top of page
A serene beach scene with white sand in the foreground, turquoise ocean water in the middle, and a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds in the background.

Closer Lives Travel & Lifestyle Blog

Stories from Jenn & Leon: Exploring the World,

Living Differently, Creating Freely, and Building Community.

Small, low-resolution image featuring a collage of instant photos on a surface, with "blogs" written at the top and a partially visible person sitting by a window in one photo.

Discover essential travel advice through our blogs! From tips and hacks to maximize your journeys to resources for earning money online, we share actionable guidance to help you embrace alternative living and make full-time travel a reality.

1

Popular Searches

Travel Resources

Need the Perfect Travel Resources? We've Got You Covered!

Over the past four years of full-time travel, we've booked countless accommodations, flights, and activities while also navigating the world of earning online. Some services have been fantastic, others… not so much. Here, you'll find our top travel resources - the ones we trust and return to time and time again. They consistently offer superior deals and unforgettable experiences. These are the tools we rely on to plan and book our adventures, and now, you can too!

GigSky eSIM: World Mobile Data

International eSIM Data Plans. Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks. Available in over 200 countries, with GigSky you’ll have cellular data the moment you arrive.


Save 10% on your first order with code CLOSERLIVES10

Smiling woman in a hat holds a blue smartphone outdoors. Text overlay reads "GIGSKY Low Cost Global Data Plans" with must-see destinations in the blurred cityscape background and a blue sky overhead.

FREE Country Guides

Let our research save you time! As full-time travelers ourselves, we are constantly planning trips and looking for information that can take hours to find. Our guides can offer you the support you need to take the pressure off of planning for your next adventure.

Enjoy access to our Travel Guides for FREE, with everything from visa information to culture and customs, transportation to health and safety, and must-see places to handy maps. We even include helpful links, connectivity info, and emergency numbers for over 25 countries and 5 continents.

Travel Safe with SafetyWing

A person sitting on a cliff edge with a laptop and coffee, set against a turquoise sky. Text reads: "Global adventures, local coverage. Ensure you’re covered no matter where you go." Logo: Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing.

Book Transport in Advance

​Through booking.closerlives.com, you can easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for trains, buses, ferries, and even flights within your desired journey.

​

Search for your tickets below.

Welcome to Our Blog

Hi! We’re Jenn & Leon, full-time digital nomads slow traveling the world in a mix of budget and bougie style.

​

Join us for inspiring travel stories, cultural insights, and tips for navigating life on the move.

 

We’ve explored 42+ countries (and counting!), sharing our favorite stays, eats, and connections along the way.

A woman in a tank top and cap poses alongside a smiling man in sunglasses and a black t-shirt. They are surrounded by decorative stone carvings and a leafy plant, capturing a moment amidst the scenic beauty of Da Nang's Marble Mountains, Vietnam.

Dive into our restaurant and Airbnb reviews, explore world cuisines, and discover how we connect with local communities and history.

 

You’ll also find lifestyle blogs, from Jenn’s empowering gray hair journey to our adventures in creative and alternative living.

We also feature guest writers who share their own experiences and perspectives.

 

Discover how to get involved

Categories

A woman and a man face each other in front of a busy city street. Behind them is the word "CHINA" in large yellow letters and an image of the Chinese flag. The background shows a crowd of people and city buildings.

Jenn & Leon on YouTube

As entrepreneurs and full-time slow travellers our goal is to see as much of this beautiful planet as we can!

 

We love getting to know communities and locals around the world and we want to help and support them by sharing their culture with our viewers.

 

By subscribing you'll be notified of our latest videos as and when they land, so you will never miss out.

A world map with interconnected lines and a circular logo labeled "City Lives, Travel & Lifestyle" is featured. The words "Country Guides" sit at the bottom, inviting you to explore just as warmly as a stuffed turkey hoodie on Thanksgiving.

FREE Country Guides

Get our FREE comprehensive country guides for over 20 countries, with everything from visa information to culture and customs, transportation to health and safety, must-see places and handy maps.

 

We include helpful links, sim card info and even emergency numbers! Not to mention our blogs, videos, interesting facts and much more.

Colorful logo of "Klook" featuring a stylized, multicolored flower design on a green background.

Get 5% off of your first Hotel booking on the Klook app with code: ​HotelOnApp

Book Theme Park Tickets, Tours, Transport, SIM Cards, WiFi & More! Make New Travel Memories in 2025 with Klook.

Our Latest Posts

Two people taking a selfie in clear shallow water, one wearing a pink cap and sunglasses, the other with a beard, both smiling.

Get our latest posts straight to your inbox.

No spam, opt out anytime

Join Our Journey! We keep it real - no spam here, just the good stuff!

​

Sign up to get our fortnightly newsletters with the latest blog posts, product drops, exclusive sales, travel tips, and even a behind-the-scenes look at our adventures as full-time travelers.

​

Oh, and as a little thank you, we'll send you a 20% discount code for anything in our store. Because we’re all about sharing the love!

Three people modeling casual clothing with printed designs, outdoors in a natural setting, above a sign reading "Closer Lives Emporium.

Travel & Lifestyle Emporium

Shop our inspirational range of suitcases, backpacks, phone cases, clothing, gifts designed by us with worldwide delivery.

 

Our range also includes stylish kitchen & home gifts, stationery & office items with positive quotes, awesome accessories with powerful designs and an excellent range of fun gifts for all ages and occasions!

Logo of Expedia with a stylized yellow and blue airplane design above the text "Expedia.

SAVE $30 CAD when you spend $230

Book your first trip with Expedia as a NEW USER, be it for a hotel, car rental or flight and get a $30 discount, no strings attached!

Green logo with a house incorporating a heart and two pet shapes, next to the text "Trusted Housesitters™," highlighting handpicked offers for peace of mind.

Sign up to Trusted Housesitters with our link and get 25% off your annual membership

Explore the world with NO accommodation costs when you house-sit with this incredible platform.

 

It has literally CHANGED the way we travel for good! We highly recommend THS!

Please note that some of the links in our posts are affiliate links. 


At no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you purchase through these links, which helps support our blog and keeps it free to use.

At Closer Lives, We Explore More Than Maps - We Journey Through Mindsets

CHECK OUT OUR SOCIALS

  • Black and white Instagram logo with a camera icon inside a circle on a dark background.
  • White Facebook app logo on a black background, featuring the letter "f" in bold.
  • A black rectangle with a white play button in the center, resembling the YouTube logo.
  • White Pinterest app logo on a black background, featuring the letter "p" intertwined with an oval.
  • White Threads app logo on a black background, featuring the letter "a" intertwined with an oval.
Visa logo with the word "VISA" in blue capital letters; the "V" has a yellow accent on the upper left. The background is light gray with a slight gradient.
MasterCard logo with two overlapping circles, one red on the left and one yellow on the right, on a blue background. The word "MasterCard" appears in white across the center.
Discover logo with the word "DISCOVER" in black letters, except for the letter "O," which is orange and resembles a sunburst. The background is white with an orange curve at the bottom right corner.
Logo featuring two overlapping blue circles with the word "Cirrus" in white letters across the center, set against a dark blue background.
VISA Electron logo with white text on a blue background and a yellow curved stripe under the word "VISA.
A purple square icon features a white circle with a black and white swirling "S" design in the center. Below the circle, the word "SOLO" appears in bold white letters.
Maestro logo with two overlapping circles, one blue on the left and one red on the right, and the word "Maestro" in white text across the center on a dark blue background.
A geometric logo featuring the word "DELTA" in white letters on a blue triangle, with yellow and red triangles overlapping in the bottom left corner on a white background.
Black and white Direct Debit logo featuring a stylized "D" symbol to the left and the words "DIRECT Debit" in bold font to the right.
American Express logo featuring the words "AMERICAN EXPRESS" in bold white letters on a blue, rectangular background.
UnionPay logo featuring the word "UnionPay" in black and red text over three vertical stripes in red, blue, and green.
JCB logo with white letters "J", "C", and "B" on blue, red, and green vertical rectangles, respectively.
PayPal logo featuring a stylized overlapping double "P" in blue tones, followed by the word "PayPal" in blue and light blue text.
Pay Samsung Pay logo on black background for mobile payment services
Google Pay logo with a multicolored "G" followed by the word "Pay" in gray text.
Apple Pay logo featuring the Apple icon followed by the word "Pay" in black text on a white background.
Logo featuring the text "Closer Lives" with "Jenn & Leon travel & lifestyle" underneath, set against a black background with a white circular outline and a bright light flare.

Est 2021 | © 2025 Closer Lives Inc. All rights reserved.

bottom of page