Practical articles for planning a longer stay abroad.
Browse guides on destinations, first-stay logistics, documents, healthcare, phone service, internet, budgeting, apartments, and the everyday systems that make a temporary life abroad easier to manage.
Newest practical articles
Recent destination, setup, health, document, budget, and arrival guides from Settling Abroad.
-
What Documents Americans Should Digitally Organize Before Living Abroad Part-Time
Before living abroad part-time, organize secure digital copies of the documents that solve predictable problems: passport loss, medical care, prescriptions, insurance claims, banking issues, housing check-ins, emergency contacts, and account recovery.
-
Best Latin American Cities for Americans Who Want Lower Costs and Good Climate
Compare Latin American cities for Americans seeking lower costs and good climate, with practical tradeoffs on healthcare, safety, rent, altitude, heat, internet, and visas.
-
How to Budget Your First 90 Days Abroad Without Pretending You’ll Spend Like a Local on Day One
Your first 90 days abroad are not normal local life yet. Budget for temporary lodging, rental deposits, transport mistakes, groceries, phone service, healthcare, prescriptions, documents, and an emergency cushion before judging whether a destination is truly affordable.
-
Best Places in Albania for Americans Who Want Coast, City, or Simpler Everyday Living
Albania can still be a good-value Europe option, but the right base depends on whether you want city convenience, coastal life, or a calmer smaller-city routine. Compare Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Sarandë, Shkodër, Berat, Gjirokastër, and Korçë with realistic cautions on rent, healthcare, transportation, seasonality, internet, and local fit.
-
How to Compare Countries for Cost, Healthcare, Safety, and Internet Without Getting Lost in Research
A practical method for comparing countries by cost, healthcare access, safety, and internet reliability without turning research into endless rankings. Use it to narrow your list, then verify the actual city, neighborhood, apartment, clinic, phone plan, and trial-stay reality.
-
Best Places in Portugal for Americans Who Want Good Weather Without Lisbon Prices
Portugal can still work for Americans seeking milder weather and a slower base, but Lisbon is not the only option—or always the smartest one. Compare Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, Setúbal, the Silver Coast, Évora, Faro, and Madeira by climate, rent pressure, and daily logistics.
-
How Americans Can Refill Prescriptions Overseas Without Turning It Into a Crisis
Prescription refills abroad go better when they are planned before the bottle is nearly empty. Bring enough medicine when possible, carry generic-name documentation, check country rules, and know how to use local clinicians and licensed pharmacies safely.
-
How to Set Up Phone Service for a 1- to 3-Month Stay Abroad
For a one- to three-month stay abroad, phone service is a small system: keep your U.S. number available for banking and account recovery, add affordable local or travel data, and test everything before you depend on it.