If you love to travel and have an Instagram account, chances are you've spent your fair share of time scrolling through gorgeous tropical scenes featuringequally gorgeous full-time vacationers.
And while we can appreciate an artistically shot bikini photo as much as the next personespecially when the photographers share their tips and trickswith the rest of us the truth is, sometimes it starts to feel like you need an inbox bursting with hungrysponsorsand thousand-dollar photo requeststo make your travel dreams a reality.
Enter Dean and Julie Couchey, a world traveling husband and wife teamfrom upstate New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, who quit their jobs after tying the knot and have traveled to 20 countries together before their first wedding anniversary.
The fun-loving duois dedicated to eating and drinking our way around the world (while doing some other fun things too),according to the tagline on their travel blog, Two Fat Americans. And while they do get a kick out of watching people react to their site's cheeky name, the Coucheystold Travel + Leisure there's more to it than appearances.
We wanted to think of a name that would be both funny and representative of who we are,they told T+L via email fromYogyakarta, Indonesia. Yes, we're on the larger side, but also there is a stigma in the world that Americans are just fat people who, if they do travel, only go to the tourist spots and eat at the tourist places. By having a funny, catchy name, we have hopes that it will intrigue people enough to check us out and see that we couldn't be further from that stigma. (Aside from the fat part!)
The Coucheysdefy this American stereotype byvisiting spots less traveled, and taking their quest to find the best local food very seriously: Dean, 34, is atrained chef, and Julie, 28, is a foodie and photographerwho lives to taste (and document)every bite.
The travelers have chowed down on everything from pain au chocolat in Paris and choripan con chimichurri in Argentina to gado-gado (a potato and vegetable salad with peanut sauce) in Indonesia.
But the best meal they've had so far was at 1884 by Francis Mallmann in Mendoza, Argentina.
We had an amazing grilled potato cheddar flatbread and salt poached pear with burrata for starters. For our mains we had chivito, baby goat braised in a clay oven,and a clay oven-cooked gnocchi with tomato pesto sauce,they said. The most memorable meal in the most memorable setting.
After Indonesia, the couple will head to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. After that, they will make their way through Southeast Asia up to Japan, and fly from there to India and beyond.They also have three months in Europe in their plans.
But how do they manage to do all this without earning an income?
The Coucheys saved money by cutting back expenses before leaving home no Starbucks, no eating out and saving up vacation days at their respective jobs. "We were the typical Americans that had saved many many weeks of vacation and luckily we were able to get it paid out," they said.
In the future, they hope to advertise on their website,and they are open to working in restaurants along the way.
But for now, they make each dollar go a little further by using rewards programs and choosing flights wisely: Pack lightly and be okay with a cramped more affordable flight because the destination will always he much more enjoyable than the trip to get there, regardless of what your seat is like on the plane.
They also use cash back rewards and loyalty programs.
We figured since we will be staying in a lot of hotels, we will use Hotels.com because they give you onefree night after 10 nights,they said, adding that when you're spending 180 or more nights on the road like they are, the savings add up.
They have also made over $500 back so farshopping for necessary items (and hotels)through Ebates. Hotels.com is a participant, and they earn 3to6 percent cash back on those transactions, while taking advantage of special promotions. They also use a Citi Double Cash card for airline and hotel bookings, which gets them 2 percent cash back, and aCapital One Quicksilver card that gets them 1.5 percent back (with no foreign transaction fees).
They use frequent flier benefits fromStar Alliance and Air Asia, but won't tie themselves to an airline. Instead, they use deal comparison sites like Kayak and Google Flights, but make sure to check for hidden fees.
We also promote Ebates and Hotels.com on our blog, because if we can get people to sign up and through our link we get a bonus,they said. We're hoping more people sign up so that can start to add up for us.
They originally planned to travel for sixor eightmonths, or until the money ran out,but if possible, the Coucheyshope to prolong their dream. They see themselves toasting to their anniversary in July in Paris.
And as they go, their main goal is to spread the message that you too can make it happen, even without a fancy portfolio or famousInstagram account. (They currently have 449 followers.)
We want to represent the real traveler that is going to accessible places and not a world famous chef's house or staying in 5-star resorts far away from the real destinations,they said. Most of all we just want to show and tell people that you don't have to be young, beautiful, thin, fit, free spirited or whatever you think the stigma is to travel and see the world.
That goes for whatever your dream is in life. If you love it and are passionate about it, do it for you and enjoy every minute.
More:
- Seaching for Condors in the Andes [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Visiting "The Mayor" again [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The fantasy boot in my dream of childhood [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Day 53 54 55 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- www.acb.my [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- day 22 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Hoover Dam Grand Canyon Byrce Canyon and another little incident... [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Amazing first week [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- It's Been Awhile [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Busan [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Existential Migration: Feeling at Home as the Foreigner [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Passport Chop [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Travel Photography with a Disposable Camera (it’s NOT an oxymoron) [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Miss Travel Girl [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Cape to Cairo [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Alison Travels [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- True Nomads [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- How the Economy Affected 16 Travellers in 2009 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- Do Travel Disasters Make the Best Travel Stories? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- The Mother of All Trips [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2009] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2009]
- A story by Kudra Ricketts [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Auckland City [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Another Published Article Penny [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- A Sparkling Xmas Surprise Penny [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Sandboarding [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Way Of Make Money In Runescape [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Highway 1 California [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- cancun on thanksgiven [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- On tour with Louise and Zane 46 students [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Hvad vi har lavet siden Gili [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Thailand Check. Laos here we come. [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Team America [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Tour Operator of Bangladesh Sundarbans Adventure Tour Package [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Last Leg [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Dec 13 2009 [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Latest Border News [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Wandering Soul’s Wander Tales [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Adventure Rob [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Golden Papaya [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Support Passports with Purpose 2009 [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- Vagabonding at 60 [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2009]
- The Books that Inspired Us to Travel in 2009 [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Zululand drakensberg Lesotho and the wild coast [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- The Beautiful Higlands [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Loch Ness to Inverness and Culloden [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Aqaba The Little Merman [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Royal Deeside and the Castle Trail [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Southward in the Rain to Glamis Castle and Crail [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Iguassu Falls [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Stirling Castle and Edinburgh [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Edinburgh Old Town [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Galapagos II [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- El Chalten and Fitz Roy Massif [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Semuc Champey [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Mechanical Problems in Flight [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- "ACDC Tour Budapest without a satnav" [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Liat Airlines Stay Away [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Bariloche [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Lundi Macon [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Planning Australia Tour in Best way [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- Family Fun In Breckenridge Colorado [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- 5 Weeks in Australia [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2009]
- The Movies and Music that Inspired Us to Travel in 2009 [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- A wonderful Japanes experience [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- So traveling again to a new part of the world [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Kangaroo roo roo a pinapple shake a tree.... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Cutting wedding cost in the depression [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Pineapple Farm [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- South India Chennai Pondicherry Auroville... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Back to Amarpurkashi Village Life... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- MIA [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- The most northern of Thailand [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Photo's [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Trip to Marleshwar [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Season's Greetings from Berkeley [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Small hiccup [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Thailand Laos and Vietnam in Three Weeks [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- On the road again [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Part Two The Map Part Way in Cabal [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]
- Heading Back North [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2009] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2009]