A pair opted to bundle up their simple small-town existence.
Wyoming
And embark on the journey of a lifetime — an opulent world cruise.
Paul and Lynn Montoya resided in Laramie—a town of approximately 31,000 people—and ran a bed and breakfast in Vedauwoo when they received an unexpected jolt that forced them to reconsider their situation.
COVID-19
pandemic to explore what life has presented.
Paul mentioned, “We recognized that we hadn’t explored the world while managing our business as we did in Wyoming.”
Cowboy State Daily.
We didn’t have many opportunities to travel before. Last year was actually our inaugural trip to Europe since we’ve been living our whole lives until now, and considering we’re both in our 60s, we’re eager to see more of the globe.
That’s precisely what they did—abandoning their house, loading a hired car with their cherished belongings, and setting off on their journey.
Villa Vie ship Odyssey,
The initial global cruise sees travelers setting out for a voyage of three and a half years circling the planet.
Cruises frequently appear pricey, however, for the Montoyas, they quickly understood that realizing their dream would not set them back any more than staying in Laramie did.
Currently, the pair is relishing an extensive holiday costing around $80,000 annually since they embarked on a cruise ship in April to visit 147 nations, 425 harbors, and 100 tropical islands.
Their expenditure details encompass the price of their cabin, daily meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, leisure activities, cleaning services, washing facilities, and web access.
The most affordable cabin choice begins at $129,000 along with a monthly maintenance charge of $2,999 – approximately $45,000 per year – for an individual to reside there.
For a pair of individuals, the charge is $3,999 or $57,000 annually, as stated
ship’s website
The occupancy duration might extend up to a minimum of 15 years if preferred.
Even though the exact amount paid by the couple remains unknown, data suggests that the typical price for a home in Laramie stands around $378,258, as per estimates.
Zillow.
That’s one of the aspects the Odyssey truly focuses on; they aim to design this with affordability in mind,” Lynn explained to the outlet. “It’s akin to perhaps a retirement community, such as those designated for people aged 55 and over.
She proceeded to draw comparisons between their new way of life and those residing in two of the priciest areas in the United States.
“If you’re residing in places like California or New York, I doubt you could manage to live in a rented apartment these days,” she stated.
‘To them, making this choice might be simple. For us though, it’s just like our life back in Laramie, only now we have the chance to explore different parts of the globe.’
She and her spouse aren’t required to remain in their cabins throughout the whole period, since they can step out for crucial family gatherings such as funerals or weddings.
They can choose to lease their cabin similar to how Airbnb operates with homes. Additionally, if they wish, they might sell their cabin back to Ville Vie at a reduced price or offer it to a new cabin owner instead.
The couple mentioned that their cabin is now valued at around $20,000 more than its original purchase price.
Considering this, Paul mentioned that both he and his spouse have ideas for the upcoming development of their cabin.
“If we pass away, our family could also inherit it. However, we’re hopeful that the value will remain such that we might sell the cabin for at least what we originally paid, perhaps even more if it becomes highly sought after,” he explained.
The payment method for cabins also allows for flexibility, offering a pay-as-you-go option for those unable to cover the cost upfront.
The Montoyas encountered a gentleman who possesses two cottages—one for his personal use and the other to let out.
‘What he’s currently doing is leasing both properties, and with the rent he collects from them, he covers his expenses aboard the ship,’ Lynn clarified.
He was among those who departed back in August, which means he has been at this for quite some time now.
Even though the cabins are budget-friendly — when contrasted with the expense of residing on land in the US — the pair cautioned that there isn’t ample room to maneuver around.
‘Typically, a cabin spans around 200 square feet. Usually, it includes a bed and a desk, perhaps a side chair, along with a compact bathroom,’ was their description.
But, there is still an option to customize the cabins to your liking as the couple plan on having changes made to their space soon.
Paul mentioned, “The construction team will be removing all the cabinets, and we plan to put up new wallpaper,” he continued, “Additionally, we’ll be replacing the current bed with our own.”
They can reclaim their bed when the vessel docks in San Diego.
Though they’ve made sure their living space is comfortable for them, the couple said they spend most of their time at the ship’s gym, business center or at ports enjoying fun and unique activities.
The Montoyas recently had the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as they elaborated.
YouTube page.
They also
created their own website
To provide updates about their travels, along with a list of all the locations they’ve visited and those still left to explore.
By Sunday, the pair had explored eight locations in Mexico, as well as one site each in El Salvador and Guatemala.
They still have plenty of locations left to explore, such as voyages to Hawaii, Canada, Washington, California, Alaska, Japan, and South Korea.
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