Live Abroad for a Month

Live like a Local, Plan with a Pro

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[5:55] About my 4 travel sabbaticals, including one to all 7 continents

[10:40] 5 steps I use to help clients living abroad for a month

[16:25] Why living abroad can cost LESS than your typical vacation

[17:45] 3 things you need to do to quickly decide where you should live abroad

You’re craving more adventure than a 2-week vacation will allow.

Don’t get me wrong, you love your life!

You have the job, the house, the family (fur-babies count) - Check, check, and check!

You’re not looking to get rid of those things, but…

You daydream about what it would be like to spend a month or more traveling, exploring, LIVING.

Let’s be honest: While you’ve checked all of the boxes, there is a whole world out there you’d love to explore beyond the confines of 1 or 2 week vacations until you retire.

You’ve settled down, but you don’t want to settle.

Have you ever considered living abroad for a month?

Daydream with me for a minute!

What might it be like to…

Live in Italy for a Month

You choose a peaceful, countryside escape in Tuscany as your home base to explore the charming hilltop towns and world-class wines. Dreamy!

From there you can go on…

A city escape in Florence or Rome for a few nights.

A foodie’s dream day trip to Bologna to taste fresh bolognese pasta and nearby Modena, the birthplace of balsamic vinegar.

An active adventure to Cinque Terre to hike amongst the five picturesque and colorful villages along the rocky coast.

Instead of schlepping your giant suitcase across bumpy, cobblestone streets and through crowded train stations, you simply pack a small bag and hop on the train with ease…like the locals do.

Live in Portugal for a Month

You choose a charming beach house on the southern coast of Portugal. Your days are filled with walks on beautiful beaches, surfing, golfing, hiking, biking, and long lunches along the sea.

From there you can go on…

An urban adventure to the vibrant city of Lisbon.

A wine and food filled trip to Alentejo, a laid back wine region filled with dramatic landscapes and cork trees.

Relaxed day trips to explore the other beach towns along the Algarve.

You rent a car for the freedom to explore all Southern Portugal has to offer.

Live in Thailand for a Month

You escape the cold winters in North America by choosing Chiang Mai, a small city nestled in the mountains of Northern Thailand.

From there you can go on…

A city escape to Bangkok for a few nights to witness some of the biggest temples in the world, sample street food and nightlife.

A day trip to a nearby elephant sanctuary to volunteer to take care of injured gentle giants in their natural habitat.

A relaxing beach getaway to one of Thailand’s incredible islands to snorkel, ride on traditional Thai boats, and soak in the sun.

You hop on quick & inexpensive flights to explore the country, while keeping your stuff at your new home abroad.

Why live abroad for a month?

A month may seem like a long time to stay in one place, but is it really?

How long have you lived where you live? How long did it take you to truly know the place?

Have you ever been on a 2-week vacation and wanted to stay for longer?

Traveling for less than a month

Over-scheduled

Fast-Paced

Exhausting

Traveling for way more than a month

Bigger Commitment

Uproots Life

Difficult to Schedule

In short, living abroad for one month is the perfect sweet spot between a rushed vacation and a massive life change .

Spending an entire month with one “home base” allows for more spontaneity, simplicity, and serenity.

Traveling for one month allows you to have experiences you can’t have on normal vacations:

🍝 Take a multi-week cooking class to perfect your pasta making and practice in your Italian kitchen

⛰️ Your child could meet new friends from all over the world while at a camp in the Swiss Alps

🏠 Test out a place you want to live abroad in full or part time before you fully commit

💬 Ditch Duolingo for language lessons with locals so you can finally converse beyond please & thank you

☕ Find your favorite cafe where the barista starts making your coffee as you walk in the door

🔀 Break your old routines and build new habits that you’ve tried to start for years - just takes 21 days!

🧘 Spend less time DOING and more time BEING

That’s why I created Live Abroad for a Month

1:1 done-for-you itinerary planning & preparation service for your month abroad

Stop living life on autopilot and start shaking things up with Live Abroad for a Month!

You’ll get a fully customized itinerary & expert guidance to make planning fast, easy, & FUN!

Just because you are settled down doesn’t mean you have to SETTLE for less freedom, adventure, and time to explore the world.

Here’s how it works

There are 2 Phases with 5 steps each to the Live Abroad for a Month service

Phase 1: PLAN

🎯 1. Define Your Goals (Why)

Get clarity on your goals & unique dreams.

🚧 2. Remove Roadblocks (How)

Figure out how to take care of work, home, pets, school, etc.

💰 3. Calculate Your Costs (How Much)

Calculate your budget without breaking the bank.

🗓️ 4. Find the Time (When)

Determine when in your busy calendar to live abroad for a month!

📍 5. Pick Your Destination (Where)

Pick where you will Live Abroad for a Month to fulfill your dreams!

Phase 2: PREP

💻 1. Professional

Create a win/win proposal to negotiate time off and/or remote work.

❤️ 2. Personal

Develop a plan to take care of all the little things while away from home.

💰 3. Financial

Have a plan to handle any financial emergencies while on the road.

🌍 4. Travel

Find your dream home abroad and experiences you’ve dreamt of!

💭 5. Mental

Prepare for the highs, the lows & the unexpected.

Here’s how you’ll be guided throughout the month:

1. Get Started - Fill out the quick application & schedule your call using the button below. We’ll explore if Live Abroad for a Month is a good fit for you. If so, we’ll get you booked!

2. Visioning - You’ll receive easy-to-use tools to get clear on your dreams and your constraints that we need to consider in planning your adventure.

3. Call #1 - We’ll hop on a 1 hour call during Week 3 to solidify your plan, answer questions and address concerns. I’m here to guide, hold you accountable, and cheer you on!

4. Itinerary Creation - I’ll create your personalized itinerary for your selected destination. I’ll send it over to you before Call #2 to review.

5. Call #2 - We’ll close our time together by walking through your itinerary, covering any questions from the PREP phase, and celebrating your upcoming departure for your month abroad on a 1 hour call!

Here’s all the research I do for you

The Done-For-You Itinerary you’ll get includes personalized recommendations for your Home Base for the month PLUS 3 Side Trips (2 day trips + 1 overnight trip) to explore the region independently.

Your itinerary proposal will include additional guided day trips (private or small group, depending on your preference & location) in the Activities/Tours section. It’s all tailored to how active you want to be!

Here’s what you’ll receive

You’ll receive a beautiful, personalized itinerary proposal with links to book everything in minutes!

You’ll also get an itinerary app pre-populated with tailored recommendations. You’ll use this to keep your travel arrangements organized and make spontaneous exploration a breeze with the handy map feature!

Customized Itinerary App

Keep your travel arrangements organized in an app that is pre-populated with key points of interest & restaurants on a map to make spontaneous sightseeing a breeze!

Itinerary Proposal

Personalized proposal outlining all travel component recommendations, bookable links, and destination specific details to help you feel like a local before you even depart!

The investment in the Live Abroad for a Month service is $997 USD

The first step to get started is to click the button below!

Testimonials

"The sabbatical time allowed us to travel to a destination that would normally be too far away, and really spend the time to fully appreciate it. We haven’t been on a vacation in years that he hasn’t had to respond to emails or calls, at least a little, while we’re gone. For 4 weeks, we got to just be on our own schedule and be fully present. This trip has been a beautiful experience for us to bond and see our kids grow as individuals and siblings."

Becky G.

"Taking a month and a half off to travel in South America and Antarctica reminded me how much I need more extensive blocks of time to be free spirited. This was a time for me to reflect on my personal travel and career goals, resulting in two major life outcomes. Firstly, I decided to start a business that will allow me to spend more personal time abroad. Secondly, it reinvigorated me to explore more and made me realize that there is so much more out there."

Geoffrey K.

"Susie helped us create and seamlessly execute the TRIP OF A LIFETIME! There is no way we could have designed this trip so well without her and no way that it would have been such an incredible, fun and completely stress-free experience once there without her. She was knowledgeable, professional, understanding, organized, and always made us feel that our having an incredible travel experience mattered deeply to her."

Meredith G.

Ready to Live Abroad for a Month?

Click the button below to apply & book a time on my calendar.

This is a risk-free call, there is no obligation to work together if it’s not a good fit for you.

You’re the perfect fit for Live Abroad for a Month if…

✅ You’re a busy professional that wants more freedom & adventure in their life…but has no time to plan a regular vacation, let alone an entire month!

✅ You dream of living and working abroad someday and want to test drive that lifestyle

✅ You want to show your kids the world in a deeper way than a whirlwind trip to 5 cities in 2 weeks

Hi, I’m Susie!

I am a travel pro recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as a Top Travel Specialist from 2021-2023. Since starting my travel agency in 2016, I have helped hundreds of people travel around the world, both for vacations and extended adventures abroad.

Throughout my 13-year career as a Management Consultant, I worked in Rome for 5 months, took a year-long sabbatical, and 2 month long sabbaticals. I also took a month long sabbatical while running Carpe Diem Traveler. I understand what it takes professionally to take a sabbatical both as an employee and an entrepreneur - and the fears that pop up on both sides of the fence!

Lastly, I have a son, so I understand what it’s like to travel with a child and take their needs into consideration for such a life-changing undertaking.

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FAQs

How far in advance should I start planning?

Planning 9-12 months in advance is not crazy - in fact, it’s a good idea. The best home rentals will be snatched up early. You can book almost all international flights 11 months in advance. Trips booked less than 6 months in advance will require more flexibility. Booking less than 3 months in advance will be a challenge.

How far in advance should I start working with you?

As soon as possible! I have a limited number of spots per month that I have the capacity to take on for this high touch service. You would be able to start the month I have my earliest opening.

Why should I work with you instead of planning on my own?

Can you do this on your own? Sure.

But my expertise in professionally planning travel over the last 8 years AND certification in Transformational Travel Design will give you the guidance to elevate ALL of your future trips beyond mass market travel that just scratches the surface.

Why rough it on your own, when you could have a travel pro in your back pocket to help you make your family trips epic??

Do you book the travel arrangements?

No, I provide recommendations with direct links, so you can get your trip booked in minutes.

Most clients I work with are very well-traveled and are just looking for personalized recommendations to save them a tremendous amount of time.

However, if you would like someone to book your arrangements for you, I’d be happy to match you with another travel advisor on a complimentary basis. I’ve got a huge network after being in the industry since 2016!

Why do you recommend staying in one place for a month?

To get the true “live like a local” experience so many of us crave, staying in one place for a month allows you to become a regular at your favorite places you’ll discover. You can have time to meet locals and expats to learn about life in that destination.

But it also allows you to rest and enjoy the simple things in life more. Every time you move from place to place it takes more mental energy, decision making, and can be stressful.

If one of your goals is rest, then less movement is key to achieving that. But that doesn’t mean you can’t explore. I highly encourage day trips or even an overnight trip to see more of the region!

Would this be a good fit if I want to travel for more than 1 month?

If you like the “live like a local” approach of staying in one place for a month, this service would be perfect to start your trip.

You could sign up again for subsequent months if you want continued support.

OR you could purchase the Adventure Abroad Roadmap service which is geared toward multi-month trips.

Is this a good fit if I want to work remotely abroad?

Absolutely! I’m a strong advocate of taking the full month off work if at all possible (I help clients think outside the box to make this happen!).

However, if that’s not possible or you want to extend your adventure by working remotely, the LIVE Abroad for a Month service is a perfect fit for you. When choosing the destination and accommodations, we’ll factor in key things like time zone, wifi speed, etc. to make sure that you’ll be set up for success on the road!

What are the accommodations like?

Accommodations are hand-selected for each clients based on their specific needs and preferences.

In order to “live like a local,” home rentals are generally selected. I like to select properties from a wide range of professionally managed home rentals and villa sites. These are lower risk than most peer-to-peer sites like airbnb. However, the options selected will fit your budget.

How much will it cost to travel for a month?

The biggest factors are the destination you choose, when you go, how many people are traveling, and your travel style (i.e. budget, mid-range, luxury).

I work with clients of all budgets. I truly believe that travel doesn’t have to be expensive. I will help you understand what it will cost to fulfill your personal dreams AND not break the bank!

The good news - the cost of living abroad for one month is about the same or less than your typical 1-2 week vacation!

Where should I travel to?

We spend a lot of time choosing the destination to fit your unique goals, vision, timing, and budget. This is honestly my favorite part of the whole process!

I have been to 50 countries across 7 continents, so chances are high that I’ve been to a place you are dreaming of so I can speak from personal experience.

What should I do with my house, pet, and school for the kids while traveling?

I help my clients identify the best solutions for their unique situation. There are multiple ways of taking care of each aspect and I’ve got a helpful cheat sheet to make these decisions really quick and easy!

How do I find the time to do this?

If your schedule is packed to the gills, then you NEED this! I help my clients find the time to take a month away.

It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.

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