Lucy Richardson saw a travel influencer’s reel and decided to quit her job in the U.K. to move her family to Bali. Here’s what she learned when she got there.

Dream of quitting your job and moving abroad just like the travel influencers you follow? Here’s the unfiltered reality from one woman who did just that.

Lucy Richardson was flicking through Instagram when she saw a reel that gave her chills. She recalls the moment vividly: The FUNemployed Family, the handle for travel influencer Ben Lutz, was packing up his wife and two kids to move from the United States to Italy. Richardson, then running a beauty salon and raising her three children under the age of 5, remembers the “goose pimples” that rose along her arms as she realized that could be her life too. She ran to her husband, Paul, to announce that she wanted to quit their lives in the U.K. for a new adventure.

Two days later, they had a call with Boundless Life, the travel organization FUNemployed Family had been promoting, to learn about its world schooling program, advertised as a network of communities around the world through which families can develop connections, work remotely, and be culturally immersed while children receive a forward-thinking education. Although the costs of flights and the Boundless Life fees were more than they could afford at the time, the Richardsons made a savings plan and put many of the expenses on a credit card, then quit their jobs to move themselves and their children to Bali a year later.

While many people follow the epic adventures of travel influencers with a hypothetical dream that they may one day do the same, some people—like the Richardsons—actually take the leap. Of course, reality isn’t quite as simple as the filtered, edited reels that social media influencers—many of whom are compensated by the places and companies they promote—showcase on their profiles. 

Before arriving in Bali, Richardson didn’t know much about the island. She recalls watching The FUNemployed Family strolling down the beachfront promenade in Sanur, connected and happy. In the U.K., the Richardsons had been busy with their jobs and to-do lists; now, in Bali, Richardson says they spend much more quality time with each other, just as she had hoped. But, she quickly realized, the influencer who inspired her made living abroad with children look too easy (perhaps because The FUNemployed Family’s kids are older than hers). The Richardsons found day-to-day life to be full of surprises that aren’t typically included on influencers’ reels.

Safety issues have come as the biggest shock. Taxis are very inexpensive, but car seats are not common. Getting around with her two older children is manageable, but for her two-year-old daughter, it's a frequent problem. That, combined with the traffic in Bali, makes traversing the island—especially to some of the stunning spots Richardson sees on her social media feed—a challenge. “Even going on a short trip, you’re taking a chance every time; people drive wherever they want,” says Richardson. “I do love this side of the world because there are less rules and restrictions, but there are not the same safety precautions in place as we were used to in the U.K.”

The Richardsons first rented a stunning villa, which they were incredibly excited to move into after seeing gorgeous photos online. However, indoor/outdoor living meant that the children had constant access to the private infinity pool. Richardson gives me a tour, showing me that “the two bedrooms aren't adjoined; you have to walk by the pool to get from one to the other and there is only a one-foot walkway between the house and the pool. Not only is there no pool fence (typical in Bali), but the decking is dark and at the same level as the pool.” She continues: “The villa was designed to look like a dream on social media—for six months before moving in we thought, This is going to be the most amazing place to live. It's so picturesque. But it's designed for Instagram. It’s not designed for safety; we need to have our guard up all the time.”

The Richardsons are now trying to figure out how to fund their ongoing travel dreams. They have a small amount of income from various sources, including turning their U.K. house into a vacation rental, but their former jobs required a physical presence, so they are exploring ways to make a living remotely, like digital marketing or day trading. 

Since moving to Bali, Richardson has reflected on the posts of the travel influencers she followed. “Every post is very polished—they have the drones, they have the equipment, they edit them to make them look polished.” She started her own social media account, @therichardsons04, for the family on the day they packed up to come to Bali. On TikTok, she got 20,000 followers in just 40 hours. The accidental influencer then turned to Instagram where she has amassed almost 80,000 followers. Her reels and stories are raw and authentic, sharing their everyday life in Bali—including the challenges—and people are flocking to her content. Richardson remembers, “On TikTok, our very first post went viral. I was shocked. Now, on Instagram, there are a lot more ways of connecting with followers. I do a lot of calls with people looking to travel like us, giving them information. I’m trying to figure out how to monetize the platform.”

Although they have encountered issues, Richardson feels incredibly happy with their decision. The Richardsons extended their time in Bali, initially only planning to be there for three months but staying for a total of six, and have since continued to “world school” their children as a travel family. They moved to Montenegro in September, still with Boundless Life. Reflecting on the past six months, Richardson says: “Even through all the challenges that we’ve faced, it is still the best thing we’ve ever done. There is something so exciting about not knowing what your next steps will be.”