Last updated on March 9, 2024 by Shannon When I bought my two-month Eurail pass on a whim (and during a great sale), I had no firm plans for this trip with my toddler son. But I quickly decided it was financially advantageous—and fun—if I tried to hit as many of the most scenic train routes in Europe as possible. That’s how I found the Bergen to Oslo train journey—it promised passage through some of Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes on a route famed for its stunning vistas and serene beauty. By taking the early train from Bergen to Oslo, we caught the entire train journey during daylight h ..read more

Last updated on February 21, 2024 by Shannon Portugal’s blend of traditional charm and modern convenience beckons to expats keen to call the country home. Chief among the reasons to live in Portugal is the affordable cost of living, the welcoming community, and the rich cultural heritage. My own transition to living in Spain happened for many of the same reasons you’re researching living in Portugal. Both countries boast beautiful beaches, a vibrant cultural scene, and a relaxed pace of life that I, along with many others, find appealing. These are cultures with phenomenal work-life balance an ..read more

Last updated on October 18, 2023 As a native Floridian, I offer up a unique perspective on the pros and cons of living in this sunny southern state. I lived in Florida for much of my life, but I’ve also lived elsewhere—in other places in the U.S. like Los Angeles, and I’ve lived abroad in places with a much lower cost of living, like Mexico and Thailand. I currently split my time—I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida for part of the year, and I live in Spain and raise my son there for most of the year. My family drove the eight hours from St. Pete to the Keys every summer of my childhood. That’s ..read more

Losing your passport while traveling is a nightmare, especially if you’re on a business trip or a short vacation. Running through your mind is surely if you can get a new passport in time for you flight home. Not only would damaging or losing it upend your travel plans, but it’s pricey to replace a passport while overseas. While it’s fairly fast and doable if you’re in a capital city, it’s no fun if you’re anywhere else. Your best bet is to keep it safe in the first place. I left to travel the world for a year way back in 2008, and I never moved back to the States. Instead, I traveled for a d ..read more

Last updated on August 7, 2023 With hundreds of miles of coastline to choose from, you could easily live near the beach in Costa Rica. Dreaming of living in a place with a low cost of living, warm weather, diverse natural beauty, and a stable political climate? Many expats wonder how to lower their cost of living by moving overseas for retirement, or as a digital nomad. Costa Rica may just tick that box more than anywhere else in Central America. While Mexico and Panama are popular in this region of the world for largely the same reasons—the low cost of living—Costa Rica just might be the righ ..read more

Last updated on July 20, 2023 Spain is one of those countries that many first visit during a study abroad program or on a train trip through Europe. Once you’ve spent even a few days here, it’s easy to wonder if living is Spain is as alluring as it is to travel here. Should you pack up your life and move here? I’ve lived all over the world—from Thailand to Mexico to Florida—and I moved to Barcelona, Spain in 2018, after 10 years of round the world travel. I’ve also spent years traveling through different areas of Spain, from walking the Camino de Santiago to house-sitting in a desert town in A ..read more

So you’re researching how much your life will cost elsewhere in the world and you’re thinking about moving to Thailand. There’s a lot of information to sort through now. When I moved to Chiang Mai a decade ago, the city was a very different place for expats (digital nomads were scarce but retirees aplenty), and information was nonexistent about what it would actually cost to live there. This post was essentially the first online Thailand cost of living breakdown, sharing the nitty gritty details of what your money buys in Thailand, what costs more than back home, and how your own goals might ..read more

Weak sunlight peeped from behind the smoke-gray clouds and I surmised that today, like everyday for the past four days, was another classic Scottish day—damp and cold. Although I had hoped for perfect weather when I tackled one of the most famous hikes on the Trotternish Peninsula, the northeast area of the Isle of Skye, the time had come to suck it up and hike The Old Man of Storr anyway. The sunny photos I had seen of the Isle of Skye truly made it appear one of the most gorgeous regions of Scotland, and although I didn’t have those views as I explored Portree, even in the rain it ..read more

Ireland is the most charming country on the planet. Okay, that’s a bold statement, I know. I’ve visited truly incredible countries during my year on the road. And while Laos and Nepal hold particularly special places in my heart, Ireland feels like home. My parents nursed me on stories of the Emerald Isle. Pictures of the O’Donnell family crest graced our walls. I grew up captivated by tales of silkies and fairies, and captivated by photos once my dad returned home from his trip to Ireland spent tracing our family history. It’s impossible to not completely love a place you’ve dreamed ..read more

Moving to Bali is the stuff of travel dreams. The Indonesian island has a reputation for its gorgeous setting, delicious food, and fascinating Hindu culture. Popular culture has done a wonderful job selling the island’s most idyllic aspects, but there’s a bit more to Bali than simply an island paradise. While many expats have chosen Bali has their long-term homebase—mostly because of the cost of living and quality of life—others visit and then prefer to keep Bali as the stuff of vacations: sunny, warm, and fascinating, but not a good lifestyle fit. Where might your own plans fit into the mix ..read more