If you've browsed our site for a bit, but still have some questions, you've come to the right place.
Here are our the most asked questions we receive.
Here are our the most asked questions we receive.
How did we meet?
We met on a Friday winter evening in 2008 at Justin's apartment. I (Meagan), was at Justin's apartment with his roommate and our friends, then little did I know, I was about to meet my soulmate. Later in the evening, in walked Justin coming home from work - We locked eyes, and instantly fell in love!
Want to know more? Have a read on Meet Us to hear the full story.
Want to know more? Have a read on Meet Us to hear the full story.
When did we start traveling?
Our first small vacations together were to Las Vegas and Mexico as they were close to home (Vancouver), back in 2011. It wasn't until our honeymoon that we took our first 'across the pond' trip together to London & Paris in April 2016. After our honeymoon about a year later, we went to Thailand in January 2017, which changed our lives forever!
Once we returned home, we realized we were both extremely bit by the travel bug. It was then that we started planning our first big backpacking trip to Southeast Asia for one year. We left in May 2018, and have remained Snowbirds ever since.
Interested to learn, Why We Decided To Go Backpacking?
Once we returned home, we realized we were both extremely bit by the travel bug. It was then that we started planning our first big backpacking trip to Southeast Asia for one year. We left in May 2018, and have remained Snowbirds ever since.
Interested to learn, Why We Decided To Go Backpacking?
How many countries have we traveled to?
To date, we have traveled to 4 continents, and 17 countries together!
What are your favourite countries?
This is the question we get asked the most, which is extremely difficult to answer. We cannot decide on one, so here are a few of our favourites.
Meagan's favourite countries are Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Justin's favourite countries are Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam.
Meagan's favourite countries are Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Justin's favourite countries are Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam.
which country gave you the most culture shock?
India, hands down! Nothing can prepare you for what is India, no amount of books, blogs, or vlogs! It is so chaotic, overwhelming, and beautiful all at the same time. The colours, the smells, the honking, the cows, the selfies, the food, it's all so different to anything we've ever experienced before!
how do you manage being together 24/7?
We've been together for a total of 13 years, which helps. Throughout our travels we've had to learn how to get over arguments quickly, because you are together 24/7, in one small room. We've learned not to sweat the small stuff, to laugh and move on, and not to let hanger take over. Communication and compromise is key as well. Talk things out, share your expectations and hopes, and compromise, because it's inevitable you'll have different desires.
How do we afford to travel?
Neither of us come from extremely wealthy families, and we most certainly didn't win the lottery (we wish)!
The majority of our budget to travel for one year came from selling all of our belongings (except our camping gear, because we both love camping, camping in BC is our favourite pastime!). On top of that, we also saved for a year and a half, before our one year trip to Southeast Asia. While we were saving, we sacrificied a lot, we completely stopped going out to the bar, out for dinner with friends, out to the movies, etc. We also cut all of our memberships and subscriptions. It was a lot of self discipline in order to save that much to travel. But if it's your dream, you'll work towards it no matter what!
After our 1 year in Southeast Asia, we went back to Vancouver for 5 months, where we saved for our 3 month trip to South America. That time around, we renovated then lived in Justin's parents basement, so we got to save in a shorter time because we didn't have any rent or bills (a HUGE thank you to Stef & Errol)!
Since then, we live our nomadic snowbird lifestyle, where we work for a summer season in Vancouver while living in Justin's parents basement suite rent-free, and then travel during the Canadian winter months.
We were in Bali when COVID hit, so we returned home, did our mandatory 14-day quarantine, and then we purchased a 2004 Dodge Sprinter that we converted during the pandemic. Once the build was complete, we set off on a 6 week US roadtrip, through 7 western states. After that, we lived in our van in the Okanagan in BC, where we did cherry picking, and then wine grape picking. Since we lived in the van, we didn't have to pay rent. After the picking season, we decided it was time to let our beloved van go, to return to backpacking internationally, which we love the most.
It takes a lot of sacrifice and determination to do what we've done. But, if you love something enough, you'll work your butt off to get it, which is exactly what we did.
The majority of our budget to travel for one year came from selling all of our belongings (except our camping gear, because we both love camping, camping in BC is our favourite pastime!). On top of that, we also saved for a year and a half, before our one year trip to Southeast Asia. While we were saving, we sacrificied a lot, we completely stopped going out to the bar, out for dinner with friends, out to the movies, etc. We also cut all of our memberships and subscriptions. It was a lot of self discipline in order to save that much to travel. But if it's your dream, you'll work towards it no matter what!
After our 1 year in Southeast Asia, we went back to Vancouver for 5 months, where we saved for our 3 month trip to South America. That time around, we renovated then lived in Justin's parents basement, so we got to save in a shorter time because we didn't have any rent or bills (a HUGE thank you to Stef & Errol)!
Since then, we live our nomadic snowbird lifestyle, where we work for a summer season in Vancouver while living in Justin's parents basement suite rent-free, and then travel during the Canadian winter months.
We were in Bali when COVID hit, so we returned home, did our mandatory 14-day quarantine, and then we purchased a 2004 Dodge Sprinter that we converted during the pandemic. Once the build was complete, we set off on a 6 week US roadtrip, through 7 western states. After that, we lived in our van in the Okanagan in BC, where we did cherry picking, and then wine grape picking. Since we lived in the van, we didn't have to pay rent. After the picking season, we decided it was time to let our beloved van go, to return to backpacking internationally, which we love the most.
It takes a lot of sacrifice and determination to do what we've done. But, if you love something enough, you'll work your butt off to get it, which is exactly what we did.
When did you start The Global Snowbirds?
We started, 'The Global Snowbirds' when we took our first one year backpacking trip to Southeast Asia - so in May of 2018, The Global Snowbirds were born.
It started out as a hobby for us, and to keep for memories, however, we both quickly came to the realization that we both want this to eventually become our full-time jobs.
If you're interested in learning more, check out, About The Global Snowbirds.
It started out as a hobby for us, and to keep for memories, however, we both quickly came to the realization that we both want this to eventually become our full-time jobs.
If you're interested in learning more, check out, About The Global Snowbirds.
What are both of your roles within The Global Snowbirds?
We both have different skills, so we utilize that to work together, and we honestly make the greatest team together.
While Justin does the filming and editing for our YouTube Channel, Meagan does the rest - Planning, researching, bookings, editing photos, posting to Instagram & Facebook, YouTube thumbnails & descriptions, our merchandise store, and of course, the website you're on now.
Neither of us have gone to school for what we do, it's all been experience, and self taught, which we're quite proud of.
While Justin does the filming and editing for our YouTube Channel, Meagan does the rest - Planning, researching, bookings, editing photos, posting to Instagram & Facebook, YouTube thumbnails & descriptions, our merchandise store, and of course, the website you're on now.
Neither of us have gone to school for what we do, it's all been experience, and self taught, which we're quite proud of.
What camera equipment do you use?
The Canon EOS M5 Mirrorless has been our main camera, since we started The Global Snowbirds, back in May 2018, for both our photos & videos, as well as the GoPro Hero 5 for our action and underwater shots. However, we recently upgraded to the GoPro Hero 7. We also had the DJI Mavic Air for our aerial shots, but have actually switched to the DJI Mavic Mini recently.
If you're interested in learning more about the equipment we use, you can check out, Our Vlogging Gear.
If you're interested in learning more about the equipment we use, you can check out, Our Vlogging Gear.
Want to know more?
Would you still like to get to know us better? Check out the following to have your questions answered.
About The Global Snowbirds
We explain how The Global Snowbirds were born.
Meet Us
Let us properly introduce ourselves.
Why We Decided to go Backpacking
What was it that made us take the big leap to drop everything to travel?
We explain how The Global Snowbirds were born.
Meet Us
Let us properly introduce ourselves.
Why We Decided to go Backpacking
What was it that made us take the big leap to drop everything to travel?
Have more questions?
Ask us below and we'll be sure to get back to you!