Finding community after FI: our 45-day European campervan trip with Traveling Village

The last day of our trip. We started as strangers and ended as close friends. Photo: Orebic, Croatia.

Freedom’s great—until you realize you’re free and alone with your 3 little kids. 🌍🚐👧🏻

After we reached Financial Independence (FI), we had time, flexibility, and freedom… but our circle had shrunk. Our friends were still working. Our kids missed their friends. And as much as we loved the family time, being our kid’s full-time entertainment isn’t exactly the dream.

Then came Traveling Village—a wild experiment that showed what is truly possible in early retirement. 

What’s Traveling Village?

TBH, when my wife first sent me the link I was like, “Hell no!” It sounded uncomfortable AF. I ain't sleeping in a van for 2 months, and it’ll be a bunch of weirdos. Turns out, I was wrong and my wife was right, this trip was fantastic.

Traveling Village is a curated community of families building intentional connection while exploring the world. We joined Village 2: a 45-day European campervan trip through Austria, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. 

Picture this: 15 families (with 20 kids) in 15 campervans rolling through Europe, setting up a new camp every five days. From September 1 to October 15, we covered roughly 2,000 kilometers: mountains, lakes, farms, beaches, small towns, and more cows than I can count.

It was the most fun I’ve ever had traveling with kids—and it made one thing crystal clear: community isn’t optional after FI. It’s essential.

A quick tip about renting a campervan

Before we get into the trip, quick tip: don’t drive off until you’ve tested everything.

We rented our motorhome from Indie Campers—solid 3 out of 5 stars. The Atlas 5 cost about €6,000 for 50 days and had everything we needed for a family of five: beds, kitchen, bathroom, and just enough space to coexist without mutiny.

However, the van had plenty of quirks. Stuff broke, buttons didn’t work, and half the blinds were purely decorative. 

Test everything before you drive off the lot: run the faucets, flush the toilet, light the stove, check the blinds, dashboard, and every random switch. Pull up the bed, push it down, open every cabinet, check the propane cans are full, and make sure the stereo doesn’t catch fire when you start the engine. We didn’t catch half the issues until we were halfway across Austria—way too far to turn back.

If something’s broken, make them fix it or note it before you leave. You can even ask for a different camper. Don’t count on their customer service line, it's useless. 

45 days, 15 families, 4 countries, 1 traveling village

Ok, back to the trip. Over 45 days we crossed Austria, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, hopping between 9 campgrounds and countless playgrounds, mountains, towns, lakes, and late-night hangouts.

Every family had their own campervan and rhythm—some woke up early to hike, others lingered over espresso, some wrangled toddlers while trying to dump the gray water for the tenth time. By dinner, we’d all come together again, sharing food, stories, and “what we saw today”.

Austria—the perfect warm-up

We kicked things off in Sonnenplateau Camping Gerhardhof (€80/night), just outside Innsbruck. Nestled in the Alps, it was everything you want in an Austrian campsite—spotless bathrooms, a small restaurant with horrible service, and mountains everywhere you look. Wildermieming, the nearby town, looked like it was ripped from a postcard—church steeple, green pastures, surrounded by mountains, and cowbells echoing across the valley.

We swam in the little lake, played volleyball and soccer, and loved the playground. For us, it was the perfect start—clean, calm, and breathtaking.

A short drive away (and a quick stop at a free chairlift ride thanks to our campground pass—DreiSeenBahn), we reached Natur Camping Kuprian Ötztal (€65/night). Picture a river cutting through the site, cows grazing on hillsides, and a kids’ park right next to the campground. The sound of those cowbells became the soundtrack of our evenings.

We spent one rainy day at Aqua Dome, a futuristic thermal spa in the mountains. It had everything—warm pools, kid zones, saunas, even daycare—and while it wasn’t cheap (~€100 for the family), it was totally worth it. The sauna at the campground itself was a nice touch. For €60, you could reserve it privately and live your best Austrian wellness life.

Austria’s got camping down to a science—clean, family-friendly, and stunning.

Italy—the delicious part of the trip

Crossing into Italy felt like switching from classical music to rock ‘n’ roll. Roads narrowed, espresso got stronger, and everything was just a little rougher.

Our first Italian stop, Agricampeggio da Bery (€30/night), sat high in the Dolomites near Trento. The campsite sits in Covelo, a classic Italian town that feels like walking through a movie set. It’s a working dairy farm—cows, milk, cheese, and all. The kids got to feed calves, stare at goats, and learn where milk actually comes from. The views are fantastic. Dramatic peaks, green valleys, and that golden evening light. Nearby sites to check out: Trento, Terlago, and Lago di Lamar.

From there, we drove to Camping Fornella (€37/night) on Lake Garda—a two-hour trip with a detour to Gardaland, Italy’s version of Disneyland. The nice thing about smaller amusement parks like this is they’re cheaper (~€200 total) and practically empty on weekdays, so no lines for rides. As for Fornella, it was basically a resort disguised as a campground—pools, soccer fields, a gym, coffee shop, market, and direct lake access. It was busy, but still a blast. 

Our final Italian stop was Agricampeggio Mosè (€55/night), just outside Venice. The site itself was simple but perfectly located, with a nearby beach that surprised us—warm, shallow, and perfect for little kids. The main attraction, of course, was Venice. We took the free shuttle to the ferry (€20 per person roundtrip) and cruised straight into the floating city. It’s not exactly stroller-friendly, but it’s unforgettable—narrow bridges, centuries-old buildings, gondolas, and endless gelato stops along cobblestone streets. 

Italy rewards you if you slow down, eat well, and stop trying to do everything.

Slovenia—small but mighty

From Italy, we drove two hours into Slovenia, a country that completely over-delivers. Our base was the Institute of Sport Ajdovščina (€38/night), a simple campground attached to a massive sports complex—soccer fields, pools, basketball courts, even a gym. Nothing fancy, but a good spot.

We took day trips to Postojna Cave, one of the largest cave systems in Europe (~€80 for the fam). You start with a little underground train that zips you through miles of illuminated stalactites and caverns. Super unique and vast. 

Then we made our pilgrimage to Lake Bled, home to a fairytale castle and the famous cream cake—which was so fantastic. Slovenia was an unexpected gem: easy to drive, spotless, stunning, and full of the friendliest people you’ll meet. And, great cake.

Never skip the small countries (or cake)—they might just surprise you the most.

Croatia—the grand finale

The last leg took us down the Croatian coast, where every stop seemed to impress us more and more.

We started at Falkensteiner Premium Camping Zadar (€70/night), and “premium” wasn’t just marketing. Think pools overlooking the Adriatic, great bathrooms, playgrounds, a beachside bar, and a kids’ club. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and family fun. We spent mornings using the facilities at the campground and afternoons wandering Zadar’s old town—marble streets, Roman ruins, and plenty of cool cafes. We also did a 5 hour island boat tour, which allowed us to enjoy the blue water and neighboring islands. 

We drove south and stayed at Camp Skradinske Delicije (€45/night)—basic setup, and the owners were jerks. Skradin itself is a charming little waterfront town, but the real draw is Krka National Park (€20 per adult). The park is cool—waterfalls, wooden boardwalks, crystal lakes, and even one of Europe’s first hydro plants, which you can walk right past. 

We ended in Nevio Camping (€27/night) near Orebić, facing Korčula Island. The campground had it all — mini golf, soccer, beach, pools, and shaded pitches with sea views. We took the ferry across to Korčula, wandered through the medieval old town, and let the kids chase pigeons while we soaked it all in.

Croatia’s got a way of slowing you down—and that’s exactly what we needed to end the trip.

The power of community

By the time we left our final campsite, the vans were dusty, the kids were feral, and we were exhausted in the best way. 45 days, 4 countries, 9 campgrounds and somehow it all felt too short. 

Traveling Village delivered on its promise and taught me something very important: early retirement isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a people game.

When you quit your job and start traveling long-term, your social circle evaporates. Friends are still in meetings, your kids lose their playdates, and suddenly all that “free time” turns into a full-time job keeping the kids entertained. Not exactly the dream we imagined.

Then came Traveling Village. For once, we weren’t explaining our life choices—we were surrounded by people who already got it. Families chasing the same freedom (and with kids!!).

Days were spent sharing meals, playing soccer, exploring towns, and singing by the fire while the kids formed their own little pack. Evenings turned into deep conversations about travel, business ideas, and life after work.

Community is just as important as compounding. You can optimize every ETF and tax bracket to retire early, but if you do it alone, it’s not freedom—it’s isolation.

If you’re planning early retirement or long-term travel, build your people plan too. Join groups like Traveling Village, worldschooling meetups, or FIRE Facebook groups. Don’t underestimate how much joy comes from belonging.

We finally found our community on the road. And that’s what FI is about—not just having enough money to stop working, but enough community to start living.

This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.