraries

Susie shared her process of creating customized travel itineraries for her clients. By understanding their goals and preferences, she matches them with destinations and experiences that align with their purpose. This intentional approach ensures that each trip is meaningful and impactful.

Final Advice for Family Sabbatical Takers

For those considering a family sabbatical, Susie emphasized the importance of listening to your dreams and taking small steps to make them a reality. It’s about finding solutions to potential roadblocks and being open to new opportunities. Whether it’s a month-long test run or a yearlong adventure, the journey is worth the effort.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Before wrapping up our conversation, I asked Susie about her upcoming travel plans. She’s heading to Belize for a three-week program designed for digital nomad families. This trip will be a test for her own family and an opportunity to share their experiences with others.

If you’re inspired by Susie’s story and want to learn more about her services, check out the links in the show notes. From her DreamTrip Accelerator to her upcoming group program on meaningful adventure planning, Susie offers valuable resources to help you embark on your own family sabbatical.

Join the Adventure

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey with Susie Chau. Her passion for travel and commitment to helping families create meaningful experiences truly embody the spirit of intentional transformation. We’ve explored the profound impact that mindful travel can have on personal growth, family connections, and overall life enrichment.

From budgeting tips to incorporating education into your adventures, Susie has equipped us with a wealth of knowledge to turn our travel dreams into reality. Remember, family sabbaticals are not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. Don’t let the what-ifs hold you back—plan your sabbatical with intention and watch your family flourish.

Don’t forget to check out SafetyWing for reliable travel insurance that ensures you can embark on these adventures with peace of mind. Their Nomad Insurance and Nomad Health Plan are designed specifically for families who dream of extended travel.

Before you set off on your next adventure, be sure to visit the link in our show notes to learn more about SafetyWing’s offerings. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out Susie’s invaluable resources, including her DreamTrip Accelerator and upcoming group program on meaningful adventure planning.

To all our listeners, keep exploring, keep your minds open, and never stop seeking out those experiences that fill your souls. With the right planning and coverage, the world is yours to discover. Safe travels, everyone!

Remember to catch the full podcast episode on Apple/Spotify or watch the video on YouTube. Until next time, this is David Cole signing off from Our Offbeat Life.

Episode Transcript:

Susie Chau – took a yearlong sabbatical with her husband to travel to all 7 continents

David Cole: [00:00:00] Ever wondered what it would be like to explore all seven continents with your family? Imagine the stories you’d tell, the bonds you’d forge, the memories you’d create. Today’s guest did exactly that. And she’s here to show you how you can do it too without breaking the bank. But first, a word from our first ever partner .

This episode is brought to you by SafetyWing. Offering nomad insurance, Tailored for adventurous families like yours and mine Because when you’re chasing your dreams across the globe peace of mind is your most valuable travel companion

singer: We just want to travel the world, the world, the world, travel the world.

David Cole: Now, buckle up for an inspiring journey with Susie Chow, a travel expert who turned a year long family sabbatical into a life changing odyssey.

[00:01:00] From Antarctica’s icy landscapes to Africa’s sun baked savannas, Susie discovered the secret to deepening family connections through intentional travel, but here’s the kicker. She’s not keeping those secrets to herself. In this episode, Susie will reveal how you can craft unforgettable budget friendly adventures that will transform your family life.

Whether you’re dreaming of a weekend getaway or around the world expedition, you’re about to discover how to make it a reality. So. Are you ready to turn your travel dreams into treasured family moments? Let’s dive in with Susie Chow on our offbeat life.

Meet Travel Expert Susie Chau: Introduction to Family Travel Adventures

David Cole: Hello Susie

Susie Chau: Hello! Thank you so much for having me.

David Cole: Well, how are you today?

Susie Chau: I’m doing excellent. I am, joining you from Denver

So happy to be in a nice, warm, [00:02:00] cozy, cozy house.

David Cole: nice. Yeah, we’re on the same time zone. That’s unusual that i’m on the same time zone as a guest Here in mexico They they got rid of daylight savings time a few years ago And so right now we happen to be on the same time zone as denver

Susie Chau: Oh, very nice.

The Philosophy of Intentional Travel

David Cole: So, I know I gave a little bit of intro there But can you tell everybody a little bit about who you are and what you do?

Susie Chau: Yes, absolutely. So I really specialize in helping families, which is why this podcast I think, is such a perfect fit. I’m excited to share my knowledge with your audience, specifically around how you can take a trip and, and use travel as a tool for. Filling your soul, as you mentioned, and, and really being intentional with how we travel to bring more meaning into our lives.

So it’s really looking at travel more holistically than [00:03:00] just a trip. And obviously for anyone listening, that’s either currently traveling long term or interested in doing that. That integration of travel with life is something that is so unique. And.

Susie’s Year-Long Sabbatical Story

Susie Chau: You know, based on my experience, as you mentioned, I took a year long sabbatical with my husband.

We traveled all seven continents and that was truly a life changing experience for me. And after returning home from that, I knew that I needed to share my knowledge with other people so that even those taking just regular vacations can elevate those experiences and get out A real ROI on that. So, you know, people spend thousands of dollars on vacations and they try to squeeze as much as possible in.

And I totally get that, especially for any Americans listening, we have very limited vacation [00:04:00] time. So that’s the thinking and how we maximize the, the value out of that time and money. But really, I think that slowing down and being present and being very mindful about how you travel, that’s really where you get the meaning and.

As you mentioned, strengthening bonds, that’s, that’s the real gold in travel is not necessarily, you know, seeing and doing things, checking things off your bucket list. That’s all great, but the growth and the connections, those are the things that really make you feel alive and set that spark in you. And if you think about your favorite travel memories, they’re usually not.

specifically about, you know, seeing and doing that thing that you dreamed about. And yes, maybe some of those are, but a lot of times it’s just the [00:05:00] spontaneous or serendipitous thing that happened, you know, that was completely unplanned. But really, I help people design a trip to leave space for that. And, you know, overall, just be mindful and intentional with their travel choices.

David Cole: I love that. I love that you mentioned thatit’s the gold and the travel, you know, that’s, that’s really a very cool statement in my opinion, you know, the little things that are around the trip, not necessarily seeing that mountain, but, all the things that led up to it and being with your family at that time.

 it really is it’s wealthy in my opinion. You know, yeah,

Susie Chau: And that, yes, that’s so that’s a good connection, you know, that is true wealth and everybody knows, you know, experiences make you feel wealthier than just the things. but so often we just focus so much on, you know, where you’re going, what you’re doing. And, and those are. The [00:06:00] exciting things, you know, when you’re sitting at home, especially, you dream about going and seeing the places and doing the things, but when you’re actually there, the real gold is who you’re with, what you’re feeling, and how that can change who you are, who you’re being, and, you know, ultimately give you that personal growth, or growth, you know, together as a family, specifically.

David Cole: I was just talking to somebody earlier today and. and I told him that, this lifestyle, no, I’m not rich. I can’t, I don’t afford this because I’m rich, but it does enrich me. there’s so much you can do and it doesn’t, you can have a small budget and still just get that enrichment. So that gold, as you mentioned, so

Budgeting for Long-Term Travel

Susie Chau: Yeah, and that’s, I, I believe that to my core, travel does not have to be expensive, and I’m sure we’ll probably get into, you know, budgeting and things like that, but, Certainly, when I came [00:07:00] back home after taking, my sabbatical, my year long sabbatical, and I’ve taken some other shorter ones that are more, you know, four or five weeks, everybody assumed that, especially going to all seven continents, that that’s a huge amount of money.

I mean, like, they Probably had no concept of how much it was, but when I told them that I, you know, we spent less in that year traveling to all seven continents and we traveled fast, which is not necessarily what I recommend today, but we were in our thirties, we were young and had the energy, but all of that costs less than just living.

We were living in Chicago at the time. again, not a super extravagant lifestyle, but one year traveling the world costs less than just a year living in Chicago being normal. so that I think puts things into perspective and is a really important point, especially for the people listening that may [00:08:00] love this idea, but, Not see how that’s possible for them.

And I think that when you really break it down, it doesn’t have to be that expensive and it is much more attainable than most people

think. that’s cool.

Lightning Round: Getting to Know Susie

David Cole: All right, well, let’s get to know you a little bit better. I like to do a little lightning round here, so.

Susie Chau: I’m ready. Let’s go.

David Cole: Coffee, tea, soda, water, what’s your beverage?

Susie Chau: Coffee all the way. I got some right here. It’s afternoon, but I’m still sipping on my coffee.

David Cole: Pet of choice, dog, cat, or something unique? Pool

Susie Chau: growing up, so I probably would say cat. We don’t have any pets right now. and that’s by choice because it makes travel a lot more difficult if you’ve got pets. I know you can, you can travel with them, but, I, I am pet free by choice.

okay, uh pool, [00:09:00] or beach? beach! Okay, City or country?

Ooh, this is hard. I, when I travel country, because I live in a city, so I want to be more in nature when I travel and, you know, some, somewhere between a country and like a small town. That’s I think the, the, the gem.

David Cole: Now, would you rather be able to understand And speak every language in the world or be able to teleport anywhere at any time.

Susie Chau: Teleport all the way.

David Cole: Yeah Get rid of that little travel destination time

Susie Chau: Exactly! Just jump straight there, you know, on the beach, for example.

David Cole: Nice. Okay, and then imagine this you get off the plane at your nest next destination And you arrive into the zombie apocalypse You’re able to get to your [00:10:00] bags. What’s the first thing you grab and why? All

Susie Chau: I would have anything long or heavy to fight the zombies, but some sort of weapon, I think, to keep myself safe.

David Cole: right So tell us a little bit about that, that first sabbatical. What inspired you to take that first long sabbatical and travel to all seven continents?

Susie Chau: Yeah, and traveling all seven continents was not the original goal, but it sort of evolved that way, but the real catalyst for that experience was my husband actually lost his job, due to an acquisition of the company he was working for. So it was a bit of, turning lemonade, turning lemons into lemonade and, It took some time to convince him.

So I, I can definitely address, you know, if you are listening right now and dreaming of this and you know that your partner [00:11:00] is very much not on board. It’s a process. so be patient. And it was one of those. Things where I, I felt like there was a sabbatical seed in the back of my brain, from as early as, I really didn’t start traveling internationally until I studied abroad in college, but during that experience and, you know, other travels in my twenties, I would stay at hostels and the normal conversation is, you know, where are you from?

How long are you traveling? And I would talk to all of these people who were traveling for months or years, and I had never thought That people did this, you know, I, growing up, I grew up in the Midwest and Cleveland, Ohio, and, you know, this was just so far outside of what was, you know, normal to me. And especially as I, you know, went into my career, I was in management consulting for about 13 years.

And, you know, I had this identity [00:12:00] as a, you know, Corporate person and, you know, I have a very important job and things like that. And, you know, that, that lifestyle didn’t, it really had some tension with the whole idea of traveling long term, you know, I thought, Oh, well I, I couldn’t do that. You know, that’s for, you know, some, some people who are much, you know, less settled down, I suppose.

I mean, I was in my 20s, so it’s kind of funny to think about now. But that seed was planted in the back of my brain, I mean, years before that. And something in me, it was just immediate once he found out that he was going to be laid off. And thankfully, we had a pretty long window to prepare, before he, you know, like really was out of a job.

So there was, you know, that was an advantage in our situation. so we kind of just like worked the problem and, and figured out, you know, theoretically, how could this work? And [00:13:00] we worked with our financial advisor to, you know, see like, how could this financially fit into the big picture of our, especially our long term goals.

so that was a conversation. And, we really just tried to figure out, you know, it was like, Solving one problem at a time, essentially. and you know, we, we were able to get clarity and, I was able to get a leave of absence from my job, which was a huge advantage because we knew we had at least one income to return to and our original.

Thought was we would travel for a year or so, but, you know, I think the comfort was worst case scenario. We can come back at any time if we’re really not loving it. and, you know, mentally kind of preparing and that way, of course we didn’t, we extended it a little bit extra, but, it was such a [00:14:00] phenomenal time.

And as I mentioned with the seven continent idea. That kind of evolved naturally, because we were just planning on doing Asia, coming home for Christmas, and then going South and doing, South America, and then ending in Europe. But when we were in asia, we found a cheap flight to Australia where we have some friends and family.

And once we had Australia, then when we came home, we were back in the US, after the holidays and plotting our next steps. And we were like, you know what? Let’s just go to Antarctica. That is the thing that we’re most excited about. And we have the amazing blessing of time and to go to Antarctica, you need some time.

I mean, that is, that is a trip that, I mean, minimum two weeks, definitely more, especially if you want to go to, you know, South Georgia and things like that. and yeah. So we were [00:15:00] able to, you know, go down, we went down to Ushuaia and got a last minute, spots on a boat to Antarctica. And once we had Antarctica, we were like, let’s just go for seven.

So we did a bit of North Africa too. you know, from Europe. So it kind of happened organically. but we, you know, specifically left our itinerary, a bit unplanned and we were able to go with the flow and see how we feel, which, especially for a trip that length, I think is good. I might have some different advice depending on individual situations, but certainly, you know, when thinking about family travel, I know most people listening do have a family.

I would definitely recommend slower,there’s a lot more, a, there’s a lot more people to move, but also other considerations, you know, that, that would factor into how you might approach, a trip like that as a family.

David Cole: [00:16:00] Yeah. There’s so many families out there trying to figure out what they want to do. And a one year for seven continents is a lot, especially depending on the age group of the kids.our, our plan has been, Seven continents, seven Christmases. So,

Susie Chau: Ooh, I like that.

David Cole: yeah, so we’re a little over halfway done. So that’s awesome.

We did I Antarctica this last one, which was awesome.

Susie Chau: So cool. I mean, it’s my favorite place in the

world. Truly.

David Cole: Each continent, I mean, there’s so many different subcultures throughout the continents, but they’ve all changed me in different ways and I’ve pulled different things out of every single one of them. which continent, like, would you say? Really struck you or pulled those heartstrings of yours.

Susie Chau: Aside from Antarctica, because that, that was the one that really, it feels just otherworldly because it’s so remote and it’s just [00:17:00] you and nature and yes, the people that you’re on the boat with, but You just feel so small in comparison to everything that’s surrounding you. So that, that really pulled my heart strings.

But aside from Antarctica, I would say my heart is in Europe. every time I go, I just, I feel more at home and we just got back from a trip to France. I have a three year old. I probably should have mentioned that in, in my intro. which is one reason why I’m so passionate about helping families because I understand how much more complex it is.

To plan a family trip versus, you know, a solo trip or a trip as a couple. but that trip really being able to share, that was the first trip that I’ve taken my son to Europe and we just had a ball. it was. Just fully exceeded expectations and that’s a place that I just really, I [00:18:00] love the vibe and the, the culture and the values there. And I just, it feels homey to me.

David Cole: Well, let’s expand upon that for a second, too, because you did mention three years now, three year old. So, you’ve been a traveler before kids, the different lifestyles that way. And again, with a kid, which is a, it changes things up. It really does. Yes. so, for those that are out there that maybe, you know,are in a similar situation.

How did having a child and still continuing to have your travel lifestyle, how did that whole thing fit in with your life? Or how did you transition into that?

Susie Chau: Yeah, I think it was always part of the plan to travel as a family. unfortunately I had a COVID baby. He, my son was born in 2020. So we had dreams of traveling a lot more when he was a baby than we were able to do. [00:19:00] But, now I think. He’s, he’s almost four and this is just such an amazing age that, he’s fully engaged when we travel and just being able for him to communicate with us and show him, or for him to show us the connections that he’s making and what he’s learning.

And, you know, he’s even talking about tons of stuff that he learned now that we’re back home. That is, that makes it, and it’s super cheesy to say, but it made it so much more meaningful to have those experiences. I mean, we went to Paris, which I had been to, fortunate enough to have even lived there for a period of time.

so it’s a special place to me. And, you know, for, for me to see it through his eyes in a totally new way. I mean, that really made me feel alive and [00:20:00] I want to share that perspective with people because what most people talk about is traveling with kids. It’s so hard and, you know, Oh, the. The jet lag and, you know, just talking about all of the negative things.

And yes, I mean, we all struggle with jet lag. I mean, even us as adults. so I don’t expect my three year old to land in Paris and, you know, immediately be on European time. But I think that it’s really the mindset that you approach travel with. you know, it doesn’t have to just be, I don’t know if you’ve seen any of these kind of memes or reels or things going around, like vacation is just parenting in another location.

And I mean, there’s, definitely some truth to that. You still have to parent even in that other location, but if you, really change what you’re focusing on instead of the, you know, up in the middle of the night because of jet [00:21:00] lag. If you, you know, can just be patient, with that, but really focus on what they’re experiencing, how they’re growing, how they’re changing, that can instantly just make the whole trip more meaningful and that brings A different perspective than any other trip that I’ve taken before kids.

so in a way it really adds value, because you get to share it with somebody who’s doing all of this for the first time, which is just so special.

David Cole: That is, it’s, it is special. I mean, there’s so many firsts and you’re experiencing a lot of firsts at the same time as they’re experiencing the first as well. So yeah, that’s pretty cool.

Well, so you started all this, you gotta, you gotta leave of absence from work.

Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

David Cole: how did you transition from knowing that, okay, I need this, this job that I have that [00:22:00] I’m going back to, to entrepreneurship, to starting your own business, helping other travelers travel longterm.

Susie Chau: yeah, so after my year long sabbatical, I went back to management consulting and I started my travel business as a side hustle. So I was still working full time and I think that something that I would definitely recommend to, to people to just start experimenting, you don’t have to quit your job immediately and go all in because there is a huge learning curve for starting.

I mean, starting anything, but certainly starting a business. And so I think by still having the full time income. Took the pressure off, right? I didn’t have to be, you know, earning money and being super successful right away. So especially a travel business. you know, it, it takes some time to build up clientele and also, You know, earn money.

[00:23:00] So I. Really started my business by being more of a traditional travel advisor where I was planning trips for people. And, you know, a part of that compensation was commissions that don’t hit until way after they travel. So you could be working on something and not see that money for, you know, over a year, for example.

but anyway, so I eased into the business by going from, you know, a side hustle, and then I negotiated. working part time, for a period of time with my consulting, job as well as my business. And then I moved to full time. So it was a gradual process. And I think that that’s something that I would definitely recommend.

because it’s, it’s definitely. Sexy to say, ah, quit it all and, and start your own thing. Go for it. You know, you can see that all over the internet. Right. But in reality, you know, there, there are other ways and other [00:24:00] approaches to starting something. If that, you know, if you have an entrepreneurial itch, or a great business idea that is just tugging at you to start, like just start, it doesn’t have to be a full time thing right away. A hundred

David Cole: Yeah, that makes me think of, you know, you see it all the time. This, the, the Instagram videos that show this is the Instagram photo. This is the reality. And you see the crowd and you see that same thing going for, for, for a business. You know, there is a reality to it. We all, travelers have to make money somehow and it’s not always a sunshine and rainbows, it’s just like any other job. You have your stressful moments. so how do you, how do you balance that? The excitement of seeing something cool and doing the traveling with the realities of running a business at the same time.

Susie Chau: Yeah, so that’s, that’s an interesting question and I think it’s, it’s wonderful to work in the travel industry because it is, it is kind of the [00:25:00] sexy, cool, job where you can show people the world and what you are learning about it. And, you know, I think that it really comes down to integration of two things.

So, for example, my, my last trip to France, it was so fun. I’m, I’m active on Instagram and I like to share stories and people were just loving them. I mean, I think ultimately people love. To see people having fun and, you know, experiencing true joy, which I was genuinely feeling at the time. And, and people can feel that even through, you know, a phone, a computer screen, you know, but now I’m in that period of really launching something new.

I’m sure we can talk about that, in a bit, but, that’s where I can combine some of the things that I’m learning. And as I’m launching it, I can share recent stories from my trip. To be like, this is how it played out in my experience. and also of course, share other [00:26:00] client stories as well. But you know, people, people like hearing stories and, travel.

There’s no shortage of stories that, that you can tell. And I think that it’s important to, really develop, you know, from a business side of things, develop. tools and resources and support that can help people with, you know, real problems that they’re having because of course travel is fun, but it also can be very stressful.

There’s a lot of questions and a lot of decisions. And you know, that’s what I’m here for is to make that whole process a lot easier.

David Cole: Very good. And it sounds, and it sounds like your, your clients have a full use of you when they’re doing their travel preparations. So that’s pretty cool.

Susie Chau: Yeah. And I think that that is something that, you know, Is so needed because so many questions pop up throughout the process. I mean, not only in where should I stay? What should I do? But also, especially as you get closer to the trip [00:27:00] and when you are about to depart, you know, of course that’s when you have all of the questions

like, Oh, what should I pack?

And you know, all these things, but I’ve, I’ve hopefully I have answered the questions for them before they even know to ask them. That’s my goal. But, you know, there’s always, always something

that pops up.

David Cole: Always something. Yes. All right.

Incorporating Education into Travel

David Cole: Now let’s look at let’s talk about world’s going a little bit here I know your your son is still quite young But from your experience, how can families incorporate education and learning into their travel plans?

Susie Chau: I think that travel is the best educator. and, and it happens naturally, you know, outside of a formal lesson plan. and certainly, You can incorporate that into your travels as well, especially if you’re traveling long term, you know, that’s something that, is, you know, very useful, especially depending on the age of your kids.

But I think [00:28:00] that leveraging, the, the natural things that kids are experiencing on the road and really using those as teachable moments. That’s where things stick. and you can infuse Real world skills, which are usually not taught in the classroom, but I would argue maybe even more important than a lot of things that, you know, you would read in a book, but one of the things that I love to, talk with families about, especially if they’re kids.

are in school is how can you align your trip with either things t interested in your kids o learning about, you know, learning about, you know, world hisroy, and you want to plan a trip to Rome, you know, you can, you know, You can see the Coliseum and, and those types of things, that’s, what’s really going to seal that knowledge in their brains [00:29:00] so much richer, than it would just kind of, you know, hearing about the stories in a book.

So I think that there’s ways that travel can be, you know, such a useful asset. now the, the clients that I usually work with are, you know, Either, you know, they’ve got younger kids, so school isn’t necessarily a, a factor. I do a lot of work with people who are taking sabbaticals that are maybe like a month or two.

And a lot of times they line that up in the summer, you know, during school breaks. So they don’t have to worry so much about, keeping up curriculums and things like that. So I’m certainly not a homeschool expert by any means. But one of the things in my research to help families find options on is there is a plethora of, of ways to, educate your kids while they are traveling outside of, you know, most people just assume, okay, well, if I want to do this, I have to be the [00:30:00] teacher.

I have to be the homeschooler. I have to follow this, you know, plan. But there’s other options, and especially now more than ever with the introduction, especially post COVID, you know, of online tutoring, you know, and that could be 1 on 1 or, you know, a more formal, or larger group program, you know, so there’s different schools and, Academies that offer this, that I think takes the pressure off the shoulders of the parents, especially the ones who, you know, maybe they’re both working full time and they’re like, I want to do this and I have a remote job, so I can work remotely, but what do I do about school?

I don’t want to, or I can’t, you know, from a time perspective, be the teacher. but the other thing that, you know, especially for anybody listening that, Is in the boat, just kind of considering this. one thing that I just want to highlight is that the education on the road, you know, [00:31:00] does not equal the same amount of time as.

So eight hours, you know, or six, seven hours in the classroom translates to like a couple hours. you know, when you’re on the road. So it’s, it’s very much not apples to apples. and I, I just wanted to plant that seed because I think that’s really important, for people to understand. And also, you know, conceptualize how they would make this work. especially if they are going to be working while traveling long term.

David Cole: Yeah, you make some really good points. I mean, school, I mean, they’re teaching 30 Children. And so, of course, it’s gonna take longer to get through it than a one on one education. and like homework, it’s not really a thing. Homework is just More work. It’s just more education. Instead of the homework, instead of calling it homework, you can just give the stuff that would be homework and students can practice that or your children can practice that stuff.

That’s sometimes what we do. A worksheet comes [00:32:00] in really handy. I’m not a fan of homework. In the real in regular schooling even it’s just busy work to for a child there are some cases that are different where other kids might need that extra reinforcement but on the vast majority I feel homework is just busy work whereas in the homeschooling and in the Travel schooling type world that we’re in it just becomes something that I can use to help further an idea Such as comes to my mind when we went to Machu Picchu, we weren’t expecting to do anything other than just learn from what was around us.

But our guide, she brought with her a little satchel, a pen, and a little booklet of papers that she printed out, which was basically a seek and find talent. So our, our son could find things that he spot the Lama. All right, I found the llama. Checked off. Find, find this, this, this sculpture, this statue.

All right, he found it. [00:33:00] All these little things on it and much, much more. Even had space for him to write if he wanted to add extra thoughts that he sees from there. And you could tell she had an education background. And she brought that to the work and it Enhance the experience more so than just learning from the environment that we were planning on doing.

It just had that extra add on, on top of it. These are the types of things that we’ve learned now that you can do as a worldschooling family. You don’t have to wait for the guide to do it. You can bring these types of things along with yours as well. So it’s really cool.

Susie Chau: Yeah, and I think just keeping an open mind in what education needs to be and is and every parent is going to have, I think, a different viewpoint or requirements for what they want for their children. so I think getting clear on that and then focusing on that. Finding a solution that aligns with that, is, is really important because, [00:34:00] there’s a huge spectrum, you know, for anywhere from like unschooling to really, you know, keeping a curriculum that is aligned with their homeschool.

like, or their school back at home, you know, there’s everything in between. So it’s finding that ground that you’re comfortable with as a parent, and that also aligns with your children’s goals too, and what they’re interested in. You know, I think that the more you can foster whatever their specific interests are, That’s where like the real magic of infusing, the environment that you’re in while you travel with that interest, that’s when things clicked and connect and, you know, possibilities are endless from there.

David Cole: Oh, yeah, definitely. I mean, sometimes my son and I will just sit there. Well, we’re watching TikTok together or whatever, and he sees something cool somebody did or like a cliff they jumped off of or, one time he saw a rainbow slide and we were like, okay, where is this thing? And we found out it was in El Salvador.

And we were [00:35:00] like, Oh, well, we’re in Guatemala now. So we’re going through El Salvador in a few months. Let’s find out what, what place it’s at. Found out it’s a restaurant. So we went there and he got to experience it. He saw it online. It was something he was interested in. Yeah. It’s, it, it, it, it’s not educational based, but it’s still, it gave him a chance to do something that he was interested in while we were still traveling.

Susie Chau: Yeah. And the same thing with my son. So one of the re one of not the only reason, but one of the reasons why we went to France was because he’s very into landmarks, you know, he’s got a world map, puzzle world map, interactive. thing. And his eyes lit up when he pushed the Eiffel Tower and the map told him, there’s shops and restaurants.

He goes, mom, there’s shops and restaurants in the Eiffel Tower and there’s 20, 000 lights. And that is still the highlight for him. You know, he’s very consistent. So he wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. [00:36:00] I, I had honestly never been up the Eiffel Tower. I’ve been there, probably spent like a collective couple of months in, in Paris, never went up it.

but with him, it was magical, especially because we were there, at dusk and we saw the, the light sparkle and that, that, that was a highlight, honestly, for him. But also I think for me, just. Watching him, you know, and his eyes light up seeing that it was, it was fantastic. So anytime your kid’s interested in something like that, that brings you so much joy to be like, you know what?

We can do that. Let’s go. That’s, you know, and those are like core memories that I think your kids will. Absolutely. Remember

David Cole: Oh, definitely. They definitely do. And I’m sure he knows more than the other preschoolers about, uh

Susie Chau: we got him to start Duo Lingo before, before the trip. So we’ve been doing, taking French lessons and he was talking about it. And he was like, Oh, I’m going to tell my friends. I was like, I’m pretty [00:37:00] sure none of your friends are doing do a lingo right now. Like you’re not even for, but, but I love that for you.

And, you know, so you can kind of have like your own special things, to, to prepare for the trip and. That makes it even more special.

David Cole: yeah, it gives you that family bonding time too, especially if you’re both doing the Duolingo together, he’s like, go off, go off to your Duolingo assignment. No, that’s not as fun as let’s sit down. Let’s learn a few things together on

Susie Chau: Every day he’s like, mom, can we do our French lesson? I was like, yes, absolutely.

David Cole: very cool. All right.

Balancing Work and Travel

David Cole: I’m changing gears a little bit back to let co working. even though we don’t love to work, but we, we work, we work to live.

Susie Chau: Yeah, yeah, exactly.

David Cole: how has your definition of work life balance changed since starting your own personal business? and, and, and evolving it as much as you have.

Susie Chau: Yeah, and that’s something that I’m [00:38:00] honestly working on, considering I came from a management consulting background, very long hours, you know, corporate environment that was so deeply ingrained in me. And to be honest, I think it honestly, it started before that just with our education system, kind of to bring things together, like what we, You know, really are priming our kids with, you know, sitting in a classroom for however many hours a day.

It’s very similar to sitting at a desk for however, however many hours a day. And, you know, especially now transitioning into being, my own boss, I have the freedom, you know, that’s why a lot of people start businesses is to have the freedom, but then I still find myself, you know, working more nine to five type hours.

Sometimes more and, you know, I think that it’s, it’s a big shift of the mindset in [00:39:00] terms of really taking advantage of that freedom. you know, for example, traveling in France, I just got back and, you know, I did. I guess work a little from a social media perspective. That is work for me, honestly.

Travel is work for me, just experiencing things. So that’s been a little kind of strange to wrap my head around. but you know, I think that what I am really trying to actively work on, you know, especially now as a parent is, doing the things that, you know, are, you know, that only I can do that are the most value add, outsourcing some other things that are, you know, not my zone of genius or just not frankly, like worth my time, to do and really being able to, Rebalance, the use of my time and use it in the most effective way.

Now, very much a work in progress. I will not say that I am the expert, but [00:40:00] it’s something I’m certainly striving for.

David Cole: Well, let’s, let’s dive in on that a little bit there because a lot of people start a business and they don’t know when is the right time to start paying other people to do parts of it when your time is valued more than Than this or that or the other thing. So can you speak to that a little bit?

Susie Chau: Yeah. So I currently have a couple virtual assistants that are based in the Philippines, They’re fantastic. One, one of them has been with me since 2020.

Navigating Maternity Leave and Outsourcing

Susie Chau: So I, I was kind of forced into outsourcing, things in preparation for my maternity leave, which turned out to not really be needed because the world shut down.

So nobody was traveling. So I didn’t really have, much of a business at that point when I actually had my son, but, but she stuck with me and she’s fantastic. And I think that, you know, looking at some opportunities, you know, [00:41:00] in terms of a place to start.

Global Hiring: Benefits and Considerations

Susie Chau: Cause I think some people may just assume that they need somebody that is, you know, if they’re in the U S they need to hire somebody in the U S and you certainly can.

But if your budget doesn’t allow. You know, there’s, you know, other countries in the world, you know, especially anybody listening to this understands, you know, cost of living in different places in the world is drastically different. So, by you working with somebody in a country like the Philippines, for example, you know, their cost of living is lower, so you wouldn’t have to pay them as much as somebody in the U S with a higher cost of living, but you can still give them.

A phenomenal life, and opportunity. And so like the, the VA that’s been with me, since 2020, she’s also a mom, she just recently had another, child and, you know, I know, Especially after working with her for so long, you know, what this job means to [00:42:00] her and her family. so that’s just something that you can consider, is, you know, working with, some support from other countries.

Starting Small with Virtual Assistants

Susie Chau: And I, I came from, because I was in management consulting, I had a global team, so I was very used to working, you know, with all different time zones You know, that wasn’t necessarily a big leap for me, but, there is a learning curve, you know, if that is something that you’re interested in, you know, I think that you have to, you know, just set expectations in terms and, and ease into it with baby steps, You know, again, you, by you hiring somebody, it doesn’t need to be like a full time job or even a full part time job.

you can, there are people who do want supplemental income for just, you know, a few hours a week, for example. You know, there is somebody looking for exactly, you know, what you need help with and is better, probably better at it than, than what you are. So, I think just being open to those [00:43:00] possibilities, And starting small is probably the best advice I have for just getting started.

David Cole: Excellent. Okay Yeah, definitely keep your open mind working with people In other countries, you can definitely support them. They’re able to get, a good wage out of it for where they’re living. And versus like what you said, the U S where you have to pay more because it costs more to live.

Yeah. Yeah. So win win. So yeah, win, win, except for the folks that won’t work that are in the U S

Susie Chau: yeah, yeah. but you know, also if, if you do feel, that you want to work with somebody in the U S whether that’s, you know, based on, well, I guess time zone wise, there’s plenty of people South, like Central and South America to consider, but if you do just from a values perspective, want to work with somebody else in the U S that’s where I think just, you know, putting For example, thinking about parents, other parents who, you know, maybe there’s a stay at [00:44:00] home, you know, mom or dad that just wants to like use their brain, but can’t necessarily do, you know, a full time job.

Like, they still do want to be a stay at home mom or dad, but just want, a few hours a week. That’s a place to start, you know, so there, there’s something for everybody. you know, I think that it’s just aligning what your budget is and being realistic with, you know, how much you have to pay people. and being very clear about what those jobs and roles are that you want filled.

David Cole: Okay. Do you use something like Upwork or some other place to find these work?

Susie Chau: The first, virtual assistant I found, on a site called online jobs dot p h. so that’s specifically for Filipino, workers, so all online virtual assistants, plenty of huge, wide, wide array of skills that are available. and yeah, it was a fantastic [00:45:00] resource. And, you know, still went through like the interview process.

And, I did. I guess if we want to dive a little bit into just, you know, real quick, what I did was a trial project, that is paid just to kind of get a sense of like, how well do we work together? And then I kind of eased into let’s do a trial, like, couple weeks again, paid at the full amount. So you can ease into it.

And if you find, you know, this just isn’t working, then, you know, there was not some huge long term contract or anything that, you know, you need to break. So I think that’s a good, I’m all about the little baby steps, as you can tell. I feel like I’ve talked about that several times. It’s just, you know, easing into it.

you know, you don’t have to, you know, to go all in, straight from the beginning. So just test it out, try it out and see if you like it. And you know, if you don’t, that’s okay.

Addressing Client Concerns About Extended Travel

David Cole: okay, well [00:46:00] moving into like your your standard of clientele What are some of the more common fears or concerns that they have about extended travel and how do you normally address them?

Susie Chau: Yeah. The, the common fears, especially for clients that are looking to travel for an extended period of time, one would be safety. you know, with travel, there’s just a lot of unknowns and especially adding kids into the mix that just increases the complexity increases the risk. and that’s where I, you know, usually address that concern.

David Cole: Both kind of multifaceted. One is just insurance, travel insurance, medical insurance. You know, we’ve got that at home. You can get that on the road, to cover any unforeseen situations. And speaking of travel insurance, let’s take a quick break to hear about our partner who provides exactly that kind of [00:47:00] peace of mind for travelers. Today’s episode is brought to you by SafetyWing, your companion for international travel medical insurance designed specifically for nomads just like us whether you’re planning your next family adventure or already Exploring new horizons SafetyWing has got you covered with term and subscription pricing models that are some of the most Competitive out there starting from just a few dollars per day with SafetyWings nomad insurance I found what I believe is the best option for my travel needs in their Nomad product, but if you need something more robust, check out their newer nomad health, which is a fully equipped health insurance plan like you might already be used to.

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Now let’s get back to our conversation with Susie.

Susie Chau: the other thing is just a more of a careful, Selection of the destinations that, that they choose. And that’s where I like to think of myself as a bit of a destination matchmaker because I’ve been so fortunate enough to travel to so many places.

once I get a sense of the client, what their interests are, what their priorities are, what their comfort zone is, I, I feel like I can do a really good job at advising them. To destinations and guiding them to destinations that either they already are considering or maybe some destinations that they had never even thought about, but that they [00:49:00] should consider, and that’s, I think, where a bit of the magic happens is some of those places where they’re like, Huh?

I had no idea about X, Y, Z country. That sounds awesome. and just kind of opens up a door for them. And, you know, again, depending on. Their scenario, so some may want to go super slow and in that case, visas may be a factor as well. So I’ve got kind of this, like, massive spreadsheet of either digital Nomad visas or, you know, other visas that can be made available, depending on.

The requirements and criteria that that that family has. So those, those are a few of the top concerns, you know, in terms of the traveling itself, but honestly. A lot of times, you know, before they even like fully, fully commit, and I’m definitely talking [00:50:00] to probably a lot of people listening who are like, this sounds awesome, but, you know, a lot of the fears and I experienced this myself too, is, you know, what about,you know, if they are thinking about quitting their job, you know, what, when, when I return, how will, I don’t know about finding a new job, what will that look like?

And, to that question, I would say that, You know, thinking about my husband because he had to find a new, you know, when I, when he came to me, it says, I’m losing my job. I was like, well, you can find a new job now, or you can find a new job later. and it turns out that the year long sabbatical was not the deterrent that, you know, he was fearing, you know, he was thinking, oh, people are going to see this gap in my resume.

It’s going to be so bad. you know, what? Totally. Expected, you know, an understandable, but really that, that set him apart from so many other people because it shows you can take risks. It shows that you value, you know, your [00:51:00] life and, you know, the experiences, especially when he was going and interviewing with global companies to be like, well, I’ve traveled all around the world.

I can work with other cultures. I can, you know, deal with different languages. I can, I have the soft side. Skills to be able to work with other cultures that is extremely valuable. And to be honest, most of his interviews were just, you know, they ended up being really just questions about his sabbatical more than his skills.

I mean, at a certain level, of course, like, yeah, your resume kind of paints the picture of like what you’re capable of. so that set him apart from. Other candidates, and I think that it also polarized, the other jobs that, you know, if somebody, you know, either wasn’t interested, because he took the sabbatical, then that’s a good thing, because clearly the values were not aligned.

David Cole: I was talking to somebody the other day who was very similar with their conversation. [00:52:00] It was actually, the mother of an 18 year old who lived in this lifestyle for basically his whole life. And his first job, all the interviewer would want to talk to him about was his travels. It’s all in there. It’s a world schooler kid resume.

Mostly his life experience stuff and that he got the job, but it was, and got fast tracked in the, in the programs in it, but it was all about his work, his lifestyle. And wow, you’ve seen so much, you’ve, you’ve been so much, you’ve interacted with so many people, you’d be great for this position because of this.

It basically, the, the interviewer was selling themselves on that based on how cool of a lifestyle this is and what you must have to live through to go to do that. So I understand.

Susie Chau: yeah, no, and I think I love that so much. I, and I love that it was for an 18 year old. And I mean, also thinking about college, you know, applications and things like that, you know, if, if it, if a college administrator [00:53:00] is looking at a whole bunch of applications and you have this like really unique experience, That is such a differentiator compared to, you know, somebody who’s just trying to pad their application with like a bunch of, you know, school activities and that’s all good and everything, but, ultimately that deviation from kind of your, the name of your podcast, Our Offbeat Life, you know, like it is a deviation from the beaten path.

And that sets you apart, in so many different ways. So yeah, from school and thinking about university to the workplace, people love hearing these stories because it takes courage to do something like this and to live this lifestyle. You know, people probably think, oh, it was, you know, so easy for you to go take a, you know, a year long sabbatical, you got to leave of absence.

It’s easy. Well, no, it was [00:54:00] not easy. It’s still, you know, I had to make the decision, but we had to make the decision. I had to convince my, my husband, to get him on board. But then all of those steps, you know, they, it’s natural to second guess yourself and to be like, is this, is this all worth it? And absolutely it’s worth it.

but it’s hard and that’s why not everybody does it because it’s hard and it’s, you know, puts you outside of your comfort zone. You’ve got to, you know, make some tough choices. but in the end I think it’s worth it.

David Cole: Yeah, definitely. I definitely agree. It’s worth it. I wouldn’t be living it for five years.

Susie Chau: Yeah.

Budgeting for Long-Term Travel

David Cole: Well, how do you help your clients budget for a month or more of travel? Are there like any like tips and tricks?

Susie Chau: Yeah, well, I think before even getting into the details, I think what I help people understand is if you are looking at, let’s just take 1 month because some people that I, I work with, they are [00:55:00] interested in it. Traveling long term, but they’re not quite ready to commit to, you know, selling it all and packing their life into a storage unit.

I mean, that’s a huge commitment. But what I tell them in that scenario is try it for a month, you know, something longer than your typical vacation. and the beauty of traveling for even a month is that if you choose 1 location. You can experience what, life on the road longer term can look like. And from a financial standpoint, you can get the advantages of, long term rental discounts.

So, you know, oftentimes if you’re looking at home rentals and especially for families, you know, when you’re traveling for, let’s say, a month, If you stay in a place for a month, or more, of course, you can get some pretty drastic discounts, depending on the place. And again, because your average person who’s just taking a vacation, [00:56:00] they’re not looking at a month long rental, right?

You know, so they don’t understand or they didn’t know that, that savings is very much possible. And if you’re also kind of doing more slow travel, At the end of the day, I would say on average, traveling in that way where you’re staying in one place for a month, you can take day trips and stuff to explore, that is equivalent or sometimes even less than the average, you know, week or two vacation because you’re not hopping around as much, you’re not staying in more expensive hotels and, you know, so it’s, it’s about changing your mindset on, You know what that costs.

it doesn’t cost, you know, 4 weeks doesn’t cost 4 times 1 week. you know, from a budgeting perspective. So I think I’d like to start there is that, you know, it is very possible, to take a month, even, you know, yes, you’re probably not going to, I mean, maybe you could rent out your existing home in that case, but [00:57:00] most likely people won’t for a month.

so you’re not really adding. a crazy amount to your, budget. I would just swap a one or two week vacation that you might be planning for like a month in that case. If your goal really is to do long term travel and you just want to dip your toes in the waters, like, see what that would look like for you, how, you know, and see how you feel.

That’s a great way to start. but in terms of, you know, especially the longer, you know, people who want to travel for a year or more, I’ve got a calculator that I work with clients on that estimates not only the travel costs, but also how you can finance it and fund it. And really just having some, placeholders and also ideas for people to, Get creative with how they might fund this, you know, it could be from existing investments.

you know, or selling some things or, you [00:58:00] know, again, maybe renting out their home if they aren’t, you know, selling it or there’s, there’s a bunch of different ways that you can reallocate it because at the end of the day, as I mentioned, Earlier that are our year long trip was, you know, less than just living in Chicago.

That’s because we were swapping costs. You know, we, we, we’re renting at the time. So we just ended our lease. So what we would usually spend on our rent money was just going towards accommodations. Uh, we did not have a car, car payments and those types of things that can go to flights and meals or meals. that all balances out, especially when you’re traveling to all different countries, you know, there are some more expensive countries.

There are some less expensive countries. It all kind of evens out, but, When you’re talking about, traveling for an extended period of time, it’s really more about the swaps than, like, adding on expenses. And again, I think that’s a bit of a mindset shift for people, to wrap their [00:59:00] heads around, like, how much would this cost?

But assuming you’re not paying for, you know, accommodations, cars, and everything at home, it’s just reallocating that same amount of money, to things that are on the road.

David Cole: That’s a good way of putting it, with the swaps and, reallocation, it does takes a little bit of a mindset shift, but when somebody does do this, you know, if you want to dip your toes in, as you said, I agree going for at least a month. Cause I tried something for two weeks and it was just really hard going back to work because you just getting got involved into this.

You feel like you just got into this groove and it just two weeks was not enough time for me to dip my toes. The first time I tried anything longterm and it was just really difficult to return to my normal life.

Susie Chau: Yeah, especially if your intention was to try it out. Like there’s, you know, each trip I think can have a different intention. so that was different than [01:00:00] just having a vacation because you wanted to kind of test some things out, but two weeks I think isn’t. I’m not shocked that you had a hard time readjusting back because it’s like just once you get into the groove, then you’re, you know, back to reality.

That’s where I think a month is a sweet spot of trying this lifestyle out. especially if you are planning on, you know, working remotely, or trying to figure out childcare, education, like with a month you can kind of work out some of those kinks and really give it a fair shot to see will this work, and still be able to enjoy your time in whatever destination that you choose.

David Cole: Yes. All right.

Personal Growth Through Sabbaticals

David Cole: So now in, in what ways have your personal sabbaticals, all your trips provided you with clarity about your personal and professional goals?

Susie Chau: Yeah, I would say the, the year long sabbatical was certainly the most impactful as you can imagine. [01:01:00] That’s what gave me the, the clarity and the confidence. start my business. I can tell you completely that I would not have started my business if I didn’t take that first leap, or risk of taking the sabbatical, because what that proved to me in that whole experience was that I can do things that are outside of what I’m supposed to do, what society tells us, you know, is the right way of doing life, and that.

Showed me that not only can I do things differently, but I enjoy it a heck of a lot more, because I’m doing things my way, and I had wanted to do something in the, the travel industry, you know, really from the time I studied abroad, but, I couldn’t quite, you know, figure out exactly what the right solution was, or the right path was.

But [01:02:00] then once I came back, you know, people were obviously asking me questions. me, even before our sabbatical, I was kind of well known, to do a lot of traveling. So if you have any travel questions, talk to Susie. And so, Once I got back though, that escalated even more. And I said, well, I should get paid for this.

I’ve got a lot of knowledge and a genuine desire to help people because what I discovered, was just a different way to approach travel outside of what people were generally doing with their vacations, which was much more of, I’m going to You know, take a vacation to escape from my reality when I realized in that whole process that travel is a way to like elevate and improve your life if you approach it in that way.

and so I wanted to infuse that, you know, even for people who do just have, you know, a week or two vacation a year, I want to make that the most [01:03:00] impactful time,for them to get that ROI on the time that they’re spending, which is so precious, you know, that vacation time, when it’s very limited and also their money, you know, if they’re spending thousands of dollars on this, I want them to not only see and do some really amazing things, but also return that feeling, you know, growth and connection, and elevating their life.

David Cole: Yeah, that’s really cool. Elevate and grow your life that way. expand on what you need and what you want. Get that ROI. I mean, those are all really important things and I want people to know the services like what you offer are amazing for people to get started. my wife offers something similar, but you’ve been doing it so long.

You’ve been, you’ve been able to help a lot of people with these itineraries and, and, and things like that. Once you get going and once you’ve got, once you’ve got your feet wet, you can find your own path. Whether it’s going to be more [01:04:00] affordable or whether you’re going to spend a lot and do these, more expensive trips or places that you’re going to visit.

So you can start with something like what you have right here, Susie, because your itineraries are designed to. To help somebody with what their exact offering or what their wants are.

Creating Customized Travel Itineraries

David Cole: Can you tell us a little bit about like, what, like how you come up with an itinerary for somebody?

Susie Chau: Yeah, it’s, it’s a bit of an iterative and collaborative process, so sometimes people will come to me with some specific ideas that they want, and other times they’ll come to me with No clue, completely open book. Like they know generally the types of experiences they want, but they don’t know where to do that or, you know,

David Cole: Susie, I want to travel. I just, I want to get away from my, my, my, I want to get away from my house. I want to get away from my parents for a little while. What can I do? I need to take a sabbatical. Help me.

Susie Chau: yeah, [01:05:00] yeah, yeah, yeah. And, and I welcome both, both of those, situations. Honestly, I think it’s even more fun for me if somebody comes, completely blank page, like open, ready for anything. Because. Either, either way, I start my process with, exercise of really getting to their why, or their, their bigger purpose of why they want to travel, because that’s what makes them.

Everything after that the whole travel planning process so much easier and that’s the step that I think most people skip because they jump right into, you know, the really exciting part, which is where should I go? And what should I do? You know, that’s very natural to jump there. But if you take a step back, you know, slow down to speed up.

As I say, if you really ground yourself into like, why do I want to take this trip, especially when it comes to a sabbatical or any kind of longer term adventure, that’s even more [01:06:00] important, and your, your why doesn’t have to be this, like, Huge, meaningful, or spiritual, you know, deep thing, but even just identifying a few goals that you have, you know, whether that’s accomplishments, I don’t know, getting into a new hobby, or revisiting an old hobby, something physical or mental, connections, You know, there’s so many different ways and I really guide, my clients through this process and I actually, I took a, transformational travel design program this past winter and what that did was, unlock a step even before the why.

which is like who I am. And so I’ve developed a process to make the discovery of the why so much easier. because some people really kind of stumbled. They’re like, I don’t know why I just want to travel. and I want, yeah, like you were saying, I just want to get out of town, but there’s always, there’s always [01:07:00] something underneath that.

And, and that’s one of my favorite parts is digging underneath that to get at that. You know, what’s really going to make this trip meaningful, you know, for this trip, and it can change for any trip, but for this trip, like, what’s going to bring you the most meaning and, you know, a feeling of success, or excitement at, you know, when you return back?

how, how does that work? What does that look like? And that’s what I use to then do the matchmaking and, develop the itinerary and figure out the pacing and, you know, all of those more logistical things, that it just kind of falls into place. I think once we get clear upfront on, on that larger purpose.

Mindset Challenges and Travel Goals

David Cole: Okay, so do you have a mindset trick, challenge that you do with folks or that you could share with our listeners today that get them started thinking about their, their goal, their purpose?[01:08:00]

Susie Chau: Yeah. And I think that, With thinking about even just, even just asking yourself, like, why do I want to take this trip? What do I want to get out of it? That’s a win right there. Cause that’s probably something that most people aren’t even taking that step on. But I think that, you know, to touch on a little bit more of like the, who I am, and that step that I just kind of recently unlocked with my recent, certification that I did.

That’s more about like. Thinking about who you’re being, in life. And I have a little exercise, and you can even, you know, start this, like write down some post it notes of the roles that you play or, or descriptors identity, you know, like I’m a wife, a mom, a travel advisor, all those things, and, put those in order of like your time, and where you’re spending your time versus like the actual priority that you want.

And like, that’s a very short version, but essentially it’s showing you [01:09:00] some of those gaps, in who you are, are being, that you might want to address. You know, for example, if you, you know, speaking to families, if mom, um, you know, is, you know, You want it to be number one and, you know, that connection with, with your kids is kind of waning a little bit, especially as your kids get older, you know, that’s very natural.

But if you really want to, improve those connections, strengthen those bonds, you know, before they hit the preteen years, before they hit high school. school, you know, teenage years, especially that’s where things really start to change. And so you can use this trip as a way to really solidify, some of those foundational connections and just by having that intentionality with.

how you want to do that, you know, so that could be things like what are, you know, your kids interested in, [01:10:00] how can you use that to create these experiences that really connect you and you can continue on even after you return home. That’s where the magic happens. And that’s where like. You can set that, as I said, set that foundation, for really strengthening bonds that aren’t just on the trip, because it’s great.

If you have these wonderful moments on, on the trip, but when you come home, that’s where you want to really extend that. and that’s where that ROI happens and the real meaning, occurs

David Cole: I love it. That’s really valuable, valuable information.I, I challenge everybody listening to just play that part back again. Really take some notes because that was really valuable information that you normally won’t hear right off the bat. Take that down, figure out where your time is and where you want your time to [01:11:00] be.

Give Susie a call afterwards and figure out exactly what your goals are. And maybe it works out. Maybe you get the best trip ever.

Susie Chau: that’s the goal. That’s the every trip at best trip ever

David Cole: Every trip is the best trip ever, yes.

Susie Chau: Yeah,

Fun Travel Trivia

David Cole: Alright, well, before we sum everything up today, let’s do a little fun trivia.

Susie Chau: all right,

I’m

David Cole: I like to do some world trivia with travelers, and since you’ve been to all seven continents,let’s see what we can come up with here. Alright, let’s start out with, ah, what is the name of Guatemala’s most famous city? Civilization.

Susie Chau: Oh Guatemala is a place. I have not been to

David Cole: Ooh,

Susie Chau: Well, are you talking about like

the Mayans?

David Cole: I am.

Susie Chau: Okay. Okay. My mind went, especially thinking about my son’s, [01:12:00] world map, there’s like, a pyramid that’s nearby, but, okay. So the Mayans, whoo,

David Cole: All right.

Susie Chau: going to make me a hot here. I’m under the wire.

David Cole: All right. So now let’s go with what famous black and white bird lives in the Antarctic.

Susie Chau: The penguins.

David Cole: Okay.

Susie Chau: my favorite.

David Cole: All right. And all right. What Is a famous animal that is known to only live in Australia That lays eggs, but is not a bird.

Susie Chau: Oh my, emu?

David Cole: No, not even with the platypus

Susie Chau: Oh,

David Cole: I’d also accept the echidna. I believe that’s also done

Susie Chau: I guess the emu is technically a

bird,

huh?

David Cole: Technically a

Susie Chau: Yeah. Yeah,

David Cole: All right. let’s do sea [01:13:00] Let’s do all right asia.so what is the capital of malaysia?

Susie Chau: Kuala Lumpur?

David Cole: Yes

Susie Chau: I was like, is this a trick question or? Cause don’t ask me about other Malaysian cities.

David Cole: No, it’s okayall right, and let’s see here. We’ve got that was That was, Central North America, it was,Australia, we had Asia, we had Antarctica, so we have two more continents here, so, let’s go South America, what are the giant birds that are, that look like ostriches called in South America?

Susie Chau: Giant birds in South America aren’t ostriches. Oof.I, I don’t know this

David Cole: Oh! They’re called rayas. They look like ostriches, they’re smaller, but, yeah,

Susie Chau: Oh, you know, I, [01:14:00] I have not heard of them. Wow.

Okay. Okay. Bye.

David Cole: We stopped all over while we were driving.

Susie Chau: Yeah,

David Cole: All right. So we have one more continent and let me see. Oh, Europe. All right. What is a famous tower that lights up with thousands of lights?

Susie Chau: the Eiffel Tower, 20, 000 to be exact.

David Cole: 000 lights. There you go. Excellent.

Susie Chau: when we got to Australia, all I could think about, the emu came to mind because my son’s obsessed with the Wiggles, which are from Australia. I don’t know if you’re familiar with them, but they have like this emu song. And so that’s what popped into my head immediately.

It’s funny. I’m learning from, my son’s, TV shows and also, you know, like the world maps, things like that. So, yeah, that was fun. Didn’t get them all, but

David Cole: That’s okay. I usually only do five, but you’ve been to seven countries. So all [01:15:00] right. for.

Final Advice for Sabbatical Takers

David Cole: Some final advice for sabbatical takers, what have you, what, what do you have for, for them? What are you offering? talk to people about like what it is, the biggest lessons that you’ve learned and what you can help them with.

Susie Chau: Yeah. The biggest lessons is if you are thinking about taking a sabbatical, but are on the fence. I would say the, that dream is in your heart for a reason and it’s not going away. Trust me. I’ve talked to so many people who have told me, you know, I’ve been thinking about this for years. Things like this don’t just float away, they’re, they’re there for a reason and you should listen to it and at least take some investigative steps and do a little bit of research and, you know, you don’t have to bite off the whole thing all at once, but at least you have yourself [01:16:00] the, Opportunity to see if this is something that would be interesting and or possible, I should say.

And I guess to answer that question, if you’re asking yourself that it is possible, it’s just a matter of figuring out the specific solutions to the questions that you’re asking, or your potential roadblocks. and it’s really just a matter of, you know, when. you know, especially if it’s from a financial standpoint, like maybe it’s not something that you can do tomorrow, but maybe in, you know, a couple years, but it’s something to strive for.

And it’s at least worth looking into to figure out how you can make that happen before just making excuses or assuming that that’s completely out of, The question for you. And so what I help people do that are in your shoes are answer those questions. and I think that probably the best source that I would suggest for you to, to [01:17:00] start is I have, A DreamTrip Accelerator and that covers all of those questions, you know, like I said, we were talking about schooling, you know, I’ve outlined all of, the options for schooling, all of the options for what to do with your house, all of the options for, you know, pretty much any question and also how to convince your partner to get on board, so that’s included as well, you know, that would be a really good place to start.

to start, of course, you know, once you’re ready to dive in and either test the waters, with a month long trip or even more. I have a service called Live Abroad for a month, so that’s a one on one service where I would really plan everything for you, help you, prepare financially, personally, professionally, and even mentally for that trip.

and then for those of you that are listening that, well, really this is for anybody, but especially for those that are listening that are already on the road, live in this lifestyle, but really want to, and [01:18:00] resonate with what I was saying about making your experiences even more meaningful. I’m launching a, a new group program, that is a five week group program to help you plan your next adventure in a really meaningful way that strengthens bonds and, Really doesn’t break the bank because as I also said earlier, I don’t believe travel has to be expensive and so Not only am I giving you access to all of the tools and templates that I use with my one on one clients but also some helpful tips on using things like miles and points because that’s a really big strategy That can save you thousands and thousands of dollars, that I really believe in, to make those trips, those like really big dream trips accessible.

so I think that that would be a really fantastic compliment for anybody who’s already living that lifestyle. Maybe who’s got the. The travel planning down, but just wants to make improvements. not only in the speed of which they plan their next [01:19:00] destination for their trip, but also make it even more meaningful.

especially for families. That’s an area that I’m really passionate about. because not only am I helping the parents, but I’m also really, impacting the next generation. And, you know, I really believe in raising. Responsible humans, who look at travel as a way to connect with local communities, build them up, not extract, you know, and, and really be, learn to be open minded and globally minded.

so. Citizens of the world. And that’s something that, you know, I think most parents want, and I think travel is just one of the best ways to achieve that

David Cole: So, so cool. Sounds like you have different levels for everyone from your dream trip,analyzer, to all the way up to your groups that you’re, that you’re rolling out here, which is amazing. So we’ll have links to all of this in the show notes. So if you need it, just take a look down below, and, check the notes for, for everything [01:20:00] that you need.

But Susie, it was great talking to you today.

Conclusion and Next Steps

David Cole: What’s your, what’s next on your travel bucket list?

Susie Chau: well, next up, we are going to Belize for a three week program, and. That is, oh, one, one thing that’s included. I have a freebie. So anybody who wants to get inspired, I would love to share this. It’s actually perfect. I almost forgot. I would love to share this with you. It’s called 99 Family Adventures Beyond Disney and All Inclusives to Raise Curious Explorers.

And, the program that I am going on in Belize is included in that because there are a few, Trips that include like this one includes child’s care. so it’s specifically designed for digital nomad families and I’m really excited about it, because we’ll be able to dip our toes into the sabbatical waters and digital nomad waters as a family, because that’s something that, you know, we would love to do, you know, so this is a bit of a test, you know, [01:21:00] for, for myself and I also can’t wait to share that on.

Social media and, you know, really show people what’s possible. and help, help people think outside the mold of, you know, what, what they can do with travel.

David Cole: Very, very cool. Well, again, yeah, we’ll have links to all of that down below. Thank you so much for your time today. You’ve been an awesome guest.

Susie Chau: Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure.

David Cole: All right. Well, to, to everybody out there listening, I hope that you got as much out of this as I did. I love talking with Susie. She has so much to share. and if you need it to get in touch with her, definitely check the show notes. But, until then, keep exploring, and keep your mind open. Like we, like, like it says behind me, you only live once, just go.

Susie Chau: Love that.

David Cole: What an incredible journey we’ve been on today with Susie Chow. Her passion for travel and commitment to helping families create meaningful experiences [01:22:00] truly embodies the spirit of intentional transformation. We’ve explored the profound impact that mindful travel can have on personal growth, family connections, and overall life enrichment from the Budgeting tips to incorporating education into your adventures, Susie has, uh, equipped us with a wealth of knowledge to turn our travel dreams into reality.

Remember Susie’s emphasis on clarifying your why. Understanding your deep motivations can guide you toward crafting an truly resonates and leaves lasting impacts. And speaking of impact, let’s not forget about the importance of feeling secure while exploring the world. This is where our amazing partner SafetyWing comes in.

Just as Susie helps us plan transformative journeys, [01:23:00] SafetyWing ensures we can embark on these adventures with peace of mind. Their Nomad Insurance is designed specifically for families like ours who dream of extended travel and sabbaticals. Starting from just a few dollars a day, it’s a small price to pay for the freedom to focus on creating those lifelong memories that Susie talked about, rather than worrying about the what ifs.

And. For those of you who need more comprehensive coverage, don’t forget to check out their Nomad Health Plan. It’s like having your home health insurance, but tailored for your globetrotting lifestyle. As Susie so eloquently put it, travel enrichment doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s about reallocating your resources and embracing intentionality. In the same vein, SafetyWing [01:24:00] allows you to reallocate your peace of mind, freeing you up to embrace the transformative power of travel fully. Before you set off on your next adventure, be sure to visit the link in our show notes to learn more about SafetyWings offerings. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out Susie’s invaluable resources, including her dream trip accelerator and upcoming group program on meaningful adventure planning

to our listeners. Keep exploring. Keep your minds open and never stop seeking out those experiences that truly fill your souls. And remember, with the right planning and the right coverage, the world is yours to discover. Safe travels, everyone.

singer: We just want to see something bigger than us. To see and smell and taste something completely [01:25:00] new. We just want to travel the world, the world, travel the world.