We are Rob and Masha and we are the Dancing Pandas. We have been traveling as a couple for over 35 years and have been to 196 UN+ countries together (our goal is to travel to all 197) !
In 2017 we sold (mostly gave away) all of our worldly possessions and became a nomad travel couple, wanderlusting through our beautiful planet earth full-time.
Through travel hacking, we travel on points and miles – mostly in business and first class, while staying at luxury hotels. How?! Well, read on as we share our tool box with you, so that you too can enjoy couple travel as much as we do and travel Dancing Pandas style!
Dancing Pandas Travel Blog – In the Beginning
Guatemala 1990s. Once our son was a few years old we started traveling as a couple (+1) internationally.
Our whole lives we have been focused on traveling as a couple as much as we could. Masha had started traveling at a very young age. Her parents were traveling as a couple (with 2 kids in tow) themselves.
Therefore, by her early 20s, Masha had already traveled quite a bit with her family and also as a solo female traveler. At this point, Rob had only seen North America. However all he could think about was seeing new places and lands.
In the beginning of our relationship we took a year off (when our son was just a toddler ) to explore traveling as a couple (+ 1) to Europe and Central America. By the way, I don’t know how we survived that year.
Being young and inexperienced at traveling as a couple, let alone as a family, we made a lot of mistakes. There were angels out there who helped us out of many sticky situations.
From the father and son shrimp fishermen in Mexico who kept us on their property away from the drug lord lands (we didn’t know). To the young couple in Guatemala who guarded our VW Westfalia (with rifles and guns) while we slept. To so many other amazing humans out there who kept us safe. Thank you!
In addition, there was the time that we ran from the police in Honduras – thinking that they were up to no good. And the crazy situation when we were stuck in no mans land between Nicaragua and Honduras.
This was the early 1990s, so not the best time to be in those parts. In some ways nomad travel was easier back then and in others it was so much harder. Imagine, no cell phones and no internet! Just a few out of date dog eared Lonely Planet guides.
Traveling as a Couple – Adventure Racing
Dancing Pandas 3rd Place at the Four Winds Extreme Adventure Race. Those days were “couple travel” squared as we explored the world with our best friends.
Later we continued travelling as a couple all over the world as adventure racers: Racing in different parts of the earth with our Dancing Pandas team, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, running, kayaking, etc.,
Basically using any form of non motorized sport to get us across hundreds of miles with a map and a compass non stop over 2 – 10 days. Perhaps you have seen this type of sport on TV. The first one of these televised was the EcoChallenge.
Because of this, we got to know many off the beaten path areas of our planet very intimately. Some of our most profound memories of our racing days include: Patagonia, Tasmania, Costa Rica, Peru, Reunion Island, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Mexico and USA to name a few.
Nomad Travel – How we Started Traveling as a Couple Full Time
Bar Emirates First – While Flying – Couple travel luxury!
So how did we become a nomad travel couple? Well, a few years ago, the executive world was getting a bit too stressful and Monday mornings were feeling like we were on a treadmill of life.
So, we sold our house, donated all of our worldly possessions and started traveling as a couple with nothing more than a backpack.
Dancing Pandas – Couple Travel Goals
Our first priority is to travel the world with the least possible negative impact on the people, animals and the planet. Our carbon footprintis important to us. For these reasons Masha is vegan. This makes travelling quite a bit more difficult, but we make it work.
In addition, we donate to charities that benefit animals, literacy and the environment. We also try to travel with the least amount of carbon expended. Yes, for our lifestyle that is not always possible, but this is a goal.
Second of all our goal is to travel to all of the 197 countries of the world. That includes the 193 UN recognized countries plus Palestine, Taiwan, Kosovo and Vatican City.
Lastly and most importantly our couple travel goals are to experience all the world has to offer together, growing as individuals and as a couple.
Many of our friends and family ask us, “How on earth have you managed to be together 24/7 year after year without killing each other?”. The answer is something that a wise man said to us a long time ago- we give each other what we need (one of our favorite, happy couple travel together quotes).
Here are our favorite nomad couple travel captions:
Home is where we are.
A picture of us adventuring is the best souvenir.
My travel essential is you.
How we get to Travel Full Time – Travel Hacking
Flying in first or business is our favorite way to go while traveling as a couple.
Rob had started travel hacking in 2012, earning miles and points to afford us the ability to travel the world in style. We will be sharing our tool box of travel tips and tricks with you throughout our blog so that you too can travel like us – Dancing Pandas style.
If we can be of any help to you – please do reach out. We enjoy helping like minded people travel the world.
