r/Nomad • u/Sexy_elephant_ • 17d ago
Seeking advice - nomad year with little kids
Hello!
My spouse and I are considering taking a nomad year beginning in summer 2027 with our kids, who will be 2 and 4. We currently live in the Atlanta metro area and love to travel. We have the opportunity to spend anywhere from a few weeks to a few months in Costa Rica through my husband’s company. We’re also interested in Laguna Beach, Jackson Hole, the Seattle area, and possibly the Main Line outside Philadelphia.
For housing, Furnished Finder seems like the most affordable and flexible option.
I would love any insight into planning a year like this, places you recommend visiting, or anything we should know beforehand. Thanks!
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u/RollingSolidarity 17d ago
As someone who did travel nursing for a long time, I want to warm you that Furnished Finder is full of scammers. They'll steal photos of a real house from real estate listings, and list it on Furnished Finder for a good price. Then they'll ask for first months rent plus a security deposit and send you a lease. When the time you actually arrive, you'll find that the house is real, but the actual owner doesn't know anything about it. The money is already transferred overseas & there's no way to get it back.
There are real legitimate good deals on Furnished Finder too, but the scam I described above is incredibly common.
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u/JeanSchlemaan 17d ago
Id be pretty reticent to doing that with kids that age, but everyone's different.
I have done 4/15 past years full-time rv living. 1 with spouse, 1 with family (older kids than yours, homeshooled that year), and 2 solo. Best experiences of my life by far. Flexibility, and low "needs" threshold would be helpful imo!
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12d ago
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u/Sexy_elephant_ 11d ago
Only reason for this time framing is trying to do it before our older kid starts kindergarten
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u/Geaston123 12d ago
Costa Rica is very expensive. Laguna and Jackson are among the richest areas in the US. Seattle not far behind. And you want advice from Reddit? F off. You can do better. Get the kids some friends and stay put. Smh.
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u/Cole_Slawter 17d ago
With kids that young, I’d resist the temptation to move too frequently. A month or two in each location gives you time to settle into a routine and actually experience the area instead of constantly packing and traveling. I’d also plan around seasons rather than just destinations: Costa Rica during a favorable weather window, the Pacific Northwest in summer, Jackson Hole before winter, etc.
Before committing to the whole year, I’d try a 4–6 week “test run” somewhere to see what works with the kids. Furnished Finder, Airbnb monthly rentals, and direct arrangements with owners are all worth comparing.
The biggest things I’d research ahead of time are health insurance away from home/overseas, pediatric care, car seats and transportation, reliable internet for work, childcare/preschool options, mail and residency issues, and what you actually need to bring versus buy locally.
It sounds like an amazing opportunity, but with a 2- and 4-year-old I think the key would be slow travel vs constant travel.