One Step Closer to Expat Life
Essential tips and real life experiences before you move abroad.
Travel to the country you’re considering moving to. Ideally, stay for more than a week. If your work schedule doesn’t allow for extended time off, consider making it a recurring trip. The goal is to get comfortable with the area and learn your surroundings. Book your accommodations in the exact location you’re thinking about living. For example, don’t book a hotel in Santo Domingo if you plan to settle in Punta Cana. One is a bustling city; the other is much more laid-back and rural. The two couldn’t be more different.
Most future expats are excited and can’t wait to start their new life abroad. But you’d be surprised by what actually ends up stalling the move. Ready for it? The first step is choosing a location. Not to be taken lightly. From my observation, it’s usually caused by one of two things. Either the person is overwhelmed with too many choices on where to relocate, or the choice has already been made, but the decision on when to relocate hasn’t been. If you can't decide on which country, don’t take too long. Narrow down your choices and make a pick. The problem with being undecided for too long only increases the chance of not going through with it. If you are further along and have made a decision on where to relocate, go at your own pace.
Looking for a new beginning? The Americas shouldn't be overlooked. With thoughtful planning and research, a beautiful life awaits you. I traveled quite a bit through the Americas, from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean. It offered an up-close look at everyday life for a very interested future expat. Short-term rentals became home, each stay lasting at least a month. There were no hotels or resort bookings. I wanted to be among the people and see what it would be like if I decided to relocate. In most cases, rent covered utilities like electricity and internet, which made things easier. I did have to buy groceries, wash my clothes, and do everything else that comes with living independently. There I was, experiencing different countries as I blended in, walking among the local people. Each place came with its own pace and uniqueness. I guess because of my uncommon approach to travel, I never felt like a tourist, more like a foreigner. My goal was to see the good, bad, and the ugly without sugarcoating. I was first and foremost a future expat with plans to live in Latin America. At this point, every country I traveled to held potential interest. Central America left a lasting impression. Panama City felt like one of the easiest places for foreigners to adapt while living in style. It’s no wonder why so many choose to relocate to Costa Rica. I loved my stay in Alajuela, Costa Rica. This city stood out as a true gem: calm, beautiful, and full of charm. Cuba felt good just being there. I like to call it the safest country in the world. If only the internet were more stable, it might have been a permanent choice. Then there was Colombia, where the locals greet strangers like old friends. I must also add that this country gave the most bang for your buck, more than anywhere else.
Book your stay in the exact location, or as close as possible to where you plan to live. This will give you a strong sense of what the area is really like before you make any further decisions. I once got lured in by a cheap Airbnb without checking out the area. Big mistake. That experience has shaped how I approach short-term rentals to this day. The airport taxi driver questioned my choice when I told him where I was headed to. When we arrived at the building, I realized I’d booked a room in a not so attractive area. The photos of the apartment looked good, but the building itself was quite the opposite. At that point, I debated whether to bail and leave without checking in. But I’d already paid for a week, so I figured I'd tough it out. As that old saying goes, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” right? Wrong. In this case, you can judge a rental by its neighborhood. Over the week, things didn’t get any better. None of the other rooms were booked, no house cleaning came by, and the apartment was full of mosquitoes. I wasn't comfortable spending time in the living area. Locals told me it was a rough area. Taxis refused to pick up from the street. I had to meet them a few blocks away. That experience taught me the hard way: don’t cheap out on your accommodations, and always do your research before booking.
It’s funny how life works sometimes. Plans seemed to point in one direction, but life had other ideas. I’ve been to the Dominican Republic in the past but never thought that I’d be living here. My first visit was to the capital city and I enjoyed my time. I stayed in the nicest short-term rental I’ve ever been to. The house, or should I say this mansion, had other guests. The host and guests were the best. I was the only one from North America. The host was Dominican and everyone else was either from Colombia, Mexico, or Argentina. I didn't go outside of Santo Domingo and I covered so little ground during my stay. Therefore, my exposure to the country as a whole was limited. At that time I wasn't considering the Dominican Republic as a place to live. That view was shaped mostly by time spent in the capital. Oblivious at the time that I was only seeing a small portion, and that the capital city has so much more that I never saw. Looking back, I realize that I, like so many people, made the mistake of summing up the whole country based on time in one section. Not every city or town will reflect the rest of a country. It takes time to learn each place individually. Which leads me to the present day. Since then, more of the country has come into view. Exploring more cities, towns, and coastal areas has opened my eyes to this wonderful country. Learning and traveling within the DR has revealed a quieter, more relaxed side of life that sparked my interest. It’s a version of the Dominican Republic that’s easy to fall for, where the pace slows, the community feels close, and the beach is just around the corner.
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