About Us

We are Rod and Mel and we’ve been travelling the world as a couple since we met some 30 years ago.  Prior to departing our respective careers, we would work hard, save, and travel whenever we could. In Canada, vacation time typically ranges from 2 to 5 weeks in a given a year based on experience and tenure. This simply was not satisfying our desire to see more of the world, enjoy slower travel and deeper integration into the locations and cultures that we visit.

We have always planned to retire early and travel while we have our health. This fuelled a commitment to planning, saving, and living within or below our means from very early in our relationship. In combination with some good fortune and a bit of luck we were able to realize this dream in 2021 at the ages of 52 and 51.   

We have collectively visited 40+ countries and counting enjoying so many amazing experiences, people, and cultures along the way. We started out like most, booking typical holiday vacations through agencies/vacation packagers. We quickly learned how to do this ourselves, improve — even upgrade the experience — and save considerable expense in the process. 

Although we have done our share of budget and luxury travel over the years, the niche we found we excel at and enjoy the most is the in-between. That magical mix of outstanding experiences at a reasonable cost.

In addition to travel, great food and drink give us immeasurable pleasure. We actively seek out culinary experiences from plastic chairs at a street vendor in Vietnam to world top 50 restaurants in South America and Europe.  Avid cooks and mixologists, we are always looking to try new recipes and libations…something that we will also share on this site as it progresses.

Finally, we have a passion for golf, alpine skiing, camping, and hiking. These are actives we do extensively while we are back at our home in Canada and often integrate into our travels.

Over the years people have expressed interest in our trips, how we plan, book, and travel. This is where the idea of creating this website took hold. We will be happy if only our friends and family enjoy this site but hope it will also provide education and inspiration to anyone who happens to stop by.

Rod & Mel